23 weeks post TKR. Just returned from America - didn't set off security alarms!

Good to hear from you, Eileen.

Yep, the wheelchair and buggy assistance was worth their weight in gold.

Absolutely hated sitting in a wheelchair, but the distances at both airports would have me beat.

Hopefully, when knee number two is fixed, I'll be able to manage again.

 

What - not even a ride on one of those snazzy golfcart things? Boo!!!!!

Even when I'm feeling reasonably fit big airports take away my will to live ;-)

i didn't know that was enough! Well - won't be taking that off and putting it in a tray! And I don't have any other variety!

Thanks Jean.

As you say, back to reality, but looking forward to seeing my two gorgeous grandsons.

Been keeping an eye on the forum whilst away and see you invested in the peddling machine I suggested.  Hope it's of some benefit to you!  I put mine away before we went on holiday.  No doubt the bl..dy thing will be back in action again come April, 2015!

I used the bike at the physio last week. Once I got it going it was great.

I find the days go so quickly it's hard fitting the exercises in, though I know I must.

Christine NZ

My physiotherapist used to get my knee going by putting me on the rowing machine before transferring to the bicycle.

Still makes you wince for the first few revolutions though, doesn't it!

 

Hi Lynn,

I was wondering how your TKR was feeling now after 23 weeks? Do you feel pretty back to normal now or do you still have stiffness and the other various aches & pains a lot of us have been experiencing?

Just wondering what to expect at that phase.

Betty 19 weeks

I certainly feel like my old self now.  Knee still feels stiff on waking, but at least it is no longer the centre of my world.

I do find that the weather affects my knee somewhat.  Am more aware of it when the weather is cold and damp - as it is in this part of the UK today.

Living in California, I doubt you have that problem!

Hi Lynn

i love that pedal machine ....money well spent 

although my knee still feels as if I'm carrying a lump of lead Round

Jean 

Hi Christine

Just wanted to comment when you said how quickly the days go & how difficult to fit in the exercises. I'm at 19 weeks & still having to do the stretches ( I pay for it if I don't) and try to get a walk or biking in too, and from day one, by the time I get the exercises done, then get myself together, half the day is gone!

My surgeon told me the exercises would be a full time job, and he was not kidding! He also told me if I did not do the exercises, then the TKR would have been for nothing.

I have to remind myself of that every day while I'm cursing all these darn exercises.

Anyway, just wanted to throw in my two cents

Betty US

Hi Lynn

Well we just had two days of very heavy rain ( which was a welcome sight as California has been in a serious drought)

and when the weather turned damp & cold, oddly I felt the achiness in my hips more than the knee itself. ( probably a sign of more fun times to come)

But it is true, the weather really does affect our joints!

This may sound completely silly, but are you able to bend or lift your feet up enough to wash them in the shower? I have an awful time as I can't raise my leg enough to wash that far down! It's also difficult sitting on the bed and bending over to put my socks on. How is it at 23 weeks??

Hope that's not too silly to ask, but it's a real issue for me

Betty

Must admit bending the knee enough to put on socks or shoes can be a struggle, but I can manage.  I love a bath and, luckily, we have a corner seat in the bath so I can lower myself, and then lower myself again.  Not too bad getting in, but getting out is NOT a pretty sight!

Needed to have showers whilst away and washing my feet didn't seem too much trouble.  I always use a rubber bath mat though as I'm scared of slipping.

I'm intrigued, can someone enlighten me: will you be able to kneel on your bionic knees? I made a major mess of one knee 20 years ago - absolutely CANNOT kneel on it. The other is the result of torn ligaments and it isn't so hot on kneeling either. I wanted to vacuum under the table in the campervan this morning  and tried everything - even the good knee and a thick cushion didn't do it! I was afraid to sit or lie to get at it in case I couldn't get up again as I was on my own and space is restricted!

And: what's a bath? Terrified of not being able to get out again - showers for me!

Thanks Lynn, it sounds like you are getting along pretty well so there is hope.

I bend my knee just fine while pedaling or exercising, so I can't understand why it's so difficult to bend it high enough to wash my foot or put socks on!

Oh well, patience I guess.

Hope you are getting acclimated to being home again. 

Take care, Betty

My consultant assures me there is absolutely no reason not to kneel down on new knee, but I am just not happy even trying.  My physio says I should practice kneeling on a soft surface i.e. Duvet, but it does feel uncomfortable.

I can only manage a bath because of the corner seat.  Otherwise I could probably get in, but definitely not out.  I did persevere because I love having a bath.

