KNEE REPLACEMENT? NOT!!!!!!!

I picked up some valuable information this week, courtesy of my general internist, Dr. Smith. I was having my annual physical, and we were discussing the predicament with my knees, particularly the left. I explained the cavalier attitude of the orthopedic surgeon (Dr. Israelite - ha! I'm naming names), who reviewed the "procedure" the same way one gives instructions on changing a light bulb. I also reviewed the complete incompetence of his office staff - especially his medical assistant.

BTW, when I told Dr. Israelite that I lived on the 2nd floor and had a dog who required 3 walks a day, his response was, "Well, you won't be walking your dog." Yeah - and I wont' be earning an income either, bub.

My GP was not amused. Here's the info he relayed, and I hope that it will help even one person make a better decision.

1. The rehab period after knee replacement can often be longer than the predicted 8 weeks.
2. The rehab is intense and painful.
3. For those of us with fibromyalgia, we may not be able to withstand the rigors of this PT (aka "pain and torture") and could end up exacerbating the FM, thus, extending our period of disability and discomfort.

We came to a mutual decision that I would seek care from a rheumatology group to whom he sends numerous patients. I contacted the group and was greeted by a real person on the phone - no voice mail limbo! After a few brief questions and answers exchanged, I was offered an appointment and was told that I would receive written instructions and forms in the mail. I was also told that they do not like their patients to have to be responsible for carrying around Synvisc injectable vials. THEY keep it in the office! THEY take care of everything!

So, bottom line: IF you go to an orthopedic surgeon, who recommends a knee replacement, STOP! Talk to your family doctor. Ask him/her to help you find another solution. If you're willing to manage the pain with medications and isometric exercise (if appropriate) and to accept that you have to make adjustments in how you get around (stairs one at a time, even using a cane) in order to postpone surgery, even for a year or 2, please give it a try. The outcomes from knee replacements are not all sunshine, as surgeons and knee replacement manufacturers would have us believe. Besides, the technology is improving and may be much better by the time I get to the point when I sign the surgical consent and book a room. But it will NOT be with Dr. Israelite!!!!!!!!

Oh - what happened to the Synvisc vials that I'd been storing here at home? I called the bio-tech firm, and they sent me a pre-paid FedEx box to ship them back - no charge!!!! So, three cheers for US Bioservices!!!!!!!