Spinoff: Double Knee Replacement prevention

[Minerva Mouse]

After reading about Mrs Ciz., and others experiences with knee replacement(s) I have a question.

I am 45 (almost) and a double knee replacement is defiantly in my future, as I already have little to no cartridge left in my knees. Question is, have any of you found any supplements or exercises that actually worked and delayed your need for a replacement?

AND, if you could go back 10 years and tell your your younger self something to maybe stop replacement day from coming or at least slow it down, what would you say? Thanks.

 

[Jennasis]

DH did cortisone shots, PT, synvisc and stem cell and he still wound up with a TKR at 43.

If you have bone on bone, the other stuff won't help. He is thrilled with his TKR. Yes, recovery SUCKED and was LONG but he regrets nothing.

 

[Snowysmom]

I had both knees replaced, basically bone on bone. I exercised every day, walking mostly, and some yoga specially for people with arthritis. It did keep me mobile for a bit longer I believe. But, since having the knee replacements, my quality of life is so much better. I have been traveling all over the place and it is great to walk with no pain. I go to the gym 3 times a week plus walk on my lunch hour to keep everything strong and fairly limber. Some people say chondroitin supplements work for them but it didn't for me. I am so happy I did it.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Two things may help - keeping your weight down, and going to the doctor sooner with knee pain to get cortisone or gel injections. By the time I finally went (8 years after my second knee surgery), the cartilage was already gone. Tearing both my medial meniscuses when I was younger and active didn't help matters at all. Arthritis often attacks an injured joint.

But even then, the two things above may not prevent you from needing a replacement. My DH was a college football player. He has been an active exerciser his whole life. He carried maybe 15 extra pounds max off and on over the last few years. He had to have double hip replacement done last year (July and October) at age 51. Heredity and an super active lifestyle did him in.

 

[John VN]

NEVER a football player or any other impact type of sports but bowed legs from birth resulted in medial pressure causing bone on bone that could not be resolved without the use of childhood braces or HIGH TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY SURGERY. Because the wear was gradual no pain resulted until into 30's/40's at which time the number of orthos I went to said the temporary fixes already mentioned would simply be waisting my $$$$$. Drugs were available for pain reduction and to lessen inflammation but instead I opted to improve my diet by virtually eliminating meat, dairy, added sugars and INCREASING spices, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole fruits while also increasing low impact exercising.

Dual knee replacements will be in my future ONLY after the High Tibial Osteotomy corrections take place. I've already had scans to determine how large of a wedge each tibia needs to be removed to straighten my legs for equal joint pressure and it's only finding the right time to schedule my surgery so it does not interfere with my 2 to 3 times/week 100+ mile bicycle rides. Just because I'm 70yo this year and retired does not mean I have lots of free time to have surgery.

 

[shh]

As others have pointed out, there's no guarantee that anything will prevent it. But as someone with a physical therapist in the family who has 30+ years of experience in the field dealing with knee problems, he has frequently discussed with us how excess weight puts a tremendous strain on knees - which are such a complex and vulnerable area of the body.

Even a few extra pounds is a lot of pressure on the knees - because what many patients don't understand is that it's not a 1 to 1 ratio - i.e., 5 or 10 extra pounds on the body = 5 to 10 extra lbs on the knees. The strain on the knees MULTIPLIES w/every extra lb of body weight.

I am not a professional and can't remember exact stat, so don't hold me to it, but something like 5 to 1. For every extra lb of body weight over normal, knee is subjected to 5x impact.

Unfortunately, because some patients get extremely offended and insulted when a PT tries to mention anything about weight- even if the PT is polite and respectful about it, he's not allowed to mention it. These patients have complained to his boss and he is told to say nothing and just treat them - even when patients are 100, 200+ or more lbs overweight and and wondering why they have knee pain! He has to keep his mouth shut or get fired.

It's one of the reasons he's burnt out and hates the PT field now....sad.

