O for heaven's sakes - that is very old school on your knees. You are NOT too young for surgery. Any chance you can find a new surgeon? It is absurd that you are in this much pain. Prior to my surgery I was taking Arthritis Strength Tylenol (8-hour) 24/7 every 8 hours and it really did help. But, you have to take it every 8 hours and give it a day to build up in your system. I am so sorry Katrina.....
Thank you for this, Nancy. I now have an appointment with a different ortho in a major city on May 9. I'm grateful you reminded me that I'm not too young to have a replacement--my knee is telling me it's time!
Omg, Katrina, this is sadistically hilarious. Which I've learned is your style. I love it.
I get it - the chronic pain part and the weight gain part. Chronic pain depletes a person. Also increases the depression, at least in my case.
I wonder if you're weight gain was from gaining muscle. Could that be? I know, when I first lost postpartum weight, the scale looked nice. Now I'm 20 pounds heavier, but my clothes still (mostly) fit and my legs look, well, thick.
I can do weighted squats now with zero problems. So... yeah. Maybe that's part of your weight gain.
Also - insurance. Ugh. Sarah has 12 specialists, and dealing with managed care is totally unmanageable. You have my many condolences.
Jeannie, thanks for the reminder that muscle weighs more than fat. I can see my body shrinking, so I know I'm on the right track. And insurance! Ugh. TWELVE SPECIALISTS? That's a full-time job!
Omg looks like another reader thought the same thing, Katrina, about gaining muscle. 😳 I've thought of you a lot, with this diagnosis of osteonecrosis, and I hope you find relief from it very soon.
What could this miracle weight loss drug be? You sure you didn’t lose fat & gain muscle? Swimming is a whole body exercise -- that seems more likely what happened! Yes indeed-- chronic pain sucks big time...
Cannabis can truly help. Don’t get discouraged -- the injections may do the trick! Replacements don’t last forever -- so try everything else first. Your glass is half Full -- Cheers!😉
Ugh, what a clusterfuck, Katrina. I’m sorry for all the anguish you’ve had. FWIW, I had the hyaluronic acid injections in my knee (three injections spaced out over several weeks). It kicks in about two weeks after the last injection. That for me was in December and I’m still getting relief from it. Also, once you can comfortably use your knee more, it’ll lubricate itself a bit (the old, “motion is lotion” hypothesis). Good luck with everything! Hope any hallucinations you have are the fun kind 🤪
Ha! I'm hoping for the fun hallucinations, too! So far, it's just me, staring at my ceiling at 3:00 AM. Not too exciting. Thanks for the info about the injections. The doc I saw yesterday gave me so little information that I didn't even know there could be 3! The thought of waiting another five weeks for relief makes me want to poke my eyes out, though.
YOU are your best and wisest counsel. Only do what feels right for you, even if you change your mind endlessly. The pain is the pits and I'm sorry you are in it as you are. Gentle, gentle care as you make your way. 🙌🏽
Thank you for this reminder, Joanie. I'm not very good at advocating for myself because I have this weird belief that others know better than I do. But I know how this pain feels, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to alleviate it. <3
First thought, get a second opinion on the knee. I've known plenty of people who just needed to find the right doc to get what they need.
Second, don't be afraid to push back a little on all this "body weight" stuff. Muscle, fat, whatever, it's your body and your body isn't a wrong thing to be eliminated or squished or morphed by lack of sleep and drug interactions. I'm constantly side-eyeing all the BS in the world that's done under a "healthy weight" guise.
Second opinion scheduled for May 9, Robin! Thanks for the nudge. And thank you, too, for writing so beautifully about the body. I, too, cringe at fat shaming disguised as healthy advice. I understand that if my knees had less weight to carry, that would be beneficial, but I'm working on it, and it's a slow process... especially post-50.
Yep, same here. I think there's a growing body (heehee) of writing and community out there that's in favor of bodies getting to be lots of different shapes, sizes, and abilities, and that work highlights how weight is this one, stupid, oversimplified measurement that doesn't really give us useful information about what our bodies feel or how they function. We are complex creatures who deserve complex solutions, and some of those solutions embrace the shape we inhabit right now. Your shape and mine are AWESOME.
Oh my dear friend.. 1- I'm sorry you didn't get the news you'd hoped for and 2- I'm sorry for giggling at the end, but gosh sometimes when the sh*t hits the fan..all you can do is laugh. Sending you gentle hugs and hoping insurance gets their sh*t together and you get some relief soon!! Xoxo
I'm glad you're getting a second opinion. The "you're too young" is BS...my wife had knee replacement in her 50s because she wanted to live an active life, and her doctor supported her decision. I'm getting the hyaluronic acid injections in my knees later this month so I can hold off a few years. Getting old sucks!
Insurance just denied my hyaluronic acid injections. Sigh. They'll pay for a $50,000 knee replacement, but not the injections. It's just ludicrous. Now I'm stuck trying to figure out next steps. Anyway, I hope your injections give you relief! :)
Ugh, dealing with an insurance company's lack of logic is so maddening! I hope the second doc works out since insurance will pay for the knee replacement.
