One might think that simply putting restrictions on elective total joint surgery for those who are severely overweight might encourage weight loss.

Not necessarily so, says new work from OrthoCarolina and Novant Health Bariatric Solutions. Such an endeavor requires a different, more problem solving and supportive approach, says new research.

The study, “What are the implications of withholding total joint arthroplasty in the morbidly obese? a prospective, observational study,” appears in the June 30, 2019 edition of The Bone and Joint Journal.

Bryan Springer, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at OrthoCarolina and co-author explained both the problem and the, perhaps, counterintuitive outcome to OTW, “We know that total joint arthroplasty in the morbidly obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) > 40) carries with it a higher risk of complications, including infection.”

“It has been our policy in our practice to restrict the morbidly obese from having elective total joint arthroplasty until they could optimize their weight. We were curious however how often these patients were actually able to lose weight by simply saying they could not have surgery. The concern was that we were not offering them resources to assist in weight loss prior to surgery.”

“We looked at nearly 300 patients that were morbidly obese and otherwise would have qualified for total joint replacement (end stage OA [osteoarthritis] and failure of conservative management). We followed them for 2 years. What we found was that very few (only 19%) went on to have total joint replacement and of those very few actually had their BMI < 40. For those patients that did not have surgery, they were unable to lose weight and in fact their weight increased. Over 1/3 of the patients never came back to our office.”

“One thing people might interpret from this study is that patients can’t lose weight so you might as well go ahead and do their surgery anyway. That is not the message. As stated previously we know these patients are at higher risk. The message from this study is that patients need help and they need resources to help them lose weight. Just like we would provide them with resources to optimize their cardiac condition, their diabetes etc., we need to do the same to manage obesity.”

“If we are going to put barriers in place (restrictions) then we must provide resources and solutions. From this work, our group has established a patient optimization program that partners with bariatric and weight loss center at our institution to ensure patients have resources and help to become as optimized as possible prior to surgery.”

I am in desperate need of a total hip replacement and have been denied by my trusted Dr. who tells me I must first lose 60 pounds. This is like an end of life diagnosis since my chance of successfully achieving this goal seems impossible. I am so very depressed that I see no reason to go on considering that the pain I endure each day is maddening.

If I don’t get a hip replacement I’m going to die. It’s been 3.5 years I’ve been limited mobile and 2 years of mostly being in bed. I was 265 then dropped a can on my opposite foot and broke other foot of hip and gained to 350 I’m down to 315 now. But it’s impossible for me to get this weight off . I keep going into congestive heart and hypoxemia. I need to get this hip fixed so I can be active again. Please help guide me. Guide me to a study or to some doctor that would be willing to give me a hip replacement as part of a study . Or tell me what kind of insurance that covers it out of Virginia where I live. I need names of doctors that can do this surgery for me. I feel like I’m dying not being about to be mobile .

I am in the same boat with both knees bone on bone. Was surfing the internet hoping to find people who have had successful replacement surgery but just found a lot of people in the same situation as I. I can barely bare weight on my left knee at all and my DR.’s only advice is to go to Physical Therapy which I can not afford because the co-pays are too much. I actually am afraid to have the surgery thinking to myself since I am over 300lbs I wouldn’t be able to walk again. I live in NY and would love to hear anyone who successfully had replacements that weighed over 300lbs! Thanks and good luck to all!

Any luck I live in Ga an lost to 295 a hundred pounds quit smoking an as told to loss 100 more. I broke foot an twisted tendon in toe unseen by anyone an in bed 6 months of course husband cooking all those carbs I gained all the weight back. I’ve lotlst bk to 335 an stuck again. Lost my sister, dad, mom , younger brother, best friend an the nephew as murdered I’ve been so depressed. My right knee twist to the side. Th left is terrible. Both are bone on bone for over 5 years I cry out everyone I move. I bought. A scooter but it’s hell getting it off ramp an up lock plus I have 5 bulging disc which lower height by 3 inches an bmi went up. So they added 15 more pounds to lose. I’ve been in pain since 2007. Help me too please.

I am sending you hugs. That is a lot of people close to you to lose, so please seek therapy! It’s not a bad thing. It helps give you an outlet to cope. HUGS

Hello I’m 450lbs just had total knee replacement 06/22/2022 it’s now been about 3 weeks Im off the walker on a cane so far so good about to start my out Patient therapy just keep in touch I will Let you know how everything is going my goal is to be back to work 08/30/2022 and I live in long island ny

what doctor did your surgery and what state ? thank you

I’m glad you had success. I cannot find a surgeon in NC to consider knee replacements. I’ll keep looking.

I too have been told that I need to lose weight. I’m in the Chicago area and can’t find any doctors willing to do the knee replacements with a bmi over 40. I’m 61 yo female with a BMI of 47. I need to lose more than 43 pounds. I have knees that are so bad, I’m bowlegged, bone on bone, I can’t exercise well. I had a orthopedic surgeon tell me that I need to get a gastric bypass! I don’t need to get a bypass, anyway I heard that you have to be under 40 bmi to qualify for the bypass surgery as well. Talk about a catch 22!

Could you please send me the Dr’s name. I grew up in Long Island and would fly there from Washington state to get this done. Thedivinejewels@comcast.net

Yes please, what state and doctor. I have am in Washington State. Both knees are bone on bone. kdstokes@yahoo.com

Today, I went to the orthopedist with my 77-year-old mother for a pre-op consult — trying to decide whether to do her right hip or right knee first (she needs all four joints done). She’s worked really hard to get her weight down to 210 and was there…until my father passed away in late February and another medical condition caused her to gain eight pounds. EIGHT LOUSY POUNDS and surgery is out of the question until she loses it. In the meantime, she’s fallen three times in the past month, including yesterday. She’s going to end up injuring herself in ways that are worse than any potential medical complication from a hip replacement. I’ve been at her house for six weeks now because I’m afraid to leave her to her own devices, even with a fall alert system (I don’t want to know that she’s fallen…I want her not to fall).

Her situation is a bit brighter than the other stories I’ve read here, but I agree that there’s a total lack of empathy from doctors as folks’ quality of life declines. No one wants a bad outcome, but doing nothing is just as bad, if not worse, as the potential risk.

My heart goes out to all of you. There has to be a better way.

Go on a cleanse , 3 days of liquids, she will lose those 8 pound

I felt the same, then reduced my weight by 207 lbs and once the surgery was done, I was able to become very active. The problem of weight loss should be addressed aside from the surgery. Seeing a relative at 460 lbs suffer post joint replacement surgery motivated me to lose the weight first. I was in bad pain, but I got in the pool and worked hard. It was slow to start and I hated it. As the pool got easier, the weight went faster. Most of us need to take that first baby step (even with a painful limp) and don’t know how to do it. I strongly suggest that you work closely with a nutritionist at a weight loss center at a hospital or medical group that manages weight. Not only can it be done, you should do it for the purpose of enjoying life. Stuffing 8,000 calories a day into yourself is not enjoyment. Get a plan. Get fired up. It can be done, and it become fun within 30 days.

But what about when your stuffing yourself with 750 calories a day and still gain weight until you reach your previous weight that you achieved after quitting smoking 23 years ago? The 4 different Dr’s I went to just basically said that happens in some people and there isn’t anything we can do, but you are better off with the extra weight then you are smoking. Now I have to be in a wheelchair chair because no one will replace my hip until my BMI is 35 or under.

I barely stuff 2,000 calories “in my face” a day. Some days I don’t eat at all. The most calorically dense food in my house right now are my kid’s Graham crackers, milk, half and half, and goldfish. None of which I ever eat except half and half in my coffee.

Not that I owe an internet stranger the details of my diet, but here goes: Breakfast: Cold brew coffee with about 1 tablespoon of half and half and a packet of Splenda. Lunch: Usually skip because I’m caught up in work. Dinner: A glass of dry white wine, a marinated, grilled chicken thigh and some kind of green vegetable. It varies, but since I don’t eat bread, sugar, pasta, rice, potatoes, or dessert, and I don’t eat seconds, it would be VERY difficult to eat more than 1500 calories at dinner. I don’t eat out, and I don’t eat fast food.

I take medication for depression and hypothyroidism.

So why am I overweight? My metabolism is probably completely messed up from years of yo-yo dieting before I knew better. I don’t exercise as much as I should, but exercise only does so much. I wish the calories in/calories out formula worked for me, but it doesn’t. It doesn’t work for my son, either. He’s skinny as a rail and probably eats 3,000 calories a day. No significant exercise to speak of. Go figure.

If your weight is such a barrier to receiving necessary medical treatments, your doctor should have intervened long before now.

I completely agree with you. It’s happening to me. I have degenerative disc disorder, and a knee that has no cartilage at all, bone on bone. My doctor says to lose 60 pounds before he will even consider. Even told me to get bariatric surgery. I am so angry that they will not listen to the plain fact that I am in a ton of pain and in 6-8 months, the condition will be so much worse. I don’t understand it. my heart goes out to everyone in the boat!!!! i’m so sorry!

I had gastric bypass with many complications and lost nothing. No matter what I do I have been unable to lose. DNA and other testing showed no matter what I am predestined to be this way. Both knees are bone on bone, degenerative disc disease in low back and birth defect in hip. They will not replace my knees until I lose a lot of weight. I can barely move due to the pain. They are crazy. I have been on so many diets where everyone lost weight except me. I have even seen a couple of dieticians who could not understand why I did not lose.

Everything was fine until I went to physical therapy in 2017 for lower back pain. One day as I was just getting ready to leave the therapist stopped me and had me hop up on the table and said that I had one leg shorter than the other and he began to stretch my left leg down. I left limping. Then came pain. After about 6mo I was diagnosed with ostioarthritis. I then started injections. I have recently been diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis. I’m in so much pain all the time and deeply depressed. I’m using a walker now which I’m almost wheel chair bound. Of course not being able to walk I’ve become morbidly obese and am in need of a hip replacement but cannot find a surgeon who will touch me. I need help.

