Have you had any Synvisc injections? It's a synthetic liquid that fills in the space between the bones. I had them and got relief for a year.

I had my first knee surgery, (not re-placement), when I was in college in 1976, so I do understand your pain.

First of all I think it is important that you are seeing an Orthopedist.
I think you will be happy to learn that waiting until you are 65 is no longer the criteria for a joint re-placement. Getting back to an active life is now the goal. Joint re-placement patients are getting younger as the baby boomers age, (many of us played hard sports when we were younger and our cartilage wore away faster).
I had a knee re-placement in November of 2008 at the age of 51.
I had bone on bone with severe osteophytes, (bone spurs). I was unable to fully straighten my knee for about 2 years. Can you say knock knees! For the last two years before I had the re-placement I used a cane when I was out in public & I required handicap parking. I waited too long! Only YOU will know when the time is right. EveryoneÂs tolerance for pain is different; IÂm a baby with dental work but never took anything for my severe joint pain except for an aspirin occasionally to keep the swelling down. Exercise does help with the pain. I used a lot of ice too. Over the years I had physical therapy multiple times, cortisone shots & the Synvisc injections that MonaBlair mentioned.

I am happy to answer any questions or concerns you have. It is a frightening proposition. My Dr. told me that younger patients go through the 5 stages of death and dying that Elizabeth Kubler Ross wrote about in her book, "On Death and Dying"; Denial, Anger,Bargaining, Depression & Acceptance.
Once I accepted it, I couldnÂt wait to have the surgery.

I've heard about the injections, don't know yet if they're for me, but I'm willing to do ANYTHING at this point.

I've had 2 cortisone shots, the first gave me a lot of relief, but the 2nd (in October) did nothing. I'm way past the ibuprofen stage...I've been downing those things for years and have nearly burnt a hole in my stomach due to them. Ice helps alot, too...but when I can't sleep at night, boy, I do need something stronger.

I think, too, that my job, which has days of desk work, then days of hiking over rough terrain, doesn't help much. I'm going to look at swimming, but the problem is there is no decent/affordable pools here. My knee is so wonky that my lower leg turns to the left!

pesky, I'm so glad you're going. I have bad knee pain too (ice skating exacerbated a bad tracking kneecap in the first place) and I'm facing the decision to have "lateral release" surgery (which to do first, the trigger thumb or the lateral release? I feel like I'm falling apart all over).

Anyway, I was thinking about you hoisting yourself up over that ridge and just marveling/cringing at the same time that you are able to keep doing your job with your knee the way it is. Oregon country hiking would certainly rip my knees apart---it makes them hurt just to think of it! And you sound farther gone than I am. It sure sounds like you need surgery, but I've also heard that it can be really painful in itself. I tried turmeric for the knees recently (for about 2 weeks now) and nothing. So there's not even a Y around you with a pool? That stinks. We havev a neighborhood pool up here that has gone all ozone (no chlorine) and is kept at a balmy 85 degrees. It's *great* for water exercise (lots of older folks and younger kids--not a big swim team pool). We love it. Come visit and I'll take you! :)

And may I ask, what have you heard about the Synvisc injections? Do they hurt to have administered? Why do you think they may not be for you yet? I bet it will all come clear when you have X-rays/whatever other imaging the Ortho. orders. I'll be thinking of you, though...maybe ask for desk duty for a while until the appointment?

My mom had a knee replacement done a few years ago. She is not that old, just turned 58 and had it done maybe 3 or 4 years ago?

As I understand it, the worry about replacing too early is that it basically won't last the rest of your life and will have to be done again when you are much older. I am not sure what the lifespan of today's replacement joints is but it's something to ask your orthopedist. She also said that it is the most painful thing she has ever gone through - and my mother is one tough cookie. She has also had both hips replaced and she said that they were a piece of cake compared to the knee. She has very bad arthritis and was bone on bone in all those joints.

So sorry if that all sounds like bad news - the good news is that now that it is done, she has her life back. She still has some aches and pains from the arthritis of course but she was way too young to be that immobile. It was demoralizing to say the least.

I'm not exactly sure what condition my knee is in...will the injections help till I can get surgery? Dunno.

I'm pretty tough about pain. I've heard the worst is the rehab afterward. I'd do it in a heartbeat if it means no more suffering tho!

The Y here has is not so great. No parking, a tiny pool and it's availability is limited at the times I could use it. The other public pool is pretty much closed now. The other option is to join an expensive health club just to use the pool.

However, they recently opened a KROC center that is supposed to have a good pool or two. Just not sure what it's all about, and in fact, I'm not sure where it's at! My schedule is so crazy, it's to find time that I could use it that the schools aren't using it!

