I would like your opinions. I cannot travel out of state to see an LLMD now due to financial problems. I would love to be able to and I am pretty sure I have chronic lyme.
No diagnosis, though; just the results from Igenex. I have read on this site that LLMDs do not take insurance, but of course for surgery my insurance would pay.
I have knee pain that has become almost unbearable and I am scheduled to have a total knee on May 28.
I am so afraid that if I do have chronic lyme I might develop bone infection after surgery.
Have any of you gone through knee surgery before seeing a doctor(LLMD) and if so did it turn out okay?
I really am scared but want to be free of this pain.
Thanks for listening.
An old lady in Texas
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
I can't speak about knee replacement surgery, but we do have to be careful during any surgery, especially with the anesthesia.
when i broke my shoulder last week i had the orthopod call my llmd for info on anesthesia.
i feel i did better on this surgery than in the past, especially in coming out of surgery.
there have been some posts here on anesthesia, so you may want to try a search.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I understand your thoughts .... I really do. I understand being in so much pain that you would do almost anything. But surgery for knee pain that is caused by Lyme is illogical.
I know it's cheaper ....
I would find a Lyme support group in your state to find out what your options are.
I would figure out how to get to an LLMD ... please figure out a way. There are LLMD's out there who take insurance, but you will have to travel.
If you have the knee surgery, you will just have other problems develop from the chronic Lyme.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Contact "lpkayak." She just had a double knee replacement and has had Lyme for many years.
I do agree though....find an LLMD at all costs.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
my knee arthritis began in my early 30's before i was overweight and inactive.
i know know i had , had lyme for at least 10 years...maybe more at that time.
my knee arthritis is dx as osteo...xrays show no cartilage... mri says "essentally obliterated" but i believe lyme caused it.
if the lyme causes damage...and you are bone on bone... it probably can't be fixed with abx. you will need a replacement.
if there is no damage to be seen on xrays...then maybe killing the lyme will get rid of your pain.
NOW...THE DISCLAIMER: i'm still in rehab...still on heavy duty pain meds---so can't trust my already lymed out brain. and of course I AM NOT A DOC ... but i think what i said above is true.
i also had severe pain in the balls of my feet years ago...and abx did cure that.
i also have severe osteo arthritis in my thumbs and i belive lyme caused that...and i do plan surgeris on them next year.
before the surgery i got most relief from constant doses of cosamine ds (the purple and white kind) and ibuprofen. but ibuprofen is bad. try to stay away from it. i had to take it in order to work aand sleep.
i posted on here about this before.
[ 12. April 2008, 09:27 AM: Message edited by: lpkayak ]
Posted by ILymbo2 (Member # 13266) on :
Thanks much for all the replies. According to Xrays, both of my knees no longer have any cartilage left, more so the right knee.
I do plan to see the physician in La. I had an appointment shortly after I started here, but my DH fell from the top of a Semi and fractured his back.
The rest of the story is 3 back surgeries this past year and total disability. I work my regular job and 3 of the 4 weekends a month.(I'm
not crying..just very busy.) Things will get better and I will get to go. I have read many worse stories than mine!