I am 61 & other than being “morbidly obese”, am fairly healthy except for both hips joints being bone-on-bone and 4 bulging discs in my lumbar spine. I have been like this, from Osteoarthritis, for 5 yrs now. Started with a cane, then a walker & now almost totally in a power chair. I went with no pain meds for 3 yrs, determined to not take them. However, the pain of trying to live in this condition became so painful that it was blinding. I am now on a daily dose of Vicodin, and it barely touches the pain level anymore. Fortunately, I work from a computer at home, from a lounge chair. I also sleep in one. I can barely enter and exit my car, and only with the help of a homemade step. I have lost 40 lbs with a lapband, but still am far from qualifying from surgery. I feel like my life is eternally on hold, as my very loving, tolerant husband is now depressed and angry over me being in this condition. Please… help me if you can.

I’m 59-year-old with a BMI ofhigh.I have a bad hip.Need a replacement.Can not fine anybody willing to do the surgery. Be cause my BMI. I Is to high. Is any place that would be willing perfrom the operation?

I am a 63 year old woman with osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease in my neck and back. Like so many of you, I am morbidly obese (BMI 40.5) and had lapband surgery, going from 310 to 255. But, my knees began hurting and the weight started to pile on. I had cortisone shots, but after 2 years, they are no longer helping. I am back up to 285 now. I had total confidence in my first doctor who said it was time for the surgery, but due to COVID-19, we were unable to do a surgical consultation, though his PA said that they could do the surgery, depending on the circumference of my knee. In the meantime, this wonderful doctor dropped out of my insurance plan.

Today, I met with a highly recommended doctor who says I am not ready for knee surgery until I try gel shots and lose 40 pounds. I cannot stand more than about a minute, if that, and cannot walk more than a few feet or my knee and back are killing me. I have a scooter and that is the only way for me to shop or get around my yard. Today’s appointment was like a death sentence to me. For that past year and a half, I lie in bed and sleep 18 or so hours and then am awake with anxiety all through the night. I have a shrink but he doesn’t take me very seriously. (Researching a new shrink).

I am making an appointment with yet another knee doctor, but am so frustrated, upset and depressed that I feel like there is no hope. I do not see how I can possibly lose 40 pounds, especially with having a 50 year addiction to food and it being the only joy in my life. I just don’t know what to do.

This is a tragic story that we are all needing a hip replacement but can’t find a doctor to perform the surgery. I am 49, healthy despite the fact that my BMI is 41. I know of a woman larger than me, she got a doctor to do the surgery, but he denied me telling me to lose 75 lbs. He told me to have gastric bypass surgery to lose the weight and then come back for the hip replacement. That’s ludicrous to have life changing surgery, to have a life improvement surgery. I left in tears. I’ve lost some weight, but I’m scared to even call another doctor because if he tells me the same thing, I’ll be so distraught. I’m in pain daily and can barely walk some days.

Simply put, I am a 70 year old 425 pounds 6’4 man. I am at wits end I am now in pain 100% of the time including sleeping. Yesterday I had to sell my car because I can’t lift my right leg into the truck (chevyTahoe) anymore, so I had to revert to a small transit mobility vehicle which is low to the ground and can carry my scooter inside the van to give me mobility to go shopping for groceries and things. I have no colesteral, diabetes or any heart problems, basically in good health except I’m in excruciating pain all the time. Now I am in a depression because I have no where to go. I desperately need the surgery, my quality of life Is Poor. Is their a surgeon in Michigan who can HELP ME?

What gets me is that if I fall and break the hip, they will do emergency surgery to fix it, and likely replace it. I’ve got bone on bone, arthritis, and one leg shorter than the other. Now it’s affecting my lower back and the other hip. I keep buying new devices to try to alleviate the pain (mattress, desk chair, standing desk, lumbar cushions, heating pads, show horns, grabbers, etc.) and I pop aspirin like candy. Stop fat shaming and actually help people! I would love nothing more than to ride a bike again, or walk without pain.

Please tell me how to lose weight while bedridden…I don’t understand how a doctor can purposely withhold pain relief to anyone. It’s doubly cruel when they know that withholding surgery will make it worse & lead to permanent confinement to a wheel chair for a 50 year old.

I’m 59 with 2 very bad knees. Been doing cortisone injections for years and their effectiveness has significantly waned recently. I started with a BMI over 50 and my orthopedic surgeon said he wouldn’t do my knee replacements until I had a BMI near 40. He helped me make an appointment at the weight loss center associated with the same hospital. They put me on a drug called Ozempic. It’s a diabetes drug that has recently been approved by the FDA for use as a weight loss drug. It’s a once a week injection (subcutaneous so you really don’t feel it). I’ve lost nearly 30 lbs in just over 2 months. It’s helped me to significantly curb my apatite. I’ve modified my diet to more protein rich food which encourages fat burning. I’ve got another 40 to 45lbs to go.

I’m so glad I came across this article. I’m in desperate need of a double knee replacement. Both knees have been bone on bone for 5 years now. The pain is bad and I can no longer work the job I love and went to college for. 35 years as a pre-k head teacher and can no longer get up & down from the floor or walk the playground. I can’t kneel on the floor to do the cpr &first aid training required every 2 years. I now use a cane and the weight just keeps building up because I’m not mobile enough to keep my body from being really stiff and other areas from hurting. My ex-husband had a knee replacement a year ago and his ortho Dr told me to come see him. He said that my knees are bad but I need to loose weight for him to consider doing surgery on me. He said that he doesn’t know how to direct me other than stop eating and starve myself or get gastric bypass. He had no resources, knew nothing about weight loss and couldn’t even give me a number (weight loss) that he’d consider doing the surgery…. like “lose 60 lbs then lets look at it again.” He gave me nothing. I did see a physical therapist to help increase the range of motion and mobility, but he said that with the condition of my knees, he cannot help because I should only use a pool or recumbent bike so there’d be no pressure on my joints since they are bone on bone. He said that I shouldn’t be taking walks even if could to keep the joints from wearing down the bones and also inflicting more pain. Yes, some of this is the result of my own doing, but I need some direction and help. It is a catch 22 ….. I need to lose weight but I can’t gain mobility to help with that so the weight increases. I did lose 30 lbs then a stand-still. So frustrating. The ortho drs really need to study about obesity and how to help/resources and also work together in how they can increase the parameters of bmi and still have a safe & beneficial replacement and recovery.

Hi, where do you live? I’m a casting producer working on a medical show and we might be able to help.

I live in Charlotte NC. I have a more complex situation. I need bilateral shoulder, hip, and knee replacement.

I live in Greenbelt Md., a suburb of Washington, D.C.

I would like to speak with producer…I definitely feel I could help and desperately need help.

I’m in Seattle. Same situation. Healthy except for weight and two knees bone on bone PLEASE HELP.

I feel as though I’m reading my own words as I scroll through the comments on this article. I am in desperate need of hip surgery but am morbidly obese. I am in the Orlando, FL area.

NJ. Any help is appreciated. Need meniscus repair.

was wondering if you are still doing your documentary on obesity and knee, hip or back surgery. I have been waiting almost 6 months to get a knee replacement after a accident at work and had to lose close to 40 lbs before even discussing it with my Dr. I work for KCFD and have been off almost a year due to the injury.

Hello, Can you please tell me if the program you were planning on producing was completed? If so, can you please tell me the name of the program and date the show will be available for the public to watch?

It seems this would be an important show for orthopedics surgeons and facilities refusing to perform surgery to patients with 40lbs or less to lose, (especially given the COVID situation) to watch which could help motivate them to see the importance the impact of going ahead with surgery will have on the life of the patient rather than being more concerned with their ratings, like my surgeon and the facility he performs surgery are even though my test were awesome and many physicians approved the surgery citing they don’t see any complications.

Please keep me posted as I would very much like to watch the program you and your team are producing. Regards, Jeri

I live in St. Louis and am in need of a double hip replacement. I have been bed ridden for almost two years and can’t work right now because of it. I need to lose approximately 20 more lbs. and just can’t get there. Help!!!

I am going through same situation. Love to tell you my story. My quality of live is going down hill fast and I want to walk and be active again.

I saw the article on obesity and joint replacement. I need both knees replaced and can’t because of my weight . I have tried everything from starving to Adipex and still haven’t lost the weight. I can’t walk up stairs and I have trouble driving. I am 53 and have a theee year old son I can’t not get down on the floor to play with him. Basically my life has ended. I have to take pain medicine which helps but not enough. I am willing to try anything. Please help

I was on line looking for a doctor in Columbia, Ga., and reading some of the comment about other people situations. I been having knee problems since my husband passed away in 2019. I have not had need knee problem in the past until my husband got sick in 2016 and I had to take care of him. Since then, I was the one to drive and take him to his appointment from Gainesville, Fla to Valdosta, Ga for surgery of pancreatic cancer, to Tallahassee, Fla and back home to Valdosta, Ga., for chemo and radioactive treatment every week; which took a told on my knees from driving . Then I had to take medication for thyroid, which have me gaining weight. Without the thyroid medication I know I can loss the weight, because I was only 230 pounds and when I started taking the medication I went to 330 pounds. I have went to doctors about my knees and took the shots and gel injections and at first it was working and now its not. I went to other doctors to see if I can get knee surgery, but was told to loss 60 pounds, which is very hard when you are on thyroid medication. My knees are bone to bone and I am on a cane now in lot of pain. I am losing weight but not fast enough to get the surgery. I am looking for a doctor who will take a chance on me. If you have any doctor or doctors that are willing to help please contact me though my e-mail.

I feel you sister. I’m in the same boat. I’m older (70) but I had gastric bypass 10 years ago. Major fail! I only lost 40 lbs in total and I gained it all back. Have an appointment for evaluation next Thursday but I am afraid of what the doctor will say with my BMI of 44. I looked for a fat doctor and tried to make an appointment…he’s retired. Now I’m going to see a skinny doctor which is intimidating. It is one of the top ortho places in the world…but will that help a fat girl? I will see. Wish me luck..I want to be able to walk up stairs so I can visit Italy,… Linda

This is exactly what I’ve been told by several doctors! Lose at least 80-90 pounds before we will do knee replacement! Both are bone on bone and I am in constant pain and can barely even walk with a cane! They want me to have gastric bypass surgery! No way! I understand all of the risks of infection, joint wearing out, etc. but it’s my body! Let ME make the decision! Wish I could find a doctor somewhere to perform the surgery!

