My Acl Knee Replacement Is Now 10 Years Old….how Long Should It Last?
I had my Anterior Cruciate ligament completly renewed back in May ‘96.
One of the first ever done by Mr (Dr) John Fairclough.
I think it’s now stretched and is giving me knee instability.
ie dislocations which bloody hurt…!!
Obviously no excercise can help as it’s an artificial ligamemt.
Question really is should it have lasted forever?
I paid £5000 for the last operation and there is no way I could afford this again!
Also doubt the NHS would operate on an ex. private operation?
Any ideas please?
I had my ACL reconstruction by Fairclough’s buddy Magnussen 16 years ago and I’ve just had to have some repair work done on some cartiledge. They took a good look at the ACL graft and said it was doing well – yes it’s looser than it used to be but I have to really work on keeping my quads and other muscles in the knee in as good a shape as possible as it gives extra support. I had all my knee operations on the NHS – totalling about 6 or so now – roughly 5 during the space of 1 year as my knee was totally mashed having been driven over by two morons on a motorbike.
Exercise is absolutely vital – you have to keep your muscles really well developed to help the knee. If you are getting major pain then get it checked out. I got to the point where I was in total agony but luckily it turned out to be some cartiledge damage probably stemming from the original accident. Firstly speak to your GP – there’s no need to tell them where the op was done -and ask for advice – they will be able to refer you to an orthapaedic clinic or just some physio. Main thing is get it checked out – if you don’t and there is a problem with the ACL graft then there isn’t much they can do if it gets too bad. You have to look after your knee – I’ve been living with mine since I was 15. It was awful having surgery again but worth it in the longrun. Go get it checked out – it makes no difference where and how you had the op before.
I HAD THE EXACT SAME OP AS YOU – check the advice above – i know what I’m talking about had 16 odd years experience of ACL replacement with patella tendon graft held in place with screws. These days they use some kind of special screws that dissolve slowly allowing the graft to ahere to the bone so no metal required and no giant scars anymore – my knee looks like a small battlefield.
The NHS operate on a lot of ex private patients. I dont know about ligament replacements but joints are now guaranteed upto about 18 years depending on which parts and cements are used.
I had a complete knee replacement 3 years ago,in a private hospital,cost me l0 grand.Anyway,I was told that it would only last me about lO years and would have to be replaced again.I dread it.
Like you next time I won’t have the money to pay for a private hospital.The thought of being a NHS patient today is totally aborant to me.Shared wards,bad food,no privacy.
Please let me win some money on the lottery so I don’t have to endure that.
You will be able to get it done on the NHS they don’t care that you have had it done privately before,afterall you have saved the NHS money haven’t you the first time round. Good luck,I know the aweful pain you are in,it agony.Best painkillers Dihydrocodien.
Do not assume that the NHS would not intervene because they would. Most joint replacements last as long as the adhesives they use, the glues get better the joints last longer.