Plastic knee anyone?

After having a Arth?????? knee op 6 months ago things are not good. All was improving in fits and starts until 3 or 4 weeks ago when things appear not to be improving or going backwards. Running is not yet an option. The main work was on the inner/front part of the knee and I was told that they took the angle grinder to the base of my femur. Have to return to specialist in a week or two and am suspecting, from other meetings that they may suggest some plastic bits.
What happens? I have heard mixed reports about the success of this sort of thing. Am tempted to say yes as nromal walking is very uncomfortable although cycling is no issue. However I don’t want to be completely shafted. Other joints are perhaps not as they should be so I reckon this could be the start of a slipery slope. Do plastic knees work or are they a waste of time for some one who is still active and wants to run again?

Sorry should have been in “Chat” . If anyone can move it…..

Don’t know about knees but would be keen to hear peoples view on ankles too.

Arthoscopy 2 years back eased things up for a while but now walking with a stick. Strangly riding is much better for it.

My mother has had both knees done, the first about 10 years ago when she was 70. One worked like magic, she hobbled in on sticks, walked out a week later without them. The other has had a succession of problems, it got infected shortly after being put in and again last year after she fell and twisted it. On both occasions it had to come out and they put a spacer in and kept her dosed up with high powered anti biotics till it was all clear. With the spacer they put her leg in a splint so it couldn’t bend and she had to hobble about on crutches. The joint is back in now and seems to be working well [touching every bit of wood I can find].

When this stuff works, its brilliant, you get your old life back, but the problems can be pretty major. It is worth persevering, it has been a long and rocky road for my mother, but she is properly mobile again and pretty good for nearly 80.

I had some major work on my right wrist about 18 months ago and haven’t regretted it for a second. Swamp girl has one plastic hip and is getting the other done soon, we are a right bunch of crocks here, nearly as many replacement parts as my bike.

swamp_boy – anyone in you family tried an ankle yet?

lol @ WCA

Have done some research as I will have to have a knee joint replacement in the next year or two. The issue with the knee joint as opposed to say hips is that there is not so much bone to bolt the replacement joint to. Currently knee joints seem to be lasting less than 10 years, but that is due to failure of the bond between the new joint and the bone rather than the artificial joint itself. Seems that technology is moving pretty rapidly, so I think that the longer you can hold off the better

Well seeing as you ask WCA, yes.

I had a small fracture across that lumpy bit on the inside of the right one and they screwed it back on. That was collateral damage following a major disagreement with a chainsaw and a tree where I nearly lost the left foot [well before ballistic nylon and kevlar]. That was rebuilt and works fine 32 years on, just a bit stiff now and again.

Perhaps I should take over you user name? 😆

My consultant has told me that I have the right knee of a sixty year which at 38 is pretty bad news. Cycling is fine but no running for 5-6 years.

He says that it won’t be replaced until I’m 60 so I have to be careful.

I have been referred to an osteo-arthritis (sp) specialist who will inject the knee with cortisone. I am tempted but any subsequent injections do not have the effect of the first so I am holding of this for the moment.