I went to Orthocarolina, my knee pain started in 2020. I had gone to my primary care doc a year before that but they just had me take anti-inflammatory’s. I was obese but my weight hadn’t changed for years. Orthocarolina wanted to refer me to a bariatric doctor and I was told both knees are bone on bone. I do not want weight loss surgery. Besides being double billed for $1,000 shots that I paid for with the pharmacy Orthocarolina did nothing for me. Now my pelvis and back hurt all the time. I can barely walk and can not do simple tasks like go to a grocery store. I am only in my 47 and this is not a life. Just do the darn surgery it’s got to be better than confining people to a life of not being able to walk. I am sure the malpractice insurance companies have a hand in this or it’s a screwed up level of greed for the hospitals to cash in on Bariatric surgery and joint replacement.

I’m a 50 year old morbidly obese man in desperate need of double hip replacement. I’ve been to two doctors and they both want me to lose 100 pounds. I lost about 41 pounds in December, but covid 19 hit and I’ve gained all of it back. You backstage to starve yourself when you’re not active. I weigh 350 pounds and I’m getting worse by the day. I’m a truck driver still trying to work and it’s killing me. I need help!! I’m in the Atlanta Georgia area if anyone could help of give me some advice it would truly be appreciated.

I feel your pain sir, both literally & physically. I’ve been a truck driver since ’07 but I have Gout in both knees & they are bone on bone. I had to quit driving in 2018 because the pain was unbearable & my knee kept giving out. It was just a matter of time before my knee gave way while I was climbing out of the truck & I really hurt myself. My Orthopedist refuses to perform knee replacement because of my weight. He wants me to “exercise” and lose around a hundred pounds… Uhhh, hello, if I could exercise I wouldn’t be this big! It hurts to walk, pedal, stoop, bend, even stand for long periods. I am so disgusted with these doctors who only look at us as fat slobs instead of people who just want to live normal lives & be pain free!

I totally understand what you are saying about “if you fell.” It scares me that it will actually happen. I just visited my third orthopaedic doctor looking for someone who would do the surgery. They all said the same thing… lose 40 lbs. and then they would talk with me about it. Problem is… If I can’t tolerate any exercise, I can’t lose weight. I have been eating about 800 calories a day hoping it will help. Nope… haven’t lost one lb. I am maintaining and that is all. The pain has become so overwhelming that I often close my bedroom door and just cry. I know I am to blame for this but, I have fought the weight issue my whole life (often being successful) but, at 74 it has just overcome me. I appreciate your message and I wish you much success on your journey to health and being pain-free.

I FEEL LIKE IM GOING CRAZY. I NEED TWO KNEE REPLACEMENTS AND A HIP REPLACEMENT. MY BACK ALSO HAS TWO DISC THAT ARE MANGLED TOGETHER..I AM IN A WHEELCHAIR. I CAN TAKE ABOUT SIX STEPS..I HAVE HAD TO SLEEP IN A RECLINER FOR TWO YEARS NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT LIFT MY LEGS AND THE PAIN IS AWFUL TO TRY AND LIE DOWN..I HURT ALL NIGHT IN THIS CHAIR..I HAVE BEEN TO NINE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS AND NONE WILL OPERATE..THEY SAY LOSE EIGHTY POUNDS OR MORE..I CAN EVEN GET ONE BIT OF EXERCISE..I USE TO SWIM ALL THE TIME..FOR THREE YEARS I CANNOT GET IN AND OUT OF OUR ABOVE GROUND POOL..IM VERY DEPRESSED. I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME IN THE RECLINER IN MY BEDROOM ALONE..HUSBAND IS STILL WORKING..I FEEL ANGRY BECAUSE I WANT TO WALK..I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE AND SEE PLACES.. PLAY WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN ETC..ITS SO UNFAIR..BUT THE PAIN ..HOW LONG CAN I LIVE WITH IT?? MY LIFE HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

I work with two Ortho clinics locally, have had great success qualifying candidates for joint replacement surgery. I have just launched an online Weight Loss Practice. Our protocol results in 15% BMI reduction in just 12 weeks, 45% reduction in Triglycerides, 8.6% drop in Blood Pressure and 14% recustion in Fasting Glucose. I would love help any of you get to a healthy weight and qualify for surgery. Age does not matter….we see consistent results, and 86% of our dieters get qualified. My phone # is 425-791-2712. No exercise is required —we fix a food problem with food!

Tammy I am in Ohio, do you help people outside of your area via on-line? Thank you!

Ditto! Feel the same way! No doctor will listen and help!

I’m a 46 yr old male. I have a rare connective tissue disorder called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. My joints are very hypermobile and dislocate numerous times per day. I have needed bilateral knee replacement since I was in my mid 20s. The Drs wanted me to wait until I was much older to perform replacement on either knee. So over the past 20 yrs I’ve had 18 knee surgeries just trying to buy an additional yr before replacement. I’ve needed bilateral hip surgery for over 10 yrs. Same reason, I’m too young. I also need bilateral shoulder replacement, which they will do since its not a weight bearing joint. But with at least two more maintenance knee surgeries coming up I have to postpone the shoulder so I dont damage the shoulder while on crutches..Once upon a time I was incredibly active, worked out daily, played golf, basketball, weight lifted. Now due to becoming sedentary due to the massive joint issues I have now gained so much weight they will not do the surgeries that I need in order to regain my mobility so I can loose the weight!! Even my doctor acknowledges that it’s almost an impossible situation to be in. I went to the weight loss center to discuss options. I don’t qualify for bariatric surgery due to having Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. My joints are so bad their excerise physiologist couldn’t even “safely recommend” an excerise program she felt would be suitable for weight loss. Some doctors have said doing surgery right now comes with increased risks, but age-wise, i am in the prime of my health years. If my doctors continue to deny the surgery, though, it wont be long before i am in the 50+ group where higher risk comes by default. My bottom line is that i cannot lose weight until my joints are replaced and the sooner i can get this done the more successful i will be. My motivation and dedication to my health is absolute. Unfortunately, my medical options at this time are not supportive of what my individual needs are.

Don’t give up hope. Just research every possibility you might have. It’s been a long road for you but every day they improve things in surgery. I have been operated on 2 robots already! Not kidding. Who’d a thunk it. The doctor was not even in the room! Real Jetson stuff. Keep imagining your wellness.

I need to total knee replacement I have severe pain when walk standing can’t exercise this been going on for about 5 years now they keep wanting me to lose weight but how can I when I can’t even walk to exercise can I please get some help

I’m shouldn’t be so surprised that other people my age have this problem. I went to my dr. The other day and my weight was back up to 237. I had lost 50lbs. down to 230 and have been stuck there for 1 1/2 years. I don’t know what to do. I had back surgery in March and that went well. I had no other issues (BP, diabetes) and was actually off my BP meds. Now, with the pain in my hip, my BP is back up again, as is my weight.

Hello, I’m 6’4 and 425 lbs 42 years old.I am so glad I found this article. The risk maybe greater but reward is worth it. You are trapped in this situation. I desperately need a hip replacement and have seen 6 orthopedic doctors and they all tell to lose weight no used to be 265 and played football. My hip and an ankle injury have contributed to my weight gain. I have a son who is 6 and I need to be here for him. I have been told “no” by every Hip doctor bc of weight. I have been everywhere in my surrounding area…I am forced to have to pay $17000 for the gastric sleeve surgery bc I can no longer walk. I am at the point where I cannot almost move or get out of bed. Using the bathroom is a nightmare. They have allowed my hip to deteriorate to a point where I literally think it is going to break when I stand up. I used to be active, work, play and healthy. I have successfully lost weight before but I honestly can’t move. They prescribe more and more pain medicine but will not fix my hip. Now I have no choice except to pay for the gastric sleeve out of pocket because my insurance will not cover it. I have several health problems and I honestly dying bc they will replace my hip. Every hip Doctor I have seen has said it is one of the worst ones they have seen. They said to “Make it happen” and no one would operate on me until I lost weight. Iam a single father and I have not been able to work. I had to sell my home. Now I have to pay $17000 of money I don’t have and I am not able to work. My insurance will cover the hip replacement but not the gastric sleeve. So I have to pay for the sleeve which I pray will help. I am scheduled to have gastric sleeve next month and hope and pray they can finance it. The only reason I having the sleeve is to replace my hip. I live in pain and cannot walk my son baseball practice. I worry everyday if today is the day my hip breaks and I just collapse. I pray and my son prays with me that I will find someone who can help me. I was best all around in high school, football, college graduate, successful Bartender and Insurance sales …I hurt my ankle and shoulder and thats I believe that’s what led to hip problems. I have lost weight before with exercise. I just cannot even walk. My hip is almost frozen and needs a complete replacement. I have lost probably 25lbs and that is almost impossible and not eating. I spend a majority of my day laying down. I fight depression everyday. I have to watch my medicine so that will not become a problem. I desperately need to find a Doctor that would preform this surgery.

I live in Myrtle Beach Area

HI CRAIG..JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU I WISH THE BEST FOR YOU AND EVERYONE ON THIS PAGE..IM IN MY EARLY SIXTIES..AND VERY OVERWT..I HAD A RIGHT KNEE REPLACEMENT ELEVEN YRS AGO AND DID GREAT.MY WT WAS LOWER THEN BUT STILL OVERWT. NOW THAT KNEE HAS FAILED AND THE HIP ON THE SAME SIDE IF BONE ON BONE PLUS. I LIVE IN A RECLINER NIGHT AND DAY..I TAKE SEVEN STEPS TO THE BATHROOM WITH A WALKER . THAT IS THE ONLY AMOUNT OF STEPS I CAN TAKE..YES I TEST MYSELF..THE PAIN IS KILLING ME LITERALLY..IM DEPRESSED AND CRY ALOT..I HAVE NO LIFE ANYMORE..I HAVE BEEN TO 11 ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS..I MUST LOSE AT LEAST EIGHTY OR MORE POUNDS FIRST. I WANT TO WALK..TO GO PLACES..SEE LIFE..I HAVE BEEN IN THIS RECLINER ALMOST THREE YEARS..WHERE IS OUR HOPE?? I LIVE IN SUMMERVILLE S.C.

I am 58. I have severe Ostioarthritus of both Hips and Severe Lymphedema in both of my legs. I weigh 235 pounds. Orthopedic Dr won’t perform Hip Replacement Surgery because of my BMI. I have a hard enough time walking and doing exercise with the Lymphedema in my legs. Why can’t Drs have a heart and care. All they care about are to help skinny people. I am in so much pain. No Doctors care how bad a paitent is in pain. My Orthopedic Dr is letting me suffer. Thanks Dr Buttler for not caring how bad in pain I am in. The weight is fluid from Lymphedema. Thanks for nothing. And thanks for leaving me in horrible pain.