Luckily, this time of the year, my field work isn't too great, and with the economy the way it is, it's pretty quiet. I might be able to put off some field stuff unless it's absolutely necessary...heaven knows I've got about 3 years of reports I need to catch up on... :>

My daughter had both knees replaced. 1st one at age of 42 and 2nd one at 44. They kept putting her off because of age until she was nearly crippled. She is a nurse and was on her feet constantly at that time. The Dr. apologized after the lst surgery as he saw how bad the knee had gotten. His theory was that you would probably need it done again in 10-12 years. She had both knees scoped and had taken the shots. Nothing helped until after the surgery. It has been 10 years for the lst one and she is doing great.

I had my left knee replaced two months after she did. Had tried the shots and lived on pain pills. It really helped me that she had already been through all this and cheered me on. Stayed in rehab 11 days because I could not bend the knee to the degree they wanted. Could walk but just could not get the knee to bend enough. It was tedious but really learned a lot about how to take care of your legs. Didn't realize how important it is about getting in a car and how you sit down in a chair and getting in and out of a bed. I had done all of them wrong.

Am a complete wimp so the recovery was quite a bit longer for me, about 3 months. Our precious granddaughter stayed with us and carried lots of bags of ice and took me to therapy 3 times a week. Lots of people recover much sooner but doctor said some people's nerve endings (or something like that) was closer to the surface and they could not stand pain. That was definitely me!

It is so important to do all the exercises they give you because that will determine how flexible you are later. Still have trouble getting that knee to bend good, but was so excited when it got to the point that I could get on my knees to do my gardening.

While I was in rehab there was a lady that was 70 and had just had the surgery. Said she would have the 2nd one done about 4 months later. Thought I would throw up just thinking about it. They say that "usually" you have to have the 2nd one done as you have probably damaged it giving in to the bad one. Thank goodness I have not had to do that.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Dora Lou

It has been 10 years for me and the leg is doing fine. I pray it will not have to be done over. Have to take a big dose of antibiotics when I have any type of dental work done. Infections anywhere in your body are dangerous as it will go to the weak parts(knee replacement).

Have thought many times how grateful I am that I had the surgery as I never think about the leg hurting any more. That pain is gone....know you can relate to the pain right now.

I have bad knees and have been told that I will need them replaced. A scope helped me immensely a few years ago but everyone is different. A RN at work the other day had her first Synvisc injection. She reported no pain during the procedure and felt that she had some nearly immediate relief.

I do know that knee replacements have a much longer recovery time than hips. Also if both knees need replaced many advise to get them both done at the same time. If not, one may never go back for the second. Just suck it up, be miserable, and be done with it!

I'll be thinking of you. Knee pain stinks.

Synvisc can be really helpful. However most reports state that it's much more effective if the bone loss isn't advanced. I had them twice. The first time was about 5 years ago and I had some relief from the pain. I tried them again last year and it didn't help. The shots themselves aren't painful. There's a little discomfort as the fluid goes into the knee but it's only momentary.

I'm waiting for my knee replacement until my husband retires in a year. That way he can do the fetching and shopping and walking the dog.

They only last about 12 to 15 years but from your description it sounds like you need to have yours done now.

pesky, I don't know about you but I'm really encouraged to read everyone's relatively positive experiences with the Synvisc (which is hyaluronic acid, yes?). After I posted I went online and read *horror* stories about it, how the knee hurts way more than before, someone's thigh muscle is contracting violently since the shot and won't stop, etc.

Reading folks like mcmann's posts makes me think maybe it's the same 'internet syndrome' as what happened to me after my heart attack/angiogram--after it all happened, I went online and read some *horrible* things that happened to people wrt their artery openings--sutures/plugs just popping out and people almost bleeding out before nurses could come, etc. If I'd read those beforehand (yeah, in the ER LOL) I would have been much more trepidatious about agreeing to the procedure. I decided that maybe what happens is that the folks who have a good experience don't bother to post on the net about it, and folks who have a bad experience see posting about it as a priority, maybe to warn people. But bad outcomes aren't as common as the reporting on the web would lead us to believe.

with all that said, last night after reading I thought 'yikes, this Synvisc [my doc also recommmended] really doesn't sound worth the risk', but now reading this morning I'm reconsidering. What are you thinking about the Synvisc that makes you think it may not be for you? You'll also know a lot more after imaging.

Stinks about the pool situation. I had a thought--could you get a doctor to prescribe water therapy for your knee and at least be able to deduct the cost of membership to a health club? Just a thought...

Fly and Pesky: I'm a physical therapist who has seen LOTS of total knee patients. The news you hear about synvisc is just your usual internet hysteria. Mcmann has the true story about it. As for "waiting" for a knee replacement: Pesky, try to get to see an orthopedic surgeon ASAP. I think your general MD doesn't have the latest facts. From what I've seen in practice, the Longer a person waits...the worse their disability/joint derangement gets....the Harder it is to get back to normal range of motion and strength. Total knee surgery is a serious operation, and not to be taken lightly, but nor is it anything to avoid if you need it. Good luck to both of you.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I have the appointment now for the Ortho, and I will advocate for myself. I didn't realize how serious it was if you needed replacement. But given how I feel, and how it's affecting me now, I can totally see my mobility being worsened if I don't do something soon.

I long for the day I can actually squat again!