I've had both knees reconstructed a couple of times and waited til the pain got so bad in the right knee I couldn't stand it any longer, By that time my knee was a grist mill chewing up bone. So in 2007 I had total right knee replacement. Best thing I ever did. The only pain I had after surgery was when I first woke up. The pain was unbearable to the point I was praying to pass out. End result Anesthesiologist came to my room and put me back out when I woke the second time the pain was gone. Just prior to knee replacement I had to have back surgery, 5 level fusion, fake disc,installed 3 straight rods that ran vertical with screws holding them to the back bone. As the saying goes it all runs down hill we found that 50 percent of my knee pain was coming from nerves in my back. If you are already having neck problems I wouldn't be surprised that you have some type of disc damage, bone loss from walking and trying to keep weight off that knee. Again for me it was the best thing I could have done cause we also found that the bone spurs had almost cut through the knuckle at the top of lower leg bone and if that had happened it would have been major with a chance I would have lost my lower leg caused from the bone splitting. I made it to July 2013 when I started losing the feeling in both legs and feet. We found out that the bone graft done in first surgery didn't stay in place and that allowed my lower back to shift
and put pressure on a many
nerves, so back to surgery we went with a new young doctor that was up to date on all his training and knee what to do. He removed all hardware installed in 2005 replaced it with up to date parts added more the two biggies were he replaced the rods that were put in in 2005 that were straight with rods that have a curve in them that allow the back bone to go back to its natural position and the biggest he had to break my back in 2 (two) places because it had fused together crooked. So from someone that's rode that horse get them to check your back for correct alignment because when you replace that knee you'll start putting more stress on your back and neck without even realizing it. Our Prayers are with you and may it turn out the best possible