Same here! Extreme pain when trying to walk. Bone on bone right hip, scoliosis. I am tired of being g turned down for surgery. Have talked to three surgeons and said that I was not a good candidate. So here I am 62 years and disabled. Watching my life pass me by. Basically homebound. I want to walk and live again. Still looking for someone to help me.

The BMI is a very poor measure of ones “risk”. My wife is a larger person, but its because she has had physically demanding jobs her whole life. She was in sports in HS, a weightlifter, and always has been very strong. She has done “mens work” for jobs her whole work career…….hard jobs that most men probably couldn’t do. After having a pair of surgeries from work injuries (imagine that!) her activity level went down and weight crept up. And now after yet ANOTHER work related injury, the Drs are telling her she will need a knee replacement soon. She is not even 50 yet. But because of her BMI, she cannot get the surgery…….yet cannot get more active because of the pain from the knee to begin with!!!! HOW FRUSTRATING!! I feel all of your anger! Its ridiculous that our health care system doesnt care for those with weight problems the same as others.

I have two knees that are bone on bone, end stage oa. In one knee I have a torn meniscus and something else torn. I had emergency surgery on May to remove a nasty MRSA infection, I was finally released from care in mid-July, without pain control meds. My PCP and the surgeon would not do anything about pain that was causing me to vomit, and finally one of the specialists referred me to a pain clinic. Now keep in mind that because of the infection getting into my kidneys, I have permanent damage and I’m in stage 3 renal failure, so I had to stop taking any kind of NSAID, which included my arthritis medication. I finally met with this pain “doctor” who gave me pain meds, but also have me appetite suppressants and a referral to a bariatric clinic even though I told him I had an eating disorder. So I go back today, he tells me what I already know about my knee, and then he asked about the appetite suppressant. I told him I barely eat now and that my ed therapist told me not to take it. He flat looked at me and said I didn’t look starved, that my body could handle the suppressants, drinking a lot of water, and no food for 2-3 weeks. I cried for more than an hour, but I decided I would rather live in pain than be treated that way. I don’t know how these doctors expect us to lose weight when moving hurts so much.

I’m a 47 year old mother of two preteens and one teen and this hip replacement issue really sucks. I need my left hip replaced as well as both knees but of course, no one will touch me because of my weight. Catch 22, I’ve gained even more weight because I’m not able to get around without being in excruciating pain and now the weight loss doctor even wants me to lose weight. I found a Dr in the Dc area who does anterior hip replacement surgery on obese patients but apparently he’s now retired, or super selective of who he will take. I’m so over it. Why can’t they see that they are doing more harm than good where we are concerned?

I so agree with you. I can’t believe that a Doctor will do nothing for the horrible pain and quality of life that most of us have. I have had both hips and one knee replaced. At the time I had the surgeries my weight was not a problem. I was overweight and my BMI was high. Now I’m told my BMI has to be 40 or under to be able to have my knee replaced. I did perfect with the other surgeries. I’m healthy except for being overweight. Why don’t they look at the person instead of just what they weigh. My knee is bone on bone. My leg is curved which makes walking almost impossible. It gets worse every day. My quality of life is zero. Pain is my constant companion. I’m so upset with orthopedics Doctors. I feel it’s a type of discrimination against being overweight. I feel like hitting my knee with a baseball bat so something would be done to fix it. This is so wrong to deny people replacement surgeries that they desperately need.

I’m bawling like crazy reading all these stories. I also need hip replacement for osteoarthritis. I’m 53 and pretty much confined to a wheelchair and in pain 24-7. In February I was at 210 and needed to be at 190. I quit smoking right before covid19 and when lockdown started I did nothing but eat. I am now back up to 260 but cannot exercise due to fact i cannot walk. I am in so much pain I pretty much cry everyday wondering why I even go on living anymore. I just want to be able to put on my own socks, go for walks again, and play with my grandkids.

Hey guys I feel bad for all of us it doesn’t make sense that we can’t get because of our sizes or BMI’s. I Am Sandra and my right knee and left hip went out about 3 years ago after losing 172 pounds. They said get the weight off and the pain will go away not so. I’m still trying but it’s hard to do if you can’t stand or walk. I’m healthy I just have arthritis in both my knee and hip and both are bone on bone. I was jus told that their getting worse but lose more weight. I feel like I’m losing my life here and no one out there cares to even try to help us.

I have found comfort in knowing I’m not alone in this horrible situation. I’ve recently started getting seriously disabled from the condition of my right knee. It is bone on bone and I weigh too much to be eligible for surgery. I was told I’d have to lose about 250lbs to become a candidate. I have had the gastric sleeve surgery about 5 years ago. Lost 81 lbs and gained it all back plus some. I’ve been working with a wonderfully supportive Weight management doctor for 3 years with no success. I’ve also worked with a therapist but no help there either. Every morning I think I can lose the weight and every night I eat terribly fattening things. I’ve just turned 60 and my guess is someday they will solve the obesity problem but not likely in my lifetime.

Hey everyone, I’ve been reading the comments on this page since it went up and I wanted to tell my story. I was told by three different surgeons in 2019 that while my left hip was bone on bone and “end stage osteoarthritis”, they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it until I lost 150 pounds. The third surgeon, the most sympathetic of the three, said that he used to operate on people over a 40 BMI, but both insurance and the hospital he was associated with didn’t make that possible any more, and he had seen big folks have a lot of trouble going through recovery anyway. Even though I was barely walking with a cane and living in continual, terrible pain, even with cortisone shots and anti-inflammatories, things looked like a dead end.

But I did it. Over the most difficult year and a half of my life, I lost the weight, all 150 pounds. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a real big guy, but as soon as I got under a 41 BMI that third surgeon set the earliest date he had and I kept working in the meantime to lose a few more pounds before the surgery. A month ago, he replaced my hip.

Everything is already so much better. That surgery and recovery is no small business, but there were no complications and recovery is going well. The pain in my hip is completely gone, and I can even walk without a cane again – and after losing 150 pounds, I’m even moving around pretty well! I’ve still got a lot of swelling and tenderness around the incision, and sometimes I really knock myself out by trying to do more than I actually can right now, but life is getting better every day. I can go out in the world again and do basic things I haven’t been able to for years now. To say that it was worth it is an understatement.

I didn’t go through any program or surgery to lose the weight, it was lean foods, few carbs, time, vigilance and faith. I held myself to 1200 calories a day, almost all lean meats baked or roasted or broiled with steamed or boiled or microwaved green or red veggies, no butter, oil or sugar. Sometimes I had raw fruit as a treat. Other than a cheap food scale so I could weigh things to make sure I wasn’t eating too much, it was all normal food you can get at any grocery store. Sometimes I was exhausted and it was just a day of deli ham and canned green beans, but that still works! It was nearly impossible at first, but it got easier as time went on, and as long as I stuck to it and didn’t cheat, the weight kept coming off, even without any exercise – much more slowly than I would have liked, but the job still got done.

It’s not easy. It’s really, really hard. But if you can find the faith and vigilance, work on it every day and give it time even though it’s always a struggle, you can lose the weight and get the surgery and get your life back. I know how it feels, and I know how bad it is, and I know how unfair it is, and I still want to let you know it can happen and it really is worth it. I wish you all the best.

What a wonderful and amazing story. Thank you so much for sharing. Robin Young, Publisher

I’m in the same boat. I’ve lost 40 pounds so far and have another 45 to go. To add insult to injury, I completely tore my meniscus from the bone on xmas eve, so walking is excruciating. They won’t even fix the meniscus because of the level of arthritis in my knee, so I’m left barely able to walk at all now.

I know for so many people the task of lowering the weight to be eligible for surgery feels unattainable and I have struggled with losing weight my entire life. The only thing that has worked for me is counting macos and weighing every single ounce of food that goes in my mouth. And I workout the body parts that I can work out. So right now, I do a lot of resistance and weight training on my upper body and core. if I had access to a pool I would swim too, but none of our pools are open because of covid. None of the hospitals in my area will allow surgeons to do joint replacement on patients with a BMI higher than 40. My BMI is currently down to 46 now, so I’ll just keep pushing. That’s really the only choice we have 🙁 I really hope everyone on this thread gets the replacements they deserve ((hugs))

Is there a centralized place on social media somewhere that all of us can meet and help each other? A Facebook group or something of the sort? Maybe if we get enough folks together we can be heard by the doctors, hospitals and medical insurance people who insist on this cruel practice of not allowing us surgery.

Thats a great idea,….have you or anyone started a group on Facebook yet for support on this topic??Please keep me posted. I also suffer with OA in both knees and struggle working full time but I am also grateful to have a job to get me up and out otherwise what would I do all day except sit home watch TV and get bigger. Thank You

I myself am 41 have degenerative joint disease arthritis RA and OA Lupus and weight 271 use to weigh 387 and my now ortho has told me I need to lose weight to have any replacements and I’m to young to have my knees or hip done. I am at a loss I live it total and constant pain to point where it hurts to sit up. Pain is so great feels like my kidneys are hurting but I’m thinking its my hips.

Hello, I am 54 years old with BMI OF 44. IN 2017 my left knee completely collapsed. I tore the root of my meniscus and detached my knee cap, tore my ligaments. I was refused medical intervention. I was told to lose weight. At that time I weighed 356 pounds. I have reduced my weight to 265 Pounds. Last Monday my left knee collapsed again. I can no longer put any weight or pressure on my knee. I am walking on my toes. I know I can tolerate surgery because, I just had two vertebrates removed from my neck in February 2020 and October 2019. Including a bone spur removed from SPINAL CORD. I am being refused the knee replacement surgery that I desperately need to have quality of life. Obviously I am motivated. Despite everything, I LOST 91 lbs. in the last year I am 100% bone on bone w/ osteoarthritis in both knees, My left knee is in immediate danger of 100% failure and my right knee is at 95% but will fail as well. I am begging you if any one can help me I am willing to work my butt off to get this knee replacement. I live in Vancouver, WA Thank you, Suzanna Olson

I’ve been on high doses of thyroid medication for more than 30 years. I eat well, but I do NOT over-eat. I can go weeks without eating a single dessert. I don’t drink soft drinks, or add sugar to anything. I’m 64 now, and I’ve been heavy nearly my entire adult life. I’m at my heaviest these last 5-7 yrs because of the bad osteoarthritis in both knees. It is extensive tri-compartmental OA. I also have OA in my hands and shoulders. (though not as severe) Being fat didn’t cause my OA, but it seems that being fat might keep me from getting the medical care and intervention that thinner people can get. Why is this “OK”? I hope I can eventually find a surgeon who will believe I’m worthy of medical care and relief from debilitating pain, and not tell me to have bariatric surgery FIRST before they will help me, like the doctor who is currently treating me now with cortisone shots in my knees every 3-4 months…

I have been in this boat for needing two full knee replacements for over six years. I see others bigger and smaller than me getting the surgery. I carry all the weight in my legs so they won’t do it. I want the surgery so bad the pain is horrible. In the meantime I have battled cancer twice with no problems. But I don’t see no sense anymore since lack of mobility has taken away my life. It’s not fair for doctors to leave people in such pain and just say lose the weight like it’s that easy. I am only in my 50s and I can’t keep doing this, please offer some doctors in Florida that might help me. Thank you

I’m in the same situation as all, I had my right hip done in 2012 at 400 lbs. now my left needs it. I’m seeing my 6th Surgeon soon as all the previous ones denied me and I’ve lost 60 lbs since my first hip surgery. It’s BS from the insurance companies down to the Drs themselves.

April 2020 I was told by my orthopedic I needed double knee replacement. I am 60 yrs old over 350 pounds and in order to have surgery I would have to lose approx. 50 pounds before he would consider surgery. Then he suggested maybe I should consider Gastric Lap Band to lose weight he could recommend weight loss surgeon. I really was insulted by the way he explained all this to me. The pain in knees is unbearable my mobility is very limited but I am trying to lose weight but I refuse to have Lap Band.

Is there anyone doing this type of surgery in America for the obese? Three years ago I was mobile an active. I over-ate and now I’m stationary, 30 lbs from goal that I keep and keep pogo-ing with my weight and the pain is becoming unbearable to where you start questioning the value, quality, and burden you impose on others by being alive.

I am only 5 ft and weigh 225. After several surgeons I did find one that performed total hip replacement. He came highly recommended. In 4 weeks I was hiking and starting to lose weight. At 7 weeks I dislocated. My cup had moved. I have an emergency redo of the entire hip replacement. The original surgeon put in a larger ball and socket. So now this is two weeks and I am in more excruciating pain then I was the first surgery. I was told that this would happen by other surgeons who refused to perform the surgery at my BMI. I was not always heaven however I was bone on bone for 2 years and that is how I gained weight. It’s a no-win situation either way. I love the job that I have however I am not sure if I’ll be able to keep taking off time. So now with this new surgery I am so paranoid I’m going to dislocate again. A dislocated at work and they had to rush me to the hospital. I am supposed to go back to work in a week but in excruciating pain. I feel like I’m a dislocated again and the surgeon explain the risks to me however when I was in the hospital with a dislocation what am I supposed to do say no to the surgery?

I feel for everybody who cannot get the surgery. I did all the research on obese patients and did not see too many statistics on the outcome. Maybe my surgeon did not do a good job the first time and the second time I don’t know I will never know but I hurt bad.

I live in Charlotte and in desperate need of a hip replacement…… Mark Fletcher

I am not happy you are all in a similar boat as I am, but I am glad to see I am not alone. I am 47, approx 210 lbs, and I’m 4’10″(I used to be 4’11”, apparently I’ve shrunk). I’ve had stiffness for a few years, but really no pain. I finished chemo last year, and during chemo, I started having joint pain, and now it hurts all the time. I thought maybe it was from the chemo, but the orthopedic surgeon said it didn’t really matter what caused it, both hips are bone on bone and need to be replaced. But because of my weight and being so short, he won’t do it. He made me feel horrible about myself. I was crying like an idiot. So now I’m cancer free, but dealing with this mess. I’m going to look into having gastric bypass and pray that it helps. I will pray for all of you too!

For five years I’ve had increased difficulty walking, was misdiagnosed until May 2020 when quite by accident it was discovered I needed double hip replacement as the joint was bone on bone. Knowing the doctor’s office has x-rays and MRI data for 4 years that shows this should have been caught earlier is beyond comprehension.

Two different times with the same orthopedic surgeon, went through all the test which all came back as excellent, approved for surgery twice, was scheduled for the first of two hip replacement surgery’s twice only to be told within 14 days of the surgery the surgery is being cancelled due to needing to lose 15lbs more…..was devastating. When the surgeon conveys the facility would not approve him doing surgery because of a concern for potential complications which could reduce the facilities positive patient recovery rate….was shocking!

It is beyond comprehension to see orthopedic surgeons and the medical industry overall failing millions of patients across America because they are unwilling to acknowledge what they are doing is ineffective and very destructive to patients in many ways!! How is this still possible in America? Why can’t they see the NEED to develop an effective process that enables patients in this area to achieve the best possible outcome?

Referring someone to a weight management program that requires you to buy meals, get shots and have a weekly weigh in is NOT solving the problem and neither is gastric bypass! Telling me to walk for 30 minutes a day is not an option either!

What is NEEDED is a facility with a warm pool, a spa, and special equipment (there are all kinds of equipment available) and trained professionals (therapists, dieticians, and mental health) that can create a plan with accountability for each person, that includes diet (offering different products, not just one) as well as exercise with guidelines for the most effective that that strengthens the body as the person loses weight so the person can achieve the best possible results.

All I want is a chance to get better, to change my circumstance by being given the opportunity to have ALL the needed resources that will enable me to work with my body where it is and help it become all I know it can be, giving me the best possible outcome.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you, don’t lose hope, keep up the fight, do what you can and keep fighting for change.

Thank you for your post. I could not agree with you more. Because the causes of obesity are significantly more complex than we realized even 10 years ago and because there exists (as you pointed out) a myriad of tools and programs for treating treating obese patients with respect, humanity, love and, of course, get them moving, painlessly again, your idea of a facility dedicated to this patient population is spot on. Thank you very much, Robin Young editor and publisher, Orthopedics This Week.

Robin , thank you for this forum. After writing my story and reading others , I actually feel a little better knowing that I am not alone in this situation.

My pleasure. But more than that, the medical community can, should and really has no excuse for not developing programs to treat arthritic, pain ridden patients who exceed a BMI threshold. I read each of these posts as well and my heart goes out to each person. Thank you. Robin Young, publisher.

Ugh! These stories make me so sad, and angry, and frustrated. I also need surgery, a left hip replacement. I too am obese and covid lockdown plus limited mobility has not been kind to my weight loss efforts. Lost 50 lbs prior to covid and have gained the majority back. I was going to have the gastric sleeve done in Mexico (don’t judge, sooo much cheaper than here since insurance won’t cover and I know several people who’ve gone and done very well) prior to covid but now they won’t take patients over 50 yrs old and I am 55. I wanted to lose the weight and then find an orthopedic surgeon to replace my hip. Meanwhile the hip gets worse and worse all the time. I stand up or bend over and it continually cracks loudly with every motion. The pain is excruciating, I live on ibuprofen and Tylenol. I refuse to take anything stronger because I have nephews who are addicts and I just don’t want to go down that road. I finally decided I was just going to find an orthopedic surgeon who would operate on an obese patient, but all these stories tell me that is not likely. I need my life back, I’m afraid I won’t be able to walk at all if I wait much longer. Well I guess I’m going to keep searching for an orthopedic or bariatric surgeon. If anyone could recommend a Dr in the Philadelphia area willing to operate on obese patients, I’d love to hear about him/her. Thanks and good luck to all!

Try Moss Rehab at Einstein Medical Center. Moss Rehab is one of the top 10 rehab facilities in the country. They do joint replacements and sometimes on obese people.

Hello I read your post, the place you posted I’m scared to call. Might get denied.

I need a knee replacement cant even walk hardly.Got put on these medications that make you gain weight. And now I need help.They wont help me cause I am over weight.You just cant win in this world.You reach out for help and they give you medicine that makes you bigger than a house.And it is all my fault.No it isnt.

My experience is to keep looking for the right surgeon. My knees are bone on bone and both need total knee replacement surgery. I found an orthopedic surgeon who said he would do the surgeries if I lost 40 pounds. That means he will operate on me at 321 pounds. He said it’s extremely difficult to lose weight with mobility issues so he doesn’t expect his patients to lose a lot of weight prior to surgery. After the surgery, his patients are more mobile and can use this to get in better shape. I lost weight by pool walking, using trekking poles whenever I walk outside, eliminating most sugar, refined carbs and gluten from my diet and using the Weight Watchers phone app. I can’t walk far outside of the pool and use a mobility scooter to run errands. It took me three years but it is possible to lose weight working with extremely limited mobility. Don’t give up!

Who is this orthopedic surgeon please. My husband is bone on bone knees and they won’t operate on him and do knee replacement because of his bmi. He can hardly move so he can’t possibly lose 60 lbs. Thank you

Where is this Doctor? Please

I’m going to be 50 yrs old in a few days. I desperately need a left hip replacement however I’m Obese and NO ONE will do the surgery. I have been struggling for 2 1/2 yrs with this and the pain is unbearable at times. My hip is so bad it’s BONE on BONE and it’s starting to pop out of the socket but no one will do anything for me. I’ve gotten 3 hip injections all within the last year. They don’t usually last long at all. I can’t sleep most night due to pain.. Please can any one recommend a Doctor or what I can do? I DO NOT want weight loss surgery. I’ve tried to lose weight but I’m not very mobile so how do you lose weight. Please can someone help me?

Doctors are sworn to do no harm. How can withholding a life giving surgery not be considered as harming the patient? I am about a year away from being bed bound because of bone on bone knee arthritis. No surgeon will operate on me either. The pain is unbearable and my sleep is little. My children suffer as I cannot do things with them anymore. My husband suffers as now he is my caretaker. I don’t want to be his patient, I want to be his wife. All of us here need help. It is inhumane to take away someone’s quality of life and to leave them in such maddening pain.

