I’ve been home a week, I think. It seems harder to keep
track of individual days than to count the number of Fridays since I broke a
string of bones. We’ve bought groceries one time, which counts as zero, as
there was no food in the house when Laura and I came home. Actually, she went
grocery shopping; I simply was installed.
Walker: indispensable! Two broken shoulders notwithstanding,
I would be beached without it. Not grounded, but stranded. Like I told the
young fella, you can fix both shoulders someday, if necessary, but I won’t get
over this broken leg if I can’t substitute some other body part. Shoulders it
is. Painful, but doable.
It’s my knees that hurt, and not just a little. In therapy
at Regina, the therapists strapped each knee into braces that stopped them from
snapping and hyperextending. Here at home I have similar braces, but all
Velcro; no buckles and locking straps. If I put them on in the morning, I can
get through the day to about late afternoon. Not pain free, but tolerable.
At my next doctor visit, in September, I think my first
question will be How soon can I get new knees?
Who out here has new knees? Tell me everything about them,
please!
In the meantime, in a week home, I have entertained a home
nurse and an occupational therapist. Passed those with flying colors. Tomorrow,
a physical therapist will size me up and give me an exercise regimen. That will
be good. Better yet, I’ve been to lunch with a friend. My neighbor took me out
to buy the walker. I watched Laura do garden work for half of last Saturday. It
rained all day Sunday.
I ate my usual entire bowl of corn chips and Nancy and I
lost the day. Bad cards. Wonderful, wonderful company.
So, please tell me about your knees.
My knees are old but not ready for replacements yet. I have read several blogs by people who have had it done. They all seemed pleased with the results.
ReplyDeleteI have had both knees done, not at the same time, and all I can say is that I found myself wishing I had had it done sooner. It is possible to do both at once but rehab and recovery is more painful and longer. My experience in this neck of the woods is that the docs do not recommend it especially if you are in a "fragile" state pre-op. This surgery is very routine now and is for the most part very successful. PT will push you to do things that are painful; going up steps for example but recovery is quite speedy. The only thing that most people are unable to do, I find, is kneel down as in weeding the garden or cleaning the bathtub. ( Not that that is a priority- the bathtub) Do hope this helps Joanne. Will send my email address if you like in case you have more questions- I don't blog. I am seventy five years old but had my knees done a good five years ago I think. Have read your blog from one end to t'other and enjoyed it all. Chin up-you can do this.
ReplyDeleteNo knees here, but I can tell you all about my hip. LOl
ReplyDeleteMost useful...my little scooter.
I haven't changed my knees yet but it is my longer term future. I think there are many who have had it done and have had success. One of your readers has shared above and I'm sure more of your readers will share soon. One thing I'm almost sure about is they only do one knee at a time just like they do one eye at a time when getting rid of cataracts.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest brother had a knee replaced. He says if he could have done it sooner he would have. He was religious about following the post surgery exercise regime and hasn't looked back. (I gather it was very painful from day two to day seven.) His wife had a shoulder replaced. She wasn't as virtuous. So had to have the surgery redone. Second time round she behaved.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about artificial knees, but I'm glad you had fun with the Methodists!
ReplyDeleteIt will be a breeze Joanne after all you've been through. They had me up and walking on it the same day. Before I left the hospital, after using the machine that moves and bends it, it was already bending to 90 degrees which is considered a successful replacement. My only worry is that if your leg will be healed up enough. Perhaps they could do the opposite knee first. I don't know but they should be able to tell you if you're ready to go on for replacement. I had very little pain and they ice it a lot the first few days. My favorite thing was the toilet riser too. It makes it so easy to sit down and stand up. They should have them standard for toilets. Don't know why they are so low. It was just scary for me that PT was going to try and bend it too far, but that was just me. And, you can refuse to let them.
ReplyDeleteThe left knee is my candidate. I always considered it the better of the two, but it's the one that hurts the worst. I'll save the broken leg knee for a bit later.
DeleteI had both knees done in December of 2011. Because both were done I got to be in the rehab hospital for ten days. It was worth it because I got a lot of practice and exercise sessions. Everyone's insurance is different, but if I had only one knee done they would only have paid for someone to come to the house. The first days were difficult. The first four. But every day was better. I do not have any pain but I lost a lot of ground with a number of cancers (complicated story) and long recoveries. But it's getting better now. It is worth doing both at once and having it over. But be sure all your other problems are fixed first, I think....I had a sort of hospital bed at home and could raise my legs almost 90 degrees at night which helped a lot to not have swelling. I was faithful with the exercises and am very pleased with the results. I could tell you my Dr. if you email me, or ask. The surgery was done at the hospital in the Falls. Edwin Shaw had been moved there then. Now it may be in Montrose. Be well! You are such a fighter, I know you will succeed.
ReplyDeleteI just got a new knee in May. I had severe arthritis in both knees, but the right one was worse and that is the one I had replaced. I have been coming along with the healing pretty well. Used a walker all the time at first, now using a cane when outside of the house, no cane or anything inside the house. My knee that had the surgery is now my good, stronger knee and the one that hasn't had surgery is now my bad knee. I've had a set back in my knees because my arthritis knee got worse all of a sudden and my surgery knee has been doing all of the work, which has caused a bit of swelling and discomfort from overuse.
ReplyDeleteI had a physical therapist that came to my house twice a week for two or three weeks, even though the stretching hurt a bit (once tears came to my eyes). She was an angel.
I never had horrible pain after the surgery. I got off of the prescription pain killer very soon, because it does not agree with me at all. I couldn't sleep, it made me horribly forgetful, gave me the shakes, and upset my stomach, sometimes to the point of throwing up. I felt better after I was off the prescription pain med and just using Tylenol.
The post-surgery discomfort has not been as bad as the arthritis was/is in the other knee. And I can now bend my knee enough to easily get in and out of the car.
It must be very difficult for you using a walker with your shoulder problems. I still use the cane when I am out of the house because of the my arthritis knee. It doesn't bend well like my surgery knee does, so I'm a little off kilter. I was glad I had my cane when on my first day (several weeks post surgery) out driving and then going to a store, as I was going to get my grocery cart, some woman (heifer) bumped into me so hard as she said that type of "excuse me", which really means "get the h*ll out of my way", that had I not had my cane, she would have knocked me over. She knocked me hard, I am a fairly large woman, but she was bigger, and I know without the cane I would have went down. As I was checking out, the cashier told me she had seen what had happened and asked me if I was ok. I was, but now I know to beware of other people who are in a rush or not paying attention to where they are going.
For me, the first two weeks after the surgery were the worst, but I think that knee replacement surgery would not be near as painful as what you have been and are going through.
I have most missed being able to plant my flowers and be out working in my flower beds, and seeing all of the hummingbirds and butterflies that always came to them. For several weeks after my knee replacement surgery I was running a low grade fever, which didn't cause problems, but it was such a hot summer here, I stayed inside out of the heat because I didn't want that low grade fever going into a high one.
I am seriously considering having my second knee done next year sometime around mid June.
Take care.
I don't know anyone with new knees, but I am happy that you are getting out and about, playing cards too :)
ReplyDeleteNo knee stories here, sorry. I am just happy that you managed to have some fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm still with my old knees, but I know some people here who are very happy with the replacement of the knees.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI was offered 'new bits' for hips and knees forty years ago. I refused and am still working the old bits - but with increasing difficulty. I know many who has said as you have read above; that is worth the doing. However, I also know failures (who came to me for corrective therapies) so it is important your doc lays it all on the line. The recent damage may affect how your muscles would deal with the necessary adjustments - but Joanne, I can't think of anyone who more deserves the chance of fitter joints!!! YAM xx
My FIL had knee replacement surgery. His friend had it about the same time. FIL was faithful to the exercise regime and did everything as prescribed. Friend did not. FIL had fantastic result while his friend didn’t.
ReplyDeleteDoing the exercise matters I believe.
