Thanks Barb. You'll have to let us know what your doc says on Friday after your appt. And yes, after all the research I've done, knee replacement surgery is the end option - and it does not always work for everybody. If your daughter-in-law's aunt is still suffering after surgery, research confirms it probably will not ever get better. Sometimes the doctor has to go back in and re-do the surgery - or what usually happens, people choose a different doctor to re-do (or "clean up") the surgery. Can't blame her for not wanting to have the other knee done. I know there are 2 different injections given, and both come with their own set of problems - infection is one, accidentally hitting a nerve is another - among many. I think this happens in a relatively small amount of people, though.
Never thought I'd ever be faced with this type of thing. Of course, I never knew about TM either..... hugs, Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 11:56 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] Need some help please Hi Linda, I'm so sorry that your trip to the out of state surgeon proved to be a disappointment. Interesting you should ask about knee surgery and options. I am possibly looking at a knee replacement as well. I see the orthopedist on Friday, referred by my primary. He said it was the end option, but to not miss the appointment as it was bone on bone as well. I had a torn meniscus years ago, and they say that's very typical to need more surgery later on down the road. Anyway, my son and daughter in-law just got back from a trip to visit her aunt. Her aunt had a knee replacement done a while back, and said it wasn't pleasant, to say the least. She still suffers to this day and needs one in the other knee and won't do it. Her doctor injects her knee every 3 months with cartilage I believe. Now, I don't know anything else about it, just that she'd rather do this. I don't know if this is an option for you, but you can inquire about it. Hugs, Barbara A -----Original Message----- From: L T CHERPESKI <[email protected]> To: TM List <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, Aug 11, 2009 8:38 pm Subject: [TMIC] Need some help please Hi everybody, I'm hoping you guys can help point me in the right direction. There are so many of us on the TM site there's just got to be someone who knows somebody with the same or similar dilemma. Most of you know that I've had Sjogrens for 20+ years (unfortunately, progressive and aggressive) and 7 yrs ago TM came into my life. I am on heavy chemo meds (Imuran and Rituxan infusions) to suppress my immune system to keep it from attacking my body. Last Sept I had a "minor" surgery to repair a torn meniscus in my knee, and my body went into the longest, hardest relapse I've ever had. I'm just now getting my arms and hands "back" - I think this is as much as I'll get this time. Almost everything else has gradually come back. My one huge problem is that my KNEES took the biggest hit - my doctors said it was because they were the weakest part of my body at the time. I have infected knees (right one to the bone) and am walking (trying) on bone on bone knees. They both need to be replaced. And, I have TM, so already my walking is not that pretty. I was sent out of state to a surgeon who does a special knee replacement surgery that is less invasive. Long trip, big disappointment. He will NOT do surgery on me either because of the "aftermath" - said it would be like doing brain surgery due to my autoimmune diseases. Well that's fine - I have always wanted to do anything but the surgery, but was given no OTHER choices. And, I am still being given NO options. So I've done some of my own research. What about physical therapy to get my thigh and quad muscles built up so they can take some of the load off my knee joints? (I'm a fairly small person so we're not talking about losing 50 lbs and that would make things all better) Water therapy? I'm not quite sure how to get these muscles built up when my knees hurt so bad I can hardly bend them, but there has to be a way. My doctors have kind of given up on me, which at first shocked me, now I'm just really mad. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks guys, Linda
