Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire JOINT REPLACEMENT!!!!

I've seen several threads lately on people needing, wanting or putting off joint replacement surgery.

First off, I'm not claiming some extensive expertise, but I've had my share of orthopedic surgeries.

Other health factors not withstanding, DON'T PUT OFF replacement surgery.

If you ever damage a joint, that joint immediately begins to deteriorate. Deterioration may or may not be rapid.

If you've considered or are considering joint replacement, it's probably because you're in pain.

Cortisone shots are nearly always offered. My shoulder was in such bad shape, I would have been going back for shots once a month.
"IF" you don't mind dealing with the cortisone shots, that's a personal choice, but the shots will go on forever. A replacement may be an inconvenience, but you'll eventually become accustomed to it and it will be no big deal.

The sooner you have the replacement done, the sooner the pain stops, the sooner you recover and the sooner you can go on about your life, pain free.

I don't give 2 hoots in hell how good your replacement is, it's not going to be what God gave you.
Don't whine or belly ache about what you can't do!
Figure out how to do what you've always done.
Ropes, pulleys, come-a-longs, ATV's, etc, etc...
It's not impossible, it just may take you a bit longer.

Do the research for your orthopedic surgeon. Alot depends on his/her skills and abilities. You don't want a jack leg mechanic working on your car! 😜

I am fully aware that there are many quality orthopedic surgeons out there, but if you are within range, McBride Orthopedic Hospital in Edmond, OK has an excellent staff and reputation.

And again, I'm no expert, but I am willing to answer any questions....and I'm not afraid to say, "I dunno?"!

The way my doctor said it to me was, Do it now while the rest of your body is still working.

The longer you wait it's like putting a new engine in a 600,000 mile Ford Pinto.

I was supposed to get a knee replaced last fall but the gel injection worked so well, I’m not convinced I can’t get by without it. Prior to the injection, I was basically crippled and the pain would wake me several times every night while trying to sleep… it was excruciating. But my knee has been fairly pain free ever since the injection last July. But this brings up another issue… my hips… both of them are shot and start burning like hell after walking a short distance. So even if I decided to get the knee done, my hips would still limit my activity level… so there’s a question of which joint/joints to address first. I do have an appointment next month with a wrist specialist in the same group of orthos that is going to see if he can remove some bone chips that the VA said couldn’t be taken out. I’ll talk to him about options, but if they can inject my hips and get the same results as I had with my knee, I’m not convinced that getting the gel injections wouldn’t be the better option.
FWIW, the injection was called “Gel One”…

DING! DING! DING!

WE HAVE A WINNER!

....and don't be afraid to put that engine in that Pinto!
It may be slow, but it will go many more miles! LOL!

"Do the research for your orthopedic surgeon. A lot depends on his/her skills and abilities. "

Talk to the Physical Therapists in your area . They'll tell you who's good and who's not .

Another in the OKC area is Dr Reddick. Southwest Orthopedics. Has it together. Did my left hip two years ago in August. Was sooo much better than the guy that did my right one 6 years before in KC. Hips and knees are nothing to delay. Go for it

I got a bad shoulder that’s why I never post pics of dead deer, my gunsmith work, things I’ve built, places I’ve traveled to, my college transcripts

I haven't had any replacements, but I've had orthopedic surgeries on a shoulder, ankle, wrist, and both knees. My rule of thumb is to have surgery when I get to the point that the pain disturbs my sleep or prevents me from doing what I want to do.

I don't know if artificial knee joints have improved, but not too long ago the advice if you were relatively young was to wait as long g as you could because the joints wore out and might need to be replaced.

Asking a surgeon if you need surgery is like asking a barber if you need a haircut.

This is where I wound up, when the pain wouldn't reside in bed trying to sleep. I had a couple of cortisone shots a year since 1988, 5 arthroscopic surgeries, and those gel injections. When the shots don't work more than a month, time to get a new knee. My surgeon did recommend waiting as long as possible, but also suggested when the above is true, it becomes a quality of life issue. That's when I decided to go ahead with the TKR's.

I have a general practitioner doctor and a surgeon, two different people.

The hip got to where I couldn't sit in a rocking chair comfortably.
The shoulder kept me awake at nights.
The trigger thumb would wake me up at night.
My ankle hurt every time my foot hit the ground. They "fused" the ankle to stop the "bone-on-bone" contact.

Question: Why would you wait until the pain was unbearable?
I did wait with both my hip and my shoulder.
After being released from doctor's care, all I could think of was. "Why didn't I get that done sooner?"

I was going to have both knees replaced last year but then I broke my back.

Once we are finished drilling I will get them done. Or maybe before if I can't stand it any longer.

I had a gel injection a few years ago, that may have helped. But both knees are shot. Have had both knees a High Tibial Osteotomy which gave me more than ten years extra.

Buoyed by the positive posts!

I am less than impressed after hip replacement. Skipping any and all other procedures.

Be careful with bad hips. Lack of blood flow can be a real problem. Friend had it done because of severe pain and blood flow had been reduced. They are recovering slow but sure.


Clyde

I had started peeing some after taking Flo-max for two months, was really wanting to blow off prostate surgery. My doc said I best do it now before some other health issue makes me unable to stand the procedure. I’m thankful I listened to him. Best do it while you can!!

Tough deal. Hips are way easier than knees too.

Surgery should be the last option. When you are in your 40's or 50's maybe so. I could use two new knees, two hips, another shoulder replacement, couple of hand surgeries and a stomach surgery. Half of that, I would be layed up for 3-5 years . I will be eighty in a few months. If I figure e I might live to be 92-93. I'm not about to give up g half of what life I have left.

GF manages a orthopedic surgery and she says to look for a retired Military surgeon. Universally they are the best she has worked with.

MartinStrummer: I (in my non-professional OPINION!) am convinced (by Doctors!) that once a joint is "damaged" it is next to impossible for that joint damage to repair itself.
Deteriorization (arthritis, bone spurs etc!) of joints will follow damage.
I do, though, thank God for the many Cortisone shots I received in my duty related damaged left knee!
Those Cortisone shots allowed me to do things (Hunting, fishing, hiking, puppy style, crawling and standing for extended periods of time) that I was pained to do or could not do before the injections started!
I received Cortisone injections in my knee for several years before I had that joint replaced.
Cortisone does NOT repair anything but, in my instance, it allowed me to resume many activities (including sleeping!) without pain.
Do not poo-poo Cortisone.
I consider it a blessing.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy