Cutting on Knees

I posted some comments on another thread. Looking for some feedback on knee surgery.

During the MS150 in October my knee pain was so bad that on the second day I pedaled the last 7 miles with one leg. My MRI late last year showed 6 minor problems with my left knee including some rough edges on one tendon and some rough surface inside the actual knee joint. The orthopedist is a bicyclist himself and was very empathetic but really recommended doing the surgery to correct the issues.

Therefore I will be having my knee 'scoped' and cleaned up within the next week and a half. I'm off the bike for almost 6 weeks after that
Though I can start retraining on a stationary recumbent in only a week or so.


If anyone knows a good reason why I should not have this surgery, feel free to give me some tips about that.

 

Bill,

Has your doctor said what the cause of the pain is? Arthritis, old injury etc? Have you tried physical therapy? There was a very large study done recently which said only about 50% of patients that had their knee scopes were better afterwards. The same study said the percentage that got better with PT was also about 50%.

There is an old saying in the medical community. Don't go to a medical doctor unless you want a pill and don't go see a surgeon unless you want a scar.

The patients that I see who have the best outcome with Knee scopes are those who have torn a meniscus or cartledge in the joint. Those who have degenerative arthritis may do better for a while but usually it is just a delaying game waiting for a total knee.

Over the Past 15 years I have injured both of my shoulders including a Rotator cuff tear. Everytime I have been able to rehabilitate with intensive PT. If wasn't easy and it wasn't quick but I didn't have to have surgery.

Oh, by the way, I do anesthesia at an Orthopedic/Sports medicine hosipital. Just remember that it is an elective surgery and if you decide to do PT your surgeon will still be there if and when you need him.

Ward

All comments above are personal opinions of Ward, the responder to this thread and are not necessarily those of the RRI message board. Any resemblance to opinions of others is strickly coincidental. If in anyway you are injured in the reading of this posting, the above mentioned shall not be held responsible in any way.

 

Well, I have had my knee scoped (3) times. First time was exploratory looking for pieces which the dr. couldn't find, the second surgery was when he actually found the pieces (2nd surgery was free) The third surgery was when they had to go in and re-set the patella which had gotten pulled aside due to scar tissue from the 2nd surgery. Patella was grinding a grove across the end of my bone joints the wrong way...very painful. So they went in and split a tendon in a small spot in order to let the patella move the right way, removed granules of bone from the patella grindings and made the groove deeper for the patella to move the right way. After a little bit of P Therapy there is no more pain, no soreness, no more swelling. Now days I keep a keen eye on my left knee to make sure that it is always doing ok. I really don't like surgeries and being off my feet much. I think they will do a good job with his knee and that he would probably be better for it.

 

OK I can't stand it any more. My daughter had to have facial surgery when she was 4 because of a bicycle accident. The Doctor's name who was the anesthesiologist was Dr. Gas. No kidding!! So Ward, is your last name Gas???

Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

--Jon

 

I do not want to do this surgery. I injured my knee at age 13. The cartilage was shattered to the point that for years after a piece would occasionally get caught and locked the knee up. You could actually put your finger on pieces floating around and on top the patella.

He said that the MRI showed 6 minor things wrong with my knee. I have some cartilage loose, rough edges on tendons that slip and pop on my knee and rough arthritic surface on the inside of the socket. He said normally that they would not operate for any single one of those but supposedly my knee is a mess. I do know that when I ride only about 20 miles, I pay for it for a couple of days. A knee brace could be the best thing. I am really mixed about it since I want it fixed but I also hate surgery.

 

Nope, not even close.
but what a great name for an anesthesiologist

Ward

 

The anesthesiologist's name was Dr. Greg Gass, and his wife was Sarah Gass, a well known soloist around the Knoxville area. Used to be friends of ours.

Don
'03 V-Rex
'06 Formula 26
'03 Vivo
'51 Engine...

 

If you can't ride 20 miles without suffering, that actually seems pretty severe to me. Going under the knife is scary (fortunately have not needed to myself...yet), but if your doc is good you'll probably be better off in the end. Did the doctor give you a prognosis, with surgery and without?

Easy for me to say - maybe it's time to borrow a page from Lance Armstrong's book... Take it and come out stronger! :s10:

Or better yet, just cut 'em off. Who needs knees anyway?!