Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group What would you do???

SherrI, I'm am soooo sorry that those knees of yours aren't any better. What does your Rheumy say? PM me and let me know what the MRI's show.
It really feels good to have this group behind me.
Cindy

You know Kat, I have done TONS of research the last 2 years and never bother to look at the authors of any of the journal articles I've read. I really don't know what made me look him up and research him and his credentials, quite impressive. Why didn't I find him last year is beyond me. I guess now all I have to do is get up the nerve to talk to hubby about it.
Cindy

Chris, how is your back? Anything new going on? You know I've gone through a similar situation 15 years ago before I finally had my back surgery. I went through 3 or 4 years of searching for answers, went to 6 different surgeons because they all said something different and finally my current surgeon convinced me of the real problem and he fixed it, just like that. I was so glad I took the time and did my research and didn't go with what the docs at John's Hopkins wanted to do, I probably wouldn't have been able to walk at all had I let them go with their recommendations. Boy it's amazing what we AS'ers have to do to keep functional sometimes and yet, we retain our sanity, somewhat
Cindy

Hi Cindy

I don't really feel qualified to comment as I havn't had any of my bits replaced yet . However, I've given it some thought and I'm positive that if I could swing it, I would definitely try this fellow. The thought of giving up and never walking well again would not be acceptable to me.

Good Luck,
Maggie

John, great words of wisdom there. It's funny I always thought we had to accept and adapt and thought that's pretty much what I have done over the last 30 years with this desease but looking back I guess I have been fighting it and kicking it all along.
Your right about AS complicating surgical outcomes. Mine has been totally out of control ever since this last surgery. I must say though, it took my surgeon 2 and a half years and 5 surgeries to finally admit he was wrong and the AS was a big determining factor in these complications. At least he's not one who lets his ego get in the way and will admit when he's wrong.
Cindy

I must say it is strange after hundreds of articles over the last 2 years and this one just hit me in the face.
Thanks Amy
Cindy

Well, strangly enough I've done this enough over the years, it's second nature so I will start by discussing it with my surgeon first and he will make the first contact for me if I want him to, if not I've done it enough before and I have all the info I need to proceed on my own with phone and email contact first.
Cindy

Well James, I can relate to that for sure. My knee were originally messed up by surgeons using me as a ginea pig back in the 70"s when I was in my late teens. I had to adapt for 30 years, finally felt medical advancements were at a point that I could get 2 new knees and start the off new by age 50. Huh, not. Anyway I think the AS plays a lot in surgical complications especially with joint replacements and there's not a whole lot we can do but look for those answers.
Thanks
Cindy

Amen to that! God loves us and helps us, but expects us to do our part, too. I'm going to keep fighting the fight and I hope you all don't give up, either. I hope you find the right doctor that can figure out the problem with your knee.

Thanks for your input Sarah. You know, I don't know why this is such a hard decision for me to make. I've always been a fighter, I saw 6 different surgeon before I decided on my back surgery 15 years ago. I guess this is different in that I've already had all the surgeries all these surgeons have told me I needed to have and feel there's nothing left, but, I know there has to be something someone has missed.
Cindy