I’m in the same boat as the rest of you. 5 years trying to get my left knee replaced. Started out with cortisone shots. Then 3 gel shots every 6 months for a year and a half. Now the right knee that was replaced in 2011 has failed. The good news is they will fix the right knee because it failed. But the left they wont do till I lose weight. Their not saying how much to lose. Just find a weight loss clinic. I cant believe they can get away with this. To me it’s discrimination. If I had the money and suport from others in the same boat I’d File suit against them.

I honestly think we should get a lawsuit going. Just because we are overweight shouldn’t doom us to not be able to walk. Some people are just genetically incapable of losing weight. That is the category I fall into. If we were to be in a car wreck are the surgeons not going to operate on us? If we fall and break a hip, what then, just live that way? I am just so frustrated about all of this. I feel like the doctors and surgeons are just letting me die because I am overweight. It’s wrong and to me , it’s murder.

Sorry. I had a bariatric bypass in 2007 lost 100lbs and gained about 40 lbs back but since covid and my knee -bone on bone I was told yes a knee replacement was recommended but I think I sabotaged that and gained a few pounds. I had to lose 10lbs. What drives me up a wall is I am still on unemployment, not very mobile for a long time and winter did not help. I am scared of the therapy after since for a year I have not had a whole lot of exercise. on top of the knee replacement my other knee has arthritis which doc said may need a replacement plus I have sciatic pain and 5 disks in my back that are disintegrating. I feel F***ed!

Your stories are all quite similar to my mother. She’s always been a little big, but she had a gastric bypass c.2004. She is arthritic and currently completely bed-ridden. She was told to lose weight before she can get her knee replaced. How is she supposed to lose weight if she can’t even move? Her appetite is already depleted, she eats like a bird.

To make things more maddening, BMI is complete BS: https://elemental.medium.com/the-bizarre-and-racist-history-of-the-bmi-7d8dc2aa33bb

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/255712#Is-it-too-simple?

The entire healthcare system needs to stop using BMI right NOW.

I too am in the same situation. I live in Salem, Oregon. I am 44, Im 4’10” and 235 lbs. I havent been 190 (my drs goal weight) since 2000. I am a mother of 5 children. I have a leg discrepancy of 2.25″ and osteoarthritis, degenerative disk disease, spinal canal stenosis, etc. My hips began going bad in 2010, and have been bone on bone for quite some while and now bone spurs. My right hip is worn flat and clicks about 6 times every time I stand. I was in a car accident in September and ever since, my left hip is in excruciating pain. I cannot lift my legs on my own without an assistive device, my bladder releases every time I stand and I have to race to the bathroom and usually change pants due to not making it, I am miserable. I take Oxycodone 10mg 650 acetaminophen and 3 ibuprofen (I know this is a bad combination) just to sit without pain. My kids do everything for me. Since the car accident in September Ive had to move back home with my ex as I need help with everything I do. I have ChampVa (*spouse of disabled veteran) insurance and would be willing to travel ANYWHERE in order to get the surgery. Please, can ANYONE recommend?

Oh and I forgot to mention, I was at 204 when I could walk without the walker and my orthopedic surgeon denied surgery then too–a measly 14 lbs over what he wanted me to lose. Now Im wheelchair and walker bound, each step is excruciating.

Yes help. I am 350 and I lost 23 but my doctor said I have to lose 60 in order to get the hip replacement I need Even though I got a second opinion that doctor said the same thing. Lose weight. Meanwhile, my hip is bone on bone, and lm losing even more mobility. I’ve been on this cane for the last 6 years. Somebody help. I need a doctor that will help and operate!!

I’m to fat to have total hip replacement and retaining water really bad can’t hardly walk was going to pain management and I couldn’t get in there they took my pain meds so now I sit and sleep in a recliner in pain I spend most days crying all day and there is no help for fat people so what do we do? I can’t get weight loss surgery my insurance won’t pay for it. I can’t exercise they just say you have to lose weight first ugh easier said than done…I need answers and fast

Hi I am in the exact same situation as you, it is like I wrote your post, the weight, recliner and water retention. Maybe we could communicate privately , 2 heads are better then one.

I am astonished at how many of you are in the same situation as my Mother. She is 75 and her hip is bone on bone. She can barely walk to the bathroom and getting up is so painful that she urinates all over herself before she can even get there. We can hear her hip bones rubbing together! My sister does in home support caretaking for our Mother as she needs help to bathe, change clothes, etc. My Mom is on pain management of morphine and her body is so accustomed to it that she still is in excruciating pain to the point where she is moaning. The doctors aren’t allowed to prescribe more so I reached out and asked why can’t we address the pain issue and fix her hip so she won’t need pain pills? She has hypothyroidism which slows the metabolism already and then not being able to hardly walk or move doesn’t help. Two orthopedic doctors said she has to lose weight before surgery. How can anyone who can barely move lose weight? She eats like a regular person, never overeating! She has diabetes so insulin makes people gain more weight. We need to address the underlying conditions so people can get off pain medication and be mobile so they can lose weight! Anyone know of help in California? If my Mom could get hip replacement surgery, then she could move and exercise to lose weight which would help her type 2 diabetes and her whole quality of life would improve! Praying for answers and help!

I fell and avulsed my PcL. I’m a postal worker walking 15-25 km a day. I’m 45 years old and weigh 250lbs. Avulsed pcl was delayed in diagnosis. First at the ER and second at the first orthopaedic surgeon. Was told physio and brace. Brace keeps sliding even if it’s custom due to the shape of my leg. Little to no stability. Second orthopaedic surgeon sorry I’m not fixing this. Meniscus is torn and I already have deterioration. I stated my career is on the line and I’m the only income. He said steroid injection and in a few years you need a knee replacement. He said your career is over. If you’d be a professional athlete I would likely fit this because you are a heavy set woman. Tomorrow I get a cortisone injection which will pack on another 15-20 lbs. they did nothing with my other knee I busted years ago. Now I busted my good leg. I guess my life doesn’t matter because I’m a fat blob despite having lost 100 lbs. I have no choice but to try to work like this. Knee replacement will likely never be done because I’m a fat blob. At that point take me to the back of the barn. I don’t matter.

Never give up !! Your life matters !!

Whatever happened to holistic medicine??? Treat the whole patient not just part!!! I am 50, have AVN of my right hip, they want me to lose oh 190lbs (470 right now at 5’9) and I have a genetic blood disorder that’s resulted in pulmonary embolism twice. So if you want to see Doctors totally freak out – come with me to an appointment! Weight loss while confined to a sedentary life – what a novel idea?????? Last I knew a person needed to move, just not those of us needing hips or knees right??? I can move, but it requires a Crap ton of pain meds and WHO wants to take those with all their amazing unfriendly side effects???? Bariatric surgery they say is the answer – oh wait you’re the blood disorder girl, well um here is some celery. That’s the ticket. Now there is Wegovy – at $1600 a pop each month, but that’s so super cheap right???? Cause it’s so new insurance is like huh??? A weight loss med – oh we can’t pay for that, fat people who get skinny just get fat again so let’s not pay for that!!!! Folks the medical industry needs us fat!!!! There are so many gimmicks and wonder tricks on the market to “lose weight fast!” If we all had the $$$ back for every fad diet, pill, book, blender, program or surgery we’ve tried we would have a fabulous retirement already socked away. But NOPE we live for the next great thing. Meanwhile those of us with PAIN FROM HELL just end up so depressed we feed the pain. That’s why I say Holistic medicine is missing. Treat the entire person. I need you to help me help me!!!! Oh and DUH Doc – I put 100lbs on cause I can’t MOVE!!! But here’s a news flash, I eat the same calories I did when I could MOVE. Except now my body can’t burn them so it’s turned to fat. Yeah I could write the book on obesity – I bet everyone overweight could. Calorie restriction. Though shall eat lettuce and only lettuce. Oh please I’m not a rabbit!! I’ll tell you why all of us are suffering and depressed and feel shame. Somewhere modern medicine started just treating the problem and NOT the person. Fix the freaking hip already, work the problem. If I were Tiger Woods it wouldn’t be an issue, but I’m naughty Nellie who eats all day and until she stops her fat won’t go away! Puhlease!!!! Folks do what I’m going to do. I’m going to take control of my life and go to a highly skilled facility prepared for all sorts of complications and demand they fix my hip. Screw this “here is another pain pill, how about some fentenayl patches or how about medical marijuana!!!!” Crap and just fix it already. If I’m willing to sign on the dotted line for all risks involved then why won’t you Doc??????? Give us a chance for gosh sake. Pain plus more pain certainly doesn’t equal weight loss I can assure you – its just despair + despair. But pain with a purpose aka a new hip – well that equals hope not despair!!! Holistic approach – Treat the person not just the problem Doc!!! We are people first, not just the next “hip or knee” to see.

Lady’s and Gentlemen – I feel your pain, I live that pain too, we are not just the number on the scale. Remember that when you see the next doctor. Advocate for yourself!!! If they try to refer you to a bariatric specialist (like they did me) I said – its ok to cut me open and risk blood clots with weight loss surgery but not to fix my hip?????? Why? What’s the difference???? Aren’t the risks the same if not more with a surgery to remove nearly all my stomach?????? How is that ok, but fixing my hip isn’t???? Please explain as that just doesn’t make logical sense. If I could walk again – without pain, wouldn’t losing weight by moving make more sense???????? Come on DOC!!!!!! We are fat not stupid. GEESH!!!!! SERIOUSLY everyone. Advocate for yourself. Don’t stop fighting and make sure every doctor knows you are a person, not a damn number on a scale. You want me to lose weight??? Then let’s work together on a plan – but DO NOT dismiss me cause I’m fat. Morbidly obese. A BMI too great for you. Cause I’m done being discriminated against medical world!!! We. The fat. We refuse to live in pain cause you aren’t “doctor” enough to treat us. It’s not my fault you got your degree from the cheapest school you could afford. Did they not teach humility there??? Apparently not!!! I’m a highly intelligent person and I can tell you I’ve known more than the doctor treating me at times. I’ve saved my own life when an ER doctor diagnosed me wrong and I saved my father’s life for the very same reasons. I respect only doctors who respect me. So get with the program and help all these people suffering!!! Isn’t it worth the risks if you can improve the quality of their life???? Truly!!!!! Despite the risks and complications are we truly living if we live in pain and emprisoned by our bed, chair, recliner or home?????? That’s not living – that’s existing. So grow a pair and fix our hips and our knees. Forget we are a number on a scale and realize we are worthy of your skill. Operate and help us to help ourselves!

