Despite pain, women wait longer for knee replacements
Are you in the position of needing a knee replacement eventually? If you’re a woman, chances are you’ll do it later than sooner. This article Listen-up ladies: Don’t postpone knee-replacement surgery, discusses how women often wait until they really can’t manage any more.
While waiting may seem like the stoic thing to do, as the article points out, the pain and reduced mobility while waiting, can cause other problems. We also can’t forget that as the knee deteriorates, the risk of falling becomes higher as it can buckle underneath or not support weight, particularly when climbing or descending stairs.
So women – don’t wait. If you need a knee replacement, you need it. Waiting isn’t always the smartest thing to do.
Tags: knee-replacements, Osteoarthritis, pain
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POSTED IN: Chronic Pain, Ortho (bones, muscles, feet, etc) & osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Surgery, Women's Issues
3 opinions for Despite pain, women wait longer for knee replacements
gabrielle
Jan 10, 2008 at 12:49 am
Good advice, Marijke!
Marijke Durning, RN
Jan 10, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Thanks Gabrielle. :-)
Marijke Durning, RN
Jan 10, 2008 at 7:16 pm
This comment was emailed to me, but I am posting it here with the author’s permission:
Start of message:
Just a footnote: People (like me with 28 years rheumatoid) might get a little ahead of themselves with this. Early knee replacement is not the way to go for MANY rheumatoid people….in fact, sometimes they don’t even want to touch us until absolutely necessary. So, maybe a disclaimer would be good in this area.
But, I think you have something good going here…especially for those who have no one to talk to, and not able to be comfortable with their Dr. Not everyone has a rheumatologist/specialist. I know, as have needed 2 knee replacements for many years.
Heres the rub: To have surgery, you have to be off all meds for at least 2 weeks before, and they like you off them still until 2 months after. Now, the problem is, how are you going to rehabilitate when you cannot MOVE!!!! because all the meds that keep you unlocked, you are not taking! If you DO take the meds, you do not heal! E.G. Methotrexate and Enbrel, just naming two, and there are many many more, including all the anti-inflammatories(NSAIDS). A tough call, believe me.
Just my 2 cents, because I live with it.
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