Sunday, November 22, 2015

Hey Look! We’re No. 1! :(

I could almost present this image below without comment. It was tweeted by Conrad Hackett of the Pew Research Center.

So who leads the world in knee replacement surgeries?



In the U.S., 226 people out of 100,000 had knee replacement surgery in 2013 (at least, that’s how I read that statistic). That’s more than one out of five hundred people.

Now, the good part of that statistic: To some degree, it undoubtedly reflects the advanced state of medical care in the U.S. Where patients in other countries have to suffer with terrible knee pain, in America they can get a brand-new pair of joints.

But it also undoubtedly reflects the fact that the U.S. is full of a lot of overweight, even obese, people who are not moving enough and who are wearing out their knees prematurely.

The good news is, if you’re reading this right now, you’re probably part of the percentage of the population that’s working really hard not to wind up on the operating table.

So keep moving. And I know I’ve said it here and here and here and here and here, but:

Lose some weight.
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12 comments:

  1. LumpsterNovember 25, 2015 at 10:11 AM

    My wife just sent me this link today. It's about pain tracking apps. I haven't had a chance to look at any of them yet, but for those of us that like to log on our knees it could make the process simpler.

    http://www.livescience.com/52910-best-apps-pain-management-tracking.html

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  2. deloupyNovember 26, 2015 at 5:54 AM

    Ireland is at the bottom of the list. Not because people are extra good at managing their knee pain, but because the health system is under so much pressure than it takes between 18 and 24 months to get surgery.You wouldn't believe how many people I see with canes, walking aids, etc. I realised there were so many when I myself walked with a stick, I had a look around and in the small shopping centre I counted over 10 in one hour

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gcozaNovember 26, 2015 at 10:20 AM

      At least your country is listed. Mine is so insignificant that it is not part of the statistics.

      Delete
  3. gcozaDecember 3, 2015 at 2:15 AM

    I've got to share this!!!
    Today I went on my second MRI of my left knee. The first was prior 27 months and showed significant chondromalatia patella on the upper medial side of the patella in the area of 12x9 mm. New MRI medical report showed no sign of chondromalacia patella. Nothing!!!
    Tomorrow I will put some links to the comparative pictures. I can not believe this! New MRI report says something about about meniscus and discrete tibia and femur cartilage damage, but nothing about patella. Patela cartilage is perfectly healthy, according to radiologist.
    Tomorrow I will get the MRI CD and take a peek on my own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LumpsterDecember 3, 2015 at 5:15 AM

      Wow! That'd be VERY interesting to see! So how are you feeling right now compared to 27 months ago??

      Delete
    2. gcozaDecember 3, 2015 at 7:00 AM

      http://savingmyknees.blogspot.hr/2015/09/on-virtues-of-going-slooooowwwww.html#comment-form

      Delete
  4. gcozaDecember 4, 2015 at 11:15 AM

    OK!
    Here it is!
    Firsthand scientific evidence that cartilage can heal!
    My left knee patella.
    Dates are visible.
    First MRI taken 02.09.2013., second MRI taken 28.11.2015.:

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/yxiacqcw3ytsm7i/my%20left%20knee.pdf?dl=0


    Everyone can use my picture, but under one condition,
    you have to persuade Richard to send his book to Nastaran from Iran!!

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousDecember 4, 2015 at 2:29 PM

      Congrats Gcoza!
      Can you share with the group what did/are doing to heal your knees?

      Delete
    2. gcozaDecember 5, 2015 at 3:03 AM

      Thanks!
      First of all, I did not heal my knees yet.
      I still got constant pain, expecially in my right knee.
      I'm not satisfied with my improvement yet, but these are the things which, in my opinion contribute-ed to my slow improvement:
      1.Time and patience with lots of walking, and moderate biking-swimming activities.
      2. Good night sleep ( at least 8 hours) stimulated with low dose of sleeping pills or nerve medications if nessesary (if pain is unbearable ).
      3. Orthokine (blood) knee injections.
      4. Less stress.

      After two years my constant pain is down by 50-70%, and varies from day to day, and morning to afternoon.
      Function better 50%.
      I can squat, run(although carefully), ride a bike, do stairs. All the things I could not before two years.

      Delete
    3. TriAgainDecember 5, 2015 at 1:21 PM

      Sounds very similar to my situation and recovery program/progress gcoza. I've started doing some moderate biking (30mins max) and running (walk 1 min, jog 1 min x10). I still avoid squatting/crouching, but can do deadlifts with 40-45kgs and my knees actually seem to handle that better than biking - go figure!

      I reckon if I had another MRI (have not had one for nearly 4yrs) it would show a big improvement in my chonrdomalacia patella as well. I think my residual pain is now largely CNS sensitivity (yours may be also).

      Delete
    4. gcozaDecember 6, 2015 at 1:53 AM

      Yes, I agree! Be careful with biking. I start with low resistance: 1/8 for 8 minutes, 8 minutes 2/8, 8 min. 3/8, 4 min. 4/8, and for the end 2 minutes of full resistance.That would be also 30 minutes.
      I also ride normal road bike, but I'm more comfortable with stationary bike.

      Delete
  5. gcozaDecember 5, 2015 at 2:50 AM

    Here is another evidence that cartilage can heal.
    Cyst on my left knee lateral condyle.

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/7zdqmlkkijx4tjo/my%20left%20knee-cyst.pdf?dl=0

    ReplyDelete

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