Decisions

The last time that I saw my original orthopedic surgeon his last words to me were, “come see me when your knee hurts”.  I didn’t know what to say in response because my knee hurt as he spoke those words. He was a very skilled surgeon and a nice man, but he really wasn’t a good communicator in any sense of the term. A year later I wondered about the condition of my knee and thought that perhaps I needed knee replacement surgery so I set up an appointment with a reputable orthopedic surgeon who had an office about a half an hour closer to my home than my original surgeon. This doctor explained everything to me in detail concerning my various injuries. When I asked him about the parting statement made by my original surgeon he explained to me that he was referring to the inevitable onset of arthritis in my knee. He told me that the work done by my original surgeon was very good, but the damage was too extensive for a “full” recovery. He said that arthritis would eventually cause me so much pain and hindrance that I would require a total knee replacement. When I asked him for a time frame, his answer was simple; “as long as you can wait”. He told me that I really should avoid any kind of surgery whatsoever. When I sarcastically threw out the number 70 as an age, he simply said, “yes, if you can wait that long”. He carefully explained to me all of the dangers and risks involved with surgery and sent me on my way.

I put the thought out of my mind for a few years, but recently I began an internet search regarding the topic of knee replacement surgery. Everything that I have read on various medical websites confirms what the doctor told me almost verbatim. Although the condition of my knee does justify surgery right now, the truth is that I’m too young and healthy to risk having such a drastic procedure at this time. I was told by the surgeon to wait until it was a serious quality of life issue, and things aren’t even close to that point yet. I’m rather hoping that perhaps it will never reach that point and I’ll avoid any further surgery for the remainder of my life. My leg is a daily hindrance to a certain extent, but it’s nothing that I can even begin to label as being severe.

I guess it comes down to personal choice. I realize that there are good benefits to knee replacement, but I would rather just endure the things that I’m experiencing with my leg and avoid any further surgery. I really don’t want to go back into a hospital and deal with everything that it would entail. I also don’t want to have the knee replacement surgery now and wind up outliving its limited lifespan, only to put up with a second surgery in my 70’s. When I consider every factor the decision is easy for me. I agree with the surgeon’s advice and will wait as long as possible before enduring this procedure. I have to say that it feels a little liberating to know that I have chosen a direction concerning the treatment of my leg.