Knee Doctor

[Magicman]

Well, tomorrow I'm off to see the knee Doctor.  I made a bad decision on off of a motorcycle many years ago.  Anyway, I guess as I've aged, it has gotten worse.  I had "scope" surgery on it back in '94, but now something keeps slipping out of whack.

[WDH]

Too bad that you can't just put a new bracket on it like you did that new seat  .

[fishpharmer]

Bad knees are bad bidness.  I have a dear family friend in the hospital right now, she had a full knee replacement this morning. 

I hope yours isn't so bad.

[Raider Bill]

Good Luck

[Magicman]

   Good news !!!  For now at least, it's nothing that a brace with metal hinges on each side won't handle.  And even that is not required at all times.  The noise , grinding, and popping is a cartilage problem, but nothing that needs immediate attention.

It surely was a joy talking to a Doctor/Surgeon that wasn't sharpening a scalpel.   

[WDH]

So you are going to bolt on a bracket after all  :D.

[Magicman]

So you are going to bolt on a bracket after all  :D. 

Yup, that's about right.  I already had the brace, I just wasn't using it. :-\  It had started doing creaky things and making noises that I was concerned about.

[SwampDonkey]

My grandfather had both knees done back in the 70's. He never stopped being active hunting and fishing until he went blind from a clot or some kind of blockage which we learned could have been corrected if diagnosed early enough.  :-\

[bill m]

It had started doing creaky things and making noises that I was concerned about.

Your knee or the brace?

[Magicman]

Your knee or the brace? 

:-[  I did make that a bit unclear.  I have not been wearing the brace.  The knee was making those noises.  Really spooky when you twist and your knee makes a grinding noise, but doesn't hurt.

I had that knee to actually lock up in '92 (I previously said '94) and the Dr. removed torn cartilage.  Anyway, the good news is No Surgery".

Back to sawing Monday !!! 

[Burlkraft]

I had one completely rebuilt.

The surgery was a breeeeeezzzzz

The rehab was Hell...........

[Samuel]

I had the scope repair surgery done about 14 years ago before I left the maritimes (strange coincidence).  My knee socket actually dislocated and was turned sideways.  Took about 2 hrs in the OR and I walked out of the hospital...well limped out and it took about 4 months to get my full range of mobility back. 

Glad to hear you did not have to endure that.

[Ron Scott]

I had arthriscopic surgery done on the left knee in 1987 and the right knee in 1989. I wore a brace on the left knee for some time since the ACL is gone, but then gave up on that. I kept poping the rivets in it and the continued repairs were too expensive. ;)

Doctor says that any future knee surgerys will be replacements.

[clww]

I have RA in both knees and I find that horse liniment helps me out . When they're really aching, I put it on in the morning, then wrap with an Ace bandage.

[runmca]

Going to see my knee doctor this afternoon to discuss ACL reconstruction surgery. Anyone get this surgery done? I've read about long recovery times, just wondering if any FF members have experience with this.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Blew out my left ACL in 95 same yr as  a rotaror cuff prob.
It was repaired using a piece of Patellar tendon.
Been good until the last few weeks.
Getting almost 23 yrs out of it has been good.
You should be OK as I m sure procedures have been improved since Mine.
Do , however listen to your rehab therapist.

[runmca]

thanks Pete. Looks like I'm going in sometime in March, will use one of my hamstring tendons.

At least I'll be able to get some maple syrup done beforehand. Hopefully I'll be able to do some milling later this year.

[petefrom bearswamp]

runmca
How much syrup do u do?
I did a bunch back in the 70s loved it but a marriage breakup stopped that .

[runmca]

Pete,
Not that much, this year I hope to tap about 20 trees on bucket. This is my 3rd year, had about a dozen taps in the past. I really enjoy it and hope to increase production down the road.

I hope your knee feels better.

[chet]

Two brand new ones here. One about four years ago, and the other is going on 14 months. Feels great ta be able ta kick my up heals again.  8)

[runmca]

Chet, did you get both knees replaced or ACL reconstruction? Either way that must have been quite the rehab. I'm glad they are doing well!

[doctorb]

Chet-

Are you talking two new knee replacements or two new ACL reconstructions?

runmca-

I have a lot of experience with ACL reconstructions.  If you ruptured your ACL years and years ago, then your problem may be more than just the ACL.  The increase in the degree of motion seen in many knees after they loose their ACL can lead to arthritis and meniscal (cartilage) tears.  So if you "blew out your knee" a while back, and rehabbed it to be serviceable for many years, it may be that the other portions of your knee have been taking the extra strain from your deficient ACL and are wearing out.  So....before you assume it's just a ligament problem, ask your doctor about the rest of the important stuff in your knee.

