After a meniscus repair to in my knee, osteoarthritis kicked in, horribly

[Digit]

Two tears in my meniscus, and my ortho said osteoarthritis came in with a vengeance (his words).

This happened in 2001, and now, I am now working retail (I went down the ladder like others), and find I am working on my feet way too much.

It has now affected my other knee with lots of pain and radiated to my hips. Lots and lots of pain.

I am the sole source of income for my family (no partner), and I support my daughter as best I can who is in college getting a degree in nursing.

I live in a right to work state, and fear I will lose my job if I take off to get the knee replaced. Two doctors have confirmed I need a total knee replacement. At this point, I don't even know if just a knee replacement will suffice or if I have damaged my hips from walking "oddly".

It is not easy to find a job at my age with just a high school education and in my mid 50's.

The knee replacement, luckily, is under workers comp from a previous job, so that will be paid by my previous employer.

I just don't want to lose my current job with this poopey job market.

Any suggestions?

[Warpy]

1. Talk to your employer and explain the situation

Most employers would rather have you take a couple of weeks off (and that's what it will take to get you up and moving around with crutches and then cane) than have you chronically underperforming due to pain.

If you work with your employer to make sure your absence will cause as little stress as possible, your job should be safe.

When docs tell you that you need bionic knees, it means you needed them two years ago.

Until you get a replacement, talk to your doc about pain control. Explore whether you need a mild narcotic or if a synthetic like Ultram might be a better idea.

[Digit]

2. I would be out for 6 weeks...

I am on Vicoden already (2 at a time) and it barely touches the pain.
I am either standing or walking during most of my shift, and even sleeping is sometimes difficult due to the pain level.

The knee injury was in 2001, menisectomy in 2002, and the osteoarthitis has been getting worse and worse.
Perhaps that is why it is so severe now.

Sitting here at my computer right now, I am not hurting at all...thank goodness...and there are severe storms on the way. Go figure.

I may take your advice and ask my employer. I just hope they don't say it will be okay, and then replace me while I am out.
I also would hope my hip would get better once the knee is replaced and I can walk normally again.

I appreciate your advice, thanks Warpy.

[mopinko]

3. get something for sleep.

when my discs went bad, i had to double up my ambiens, but i would have jumped off the roof without that sleep.

[Digit]

4. I did, I bought a Sleep Number Bed

It works very well when I am horizontal....

[mopinko]

5. not the same. although

we got them for 2 of our kids, and they both sleep much better.
but that is not the same as getting some good sleep. this kind of pain can ruin your body. my cholesterol and blood pressure both soared while i was waiting for surgery. it was touch and go by the time i got to surgery. they had to take my bp in the arm that didn't hurt, otherwise, they couldn't do it. which is to say, serious pain is bad for you. not just annoying, but hard on your body.

[Liberty Belle]

6. acupuncture has been clinically proven better for knee osteoarthritis than surgery!

The National institute of health funded a multi-center study a couple of years ago, and the results were quite dramatic.

Acupuncture doesn't hurt, isn't expensive, and has no downside for use to treat knees.

I'd definitely give it a try!

P.S. It's worked wonders for my daughter when she had a knee injury.