12 more rad treatments, then total knee replacement!

geobarb22
geobarb22 Member Posts: 17
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I underwent chemo March - June, started radiation in July and have only 12 more treatments. Made it through chemo just fine and healthy (although I hope to never do it again) and radiation has mostly been non-eventful.

I have osteoarthritis in my left knee. Recently had a bad flareup, am sick and tired of the pain, and its effect on my quality of life. I have scheduled surgery for a total knee replacement for mid-September. My oncologist and radiation doctor gave me the green light to have surgery as I have recovered and am healthy after treatments.

Just curious if anyone else had unrelated surgery folowing chemo/rad and how they fared. Believe me, I would wait if I felt I had that choice.

Comments

  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #2
    I haven't had it to that extreme
    although I've had sore joints from the Chemo and drugs.

    I have heard of others having it to the point of needing surgery. I've read positive stories on the outcome of this type of surgery so you should feel so much better.

    Hang in there!

    Praying all will go well,

    Sylvia
  • geobarb22
    geobarb22 Member Posts: 17
    #3
    sea60 said:

    I haven't had it to that extreme
    although I've had sore joints from the Chemo and drugs.

    I have heard of others having it to the point of needing surgery. I've read positive stories on the outcome of this type of surgery so you should feel so much better.

    Hang in there!

    Praying all will go well,

    Sylvia

    thanks
    for the reply! I have heard positive outsomes also so am looking forward to having it done and in the past.

    I did have sore joints from chemo that may have compounded the problem. I also read yesterday that low vitamin D (which I have and just started taking supplements for) can also cause joint problems.

    All the best to you also. Barb
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #4
    Barb, I too
    suffer from osteoarthritis. It's moderate to severe in both knees. I had a torn meniscus replaced in left knee June 08 and I've had numerous hyalgen injections which had to stop because of bc (not that they helped). I wear a large unloading brace and I'm in constant pain (even while sleeping). I also have degenerative disc disease and had 3 discs fused in my neck Jan 08. My rheumatologist gave me a caudal epidural 3 months ago for my lumbar stenosis. I start chemo on Tuesday. I walk with a limp and I've lost 3 inches; my legs are bowed out at the knees. Ouch!

    If my pain does increase, either from chemo or the Neulasta shot I will be at the same point you're in now. Because I'm an infection risk I'll have to wait to schedule knee replacement until I'm fully recovered from chemo. I still don't know whether I need rads. I had bilateral mastectomy June 22 with no lymph node involvement but long family history. Good luck with your surgery and please let us know how you are doing afterwards :-0
    Char

Discussion Boards