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My grandmother had a double knee replacement at 92...at 104 she's doing very well and even manages to get on the back of my bike from time to time. I suppose it depends on the health of the person at the time.
If your mom is mentally competent and otherwise in sound condition ( which a surgeon and anesthesiologist would take into consideration...no doctor wants a patient to die on them) then remember, she's the one that suffers the lack of mobility and pain and is the one to decide.
You and your siblings have no right to condemn her to a life as an invalid by "convincing' her not to IF she prefers to take the chance.
Just to let you know, my mom had very extensive abdominal surgery at 89 , did well and lived on and active to the age of 96.
I don't want to condemn my mother to anything. I want to be assured she will be better off as a result of the surgery, and not worse.
My main concern is how she will function after general anesthesia. Post-operative cognitive dysfunction is a real possibility in her age group, and I already can see evidence confusion if she takes pain meds.
She is a widow, but living on her own with a good social life. Should she not be capable of playing mah jong or taking part in her book club, etc, that will likely hasten her downward spiral more so than the physical limitations.
I don't want to condemn my mother to anything. I want to be assured she will be better off as a result of the surgery, and not worse.
My main concern is how she will function after general anesthesia. Post-operative cognitive dysfunction is a real possibility in her age group, and I already can see evidence confusion if she takes pain meds.
She is a widow, but living on her own with a good social life. Should she not be capable of playing mah jong or taking part in her book club, etc, that will likely hasten her downward spiral more so than the physical limitations.
I certainly cannot guarantee she will not be affected but can only offer our experience to give you some hope that if she does elect to have it done, it doesn't always result in negative after affects.
Also, if the confusion wears off once the pain meds have, so might any after the anesthesia does ( if there is any)
Best of luck to her ....and you...in whichever decisions is made.
In the nearly nine years I've worked at my LTACH I've never seen anyone come in because of a knee surgery. Lots of cardiac and cancer patients but never from anything as routine as a knee surgery. That doesn't mean things can't go wrong, but chances are your mother will be fine in a couple of months. If she lives to be 97 it would be worth it. My husbands grandmother fell and broke her hip at around 92, had surgery and lived until 96. She was a tough old bird.
I don't want to condemn my mother to anything. I want to be assured she will be better off as a result of the surgery, and not worse.
My main concern is how she will function after general anesthesia. Post-operative cognitive dysfunction is a real possibility in her age group, and I already can see evidence confusion if she takes pain meds.
She is a widow, but living on her own with a good social life. Should she not be capable of playing mah jong or taking part in her book club, etc, that will likely hasten her downward spiral more so than the physical limitations.
I forgot to mention that one of the things I believe caused my father problems was the anesthesia and new pain meds on top of pain meds he had taken before the surgery.
If at all possible, my advice would be not to take any pain meds prior to surgery should she decide to go ahead with it.
I think if he had gone into surgery clean with anesthesia and pain meds administered after as needed he would have fared much better. He did take some pain meds after but I don't recall his pain being excruciating or unmanageable. The dose required was not enough that it made him fuzzy mentally.
I guess I only have anecdotal evidence for you: My grandfather is now 91 years old. When he was 87 doctors said he needed hip replacement if he wanted to walk for more years. He had actually had one hip and one knee on the same side repaired. It was simple joint issues from old age.
At 89 he got an infection in his foot that spread quickly (simply because of his advanced age, he has no other illnesses or medical issues) and they had to amputate his leg below the knee. He will never walk again.
Now, I have a friend who is 102 years old. She lives close to my grandpa and they're friends. She walks around and has a mind sharp as a tack and hasn't gotten any infections. It's luck of the draw.
Has anyone here had a knee or hip replacement done with regional instead of general anesthesia? This would be my choice for myself.
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