Arthroscopic Surgery: Yea or Nay?

This is a tough question William. I've heard good and bad things about knee surgery. I wish I could be some more help to you, but I wish you the very best.

wh,

Recently an exhaustive study conculded that this type of surgery was just a placebo.

In the study one group had the surgeries while the others were just kocked out and the surgery was faked.

Both groups responded saying that the surgery helped.

Just my 2 cents.

Yikes!

hmmmm.....

My husband had arthroscopic surgery some years ago. The doctor told him that he would be running around in a couple of weeks. It took about a year, and the knee has never been "right".

If I were you, I would go to another orthopedist, and get a second opinion. Don't mention that the first doctor mentioned arthroscopic surgery, and see what the second one comes up with!

Margo had arthroscopy recently - her knee has gone "bung' again, I know - I imagine she will have something to say.

She works in the medical industry - so I imagine she would be well up in the research on the topic. She will be back before too long.

Craven - do you have a cite for that research? It sounds highly unethical - given the risks of a general - and SOMETHING must have been done that was invasive - since there is a wound after arthroscopy, albeit a small one.

Very interesting, though - arthroscopy is almost an industry here- Australian rules football being so hard on the knees, as is netball, our most commonly competed in sport.

dlowan- Here it is:

http://www.newswise.com/articles/2002/7/KNEE.VAR.html

Thanks Phoenix.

It is an interesting study indeed. The subjects were very kind, especially as one assumes they were elderly, and even a weeny general is risky - and golden staph all too common in dangerous places like hospitals, even in little nicks.

It is funny that people had to sign a paper saying they understood that the placebo would be of no benefit to their knee, (although I understand, of course, the legal and consent issues), given the general effectiveness of placeboes - especially ones surrounded with some drama, and especially ones which cause some discomfort.

I do not have the cite, but a psychologist friend of mine who was researching placeboes said that they work better if they are associated with some discomfort - a little nausea will do, for instance - and that different coloured placeboes work better for different conditions.

Hurrah for placeboes, say I!

I, for instance, respond very well to acupuncture. Black magic, say some. So be it - there is very little pain, and if a few fine needles assist me with all manner of little things - and some big ones - simply by getting me to utilise my mental powers, well, that has to be better than expensive drugs! It may be worth noting, Williamhenry, in case you are well disposed to trying a little needling, that particular black magic i soften quite effective with chronic pain.

Now that I think of it, I can't recall ever hearing anything positive about knee surgery. I hate to say this, but everone that I know that has had knee surgery said it became worse :-(

What dlowan says about acupuncture may sound unreal, but I know many people who have had it and they have nothing but wonderful things to say about it.

I wish you the very best.

Thanks to all those who have replied to this thread . . . your answers have certainly given me food for thought.

I would have thanked you sooner, but I have had an A2k absence for about two days. No updates . . . :wink: