[SumItUp]

I'm in need of some help. My left knee is in very bad shape. I had multiple surgeries on it about 20 years ago. 5 years ago, I was told there was very little or no cartilage. My only option was to have a knee replacement and I needed to wait until I was 50, but I was told in the same breath that I would not be able to last that long. Recently, I have experienced a lot of pain and have limited mobility. It is time for me to look at my options again. I am looking for doctors that have experience working with "near" 40-year old patients with a similar profile. Do you know anyone under 40 that had a knee replacement?

[Sly Fox]

Catcher's Syndrome ... Praying for you, brother. Wish I had a referral for you. I'll ask around.

[olldflame]

I have a similar situation sum, with no cartilige in my L knee following a motorcycle accident 11 years ago. I was told then that I would eventually need a joint replacement. God has been good, and I only recently began having some pain in the joint. Not too bad, and glucosimine/condroitin seems to help.

I'm well past 50 now and so there is no problem having the operation when I need it. I don't think the "50 year rule" is written in stone. They just don't like to do it because the hardware tends to wear out after about 15 years in someone relatively young and active, so they end up having to do it again. With old geezers like me there is a good chance it will last longer than we do.

If your doc is dead set against it, I would definately get a second opinion. If the joint replacement is medically necessary, your age should not be a deal-breaker.

[Purple Haize]

SUM I have had 12 knee operations and my wife has had 13. There are other options to knee replacement surgery. "They" told my wife that was her only hope when she was 38. There are other "cooler" surgical options. She actually had a microfracture followed by a miniscal transplant. In fact, I am a few years from a carticile implant myself. Even with no cartlidge you can still have things done that last longer then knee replacement. Send me a PM I can tell you more. Hope that helps.

[ALUmnus]

SUM I have had 12 knee operations and my wife has had 13. There are other options to knee replacement surgery. "They" told my wife that was her only hope when she was 38. There are other "cooler" surgical options. She actually had a microfracture followed by a miniscal transplant. In fact, I am a few years from a carticile implant myself. Even with no cartlidge you can still have things done that last longer then knee replacement. Send me a PM I can tell you more. Hope that helps.

So your avatar really is a picture of you.