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Right now I'm still recovering from my second left knee surgery in less than a year and a half.
The first surgery was in June 2017. The initial diagnosis was a medial meniscus tear (based on an MRI). During the surgery they discovered a tear in the lateral meniscus as well. The MRI also showed mucoid degeneration of the ACL. They looked at the ACL during the surgery but said it was ok. They also diagnised me as having some grade 1 chondromalacia of the patella and some grade 1 chondromalacia of the trochlea, as well as some grade 2 chondromalacia of the femoral condyle.
Fast forward to this year. My left knee started bothering me again in February/March. I tried cortisone and synvisc injections but nothing helped. Another MRI in September showed tears in the medial and lateral menisci again. The specific diagnosis from the MRI was:
Complex nondisplaced tear at the junction of the posterior horn and body of the medial meniscus
Nondisplaced tear involving the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus near its root attachment.
Mild tricompartmental chondromalacia with small focal high-grade chondral defect at the medial patellar facet with small underlying subchondral cyst.
Mild to moderate joint effusion.
Moderate to severe mucoid degeneration of the ACL fibers which otherwise intact.
The second surgery was in October. Along with fixing the menisci tears, this time they also debrided the ACL. The surgical findings were:
Plica suprapatella pouch
Grade 3 chondromalacia of the lateral patellar facet
Grade 3 chondromalacia of the trochlea
Degenerative fraying of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.
Degenerative fraying of anterior horn of medial meniscus
Degenerative fraying of anterior horn of lateral meniscus
The recovery from the second surgery has been harder than the first. After the first surgery the knee felt stiff for a while but it didn't really hurt anymore. After he second surgery it was still swollen and painful until the last couple of weeks. It still bothers me occasionally but it has gotten better.
I've been told by an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist that eventually I'll need a knee replacement. I'm not there yet, but the rapid deterioration of my knee makes me think that it will need to happen sooner rather than later. I've read most of the threads on TKR, along with searching the web, and I'm ok with it if its likely to help. So here's the question: when did you (or your doctor) decide that enough was enough and it was time for the TKR?
Right now I'm still recovering from my second left knee surgery in less than a year and a half.
The first surgery was in June 2017. The initial diagnosis was a medial meniscus tear (based on an MRI). During the surgery they discovered a tear in the lateral meniscus as well. The MRI also showed mucoid degeneration of the ACL. They looked at the ACL during the surgery but said it was ok. They also diagnised me as having some grade 1 chondromalacia of the patella and some grade 1 chondromalacia of the trochlea, as well as some grade 2 chondromalacia of the femoral condyle.
Fast forward to this year. My left knee started bothering me again in February/March. I tried cortisone and synvisc injections but nothing helped. Another MRI in September showed tears in the medial and lateral menisci again. The specific diagnosis from the MRI was:
Complex nondisplaced tear at the junction of the posterior horn and body of the medial meniscus
Nondisplaced tear involving the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus near its root attachment.
Mild tricompartmental chondromalacia with small focal high-grade chondral defect at the medial patellar facet with small underlying subchondral cyst.
Mild to moderate joint effusion.
Moderate to severe mucoid degeneration of the ACL fibers which otherwise intact.
The second surgery was in October. Along with fixing the menisci tears, this time they also debrided the ACL. The surgical findings were:
Plica suprapatella pouch
Grade 3 chondromalacia of the lateral patellar facet
Grade 3 chondromalacia of the trochlea
Degenerative fraying of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.
Degenerative fraying of anterior horn of medial meniscus
Degenerative fraying of anterior horn of lateral meniscus
The recovery from the second surgery has been harder than the first. After the first surgery the knee felt stiff for a while but it didn't really hurt anymore. After he second surgery it was still swollen and painful until the last couple of weeks. It still bothers me occasionally but it has gotten better.
I've been told by an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist that eventually I'll need a knee replacement. I'm not there yet, but the rapid deterioration of my knee makes me think that it will need to happen sooner rather than later. I've read most of the threads on TKR, along with searching the web, and I'm ok with it if its likely to help. So here's the question: when did you (or your doctor) decide that enough was enough and it was time for the TKR?
when you can't walk to the corner of your block without intense pain, it's time for a knee replacement. Been there.
I was having knee pain at about the age of 30. Went to see a doctor, he took xrays and showed them to me.......the cartilage was basically gone in both knees.
Well, that was a long time ago and I still have my "original equipment". So many changes I have made, things I now do, all to remedy the pain and dysfunction of my creaky body. I can function quite normally now, my pain is, for the most part, not that big of a deal.
I was having knee pain at about the age of 30. Went to see a doctor, he took xrays and showed them to me.......the cartilage was basically gone in both knees.
Well, that was a long time ago and I still have my "original equipment". So many changes I have made, things I now do, all to remedy the pain and dysfunction of my creaky body. I can function quite normally now, my pain is, for the most part, not that big of a deal.
Please share some of the changes that you made to remedy the pain.
I probably should have mentioned that I also have back issues (degenerative discs, disc space narrowing and desiccation, various bulges and protrusions, and worsening scoliosis) which I'm sure have some affect on my knee issues.
I probably should have mentioned that I also have back issues (degenerative discs, disc space narrowing and desiccation, various bulges and protrusions, and worsening scoliosis) which I'm sure have some affect on my knee issues.
Mom gets a shot of chicken parts in her knee. At 92.
The hockey players I know all have issues like this and go to sports medicine professionals that specialize in athletic injuries.
But you don't mention the two critical pieces: your age, and your weight.
when you can't walk to the corner of your block without intense pain, it's time for a knee replacement. Been there.
This ^^^
You will know when it is time. You will be begging your doctor to get it done ASAP. Any concerns or hesitation will be gone and you will be pleading to stop the pain by replacing the knee.
Three years in. Works great. Back to skiing the steep and deep.
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Are you a retired hockey player??
