The Start of My Bilateral Total Knee Replacement Journey

This is a little off topic for my typical niche of motherhood and lifestyle, but it is a part of my life and my motherhood journey, so I am going to share!

While searching for information on Bilateral Total Knee Replacements in someone my age I found essentially nothing. I hope this can be of help to anyone undergoing this surgery and especially younger people.

I am 26 and I have end stage arthritis in both of my knees. It is a genetic issue. Multiple people in my family have had to have joint replacements, it is what it is. My knees are at the point that they are starting to bow significantly, so I will be getting bilateral total knee replacements. They will replace both my knees within the same surgery.

I genuinely do not remember a time when my knees did not hurt. I remember in elementary school going to the doctor because my knee was hurting. I went on crutches. I remember throughout middle and high school getting MRIs on my knees, going to physical therapy, and going on and off crutches for years. I was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, but had no real options to help my issue and was essentially told to “grin and bear it.”

While I was pregnant with my daughter Elsie my knees hurt even more. To the point I genuinely could not ignore it anymore. I figured it was just the added weight and the hormone relaxin that relaxes your muscles and ligaments. I waited a few months after having her and my knees actually got worse even though I lost a tremendous amount of baby weight.

My husband Evan noticed how much I was limping and brought up the point that we already had paid our maximum out of pocket for the year and I should just go before the new year. I made it in to seeing an Ortho near our house pretty quick at the middle of December.

He asked me some questions and manipulated my knee and then sent me in for some x-rays. I will never forget his face when he looked at my scans. I figured he would just say what they all had said in middle and high school- I have osteochondritis dissecans and that there was nothing he could do, but his face dropped and he said “how have you been living like this?”

He then turned the monitor and showed me the scans. He said, “You have pretty severe end stage arthritis. You are completely bone on bone and you need knee replacements, but you’re SO young.” He then explained we could try some injections and see if that helped bring some relief and he prescribed me some custom unloader braces. I tried it until February, and it was not working at all. Literally not better in the slightest. I let him know and he said “I did not think it could help, but was worth a shot with your age, but I’m not surprised it still is really painful.” He referred me out to a surgeon.

The surgeon here near our house said the same thing, I desperately need knee replacements.

My Mom had a hip replacement where she lives, which is about 2 hours from my house and her surgeon is award winning and PHENOMENAL. Despite the odds I got in to see him within the month, and he said the same thing.

That was it for me, three doctors all saying the same thing.

I was faced with a decision. Wait for the inevitable in pain, OR go ahead and get the knee replacements while Elsie is really young and have a shot at an active and happy life with her?! The decision seemed pretty easy.

I want to be that active and fun Mom that takes her kids to the zoo, the park, Disney, etc and isn’t held back at all. I want to live my life with less pain! I talked with my husband and we decided it was now or never.

I was waiting for the call from the surgery scheduler, and I got it last week. She told me I could wait until the end of April or take a cancellation date since someone just cancelled. Despite the quick notice we were able to rush and get everything together. Getting it done sooner is a step closer to healing! I am trying to beat Elsie on the mobility factor, and little miss is on the MOVE.

This is my night before surgery blog post. I am scared. I have cried and hugged my daughter and used her as a tissue a few times today. I am scared of leaving her for surgery. I am scared of the pain. I am scared of infection and blood clots. I am afraid of the lack of mobility. I am afraid of the long recovery. I am afraid of missing out on these sweet moments with my daughter, because she is only a little baby once. I am scared. I am scared. I am scared.

I am scared, but I am ready to fight. I am ready to conquer this.

I am praying that I will heal as quick as I can for my girl! I have not even had the surgery yet and I am already ready to be back on the floor playing with her and active in her growth and learning!

SHE is my why. I want to the best for you baby girl. Mommy loves you. I got this.

I will be definitely posting about this on my instagram @kylasieges and I will hopefully be updating here when I am able. I hope that this will be helpful to someone one day.

Thank you everyone for your love and support! I still have the scheduled “Mom Boss Mondays” so subscribe and stay tuned!

Love,