On the topics of knees I got mine replaced and feel it was the smartest thing I had ever done. Prior to surgery I would duct tape the knee just to make it thru the day. There was not a brace made that compared to the relief duct tape gave me. The pain was intense enough by the end of the day I would throw up in the trash cans from the nausea. I suffered for years as a result of the surgeons reluctance to replace it due to my under sixty age. I finally went in armed with the photo evidence that the knee was totally gone and bone on bone and requested he amputate it and give me a prosti! I was getting no sleep. I was very intense and serious with surgeon. We got it done and literally changed my life.