when I was 11, I had a synovectomy in my right breast (which subsequently fused) and at 16, one in my left knee, which also fused. My rheumatologist says I'm a "fuser" and we should avoid that type of surgery. Ya think? 
Also, when I was 16, I had my right hip replaced and then my left. This enabled me to get out of the hospital bed in which I'd spent the previous two years, into power wheelchair and go home. Joint replacements are awesome.
You mentioned how scared you were of Carpel Tunnel surgery.
I had the surgery on both hands separately and it was a breeze.
I had it done in Ind. at the Hand Center. They give you a local
anesthetic and use an instrument that looks like a stitch ripper that
you use in sewing. They make a little slit in the palm of your hand
and slit the ligament and your done. Takes about 25 minutes total
and you go home. Recovery is a few days and I was on a plane
that night to go visit my sister. I did the other hand a few weeks
later and I have never had any problems since then. It is
certainly worth it if you are in pain.
Hi
my name is Irene, just wanted to say something about the knee. I had this procedure done twice on both of my knees and I still ended up with Replacements.
Now I can walk without pain and feel graet. Still taking my Meth once a week and each month an IV, because of that i can work part time as a cashier and can do some of the things I could'nt before. I was diagnosed with RA in 1998.
We all can live with it and make the best out of it
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Hi, Lisa,
I don't like to think about surgery either, but this is a great post. I do have a question about the arthoscopic knee surgery to "clean out" the knee joint space, as it were.
I have read numerous articles stating that this type of surgery has questionable results. I have OA in both knees. My orthopaedic surgeon told me that this type of surgery sometimes just aggravates the arthritis. He thinks the TKR is the way to go for me. He does do this procedure on knees with problems caused by sport injuries.
Have you ever heard anything like this? Maybe he told me this because I have OA, not RA in my knees...?
Thanks again for the great information.
V
Sounds like your doctor is guiding you to the procedure which would be best for your case. I've read similar information regarding the "cleaning out" of joints (debridement or lavage) that it can make things worse if it's being done simply for pain in arthritis. I also read that this type of arthroscopic surgery is more successful in younger folks.
I have an aunt who had double knee replacements several years ago while in her early 50's. She couldn't have been happier with the results.
What is the plan for you? Does your doctor want to wait until the OA has gotten "bad enough"? Or wait until you're older? However, I did read that newer joints are lasting much longer now: 20-30 years.
I guess the question is knowing WHEN to have the joint replacement done.
I took the day off. My knees were screaming, and it is snowing, so I called in and hit the couch and slept for three hours! They are not screaming anymore, just yelling a bit. LOL
I don't EVER want TKR, but I guess I will have to go that route. My orthopedic surgeon would like me to wait until I am sixty, if I can. I'm not pushing it, because I don't want it al all.
I will be 57 in March. I first saw this doctor when I was about 46 years old. I have popliteal cysts in both knees, aka Baker's cysts. That is why I went to see him. He told me then I was going to need TKR in both knees.
My new "mission" is to lose 30 lbs. That would help the knee joints quite a bit. I started my mission today. My goal is to eat 1200 calories a day. I need to exercise, and I know that. It is such a Catch 22. Exercise and hurt, or don't exercise and feel your muscles get weaker and weaker. I know I need to get in the best shape I possibly can before I have any type of surgery.
The info you provided is very valuable, and it is nice to have it all in one concise arthicle. Thanks, again. Hope you are doing well, Lisa.
V
I'm 48 and have OA in both knees, and opted to have arthoscopic surgery last year (2010) in both knees.
I think every person has to weigh their own situation along with their doctor (possibly get other options as needed) regarding what is best for them.
Would I do the arthroscopic surgery again? Absolutely.
I first started seeing a doctor about 10 yrs or more ago regarding my left knee. I had a cortisone shot, and was great for about 1 1/2 yrs. Then I started needing the shots a couple times a year, then 4 times, then was switched to synvisc which is less damaging to the cartiledge. Then in 09 I started having problems with my right knee. Issues with it were a little different in that it also had a bone spur behind the kneecap making it painful to sit for long periods. I tried the shots, but while they worked on the left, they did little for the right knee. Next step was to try arthroscopy.
My Dr advised against looking at getting a Knee replacement until I reached my mid-50's. Part of this is due to life spans on replacements were only 10-15 yrs (yes now they predict 20-30, so hopefully they last longer now), and you can only replace a knee 2x in your life due to length of tendons/ligaments. So I opted for arthroscopic surgery on my right knee last year and scheduled it for February. My surgery was postponed, because I then broke my ankle (left) in January falling off my bike. But soon as my ankle healed I had the surgery in May. It was great. I felt immediate relief. I walked out of the surgery (out-patient) feeling better than I walked in. I had to take it easy for a few days, but the pain was gone. Amazing.
I then scheduled the left for June. Why not? if it helped the right that much? When my doctor did the left, he said it was much worse than they thought. He had to grind down bone spurs off the end of my femur, which cause more pain on coming out of the surgery, and a longer recovery. I'm still not sorry I did it, but I didn't have the success of the other knee.
I'm now looking at a total knee replacement for my left knee. My doctor after seeing the knee "from the inside" during the arthroscopy now believes it is shot. He thinks I am a good candidate for a replacement and no longer believes it would be in my best interest to wait. Its more or less a quality of life question at this point. I like to ride my bicycle. I want to be more active than I am, but my knees are a drawback. I too fight the catch 22. If my knees weren't bad, I could do more, exercise more, if I could exercise more, do more, I could lose some of this excess weight, if I could lose more of the excess weight, my knees wouldn't hurt as much and I could do more, exercise more. The cycle doesn't end.
Hi
My names Serena Im 21 I have had RA since I was 4 by the time I was 10 years old every single finger on both my hands siezed to work and are too this day stuck in a bent position they stopped hurting when I was 13 and once I turned 18 they transfered me to adults and then I was forgotten.
Im young so I have deffinatly considered surgery but havent found anyone willing to take me on, when I was 15 I had a joint fuse in one finger which sucks because now my finger isnt stuck bent but its stuck straight, I just want fingers that bend and straighten like a normal hand.
Along side my RA I also have S.L.E and Vasculitis I really wanted that carpel tunnel surgery because it repairs the tendons which caused my fingers to seize up If you know a surgeon whos willing to take on my case I so would love to hear about them Ive done some google research but cant find anything
Hi Serena,
Sounds like you have a very complicated case. Sorry to hear that it is difficult to find a surgeon willing to consider your options and help you to achieve your desired outcomes. I wish I knew how best to direct you. I would start with your rheumatologist. He/she most likely knows a hand surgeon on your area who is recommended. Or from there, I would ask my insurance company for a list of appropriate surgeons and then try to research each of them. It's not an easy task. Good luck.