O for heaven's sakes - that is very old school on your knees. You are NOT too young for surgery. Any chance you can find a new surgeon? It is absurd that you are in this much pain. Prior to my surgery I was taking Arthritis Strength Tylenol (8-hour) 24/7 every 8 hours and it really did help. But, you have to take it every 8 hours and give it a day to build up in your system. I am so sorry Katrina.....
Thank you for this, Nancy. I now have an appointment with a different ortho in a major city on May 9. I'm grateful you reminded me that I'm not too young to have a replacement--my knee is telling me it's time!
Omg, Katrina, this is sadistically hilarious. Which I've learned is your style. I love it.
I get it - the chronic pain part and the weight gain part. Chronic pain depletes a person. Also increases the depression, at least in my case.
I wonder if you're weight gain was from gaining muscle. Could that be? I know, when I first lost postpartum weight, the scale looked nice. Now I'm 20 pounds heavier, but my clothes still (mostly) fit and my legs look, well, thick.
I can do weighted squats now with zero problems. So... yeah. Maybe that's part of your weight gain.
Also - insurance. Ugh. Sarah has 12 specialists, and dealing with managed care is totally unmanageable. You have my many condolences.
Hang in there. Santa will still come for you. 😊
Jeannie, thanks for the reminder that muscle weighs more than fat. I can see my body shrinking, so I know I'm on the right track. And insurance! Ugh. TWELVE SPECIALISTS? That's a full-time job!
Omg looks like another reader thought the same thing, Katrina, about gaining muscle. 😳 I've thought of you a lot, with this diagnosis of osteonecrosis, and I hope you find relief from it very soon.
What could this miracle weight loss drug be? You sure you didn’t lose fat & gain muscle? Swimming is a whole body exercise -- that seems more likely what happened! Yes indeed-- chronic pain sucks big time...
Cannabis can truly help. Don’t get discouraged -- the injections may do the trick! Replacements don’t last forever -- so try everything else first. Your glass is half Full -- Cheers!😉
I think you're right about the losing fat and gaining muscle part, Paulette. Thanks for the reminder!
Ugh, what a clusterfuck, Katrina. I’m sorry for all the anguish you’ve had. FWIW, I had the hyaluronic acid injections in my knee (three injections spaced out over several weeks). It kicks in about two weeks after the last injection. That for me was in December and I’m still getting relief from it. Also, once you can comfortably use your knee more, it’ll lubricate itself a bit (the old, “motion is lotion” hypothesis). Good luck with everything! Hope any hallucinations you have are the fun kind 🤪
Ha! I'm hoping for the fun hallucinations, too! So far, it's just me, staring at my ceiling at 3:00 AM. Not too exciting. Thanks for the info about the injections. The doc I saw yesterday gave me so little information that I didn't even know there could be 3! The thought of waiting another five weeks for relief makes me want to poke my eyes out, though.
Completely understandable!
YOU are your best and wisest counsel. Only do what feels right for you, even if you change your mind endlessly. The pain is the pits and I'm sorry you are in it as you are. Gentle, gentle care as you make your way. 🙌🏽
Thank you for this reminder, Joanie. I'm not very good at advocating for myself because I have this weird belief that others know better than I do. But I know how this pain feels, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to alleviate it. <3
First thought, get a second opinion on the knee. I've known plenty of people who just needed to find the right doc to get what they need.
Second, don't be afraid to push back a little on all this "body weight" stuff. Muscle, fat, whatever, it's your body and your body isn't a wrong thing to be eliminated or squished or morphed by lack of sleep and drug interactions. I'm constantly side-eyeing all the BS in the world that's done under a "healthy weight" guise.
Second opinion scheduled for May 9, Robin! Thanks for the nudge. And thank you, too, for writing so beautifully about the body. I, too, cringe at fat shaming disguised as healthy advice. I understand that if my knees had less weight to carry, that would be beneficial, but I'm working on it, and it's a slow process... especially post-50.
Yep, same here. I think there's a growing body (heehee) of writing and community out there that's in favor of bodies getting to be lots of different shapes, sizes, and abilities, and that work highlights how weight is this one, stupid, oversimplified measurement that doesn't really give us useful information about what our bodies feel or how they function. We are complex creatures who deserve complex solutions, and some of those solutions embrace the shape we inhabit right now. Your shape and mine are AWESOME.
Oh my dear friend.. 1- I'm sorry you didn't get the news you'd hoped for and 2- I'm sorry for giggling at the end, but gosh sometimes when the sh*t hits the fan..all you can do is laugh. Sending you gentle hugs and hoping insurance gets their sh*t together and you get some relief soon!! Xoxo
Thanks, my friend! What can we do if we can't laugh? I'm on day three of my mixed meds, and I haven't had a psychotic break yet! I call that a win! ;)
Definitely a win! 🫠🤣🤣🤣
I'm glad you're getting a second opinion. The "you're too young" is BS...my wife had knee replacement in her 50s because she wanted to live an active life, and her doctor supported her decision. I'm getting the hyaluronic acid injections in my knees later this month so I can hold off a few years. Getting old sucks!
Insurance just denied my hyaluronic acid injections. Sigh. They'll pay for a $50,000 knee replacement, but not the injections. It's just ludicrous. Now I'm stuck trying to figure out next steps. Anyway, I hope your injections give you relief! :)
Ugh, dealing with an insurance company's lack of logic is so maddening! I hope the second doc works out since insurance will pay for the knee replacement.
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