My New Knee, by Professor Sarah Vickerstaff
Professor Sarah Vickerstaff, age 61, member of Arthritis Action, shares her journey with joint replacement surgery.
“I was only in my forties when my hands started getting swollen and painful, so I saw a doctor. Following tests, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis - most people don’t get any serious issues until they’re in their sixties.
From that moment, I did everything to battle this irksome condition. Plenty of exercise: swimming, exercise bike and Tai Chi. Lots of fruit and veg, but no meat. Despite this, the arthritis spread to my back, and in autumn 2012, three vertebrae had to be fused.
Then, my right knee became very painful. By the New Year, walking even a few hundred yards was agony. It hurt when I went to bed; it hurt when I woke up. Once again, more osteoarthritis was the diagnosis.
I’m blessed with a sunny disposition, but I was… angry. It felt so unfair. I’m a Professor of work and employment at the University of Kent, and spend a lot of time getting in and out of chairs, which made me very cranky.
I saw various specialists but they were not quick to recommend surgery. A total knee replacement will last only 10-15 years, so if you have it too early, you may need a second one, which won’t work as well. At 57 I was offered cortisone injections and advice on exercise. It felt as though I was being politely nudged out of the door.
It’s very hard to admit that you are disabled, but that was the reality of the situation. I started using a walking stick. If I was in London, I would plan elaborate routes to avoid stairs, or situations where I could be swept along by rush-hour commuters. Falls were proving very painful.
Some people might have waited, but I wanted to carry on working and wasn’t ready to give in. So, I kept knocking on doors. Eventually, in early 2014, I got my doctor to refer me to a private consultant who said I should have the operation and sent me to a different NHS hospital. Finally, the ball was rolling.
Then there was ‘knee school’: I learned they were going to cut out the whole knee joint and cement the new one in place. It sounded brutal, but the physio jumped on the table and showed us his two knee replacements! That gave me a lot of hope. I finally went into hospital that October.
If you get a new hip or knee, how long it lasts is up to you. I’d come across people who ‘became’ their injury – ‘I’ve got to have a new knee, so that’s me finished’. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I gradually reintroduced my swimming and regular exercise.
I can now walk far better without worrying about stairs or crowds. I worked hard, but it was worth it. My daughter, Chloe, told me ‘You’re more like the old you’.
There is this arbitrary age that allows you to get a replacement, but that will not suit everybody. If it’s seriously affecting your life and happiness, push for it.”
Postscript July 2019
“Two and a half weeks ago I had my other knee replaced, when this knee started to go downhill, I had no hesitation in thinking about another knee replacement. The first one has been so successful. I went back to the same consultant and he agreed it was time to get it done. I knew what I was in for and it has gone very smoothly, hurts of course, but is now down to me to do the physio. I have every confidence it will be as good as the first one and perhaps with both knees replaced I will be doing even better than after the first. The latest research seems to suggest that replaced knees are going to last for longer than 10 years - up to 20! - so let’s hope I confirm that expectation.”
Professor Sarah Vickerstaff