For anyone who has been diagnosed with any form of arthritis, you know how mean and vengeful this disease can be. The pain and destruction is mind-boggling and often too hard to describe. Sometimes there’s swelling and redness, allowing others to see the discomfort. But most of the time the symptoms cannot be seen, making it difficult for others to understand.
Many times I have referred to my arthritis as a beast living inside of me, feeding off of my joints. It roams my body until it finds an area of interest, feasts until there’s nothing left, then moves on, never leaving my insides.
Thankfully, medical technology has developed enough to offer solutions to those of us housing the unstoppable beasts. In my opinion, joint replacement surgery is the answer. I’ve had 13 joints replaced and cannot complain about any of them. I do not always regain full range of motion and I’m often limited in my activities of daily living, but the activity of the disease is stopped (at least in that particular area), reducing the pain and discomfort.
Typically, when I see the destruction to a joint is irreversible and the pain interferes with my daily living, I’m ready to schedule surgery. Once I know there’s nothing we can do to improve my situation, I start looking at the calendar and making arrangements.
I’ve often described pain as being two types: bad pain and good pain. To me, bad pain is what I experience before surgery. Every day it gets worse and I cannot predict how it will affect my life or what will happen next. Good pain is the pain after surgery. It hurts and I’m not fond of it, but I know each day it will improve and in a matter of time, it will be minimal.
What kinds of surgery have you had because of your illness? Have you had joints replaced? Would you recommend the surgery? Do you have tips or suggestions that would help others?
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Do your research, find the best surgeon possible(you are the consumer - so shop around), be compliant with your physical therapy and be patient!
I am 43 and have had RA since I was 21.
As far as joint replacements go I personally think they are the way to go when the pain becomes unbearable. The only word of caution is do not wait too long before getting it done. The problem I had is the doctors did not want to replace my joints when I was still in my 20's and I reluctantly agreed. In hindsight I should have not waited so long. The problem is it hurts to move the joint and so you do not move it as much as required and after a short time the range of motion is lost for good. When you get a new joint you will probably have less motion then before surgery and even more so if you wait. That is part of my experience.
Overall I thank God for my joints because I would be in a wheel chair without them. Surgeries are not easy or fun but I am still vertical and as active as I can be. I still work 40-50 hours a week and Pull Tractors with some assistance getting on and off the tractors.
I look at it this way, imagine if you had RA 50 years ago, you would more than likely be bed ridden or in a wheel chair. Life is to short to let the disease beat you.
HOWEVER, I would highly recommend, if you get your should replaced, that you get a good physical therapist! Shoulders are so complicated and I think I cheated myself out of some range of motion (I only have about 50% now) because I did not have a good PT.
The only replacement I have not been happy with was an ankle. The technology on ankles and wrists is just not as good as it is for the larger joints. My replacement failed miserably, and as a result, my ankle and foot are now totally fused.
My advice for anyone considering joint replacement is to get at least two opinions. There may be something other than replacement that you can try first. Secondly, read up and learn everything you can about the surgery , recovery, physical therapy, and the technology. Knowledge is power! Finally, be prepared to ask for help. The recovery from joint replacement surgery isn't easy or fun, but remember, the "good pain" as Annette calls it, will go away.
Besides replacement, I've had a number of joints fused, reconstructed, and some of the smaller finger & toe joints have been removed. A lot of muscle, tendon, and ligament repair & reconstruction, too.
By the way, I have JRA. Diagnosed at about age 6 and am now, well, let's just say 40-something.
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