Which surgery would you have first?

[DeterminedGirl 53]

1. Vsg

2. Total knee replacement

For those of you who have had the first one, how would you schedule these?

[Bukki 41]

Definitely have the VSG first. Any weight you lose will make the knee surgery recovery easier.

[AussieLady 521]

8 months ago I was told I needed 2 knee replacements. I could manage a 10 minute walk before the pain was too much. As I am only 55 and knee replacements only last 10 - 12 years, this didn't seem like a great idea. In November I had VSG. To date I have lost 42 pounds. Today I went for a one hour walk in a hilly area and I have no pain at all. Definitely have the VSG first because you may find, as I have, that the knee replacement can wait.

[clk 3,519]

Yes, I'd do VSG first. I haven't had knee issues, but when a family member needed two knee replacements two years ago she did one at a time. She did the first one with no weight loss and had a long, tough recovery. She opted to keep going with physical therapy and put off her second surgery until she lost some weight and felt better. Fifty pounds later she had the second surgery. Perhaps it was just knowing what to expect but she bounced back right away and has continued physical therapy and the weight loss on her own. By the time she had the second surgery, it was her choice to have it then or put it off a bit longer, because the need wasn't as pressing. Due to her age, she opted to do it then, but had she been younger she probably would have put it off for at least a few more years.

Good luck!

~Cheri

[Raven21 121]

For sure VSG first! You might not need the knee surgery once you lose weight. If you still do, your recovery will be sooooooo much easier without the additional weight on your new knee.

[loseitsoon 157]

The TKR is much harder than the Vgs, I wish I had done the Vgs first.

[doxieville 799]

How bad are your knees? Is it one or both? And how far apart are you planning on getting the VSG/TKR done?

I had my knees done in my 40's. (i'm 51 now.) They were totally destroyed from Rheumatoid Arthritis and I walked like a penguin. I had no choice. It was bone on bone w/ bone particles chipping off. If you are that bad, I'd say TKR first. It's harder to get in exercise to help your weight loss.

Judy

[chilihot59 156]

I opted for the VSG first. My orthopedic surgeon even agreed to have the WLS first and get as much weight off as possible before having knee replacement surgery. I can say my mobility has drastically improved with my weight loss thus far. I will still need the knee surgery, but, I'm walking so much better.

[JamesHRN 114]

I would do the VSG first because with weight loss it will help with recovery of the knee surgery in my case after loosing weight my knees and ankle and feet stopped hurting

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

I need knee surgery. That was one of my motivating factors in getting the sleeve. I didn't want to go through knee surgery just to damage it again by putting all that weight on it. Plus recovery is so much easier when you are not severly overweight.

[slnrtcv 8]

I had my vsg 9/17. I have lost 86 pounds since my back surgery in April of 2012. On Tuesday the 22nd I get my first new knee. The orthro surgeon wouldn't even schedule me until I got some weight off. I saw him 2 months ago so have lost 25 since that appt. I still have some more to get off but hope my new knees will allow me to excersice and keep it off.