My options are an excruciating surgery followed by months of immobility, physical therapy, and “a chance of improvement”, or a slow but consistent deterioration of my current state. Taking the surgery is an almost guarantee that I will never be able to do any sort of high speed work in the future (My profession is excellent but this would still be devastating) and it has a very slight (but very real) possibility of making the situation worse.
The doctor put the ball in my court. He gave me all of the information (Both negative and positive) and while he does this surgery frequently and feels doing it at a younger age will be easier on my body than if I wait, he was really adamant that I understand the risks and recovery period should I choose to move forward.
Brutally honest. That would be my first course of action. Not saying that your doc doesn’t know his stuff, but when looking at something like this… Second opinion can’t hurt.
I wrote a longer post that was erased by me accidentally closing the window, and I forgot a few things. Suffice to say, this is a second opinion and they both came to the exact same conclusion.
My knee’s, post Marine Corps, are a hot mess. Constant tendinitis throughout me legs. I would let a back alley surgeon cut me up for a chance to stop the pain.
Ok, just read the replies. I should do that more before I post.
First I can’t imagine not being able to walk around the block without pain. It’s hard for me to accept I can’t spar like I did 10 years ago.
Sounds like Option A “do nothing” is a guarantee of continued worsening of the situation until it becomes intolerable and renders you immobile from pain.
Option B sounds like “we might be able to do something extreme that will provide manageable results.”
You are also likely to recover from B better now than in 10 years. You also don’t know what your coverage may be in 10 more years. Quite possible your coverage will tell you, you knew about it back then and should have done something - not our problem anymore.
I guess my advice is, if you are going to suck up pain and recovery, do it now rather than later.
A couple of years ago I elected to have my hip replaced at a relatively young age (44) after being bone on bone for years and suffering from constant pain. It affected my life at home and limited my ability at work.
Now while the particular device I had implanted allows me a higher level of activity than some, I am still limited in some activities. I have learned to work around those limits and am pretty active. The value of being free from chronic pain is worth it. You do not realize how much it impacts you and those around you until you are free of it.
Ultimately you must decide for yourself when you have had enough. Bear in mind your problem will only worsen with time. Your procedure sounds tougher with a lesser chance of total relief than what I went through. I certainly wish you luck with whatever you decide.
If I found the right guy, I’d have the surgery. No question. I know first hand that unaddressed orthopedic injuries will bite you in the ass hard when you get older. And, I know that getting older is not as far away as you think.
Check credentials of the orthopod. You want him/her to have completed a post-graduate Fellowship in Foot and Ankle surgery. After finishing their Orthopedics residency, those doctors have spent a year doing nothing but foot and ankle surgery, learning from the very best people in the field. There are only 43 such Fellowships in the U.S. Those guys are the elite in that rather narrow supspecialty. Their practices after finishing are largely foot and ankle. The more you do, the better you are.
Additionally, if you can swing it, get it checked at the University of Utah. Charles Saltzman teaches there. In the international world of Foot and Ankle surgery, he is the Prince of Darkness. Undisputed guru.
If constant pain and it will get worse with age. Fix it. I have problems from sports and work and wish there were techniques at my age that would be acceptable (fused discs and reworked shoulder) If I could get a fix for my back I would do it in a heart beat. My shoulder can be fixed its just 3 to 4 months off work and I don’t have that kind of time built up yet in my sick time. My spouse just had surgery to fix a shoulder that was causing migranes and problems in her upper back and neck. It hurts and recovery is slow but not having those problems everyday to deal with make the solution worth the fix.
Look, I have no clue the what to tell you. If I was going to have elective major surgery, I’d want the best surgeon I could have have ( within reason).
I’ve seen a total knee surgery done in 18 minutes. Total hips take a little longer. Fairly routine surgery for most any orthopedic. ( though, I’m sure the devices aren’t tested for 40-60 years. ) This sounds a lot more substantial surgery. I’d would take things slow, get all the info, then make a decision. (You have done a lot, I can tell). It sounds like I would probably end up going the surgery route in your shoes, but I’d know enough to feel comfortable with the choice even if you don’t have a great outcome.
Nah, I don’t travel in orthopedic circles, but fellowships are on my mind as a) I’m in the closing month of my current Advanced MIS Fellow and getting him into practice and b) I’m in Rochester MN at Mayo at the moment as a patient consulting with Mark Pagnano, the Prince of Darkness in knee reconstruction surgery.
Sounds like you’ve done your homework. Likely to be a good choice of surgeon.
I wouldn’t think twice. From my personal experiance I can assure you it wont get better as you get older and it will only make your quality of life be less than it could and should be.
I honestly believe in a situation like this the VA should let you make your choice and just cut the Doc a check.