Recently I have had a total knee replacement on my left leg. The Facebook posts on my profile provided information, humor, and support for me and others who have had or are going to have this done. I am posting my experiences here on Substack for folks who might find this information helpful.
My history around this issue includes two and a half decades of ongoing issues with my knees, particularly the left one. I had problems with it before that, but orthopedic doctors would give me a shot of cortisone and it felt better for a time. In the last 25 years doctors have insisted on knee replacement and would not give me cortisone. During some of that time, I was having to purchase my own health insurance, and I found that because of the diagnosis, I was then rated, and my insurance cost increased considerably. Then I discovered that if I did not see a doctor for this issue for three years, the diagnosis would fall off my health insurance. My intention then became to stop seeing doctors regardless until I got Medicare.
The usual medications of ibuprofen and acetaminophen helped some, but my stomach started hurting. After doing some research and checking with some of my friends who used more natural ways of dealing with health, I started using MSN, Glucosamine, and antioxidants. My knees got better, so I was not inclined to have surgery.
During this time and before I regularly swam several times weekly, so with over-the-counter medications and the natural supplements and antioxidants, my knees and all my joints felt better. Not great, but certainly within tolerable limits. Staying active was key, and I also trained and went on a hiking trip with my son.
Years later when I was in Alaska, I fell on black ice and thought for sure I was going to require knee replacement. A friend recommended a traveling doctor who worked with fascia. She found a spot on the side of my kneecap that felt like a little pea. Painfully, she moved it around until it dissipated, and my knee felt better. Using that manipulation gave me a few more years of walking without surgery.
Back in Georgia a few years ago another orthopedic surgeon laughed at my saga of avoiding replacement, told me to take a pic of the x-ray and challenged me to show that to any orthopedic surgeon and ask if I needed replacement. He inquired if I had a shot of cortisone recently. Nope, I replied. Not in over 25 years! He gave me a shot that lasted almost a year. The next shot did not last me two months. I guess my time had run out.
My resistance centered around the amount of down time required for rehab. I felt that if I waited long enough there would be new developments that would require less rehab time and less pain. Indeed, that has been the case. I have heard some say they wish they had the surgery sooner because of the increased activities available. I’ve thought about that. Also, if I had a knee replacement 23 years ago, I would have to have it redone now.