Big Daddy is getting his first new knee Sept. 13. His knees are shot and even the new very expensive and very painful injections of filler material did not work. Cortisone barely touches the pain. He is very happy as everyone he spoke to had had excellent results. This surgery has really improved. Will let you know how it goes, one knee at a time.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne. If there is anyone who can recover from bodily incidents, it's you! I only know of friends and colleagues whose parents have had knee replacements and not a single one had bad issues or regretted it, so there you go. I hope you get approved for it! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your news.
ReplyDeleteCan't contribute to the knee conversation - yet - but I'm so glad you're home!
ReplyDeletestill have all my original equipment but those I know who have had replacements are loving it. glad you are settled in at home. always better for recovery. my medicare subsidy provider calls several times a year to come out and do a home assessment and general health check-up and I keep telling them no thank you.
ReplyDeleteI had mine done in January and wish I didn't have such a long wait for it. I was in hospital for two days, did therapy for three months. I'm now hiking and walking and doing stairs, but there are days I wish we lived on one level. I wouldn't get both knees done at once though. My friend had hers done three months apart and wish she had waited the year. She just wasn't entirely comfortable on her new knee yet and found herself a bit wobbly.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are feeling pretty positive....good stuff. Knees???? I still have the original equipment although I'll soon be needing a new hip.
ReplyDeleteI could sure use new knees. Maybe someday, but I'll put it off as long as I am able.
ReplyDeleteSame old knees...wishing you well, Joanne. x
ReplyDeleteSince one knee has creaked loudly going up stairs since I was in my thirties, I wouldn't be surprised if it gave out eventually. But it'll be a race with the rest of my joints, not to mention the bits in between!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile you're inspiring me to grit my teeth and carry on.
I know a few people who have gone through knee replacement and they are all glad they did so. Good luck, Joanne.
ReplyDeleteNo new knees for me, but boy am I in pain if I get down on my knees to do something. Getting up is horrible. Life is a helluva roller coaster ride.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Had my left knee replaced in 2008; had my right one done 8/8/18. The 2008 surgery was the iffy; I have rheumatoid arthritis which affects stuff. Also, in 2008 they were ladling opioids into you- I did not want them, but they insisted I take Narcon before physical therapy. Last month’s operation was much simpler, I spent a night in the hospital, and climbed the stairs in our old house the first night I was home. I did a lot of pre-operation physical therapy. Frankly though, knee replacement is one of the hardest recoveries there is- I’m pretty strong, but the first two weeks were a little bad. You would probably do a rehab for two weeks. I got sick on the pain meds, so did a lot of extra strength Tylenol, which tapped out my stomach. At a follow up three weeks after the operation, they gave me thermerol, and I use those three times a week before pt. I am on a cane now, but it does take you about a year to totally feel better.
ReplyDeleteAh, well, we might strike something of a bargain here: I'll trade you one knee for 75 grams of viable myocardium, and both for 250 gm's of same. We may have to fly to a good ortho and cardiac place, I'll research it, pro bono.
ReplyDeleteDon't be kidding me here, Mike. I know they can replace an entire heart, but some of the tissue? Does that really work? I'll settle for plastic knees from my young whippersnapper, but I certainly would campaign for you. I'm pretty good at standing on corners with signs.
DeleteI'd happily give a year to recovery. Been there; done that. Not my first rodeo, as I say with a grin. Last time, the brain injury, I started on a cane. This time, the walker. And for the whole time, I was in balance and strength training. I guess I need to do twice as much of that!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it’s worth it. Just a lot to go through. But you are a lion of a woman!
DeleteOriginal knees here but you are getting some very helpful feedback from other people. I hate to think of you in such pain. And somehow you remain so cheerful. You are such a good example for whiners like me!
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt you're a whiner, because we both know whining doesn't get you from the bedroom to the bathroom.
DeleteYou have been through so much! You are a strong woman!
ReplyDeleteYou are battling through all this, and it's good to read it. Many would be so glad to have your spirit. I'm glad you're doing some more weaving. Did you ever get that small (very small) package I sent you? (it wasn't anything to do with weaving) :)
ReplyDeleteYou are battling through all this, and it's good to read it. Many would be so glad to have your spirit. I'm glad you're doing some more weaving.
ReplyDelete