Amen !! Preach it !!! I am in the same boat almost ! Please read my comments.

My wife is in the same position. She needs bilateral hip replacements. The surgeon will do nothing until she loses 35 pounds. She weighs 265. She’s depressed as a result of her weight and shows no initiative address weight loss. I’ve begged her to get the wait off so our lives can get back to normal. She cries everyday about how much pain she has to endure. I’ve begged her to lose but she resists. She’s depressed and attempts to relieve the depression with food.

I am a 49 year old morbidly obese man. I have been heavy all my life. When I was younger my weight never slowed me down at all and I was always the strongest person around having grown up on a working beef cattle farm. I was able to play sports but was always working and never had the time to play foolish games, but I did work out after school for an hour a day. By the time I reached high school I weighed 400 lbs. but was working out with 1400lbs on my legs and was benching 425. On the farm I was rolling 2000lb hay bales by hand out into the fields to feed the cattle. I was a big young man, with strength to burn ! I graduated and weighed 495lb. I had an accident and torn 3 ligaments out of my left ankle, and was told no weight bearing on that leg for six months, and I tried . Wearing out my right knee in the process. The pain was incredible and was prescribed pain pills and I took them as prescribed for 14 years ! They stopped working. I spoke to my Dr. and he suggested stronger pills, but I did not want that kind of medicine . I told him I was going to stop taking it. He told me that I could not just quit, that I would have withdraws because my body was ADDICTED to them. My response was I am done with them, I am not an addict, I had never been high from them one time in all those years !! He told me good luck and to call him if I needed any help. I seen at the store 6 months later and he asked how I was. I said hurting but alive. He asked if I needed anything for pain. I said no way ! I had not had a pill since the morning that I had last seen him. He was amazed, he said that would not have believed it was possible. He asked how bad the withdraws were ? He was stunned when I told him that I never had any !! I thank God that I didn’t, as I hear that they are awful with the nausea, sweating and everything else that can happen. That was over 15 years ago ! I only take otc Tylenol , Motrin and Prilosec , that is it ! My blood pressure runs 120/80. My cholesterol is around 100. I am not a diabetic. I have been very lucky, and I know it. The only thing I can think that can explain it is that I have worked hard all my life until I got this latest job of 3 years now. My doctor who is retired now, said I was abnormal. He would look at my blood work and my chart and would shake his head. I would say what ? He said that when he seen me coming in , that he thought I was a heart attack waiting to happen, but when he reads my charts he just could not believe it. I also worked for our family business and after it closed I worked for another company and set up medical epuipment for 26 years all together ! I delivered hospital beds ( ironically bariatric included )and lift chairs by myself for most of those years. Then the inevitable happened, age and the burden of all those years of carrying this amount of weight. My right knee would not quit hurting then my left knee started hurting. Which started limiting my mobility. I lost my job of 19 years. Which I must admit, I was struggling. But I loved it, helping people gives me great satisfaction. My unemployment ran out and a friend got me a job with her company , taking care of MRDD clients . I love this job, and the easiest I have ever had. But, I now have lymphademia in both my legs and it is very hard to walk as my thighs are as big as tree trunks. I have had sores that seep fluid on and off, which is very annoying and embarrassing . I have been to the local wound center and Lymphadema clinics. The wound center can not do anything but put bandages on my sores, and the Lymphadema clinic can only wrap my legs and give me massages. Keep in mind I have paid for this all myself. Over $5K a month !!! So I am now trying to care for myself. My legs are funnel shaped , so all the wraps slide down and need replaced everyday. God blessed me with the greatest wife in the world, she helps me everyday and she has many of her own health issues. At this point I feel like I am a burden to her, which is the last thing I ever wanted. My weight is down to just over 400lb again but my strength is less than half of what it use to be, as I am way older now. I feel like I have run out of options. I have no where to turn for help. I owe the hospital so much money, it makes me physically sick to think about. I do not have a Dr. as mine retired. But I do go to the low cost health screenings to get checked about every six months. I seen a specialist that said I would have to have weight loss surgery before anything else could be done. But that I must lose more weight first !!!! Really ??? With no insurance ?? And preexisting conditions, good luck getting any surgeon to operate on me !! Then he said that I could have surgery to take out the fatty tissue that is in my thighs that are saturated with lymphatic fluid out and the recovery time is usually 3-4 months in a nursing home !! Then I could have knee replacement surgery !!! I literally felt like I was hit with a sledge hammer full force in the gut !! I am at a loss. I am asking if anyone has any idea of what I can do next ? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !!!

There is a doctor in Ohio near fairlawn that are brothers. Her name is Dr Jones and they do have your replacements one does shoulders one does hips and knees. Last patient they did was 600 lb Plus with no complications as they said so far. They won’t do me even though I’m like 400 lb because I have lymphedema in my left leg and they’re afraid of complications. My right knee is what needs to be replaced it’s very painful and it’s gotten worse since I’ve injured it going up a flight of stairs. I’ve gained some weight and I’ve lost some weight I’m kind of a yo-yo. But I’m back on I’m back doing what needs to be done to lose the weight my exercise is limited even though I’m going to go to the gym. It’s painful now everyday. I don’t know if I tore muscle or ligament or what but it’s still painful but I need help I need this need to be replaced so I can stay mobile because my other half is not much used to me and I can’t afford to be bedridden and it’s a bit depressing at the same time but I hope this information helps that you can contact the Joneses and see if they can refer you or do the operation for you.

I have been waiting for the VA to replace my knees since they originally told me they were ruined. That has been since 1995 and still no knees. I havent been able to work and been on SSI since 1998. The problem started in the late 1970s but from my first VA viset in 1980 until 1995 they always told me the pain was quote in my mind unquote. I got tired of waiting and started with a regular ortho Dr and have lost about 190 pounds but every 4 months they tell me a new goal to set for weight loss. At first it was around 330 pounds they wanted me at then 300 pounds. Now it is at 280 pounds and im at 325 down from 512 and am really getting pissed off. Why in the hell do they do this crap! The pain is really getting to me. I cant use ibuprofen anymore so im stuck with tylenol and very small amounts of tramadol as needed.

So have we found any surgeon that will help us….

My problem is not with any joint. I need breast reduction. I wear a 48 K bra. My back is so painful I can only walk for a short distance before I have to sit down. I have been overweight since I had to start taking medication for seizures. The PDR states that if my medication is taken with another anticonvulsant, it can make my thyroid malfunction. I take 3 medications for my seizures. A thyroid test shows as normal, but I wonder if it is a drug reaction would it show on a test? I work in the pool several days a week. In the water I have no pain. I can move easy. I am 62 and can swim across the pool in one breathe. I have not heart trouble or diabetes. The doctor tells me to exercise, but it is difficult at my size. I try to ride the bike at the gym. The handles are blocked by my breast. The doctor wants me to be under 200 pounds. After he left the room, the nurse replied that if he would do the operation, I could be under 200 pounds. I have no joint pains. I’ve never broken a bone. My trouble is my breast. I can hardly put shoes or socks on now. The pain is so bad I can’t take it any longer. Maybe in the future a doctor will see that people matter more than MBI.

This is messed up. I started with tail bone pain and at 160 pounds. After physical therapy and years of medications to try to help with the pain i ballooned up to 274 pounds. Even though you gain weight with a medication they make your stay on it for months to “give it time” to see if it helps. By the way it went into really bad back pain and finding out i have osteoarthritis bad. To one day 5 years later the doctor saying has anyone looked at your hips? Saying no and x-ray/mri later finding out the whole back pain could be exuberant by bone on bone hip osteoarthritis. They would not due surgery now because i am over weight and don’t care that it was mostly caused by medications or the fact that i can not even walk a block before i am shaking and hurting so bad i feel like my legs will give out and i am hunched over with lower back pain. Seen several surgeons to hear we can get you stumic surgery to lose weight first. Finally found one that says get down to 225 and we will talk to have covid hit and close my pool down. I was down to 254 at that time. Gained back up to 264 and made another appointment to bed for help because now my leg won’t bare my weight to stand at times. It hurts super bad and gives out. To still hear no you need to be held accountable for your weight. If you are not confident enough to know your skills can take care of a person no matter what, maybe i am not confident you should be in the job you are in! I am accountable and i was on this path and because something caused the pool to be shut down and i went up you give no credit i tried. This if anything should show i would do everything needed to take care of the surgery once it was done and do the physical therapy as well. Shame on the new doctors who have no confidence in their ability so they push the blame on others !

I am 57 years old,super morbid obese,440 lbs. I had a TKR 3years ago and my other knee a year ago. I feel blessed to be on my feet working, and it crossed mind if others were denied that.and to never give up hope.

I am in a similar situation, BMI 44; Height 5’11”; Bone on Bone right hip w osteoarthritis. I have spoken to 5 surgeon’s all say lose weight, one first sentence out of his mouth was you need a gastric bypass. EXCUSE ME, I just met you, I will not subject myself to this surgery, why aren’t you recommending nutritional advice or pointing me to an organization to help with nutrition and goals vs shoving a surgery down your throat. I have discovered I am insulin resistant, I am currently on saxenda and metformin in order to get the BMI down to have this surgery. The pain no one can understand unless you have been through it. There are days you feel as if life will never be the same, you wonder will the pain go away even after surgery, then your surgeon won’t refill pain meds without coming in the office – let me tell you, it takes me three hours to get ready to get anywhere because of the pain. The empathy of care is non-existent because insurance has made the ART of medicine into the art of insurance dictates how you care for people.

I totally know the feeling Carol! I was taking Saxenda and it was working, but my husband changed jobs and his insurance won’t cover ANY weight loss medication…..and we can’t afford anywhere from $1500-$3000 per month for Saxenda. My doctor put me on Phentermine and it seems to be working a bit, but sometimes I just get so tired of trying. I’ve been trying to get the weight lost for 30-plus years.

