I am at a decision point need welcome some guidance/advice. I am 52, 6'1", 275 pounds. Office job, and in the shop working in free time. My doctor (who I like/trust) been in discussion with me for over a year, about knee replacement at 55-58 year old to avoid a 2nd knee placement in my life time. I have had arthroscopy surgery in college on my left knee.

I been getting injections on both knees for some time and have exhausted their effectiveness. I had an accident back in Nov and sprained my left knee and small tear. Since the accident, I have been able to walk and so simple things (both knees braced). Any elevated activity (2 mile+ walks, construction, lifting, standing in one spot for more than 15 min) I am hurting. My left knee is just loose. Both ache all the time. My feet also hurt now too.

My options are:
Arthroscopy on both knees again, and pray for 3-5 years out of it. Weight loss would help
Bite the bullet and do knee replacement

Any advice/experiences would be great.

Call Andrews Clinic in B'ham.
Everyone's case is different, but at least you'll know you've had the best group perform a diagnosis on it.
They are different level than most ortho groups.

I’d give the arthroscopy another shot before committing to a total replacement. I’m 56 and had my right one replaced 3 months before I turned 55. Going to have to have the left one replaced in the near future. Arthritis screwed mine up.

I had my knee scoped about 4 years ago. Then two years later it was bothering me and I went to see him to see if he could scope it again. He told me I needed a knee replacement. He said that's all I'm going to say. He said when you're ready you'll come back and see me. When you can't stand it anymore you'll know it's time. And we'll talk about it.

I had my left knee replaced in September and am scheduled to get the right one done in May. Both are long overdue because of OA. I then get to do both hips. When it comes time to do the replacement, I'd take a little different approach. If you have one or more Physical Therapists you trust, I'd buy their lunch one day and ask them what surgeon they see the best results from. I've went with OrthoSports (Dr. Buggay) and am having good results.

I can tell you what I’d do….I would have the replacement now and not worry about if I would need another replacement 20 years down the road. I ain’t suffering and limiting my mobility at 50 so that I might have better mobility at 75

I’ve had 9 scopes on my knees. 5 on right and 4 on the left…..Shots help but they actually do long term damage. My advice is, if you have to ask; then you are not ready. JRF’s comment 100% agree with. I’m about your age and I know I have 2 replacements in my near future. Good luck whatever you decide and hope you can find some relief from something….it sucks

Been through the scopes and shots, as my Doc said once you get to bone on bone anything outside of replacement is just a small band aid, injured my right knee bad which accelerated the need for a replacement which I had in Nov. of 22...best thing I have ever done to stop the pain and get mobility and strength back, I had the surgery done on Nov. 3 and climbed a ladder stand and killed a deer on Jan. 4. Just understand it will take close to a year to get back to 100% but with the pain gone it makes life a lot more enjoyable. I will have my other one done after turkey season with no reservations. Good luck with whatever you do

This has been my mind set lately. I have so much to do (selling a rental) and really hoping for a few more months. I helped my friend Saturday build a deck. That night was in the hot tub and then ice packs. I slept with a pee bottle. I can barley walk into the shower. Much better afterwards. I just feel like I am on stilts and flat out hurt all the time.

I've done 2 scopes on each knee and a lateral release on both knees. I turn 48 in a month. It's been about a year and a half since the last scopes/lateral release on both knees and I'm doing okay right now, but knowing my history, I'll be ready for something in another 2-ish years and the doc said that it'll probably be total replacements. I'm good with a TKR on both sides - don't care if they only last 20 years or so.

I'm wearing a torn meniscus right now in my right knee...I had mine scoped 6 years ago and it's been bothering me bad the last couple weeks.

I've had a tough time with my knee replacement from 6 months ago. It still gets painful/swollen if i get too rough around the farm. Still wakes me up several times a night hurting. I've had some tell me it takes a year for some folks to get over that. I am retired at 67 (almost 68). Mine was in bad shape before the fix. Everyone is different and ymmv. I did all the therapy and went through the exercises. Just taking longer than I figured. Doesn't slow me down just wears me out from the day. I changed the transmission fluid/filter on my 2018 Frontier today and it's not really bothering me right now. Mostly if I am on my feet/knees most of the day. I had a lot of trouble climbing a ladder at the 2 month mark.

We had a secretary at work. She complained about her knee. Doctor told her she had to have it replaced. She felt strange after the surgery. Something didn't go right and they had to amputate the leg. Above the knee.

Caveat Emptor...

On the other hand my best friend is 81 years old. He's had both knees replaced and one hip replaced. He still gets around great and goes for daily walks in the woods around our dirt roads near the cabins.

Simply losing weight will take a load off and maybe you can avoid both for a while... I'd ride the knees until it's not bearable any longer before the TKR. I did my left tkr Nov 22and the right tkr in Mar23. Both feel a lot better. I do get sore BUT, I'm pretty active. The arthritis was
the driving force for me and the inability to run and gun the last 10 days of the '22 deer season.

If the cartilage is gone in the knees, shots or getting scoped is pissing in the wind. Bone on bone, as far as I know can only be fixed by a knee replacement. Been there, done that, both knees and a hip to boot

My wife had one replaced at Andrews at the end of October. She did very well but the recovery is really tough for about three weeks post-surgery. She has no regrets from having it done. I cant speak for others, but the folks at Andrews have the process down pat.

I am with gwstang, I had my knee replaced by TOC just over a year ago and it still hurts and swells especially if I over do it. I would go to Andrew's or Sportsmed if you just have to stay in Huntsville. It was the worst pain I have ever gone through, I went through 4 refills on pain pills and usually just need them for a day or two after any other surgery I have had. Granted the pain is not the same as pre surgery and I can do a lot of things I couldn't previously do but it still hurts. Also like kodiak06 said losing some weight will help a lot.

I got nothing on suggestions but wish you the best on whatever you decide to do. But you have to do something.

My late father friend from med school is the knee doc for LSU. Our family is still close. He knows the doc at Sportsmed (small world) I have been using. I trust him.

I appreciate you my friend.