I’m 46, but this sort of scenario is what scares me to death:
I get to be 70 or so and need knee/ hip replacements. (My father needed both hips replaced in his mid 60s, fairly early, so my concern is stronger due to family history.) By that time, in the 2030s, Medicare will be so depleted — notwithstanding my having “paid in” for nearly 50 years — that I will be told, “Although hip replacement is indeed ‘indicated,’ you are too old to justify the cost. Sorry; if only you were in your 40s or younger, it would be a better ‘investment.’ We have a nice walker and a bottle of ibuprofen for you.”
Yikes. You are the perfect candidate for prevention. If I were looking at those probable statistics, I’d be at every specialist asking for advice now, and then I’d check out every single alternative possibility like acupuncture, etc etc. I see you are in CA, and there alternative practitioners on every corner. Are there nutritional components? Do you move in such a way that you put too much downward pressure on your knees? (Yes, that’s a possibility and physicians don’t know how to see it.) Maybe gentle martial arts, like tai chi, could teach you gentler movement patterns while strengthening muscles around your knees….I am just tossing out ideas, but I’ve done these things to good advantage.
My hip went very haywire about 20 years ago; pain and inflexibility so bad that I couldn’t lift my leg high enough to get into an SUV. (I’m average weight, it wasn’t that.) Bought the book, The Arthritis Cure. Followed the simple directions: glucosamine/chondroitin daily, joined the gym and walked for miles on the treadmill, and whatever else it recommended. Pain went away. AWAY! A knee is not a hip, but suggest you read the book and see whether it applies to you.
If you are in/near SF, I can recommend practitioners. No, they will not be covered by insurance…and yes, they might possibly save you from major surgery. It’s worth investigating, I think.
Good luck to you, pogo101
My Mother,who is 74, had her right knee replaced about 10 or so years ago. When 0bama was elected and 0bama care passed she was quick to get her left knee replaced as she might not be able to if she waited. I don’t know what will happen when I need my knee needs replaced.