I’m 5’4” & 240 lbs… 3 Ortho surgeons have refused bilateral TKR surgeries because of my obesity & smoking. They want me to Lose at least 60 lbs And Quit Smoking at the Same Time !!! Hellloooo????!!!! What’s wrong with this Px ??? I am bone on bone for over 10 yrs.. this is ridiculous!! They want me to walk & exercise … HOW ???? I’m in pain every day But because of Opiod Crisis, no one will give pain meds, muscle relaxers… my back kills me from being bent over & trying to navigate curbs, steps, Etc After the market or a Walmart trip, when I get to the car it can take 15 min to bend my knees & get my legs into the car !!! I’ve promised to work hard, saturate myself with PT Etc after Surg, . But to No Avail !!! Is there a Knee Surgeon Out there that will help obese patients ??? PLEASE Someone Help Us !!!!!

I am hovering right around 390. My doctor said I need both knees replaced like 5 years ago. I am just not mobile enough to keep the weight off. I have considered shooting myself in the knee to see if they would do the surgery then. Would this work?

Wow! I felt like I was so alone with this. I’ve been in need of hip replacement for two years now. Became disabled and couldn’t work anymore. Have osteoarthritis in hip joint, bone on bone. I went from cane, to walker, now in order to leave the house, I need a wheelchair. I sit in a lift chair all day, everyday, and I sleep there too. I have to lose a hundred and fifty pounds to have hip replacement, was told. It’s hard to lose weight when all you can do is sit all day. It’s depressing. Oh how wonderful to walk again!!! I’m trying to lose this weight now more than ever. Getting real tired of having no life.

I’ve been reading..I’m 38 and denied cuz I am at 59BMI..I’ve trained/rode horses since I could walk..however since all my family is Dutch with chunky frames now I’m basically home bound or paying for the walking the next day after jacking up on my pain pills..I started a group on Facebook called 2Fat2Fix and I want to get everyone there and get these stories out..we need help…

I’m in kinda the same boat. I am needing a total hip replacement on the left, both knees and probably the right hip done. I’ve gotten the same “you have to lose weight” speech from my doctor too. The difference is that I HAD the weight loss surgery done (gastric stapling), and for 16 years I literally threw up pretty much everything I put in my mouth….including water! To say that the surgeon who did the initial operation screwed it up would be an understatement! I lost all of my natural teeth because of the stomach acid and digested blood. I started off at 340 lbs, but NEVER dropped below 240 ibs. I had a “revision” done in 2008 to stop the constant vomiting and was told that the original surgeon put a hard plastic band in the stomach, which didn’t allow food to pass through. I asked my bariatric guy why I didn’t lose any more weight than I did. He told me that “for some people, it just doesn’t work regardless.” I’ve tried diets, weight loss meds, surgery, etc. NOW what do I do???

I had a right total knee replacement in 2010. At that time I weighed 293. My doctor said nothing about my weight. I had the operation done on July 26. Zero complications and started back at my teaching position the end of August. Fast forward to fall of 2016. Left knee needs to be done. I ask to put off operation until summer. Go back to make that appointment the following March. Doctor says, “You haven’t lost weight. Not doing the replacement until you lose 20 more pounds.” Keep in mind I now weigh 270, 23 lbs. less then when I had the first knee replacement, 3 lbs more than my last visit in the fall. When I tearfully point out to him that I was 23 lbs heavier, had a 5 week recovery time, and that he called me a “rock star,” with my first replacement, the doctor moves in close to my face and says, “Maybe we got lucky.” I decide to find a new doctor. New doctor says, ” I appreciate your weight loss but hospital policy wants your BMI lower.” I explain that I have been dieting since I was 5 and although I’m committed to healthy eating and regular exercise, I highly doubt that the weight is going to roll off. I know that severe calorie restriction (under 1000 cal. per day) would temporarily work, but I don’t want to throw myself back into the 30 years I spent as a bulimic in my 20s, 30s, and 40s. Now 70, on antidepressants, and 8 years of weekly therapy under my belt, I go through the shots and physical therapy protocols he wants me to do. And now it’s 2022. My left knee is bone on bone and I’m hurting. I weigh 265. ssomething doesn’t seem right. I feel discriminated against by the medical profession. I do not feel I am being treated as an unique individual with unique needs.

The policy doesn’t promote weight loss. It promotes suicidal ideation as that’s the only thing that will help.

My wife was told she has bone on bone hip issues. She had gastric bypass 19 years ago and did lose over 200 pounds but BMI is too high. She’s in do much pain she can’t tolerate recumbent elliptical.

What options are there. “Just lose 150 pounds”when you can’t move and have never had success might as well be… deal with pain meds as long as you can. Then place gun to head and pull trigger

Hello everyone who posted here. I see the same theme in all your stories… Just sitting here shaking my head at all the insanity and being grateful I just retired. Come on down to Sarasota-Bradenton hospitals near beautiful Tampa Bay Florida, where apparently anyone with advanced dementia, alcoholism, chronic lung disease and terminal heart condition over the age of 90 qualifies for elective major joint replacements. Seriously, now – does your insurance cover a telehealth second opinion by The Cleveland Clinic? My health insurance case manager referred me after a ruptured back disc. The opinion I got recommended additional treatment to the plan 3 other doctors had put together, with success. My mom lived in Michigan and had to go to the Ohio CC for major revisional hip surgery when nobody else would consider her. For those with lower body joint pain/mobility issues, try lifting hand weights up to 5 lbs, hand bicycle, etc as a form of exercise (under medical supervision of course!). I know it’s not much, but upper body conditioning may help a little bit with transfers and endurance. I have hip/spine/hand arthritis, scoliosis, sciatica and chronic low back pain so I do understand what you must go through every day, then get the brush off from medical practitioners. It seems that the new generation of docs get frustrated when they have to deal with anything more than a runny nose or annual physicals. Been through this more times than I care to count, and I was a career nurse. Good luck to all of you.

I am 56, i weight 315. I have moderate arthritis in both of my hips. I have a condition where the ball of my hip joint didn’t run smoothly. It has caused bones spurs and cartridge loss. Seen 2 orthopedic surgeons, both told me I’m too fat, told me to Lois weight. Wouldn’t tell me how much to loose. When I said what will happen to me if I can’t loose weight? I told him I would end up in a wheelchair. He low key got nasty and said he gave me options of steroid injections and weight loss surgery referral. I made him feel bad when I started crying: I’m not doing weight lose surgery, say what happened to my co worker. I wanted to take Wegovy,but since I’m on levothyroxine for my past thyroid cancer I can’t. I can’t stand more than 5 min and I have fallen 4 times this year, and broke my wrist. Broken wrist aggravated my carpal tunnel so had to have wrist surgery. I’m so upset . Lost my job due to my pain from my hips and my fibromyalgia. Thanks for reading.

First off my heart goes out to all of you if you took time to post on this site. No body can understand the physical and mental pain we are going through. It started as a aching pain in my groin. I thought I pulled it. Went 8 months and it didn’t heal. So went to my doctor and was diagnosed with Severe Osteoarthritis. Bone on Bone in left hip and It is getting worse. I have gone two years being denied by Blue Cross insurance 3 times. The first surgeon asked me if I was on steroids. Never in my life! I am 50 years old and I am healthy as an ox. I am 5’11” weighing in right now at 325, BMI at 46. I lost 20 pounds by reducing my calories to 1200 daily. I just doesnt come off fast enough. I was doing upper body working out high reps low weight on a bow flex and I just increased muscle thus making my weight worse. I am a very muscular person since high school and have never met BMI. When I was in military 30 yrs ago, I always had to go get weighed and taped all the time. It always came back 3-5% body fat. Yes I have gained weight as I got older. However, my body chemistry never fit the scale they have. I can never reach what they deem at not obese. I am a active person and this situation has left me feeling angry, depressed and depleted. I have never been so unhappy in my life. I can barely walk now, it is affecting my job, my personal life, everything.

So what’s the solution? My wife is in terrible pain and in need of shoulder replacement. She was misdiagnosed or would have planned for this a long time ago. In a recent visit to the surgeon she was told she would need to lose 30 lbs before they could do surgery and then more or less told good luck and see you in 3 months. We were both a bit taken aback and at the time didn’t think to ask about any help they could be or suggest where to get some help. So I come across this website that was addressing the same issue. Maybe I need to search around on this site a bit more but all I am seeing here so far is talk about surgery and being over weight but no solutions. My wife is not going to be able to do this without some help and I don’t know where to turn. She is also in need of a knee replacement so even trying to get out and get some exercise is virtually impossible. I didn’t think about it until coming to this site but you would think a caring respectable surgeon would have some sort of partnership with and entity that dealt with helping people lose weight. They may as well just have said, you’re too fat and we can’t help you until you’re not too fat. Thanks and have a nice day. Come back when you’re smaller and good luck with the pain. Doctors and surgeons only care about one thing and that is their bank account. I don’t believe any of them truly care about people. If they did they would have given my wife some suggestions or referred her to someone who might be able to help her. I believe most people don’t like being obese and would love to lose weight but simply don’t know how. It’s not always as easy as just eating less and exercising. I somewhat wish I hadn’t come across this page as now it has me thinking about the lack of the surgeon even making a simple suggestion and that has me angry.

My mother is almost 80 and her knees are shot. Bone on bone. Last year she fell trying to get back on her scooter, she ended up in the hospital for months after. Home now with a lift chair to elevate her feet to reduce the swelling. Getting up in the middle of the night, she cries out in pain. Because of her limited mobility, she often cannot make it to the bathroom in time. She is ready for the good Lord to call her home. I can’t seem to help her as the Dr’s won’t do surgery because of her weight. She can’t lose the weight because the pain and mobility issues deter her from exercising. Watching my mother like this without the ability to help her is very painful. Any advice and prayers are welcome.

I was injured in Desert Storm in 1991. I had both knees replaced in 2016 when my BMI was 45. Now I have a avascular necrosis with chronic subluxation in my right hip. The doc that did my knees retired so I saw a different doc. My BMI was 41 at my first visit and he wouldn’t schedule surgery until I lost 20 pounds. Six weeks later, I had gained 5 pounds. His nurse practitioner demanded that I go see a bariatric surgeon before she would schedule me for surgery. When I refused to do that, she documented that I was a “non-compliant patient”. I went for a second opinion and he refuses to do the hip replacement unless I lose 70 pounds. Now I cannot walk without a walker. A friend in one of my veterans groups recommended a doc who MAY be willing to help me so I am trying to get an appointment with him now. I understand the risks may be higher because of my BMI, but the docs don’t seem to care about the risks of NOT having the surgery and the ability to walk and live a normal life.

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