i am a 42 yr old male was very active but four operations later my doc says i will need knee replacement in the future. how should i wait i am a corrections officer and if my knee don't work i will be out of a job i am scared and need support and help they say i am too young now dor the operation ut the pain killers are getting old HELP

-- skip shakro (sgtrock@tiki.net), October 14, 2000

Answers

It is not possible to give specific patient recommendations in the absence of the physician encounter. Having said that, total knee replacements are very successful when indicated. They should be done only when there are no alternatives. There is a lot of information on this web site about total knee replacement. I suggest you look around. Get information and present it to your surgeon or find a surgeon who is willing to give you the answers that you need.

-- David Hungerford (dhunger@jhmi.edu), October 14, 2000.

I am in the same boat. I am 52 and used to be active and have a physically active job an energy auditor/home inspector. Now I can't do my job and can't even walk my dog. I have made the decision to have my knee replaced and also had worries about losing my job. I contacted my AFSCME union steward and he informed me that my employer would have to make adjustments in restructuring my job assignments if I am unable to continue to perform my duties after surgery. Also the Americans with Disabilities Act states that you are entitled to job restructuring should you not be able to continue doing your current job. If you are in a union, contact your steward and access the ADA website. The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission says that under the ADA, businesses must provide reasonable accommodations to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of emploment. Possible changes may include restructuring jobs, altering the layout of workstations, or modifying equipment. Since you are a Corrections Officer I assume that you work for a government. Governments are definitely required to follow the ADA to the letter. Hope this is of help to you. Good luck.

-- David M. Lutes (david.m.lutes@co.multnomah.or.us), October 08, 2003.