Re: Boston University 2011-2012 Part V: At least 6 more games, maybe 13... who's with
Serious question...I have a friend who is in his 40s. He was told that he was "too young" to have a knee replacement because they don't last more than 10-15 years and you can only do it once.
Is this an outdated philosophy??
Yeah, it's outdated. It also doesn't make any sense if your knee is really a mess. My knee wouldn't bend and I had a real hard time getting around and the pain was incredible. When they ask you about rating your pain from 1-10, I know have a firm idea what a 10 is.
I had my right knee done 3 1/2 years ago at age 42. The first guy I saw said he wouldn't do it and I should wait. I then moved directly to a second opinion and the guy took one look and said: Let's get you on the surgical schedule. He said when it wears out, we'll just do it again. He looked at my left knee x-rays and told me that that one would be ready in 3-4 years and here I am, right on schedule. I unfortunately am going to a different guy this time since my first one is no longer available.
As the Pro said, find a new guy and one who specializes in them and does a lot of them. The new guy I am going to see does 6-7 surgeries a week, either knees or hips.
I would highly recommend to your friend to do it if he is having a lot of pain and decrease in quality of life. I admit it is a major surgery and there is a good amount of rehab time (I was out of work for 6 weeks) but it is unbelievable the difference it can make in your life. I can't wait to get the other one done and then be fully mobile again for the first time in the 6 or so years since I first started having real problems with my right one.
One advantage of doing it at a younger age is that normally you can skip the stay in the Rehab after surgery and recover at home. They have a physical therapist that will come in for like 3 weeks along with visiting nurses to check your bloodwork since you are on thinners to prevent blood clots. At 3 weeks you are ready to travel for your physical therapy.
It can get a bit boring during recovery since you do a lot of laying around, either elevating to drain swelling or in the knee "machine" which bends your knee to help get averything stretched out. I was lucky last time with my surgery happening to coincide with the start of Summer Olympics. This year I am planning for it to coincide. There may be no hockey, but I have found that water polo is very entertaining of the pain meds.
If your friend wants to talk to anyone who has been through, I would be more than happy to fill him on my experiences.