Replacement Ankle Surgery...........
- Thread starter Colorado Cowboy
- Start date
Dave,
I'm guessing with you being an avid outdoorsman, you've put your knee replacement to the test. My knee surgeon cautioned me about having a knee replacement at too young of an age. That they can wear out and it's hard to re-replace them. I'm 60 now, so I'm closer to the age he thought would be appropriate to do it. I've had 5 invasive knee surgeries already and don't look forward to many more if I can help it. I'm afraid magnets will start sticking to me.
Are you still satisfied with yours? I think I might want some hydraulics and a zerk fitting installed too.
I'm guessing with you being an avid outdoorsman, you've put your knee replacement to the test. My knee surgeon cautioned me about having a knee replacement at too young of an age. That they can wear out and it's hard to re-replace them. I'm 60 now, so I'm closer to the age he thought would be appropriate to do it. I've had 5 invasive knee surgeries already and don't look forward to many more if I can help it. I'm afraid magnets will start sticking to me.
Are you still satisfied with yours? I think I might want some hydraulics and a zerk fitting installed too.
I has a knee replacement 12 years ago and it is really great. The key is the physical therapy. Good luck.
hoshour
Veteran member
The doctors told me to go until I just couldn't do it anymore without a replacement knee. So, when I couldn't walk more than a block without my knee swelling up and I had tried cortisone injections and such I said it was time. When they had cracked open my knee back in high school (before arthroscopes) they just took out the torn meniscus on the outside. They took the whole meniscus which they don't do anymore but it was just the lateral portion of the knee that was affected.
When I had the knee replaced, I had worn through the cartilage that covers the end of the bones and had been wearing the bones themselves down to where I was knock-kneed on that side and it was starting to give me hip pain. That was another factor, I didn't want to get to where I had to replace another joint.
I'm not a doctor, but my doctor said that the replacement joint doesn't commonly wear out. One of two things happen.
1) The articulating surfaces wear down. They can be replaced without getting a whole new joint, so every 2-3 years they X-ray that knee to see how its doing.
2) the metal rods that are inserted into the tibia and fibula (the upper and lower leg bones) can come loose. That happened on older models because as the surfaces wore, the particles would drift down and irritate the lower leg bone where it is adhered to the metal and the rod would come loose.
Newer models don't have that issue. For one thing, the surfaces are much, much more durable. I've had mine 8 years and there is no sigfnificant wear and that's with me at the gym on the elliptical or treadmill or sometimes the stair climber and doing classes similar to cross-fit that involve squats, lunges and burpees, etc.
That bone-to-rod adhesion can also come loose from jarring, so when I told my doctor that I was starting to do some running on the treadmill he told me to stop immediately. So, I stick to the aerobic machines and the classes I mentioned, plus I occasionally do stairs or go hiking. When the class is doing jumping jacks or skipping rope I do something different with my feet planted on the ground. Cycling or swimming would also be good if I liked them more.
Hope that story helps. I always tell people to get it done when they really need it and to have a super-specialist at a major medical center do it. I've heard too many stories of people whose joint replacement did not turn out well and it usually turns out that it was not done by somebody well-known in that field that does these things all day.
If I were you, I would lean strongly to having it done in Seattle, San Francisco or Denver. No offense to your doctor but this is one surgery where you need a top-notch doc that does no other kinds of orthopedic surgeries because if it goes wrong, you're up the proverbial creek.
Last edited:
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
- 1,638
- 90
Hoshour,
Your story is very much like mine. My first knee surgery was in 1970, take out the cartilage and let you go. I've had a total knee replacement for 12 years and it is great, Dr say comparing xrays from original surgery with one this spring, cannot see any wear or changes. I just hope my ankle is as successful. The reason my ankle went was because I had the knee totally worn out and they wouldn't do a new knee because I was "too young" My how technology has changed!
Your story is very much like mine. My first knee surgery was in 1970, take out the cartilage and let you go. I've had a total knee replacement for 12 years and it is great, Dr say comparing xrays from original surgery with one this spring, cannot see any wear or changes. I just hope my ankle is as successful. The reason my ankle went was because I had the knee totally worn out and they wouldn't do a new knee because I was "too young" My how technology has changed!
ElkTrout
Veteran member
Update..
Been 12 days since the surgery and everything is going smooth. Pain mostly gone. It does throb when I've spent too much time in a regular chair(computer) or using my knee scooter. Need to keep it elevated as much as possible. Can take shower now, that really helps. Have to be carful when I go out. Plan on where we go so there are not stairs/steps and even surfaces. Wife and I are going out for breakfast this am. I will keep you all posted from time to time.
Been 12 days since the surgery and everything is going smooth. Pain mostly gone. It does throb when I've spent too much time in a regular chair(computer) or using my knee scooter. Need to keep it elevated as much as possible. Can take shower now, that really helps. Have to be carful when I go out. Plan on where we go so there are not stairs/steps and even surfaces. Wife and I are going out for breakfast this am. I will keep you all posted from time to time.
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
Good to hear. Glad the pain is fading. Well, keep it up and be patient. Staying patient would be the hardest for me, but after the rehab. my injured limbs tended to be even stronger than the other one, so it is worth the effort for sure.
RICMIC
Veteran member
Good to hear CC. I have never known anyone with an ankle replacement before. I am surrounded by folks with knee and hip replacements. Did you perhaps have a horse fall on it or step in a gopher hole? I read a Robert Heinlan book years ago called "Time Enough for Love". It was a science fiction story where they just kept replacing parts as they wore out and you essentially lived forever.
Heck CC, you may still have a couple hundred more years of hunting in your future.
Heck CC, you may still have a couple hundred more years of hunting in your future.
Don K
Very Active Member
Glad all went well and on your on your way to recovery. After driving through the awesome town you live in I can see you will have plenty of places to do therapy with all them steep mountains not far away.
So do they give you a catalog with replacements and you get to choose options like a new car brochure?
So do they give you a catalog with replacements and you get to choose options like a new car brochure?
I'll take 20!
I played football at USC and hurt my knee (over 50 years ago). Had several surgeries on over the years and in 2002, had a replacement knee(which is great!). My knee was not straight for all those years prior to the replacement and when the implanted the new knee, leg was straight. All of the years walking, hiking & jogging on the ankle cause it to wear a certain way. After new knee it change the geometry of my foot strike and the ankle just wore out.
Not exactly but close! They actually used a new type of c scan and transferred all the data/measurements from my ankle scans to the mfgr of the new joint. The implants were then custom made for me using this data. Pretty good stuff IMHO!So do they give you a catalog with replacements and you get to choose options like a new car brochure?
xtreme
Very Active Member
I sure wish you continued recovery CC. I need both ankles replace but the left one is by far the worse. The only one I know locally did not go all that well. I have been watching your post with keen interest.
I'll continue to post updates during my rehab. It is a big decision as ankles don't have the history that knees (I had on 12 years ago) and hips do. The important thing is to do a lot research and ask lots of questions. My Dr, is pretty young and had done 50 or so ankles, but had good recommendations from several areas. I have a hunting friend who had one done about 6 mos ago and he has had lots of frustration with his. He did recover enough to hunt this fall, but still is experiencing some problems (swelling & pain). I know that even tho I was walking without pain and limping, it took about a year for my knee to totally heal and regain all it's strength back.
I've got all winter to rehab and do PT, then build up leg strength next summer for hunting next fall.
Timberstalker
Veteran member
OregonJim
Very Active Member