Do you think age has much to do with how one heals?de

Thanks for the reply, Mary,

i too, am told by many that I do not look or act my age. Lol, I'm immature!!😀

Actually, I will be 72 this coming week! I will take your daughters word for it, it really does make sense. I feel at lot different than I did at 58 or even 68. It's really just the knee issues that have slowed me down. It's more difficult to do as much as one did, before the k eyes had become bone on bone. In any case, thanks for the in put.

Damy(Donna)

Thanks Shannon,

interesting what you have experienced. So sorry that you have to go thru a mua!! Wishing u much luck. I think ur rift, we r all so different and heal and experience pain differently.

you are so young to have had this surgery, but I see ur not alone, from what I read on this forum.

let us know how u make out.

Damy😊

Snap! My Dad had two knees replaced in his late 70's, then two hips and finally an ankle replacement at 81 and he breezed through the lot-hardly any pain killers and three weeks after each TKR walking around like nothing had been done! He had no swelling, and took just a few paracetamol. In total contrast to him, I 

......was 57 with the first TKR and now 59 with the second and have suffered from swelling with both, pain requiring large doses of pain killers coupled with a lot of work to get the first knee to bend etc and at least 6/7months to realise that it was OK and probably a year to forget about the leg having a knee replacement, although I was reminded every time I tried to get up off of the floor! I felt a complete failure and my dear old Mum thought  and probably still thinks that I make a fuss about nothing, bless her! Anyway, I did ask my consultant about why a younger person recovers much slower than an older person and he said it's because younger folks try to do too much! Anyway, I've spoken to many TKR recipients since and it seems to me that the recovery etc varies from each individual and also each knee seems tore act differently too!! Basically I haven't managed to get an answer! I'm more hopeful with this latest knee despite the swelling as it did bend more after the op and feels a lot more comfortable in general, although that could be the pills!💊

Ur fathers recoveries sound amazing!! ??

so glad to hear that this time around u seem to be doing quite well.

thanks for ur input, I have to conclude, that as u say, we r all different. We must respect ourselves. No one knows their own body like themselves. Some of us r very sensitive to pain, more aware of every little thing that goes on in our bodies. I, in particular, am very sensitive to meds. I cannot tolerate most .

i think my tiredness has stemmed from taking Aleve regularly. Even though I sleep well when taking it, I am stopping it for the time being. Take care and keep in touch.

Thank you and will keep in touch as I find this forum so helpful and a real comfort blanket because as much as family members, friends etc try to understand what having a knee replacement involves they don't really "get it" and expect you to be leaping about like a two year old after a couple of weeks!!🏃

I agree Glenda, I'm 6 weeks post op now and my kids (25, 23,21) think I should be back to normal now, doing everything, dosen't matter I'm not sleeping (told that improves after 12 weeks! I hope so) doesn't matter I get sore and stiff mum should be doing everything! Husband is still brilliant when he gets home from work. This forum has been very good thank you everyone

Friends and family can be you biggest allies when it comes to providing comfort and assistance immedately after the surgery......by the same token, they can be the biggest downers when it comes to the long term as they think this is like having a bad tooth extracted or a tonsilectomy. They hear the the stories of miraculous recovery....marathons almost before the stitches have been removed. Mountain climbing at 6 weeks. Etc. One thing that can bring them back to reality.....have them go to utube and have them watch the surgery....most won't be able to handle the entire thing. Don't waste you time and energy trying 4th I change their minds......just stay with people that have been through it and are working there way back

Thank you, my husband has been brilliant but the grown up kids are behaving a bit like small children again. I am just going to take my time an if it doesn't suit them...too bad. Youngest one yeasterday said you are 6 weeks now mum you can drive again can you ... and are you going back to work today. I was not a happy person. I am so glad i found this forum, just sorry didnt before surgery. People on here are so helpful especially you. Thank you.

 

Hi Jackie, I'm 50 and 6 weeks post op and am recovering well with good movement but not going back to work till 12 weeks post op, how are you going to manage at 4 weeks post op? I get very tired, don't sleep due to being uncomfortable but told that improves aft. xer 12 weeks.  On the up side so glad I got this done. best wishes for continuing recovery

I agree there.  Happy successful people are going to be out doing, not venting.

Over the years I have had long conversations with consultants with regard to TKR's. The general consensus is they operate differently on older people, there is a tendency of making the knee stiffer/less flexible as they (the older young'uns) are not going to be as spritely as the youner patients.

After watching all the young ones at physical therapy, I reiterated to my therapist that I am not interested in becoming a triathlete, I just want to be able to walk normally again.  PT IS STILL GRUELING.

You may not want to run the next marathon, but getting your muscles working to their full potential is still vital.  Your knees are joints that support the whole weight of your body.  The last thing you need is for them to give way whilst walking down stairs. If the PT's don't push you will slacken + it is only for a limited time.  It would be a shame if you went through the pain and agony of the operation only to give up on the home run. Get working on those muscles (ligaments and tendons as well).  Summer is on its way, time to flash the flesh

😘Thank you.  

We are going to Ireland for 16 days in June so I had better get cracking, right!

That sounds wonderful.  That is exactly the excuse you need to take your time. Buy a sheleighleigh (had to look up the spelling) and enjoy life.  Even if you are staying in the city, there is so much to see, you just have to go slow, otherwise you'll miss bits, specially if you want to line up that perfect shot with your camera.  Guiness is full of iron, drink lots and enjoy

In the meantime, gentle flexing and holding your thigh muscles will do the trick (you can do this ad infinitum) if it is too painful to walk, you may feel a pain across your knee, but it is bearable, just keep holding, eventually you will be able to feel the other muscles, ligaments behind the knee and the main tendon come into play.  You can do these anywhere and other people are none the wiser

Today is an off PT day and I tend to relax and treat myself. But reading this made me starting flexing and holding  immediately.  👍👍👍

Thanks. This forum is perfect. Encouragement and empathy....just the right combo.   

It is the end of a long week and am slowly going backward (through messages) flex whilst relaxing x