I would strongly suggest that you keep looking for an orthopaedic surgeon that WILL do the knee replacement. There is no reason why you should have to suffer in pain if you need the surgery. I'm 44, and need a knee replacement, but am putting it off until I lose some weight after my WLS. My orthopaedic surgeon is willing to do the knee replacement whenever I decide to have it done.

As far as exercising, I would strongly recommend working out in a pool. It doesn't matter whether you do water aerobics, swimming laps, or just an exercise regime, you will see an improvement. I can't even think about doing the treadmill without pain in my knees and back, but can easily do 1-2 hours in low-impac****er aerobics classes. Getting a member to the YMCA is the best move I've ever made.

Good Luck to you!!

I have bad knees and left knee is practically out.  So far knee is fine and doctors tell me to keep moving it and I can tell when I exercise they do definitely feel better.  I do walking away the pounds DVD's and I just started going back to health club the last 3 weeks.  Some people say elliptical is good for knees and same for treadmill.  Then other professionals say they are not good for the knees.  I have never heard any one say the stationery bikes are bad for your knees.  And I can do stationary bike fine.  But I like to mix it up.  When I had a trainer a few years ago she had me on all 3 machines and had me doing hills on treadmill!! 

Does anyone have and advice on exercises that are good for knees?  That they heard from their doctors, etc.  Thanks in advance for your help.

the weather is great.  not too hot not too cold. . .

took it easy today.  just straightened up the house. 

what i ate:
cereal w milk x 2
yougart
pro drink 1 pt
cashews 1/4 c
crystal lite 1 pt
i packed a bag of food/drink for the day.  i never felt deprived.  i could go into the bag and get whatever i wanted.  i picked the yougart over the bar.  i drank the pro drink before the crystal. 

Great Beginnings South Lap Band Support Group Meeting was good.  there was a rep from ARDYSS there.  we tried on compression garments.  although a bit difficult to get in (at first) the results were interesting.  i could see wearing this to work or places.  comfortable.  i did look good in it.  gave insight what i could look like. . . . .

the pain level is about a 4-6.  taking advil every 4 hrs.  gotta keep moving. 

Yes, that would be true according to my research too.  I know from experience, however, that the pill form is very effective.  It does take at least 12 weeks of taking them for them to get into your system and really start working.   They are cheaper than the liquid, but you can find deals on line for the liquid.  I'll quite possibly switch after my surgery.  I just know that, for me, it has actually stopped the progression of the osteoarthritis in my hands.  My finger joints were starting to deform and to get stuck.  They were also swollen all the time and I couldn't get rings over my knuckles.  I am wearing rings again that I haven't been able to wear in years. 

Which form of WLS are you having, and what do you plan to do to treat your pain post-op? And do you have any reason to believe that your stomach currently DOES have lesions???

In any case, you need to cut out ANY NSAIDs at least two weeks before surgery, as they thin the blood and can lead to excessive bleeding.