[chet]

Both were full total knees. I guess I climbed way too many trees over da years.   :D   I did all rehab at home on my own. I musta pushed myself pretty good, 'cause da Doc's  at Mayo were really impressed with da results.  ;D

[runmca]

Thanks doctorb - I tore the ACL last June. Back in the mid 90's I tore my meniscus in that knee and had that cleaned up. Have been trail running since early 2000's with no problems, but playing basketball (which I never play) with the boys did the ACL in. My doc said I may have strained the ACL when I originally injured it in the 90's. My recent MRI did show slight cartilage damage too which could have been from wear and tear or the basketball incident (I thought I heard a double 'pop'). It really hasn't bothered me much since it healed up last summer but just feel I can't put as much stress on it as I want, especially having a manual sawmill.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Forgot to mention that I had both knees done by MAKOplasty in 2014 in addition to the acl repair.
I  have been a benefactor of ortho surgeons over the years.

[Ron Scott]

I've had surgery on both knees over the years. A torn ACL on the left knee and a torn meniscus on the right knee. Also a number of pain shots from the pain management doctor and have a brace prescribed for each knee for downhill skiing. Knee replacements are pending.

[Magicman]

Oh my, it's been 7 years since I started this topic and I am still creaking around on that old bad knee.  Yep it swells during the day when I am sawing and twisting, but I am still managing.  I still rarely (if ever) wear the brace.   :-\

[Bruno of NH]

Was at the Orthopaedic Clinic yesterday getting a shot in my right knee.
it's only the second time ever
Back next week for the left
I can't get both at once because it raises my blood sugar to much.
I can't get new knees till i lose alot more bmi.
i'm working on it it's a long day with 2 torn meniscus and no cartilage.
Some days hard to keep up beat  :(

[Peter Drouin]

Some days hard to keep up beat  :(

My week is going hard and I feel down too sometimes. But, I just look around and see guys a lot worse off than me.
Anyhow you have to think how your going to keep all the ff guys at my place entertain.
:D ;D

[Bruno of NH]

Looking forward to it Peter it will be good times
It just bugs me when i can't go at it as hard anymore  :(
Only thing i have been good at is working and talking :D

[Ed_K]

It's taken me a long time to realize I can't work like I used to. Feeling down gets to me, but you have to fight it off and think of what you did get accomplished. Today is going to be better and we'll be happy at the end of the day knowing we did better.

[Magicman]

Ed, that is a very uplifting reply.  You have endured many hardships and setbacks and from your viewpoint offer some very valuable advice.  Make the day better because you lived it.  Thank You.

[tree-farmer]

Since sawing a notch in side of knee cap and end of lower leg bone, the joint crackels and pops with every step.
Pain is bearable most of the time. A few hours on the tractor clutch, leaves me  whining and looking for a strong drink. Plan to live with it as long as I'm mobile, then get a overhaul.
Get some interesting looks at the grinding noises it makes when squating down to look at low shelf in a  quite  library.   :D

[runmca]

I had my ACL surgery last Thursday and so far so good. They used a part of my hamstring tendon as a graft. Saw the doc today and said everything looked good, no signs of arthritis from my previous meniscus surgery. No pain pills needed anymore and the most annoying part right now is the cold I'm fighting off. PT starts on Wednesday.

Another thing to share. The night when I returned home from surgery, I had a mini anxiety attack. The confinement of the brace and not being able to bend my leg freaked me out for a bit. Plus they used a nerve block so I couldn't feel part of my leg. Thankfully that feeling subsided that evening. The nurse mentioned the anesthesia sometimes causes that. Anyone else experience that?

[petefrom bearswamp]

Hope all goes well for you.
IMO the most important part is diligently doing your PT.
When I had mine done in '95 PT was started the next day and ran for a couple of months if memory serves.
I have been having twinges in my left (ACL repair) knee for a couple of months now and see the surgeon for my annual check on Thursday.
I see him annually since the bilateral MAKOplasty in 2014.
Years ago another ortho guy told me to wrap the knee with saran wrap which I do when I get symptoms and it seems to help a lot.

[runmca]

thanks Pete, good luck with your checkup!

Had my first PT session yesterday...wow how quickly the leg turns to mush.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Good for ya
Keep the PT up!
Saw my surgeon yesterday and all looks good in both knees in spite of the twinges I get in my left one.
Dont got back for 2 years unless a problem rears its ugly head.