Is arthroscopic knee surgery even beneficial for advanced osteoarthritis?
My Mom has severe degenerative arthritis in her knee that’s unresponsive to pain medication and though I’m no doctor, I’m guessing that a joint replacement is the only option that would really help her. Of course, the doctor wants to exhaust all options before opting for replacement, but from everything I read, arthroscopic debridement for advanced arthritis is a completely worthless procedure and a waste of time and money. I’m going to have to burn up all my vacation to take care of my Mom after this procedure, and I’m guessing it won’t do a damn thing and she’ll need the replacement anyway.
Has anyone here actually benefited from arthroscopic knee surgery for severe arthritis? Should she get a second opinion or will most doctors opt for the less invasive technique anyway?
Posted in Info | 
Tags: ARTHRITIS, degenerative arthritis, invasive technique, medication, pain medication, Replacement
3 Responses to “Is arthroscopic knee surgery even beneficial for advanced osteoarthritis?”
Leave a Reply
They will all probably opt for the scope on the knee first. I have severe arthritis in both my knees and i get A LOT of relief when they go in and do this to the left knee, the right knee nothing helps. So i have seen each side of the coin. The recovery time for the scope is super short, i was back to work in 3 days and only on crutches for a few hours. A knee replacement is a BITCH of a surgery to go through, my mom just had a partial replacement done and the pain for that surgey is WAY worse that just getting a scope done. Will she need the replacement probably but it never hurts to try to quick fix first.
I had a general clean up surgery of my knee two years ago (arthoscopic debridement) and now two years later I am in more pain than ever with both knees. I am looking for knee replacement but as usual docs make you exhaust all other options (or rather insurance carriers) until they will ok replacement of the joint. I was on oxy-cotin for a year, weaned myself off, now trying ultram (Tramadol) which is horrbile it makes isn’t worth the nausea and does nothing for the pain and I am getting those worthless injections as well. I really want to slap somebody. Now I amthinking of going to a third ortho or a pain management specialist because the pain is unbearable makes me bitchy all the time and I am at a loss as well – tell your Mom to get a knee replacdement not to waste her time with all this other worthless stuff – the only winners are the pharmaceutical companies and the doctors.
Bookmarked, Interesting post!