Why won't they fix me?

[Shelwoy]

I used to weigh over 450 pounds, had bypass surgery in 2003, and lost 200 of it, but my knees took a beating from the weight and I am always having issues with them,right now I am in so much pain- it really stinks.I just started a new joblast week, it seems the more active I am-the more it hurts and swells up.
I am just venting because doctors don't want to go in and fix them.I don't know how to relay to them how much pain I am in because they never seem to believe me.How frustrating!

[OtisDaMan]

Losing 200 pounds is no easy task. I assume that walking would have been a factor, or at least some activity involving weight-bearing on the knees. If you have lost the weight very quickly you may have also lost some muscle too. It may be that losing more weight (if you can) and also concentrating on exercises that specifically build up muscles throughout the legs (eg some gym exercises involving weight machines) may compensate to some degree. Of course, it depends upon how savage the pain is, and on the nature of the cause of the pain. As a thought, if you are able to handle bikeriding then that may help develop the legs without placing too much strain upon the knees. Another possibility is to do some hydrotherapy.

All of the above is much easier if the pain is minimised; some decent medication may be required there, and you may need to experiment with different medications before finding a satisfactory one. That requires the doctor to respond I guess.

Finally, a friend of mine had both knees replaced and a hip replacement, due to early arthritis. He was in his early forties when they did the surgery. He noted that they wanted to hold off for as long as possible, due to his relatively young age. Perhaps that is a roadblock in your case.

All the best,

OtisDaMan

[sacvic50]

Shelwoy.. congrats on the weight loss.  The reason they don't want to fix you is probably based more on money than what is best for you.  In general the insurance companies ie: drs don't like to do a total knee replacement until you are in your 50s.  Reason being that currently a new knee has a lifespan of about 15 years (if you are lucky), They hope that if they can make you wait that you will be less active, and probably won't live long enough to require a second or third go around on the surgery, thus costing them a bunch more money.  Also the second synthetic knee that they put in tends to be more problematic than the first one.. Also if you are not at your optimal weight you put more wear and tear on the knee which also can shorten the life span of your knee and excess weight also makes you a less desirable surgery subject.  
Have you been told you need a total knee replacement but that you are too young?
I hust myself at work when I was 37, and they stalled around and made me wait, kept dealing with the problem with ever increasing amounts of opiates, and refused to do the surgery that they knew I needed the day I hurt myself until I was so crippled my leg was collapsing, before they finally approved my knee replacement at 45.  By that time I had totally trashed the other leg overcompensating for the injured side that instead of needing one new knee I needed two. And It ended up being the second uninjured side that ending up causing me so many problems and infections that a year ago they had to cut it off to save my life.

So my advice is ..if you need a new knee to have a normal life (I don't care if you are 12), and 300tons scream until they hear you.  Do not let them deprive you of a normal life because it isn't cost effective for them.  Make them hear you.  You don''t want to be strong out on narcs in constant pain waiting to get older.  It is no way to live.  I wish I wouldn't have been reasonable. I should have stood up for myself and made them fix the problem and not just band aid a solution that was good only for them. Don't be reasonable... Be a raving ***** if that is what it takes to make them take you seriously.  
It really ***** that in our culture one of the diagnostic tools the med, community uses to guage need is whether you are willing to just let them blow you off.  They figure if you aren't being a major pain in their behinds that you most not really be that bad off.  Regardless of what they see on your x-rays and MRIs.  Your quality of life shouldn't have to be based on the concept that the squeaky wheel gets the grease but that is really what happened to me.

best wishes
Vickey

[nick30]

Celebrex also has some potential problems. it has been linked with increased risk of heart attack and stroke(along with vioxx). I was taken off it for this reason. with you formerly having a weight issue you might want to try another one. best to talk to your dr and pharmacist about it. but there are certainly quite a few to choose from and hopefully your dr will find one that gives you good relief from pain.

Nick.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Shelwoy,

Congratulations on your weight lose. I am sorry to hear about your painful knees. You do not say why the surgeons will not repair your knees. Sometimes they wait until they deem them "bad" enough before performing a knee replacement, especially if you are relatively young.  

However in the mean time there are medications that can help ease your discomfort. There are some good NSAID's that if not contraindicated are effective. My sister has experienced good pain releif with Celebrex, others have not found it as effective.

Please let us know how you are doing. We are here to support you in any way that we can. Take care and best of luck, Tuck