Knee replacement surgery, QUESTIONS!!!

Woke up one morning and my knee hurt really bad, but I didn't think much of it since I figured it was just sore from the day before.  Then, I could barely walk on it, so I went to see this doctor.  At first, he said that I had a meniscus tear but wanted to get an MRI because, at my age (58), he wanted to make sure that that's all that was wrong as I could have some arthritis.

Well, the MRI came back and here is what he told me in a nutshell:  he said this menicus tear was SO BAD that they couldn't even find most of it on the MRI, it wrapped around my knee and was in the back.  Then he told me I also had 3 stress fractures and NO cartilege left at all.

He handed me this booklet and told me to read it because knee replacement is "very dangerous."  So, I'm reading this horror story, and it says that blood clots are a real problem and they start you on thinners two weeks before your surgery, it also said that this doesn't always work, and if it doesn't, I would have to be in a wheetchair for about 2 months until they could do another replacement, but it ALSW said that not always can they do another replaement.  Since I live alone, it said that I would be "placed in a nursing facility" for a few weeks, until I could dress myself and do general hygiene.

It says that infection is a much higher risk in this type of surgery and I can't even get any dental work without telling them I had this surgery for 2 YEARS after the surgery!

Now, I know people that have had knee replacement surgery, and they swear by it, they tell me it's the best thing they ever did.  Nobody I know has had a problem, maybe a few minor problems, but not liek the way this doc decribed it!

I understand their is risk to everything, all surgeries have risks, but I am telling you, he made it sound like I was having my heart removed, chopped and diced, and then put back in~Basically, he had me scared to death!!

I think I need another opinion, but would like to know if anyone else has had knee replacement and if it is as absolutely as horrible as this doctor makes it sound?

thanks

[kenneltech]

Oh, one other thing.....I have no idea how this happened!  I did not bump or fall on my knee, I don't remember doing anytthing.

Anyway,that being said, how would I get so many stress fractures, and how would this have gotten so bad?  Thansk,