 

[brockash]

What are your thoughts on running? I know a few ppl in my life who have had and/or are on the verge of knee replacements and all of them have said how their Drs have told them about how running is such a bad idea in terms of knees/impact for cardio. They say obviously swimming is best, but that almost anything (other than I assume jump excercises) are better options for cardio as opposed to running due to the damage it does to your knees. I haven't heard anyone on here mention that, so I'm just curious.

 

[tvguy]

My knees started bothering me about 6 months ago, I go to the Doctor in 2 weeks so we will see. At almost 63 it could just be arthritis.
At least in my circle of friends, when it comes to knee (and hip replacement) surgery at a young age the common denominator has been extreme sports like snow skiing.
My mom was a surgical nurse on the orthopedic team and she was always talking about doing knee replacement surgery on people about age 40, and how they had destroyed their knees skiing. Needless to say, I was never allowed to ski as a kid. Plus, my mom was from Canada and fled to California to get away from the snow. She never understood why anyone voluntarily went to the snow, let alone PAID to ski.

 

[Jennasis]

What are your thoughts on running? I know a few ppl in my life who have had and/or are on the verge of knee replacements and all of them have said how their Drs have told them about how running is such a bad idea in terms of knees/impact for cardio. They say obviously swimming is best, but that almost anything (other than I assume jump excercises) are better options for cardio as opposed to running due to the damage it does to your knees. I haven't heard anyone on here mention that, so I'm just curious.

No running...no skiing...and no tennis.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

What are your thoughts on running? I know a few ppl in my life who have had and/or are on the verge of knee replacements and all of them have said how their Drs have told them about how running is such a bad idea in terms of knees/impact for cardio. They say obviously swimming is best, but that almost anything (other than I assume jump excercises) are better options for cardio as opposed to running due to the damage it does to your knees. I haven't heard anyone on here mention that, so I'm just curious.

Running is how I messed up my knees in the first place! It led to two medial meniscus tears. It might have had something to do with my gait - I walk/run on the outer edges of my feet (supinate). Who knows.

 

[John VN]

Running is how I messed up my knees in the first place! It led to two medial meniscus tears. It might have had something to do with my gait - I walk/run on the outer edges of my feet (supinate). Who knows.

Just wondering if you were "properly fitted" for shoes and were also checked by a Sports Ortho before beginning to run??

My knees/shoulders ortho, 10+ years with Cincinnati Reds, told me in no uncertain terms that he would do my knees BUT no more marathons/half marathons/5Ks even though I only walk. My 100+ mile bicycle rides up to 3 times/week, swimming, just casual walking = NO PROBLEMS.

BTW, I will have him do my knees because he was the ONLY ORTHO to mention the High Osteotomy before replacements PLUS he was also the only ortho out of 5 who said that 2 days after a total right shoulder replacement I could be back on my bicycle. Had the shoulder replaced but waited 3 days to return to bicyle riding.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Just wondering if you were "properly fitted" for shoes and were also checked by a Sports Ortho before beginning to run??

My knees/shoulders ortho, 10+ years with Cincinnati Reds, told me in no uncertain terms that he would do my knees BUT no more marathons/half marathons/5Ks even though I only walk. My 100+ mile bicycle rides up to 3 times/week, swimming, just casual walking = NO PROBLEMS.

BTW, I will have him do my knees because he was the ONLY ORTHO to mention the High Osteotomy before replacements PLUS he was also the only ortho out of 5 who said that 2 days after a total right shoulder replacement I could be back on my bicycle. Had the shoulder replaced but waited 3 days to return to bicyle riding.

I started running in high school and continued until my mid 40s, so I didn’t get checked by a sports ortho before I started. I did get fitted for running shoes in my early 40s at a very reputable running shoe store in my city, and they recommended the WRONG shoes!!! Like I said earlier, I supinate. They sold me shoes for someone who pronates. I didn’t know any better and trusted their recommendation. When I started to complain about knee pain, one of my best friends, who is a physical therapist, asked to see my shoes. She knew right away what the problem was after looking at the wear pattern on the bottom. Lesson learned - do your own homework!!!’