Finally, after waiting three months, I see the highly recommended Dr. Jose Rodriguez for a second opinion on my left knee. He's at Hospital for Special Surgery (which is only a few blocks from where I live).
After filling out about 80 thousand pages (or so it feels) of information online (you really need my religion? or the dates of my recent vaccines?), I am ready for my appointment.
I have a standing (as in upright), full body x-ray, and then more specific x-rays on my knee. Neither is the least bit uncomfortable. Why can't there be mammogram machines like these?
After a short wait, Molly (the PA) sees me first. She asks a few questions, reviews my x-rays, presses on both knees, and checks my mobility. Her conclusion is: you don't need surgery now.
Then Dr. Rodriguez comes in. He exams me too and agrees with Molly. He says at some point I probably will need surgery, but not now.
Even though my x-rays show bone-on-bone, and significant arthritis, no activities I now do are impaired by my knee. Plus, I am not in a lot of pain (it's sporadic and never beyond a level 5, or so). Dr. Rodriguez does not think that I would experience a substantial enough improvement to justify a full knee replacement now.
I walk home relieved.
Maybe by the time I am ready, researchers will have perfected some new technology. There are promising clinical trials now being conducted that involve injectable gels that can lead to advanced cartilage regeneration. A shot would certainly be preferable to a scalpel.
If I can wait (which I can), I am happy to. By the time I need a new knee, maybe there will be a much better, less invasive, and less painful way to get one.