Maybe its because of the number of whacks I've had on my knee I can't stand anything putting pressure on the nerves. Recently I had an illness that caused my blood pressure to drop drastically and suddenly. My legs just dissolved and went down on both knees and my forehead hitting the hardwood floor with all my weight. Split my head, bled profusely thinking all the while I'd ruined my knee. Had to have an ambulance scrape me off the floor and take me to ER. Got a bunch of stitches in my German hard head, had tests and a 4 day stay, they got the infection sorted out and apparently the knee held up beautifully. However; the test fall is all I needed. Don't want to go through that excercise again

Hi Lynn, funny how all these consultants differ - or is it the type of implant? Mine told me to avoid kneeling as my patella is my own and the pressure could cause loosening of the joint. I was a bit disappointed as although I don't plan on kneeling for hours it would be nice to get on the floor with my grandchildren. I do some exercises on the floor and manage to get down by kneeling on a pillow putting my weight on my good knee then rolling over. Not a pretty sight😊 I did try putting weight on my TKR knee before he told me not too and it didn't hurt just felt a bit strange. Suppose I'd better do as he said though. Jen 19 weeks 

Hi Betty, I struggle to lift my foot in the shower too. Mind you, I'm slightly better with my TKR leg than the other one as I've got trouble(arthritis!) with my hip on that side. I could never manage to get in and out of the bath either! I found it difficult before and the only way I could get out was to roll over onto my knees. Don't think I should do that now! So it's showers for me 😊 Jen x

Hi

i would give anything for a good long soak in a lovely bath full of hot water. ...sigh... But like you I used to roll over and get onto my knees to get out of the bath and now after this TKR that's a definite no

And now my other knee is coming out in Sympathy

Jean

 

There are various aids available for getting in and out of the bath - Peoples' Friend has load of ads for the various types! However - if you are in housing association/council housing ( or whatever it is called these days) it is possible to have a shower put in if you can't use the bath - I don't know if they would say if you have a shower you can't have financial support to be able to use a bath.

Morning Jennifer,

That's the one thing I really miss - not being able to get down on the floor to play with my grandsons.  Feel I've really missed out on that time with the baby who is 10 months.  Am quite envious to see my husband playing on the floor with them.

James, who is three, keeps saying 'Nanny's got a poorly knee, but it will be better soon'.  Little does he know knee number 2 is on its way!

You must all be very young! I've just had my first pension payment - and all 3 grandchildren are very much teenagers ;-) When my first daughter was born my notes said "elderly prim". At 27!

Don't comsider myself young!  I'm 63 next week - 12th December.

It's just that my daughter was late in starting a family at 34.  Would have certainly been considered 'past it' in my day.  By the time number two came along, she was classed 'high risk'.

Started receiving my State Pension last year.  Very nice, too.

Isn't it! And what about that wonderful Christmas bonus? Someone told me it was started in the early 70s - and was £10 then too...

Here where I live 62 is considered a mere whippersnapper - if someone is under 80 when they die it is usually an accident or cancer! There are birthdays for 80s and 90s every month in this village!

And what about the Winter Fuel Allowance?  Surprises almost each week in my bank account this month!

Not for me - I was born 4 weeks too late to get it this year! Just like I had to wait until I was 62 1/4 to get my pension. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that I did have some SERPS on top of the basic payment though!!

Did you know that UK pensioners in France don't get the WFA despite their winters being far colder than the UK? Apparently the average winter temperature calculation includes overseas dominions. They have so many they are almost the same area as France - and a lot are in the tropics!

What about Spain?

Article in the Telegraph today: "Government-changed-the-meaning-of-winter-to-axe-expat-fuel-payments"

Google it to get a link to it online!

I was classed as an "old" mum when I had my first at 27 too 😊 He's now 37 with 3 daughters under 5. I have 2 other grandsons aged 4 and 10 months. I'm 64 and have luckily been having my state pension for 4 years. So, as you see, not young! 😊😊 Jen x

Suppose it is definition! I don't consider myself "old"! And even my younger daughter said last week she doesn't consider us as old - she's a paramedic so maybe she has other criteria!

BTW - I would have posted a link to the article but it will disappear for ages. It is interesting though! 

I have 4 sons and 2 daughters.  13 grandchildren and yesterday my 12th great grandchild was born 

but....I did have my first son when I was just 18 

does anyone wish to borrow some of them ...just for Christmas???

Nah - babies are fine up to about 9 months but after that they have to be parents themselves to be tolerable. I'm really a bit "couldn't eat a whole one" about children...

Didn't anyone tell you where they came from? ;-)

Since I can't bend my knees enough to wash the bottom of my feet, I use one of those back brush to wash the bottom of my feet. 

Oh, bet that tickles!

I was just thinking what a good excuse it would be to buy one of those foot spa things! A bath brush is cheaper though...

Yes, it does 😊