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

I do not have to go to work, at least not outside the house. It seems there is always so much to do at ho e, keeps me busy.

actually, aside from the tiredness, I'm doing quite well. The Aleve makes me very tired, so I try not to take it.

im sure the tiredness is just part and parcel of the healing process.

thats amazing that someone at 82 breezed right thru this.

we r all different. Best to you.how log till u had ur normal energy back?

Best, Damy 

 

Thanks OFG!! It's always a joy to read ur posts😀 I just loved what u just related. You are a great guy and am sure u r appreciated by many.

i will be 72 this week on the 28th and I guess I haven't totally embraced what it means to be aging. My son , when I told him I'm tired, said " mom, you do a lot"  I said" I do!!??" I expect to be my 40 yr. old self, which is ridiculous.

i so applaud you for getting to ur grandsons game. We do the same. Our 4 grandchildren live 3 hrs. Away, but we travel to see them as much as possible. Just this past weekend, we celebrated Passover w/ them. I spent 3 days cooking food to bring. Chicken soup, matzo balls and brisket.then we packed up, drove, helped w/ dinner and went to watch one grandson play lacrosse. AND I WONDERED WHY I WAS TIRED WHEN WE GOT HOME ON FRIDAY!!😜 I have always expected a lot of myself, though I also know how to balance my life and take care when I need to.

actually, I am doing well. I go to an exercise class and can up and down off of the mat, do planks, leg presses, etc. it's hard getting used to doing this again, but I am persevering . 

After reading ur post, a I am going to appreciate what I can do, not what I can't !! A good message for all of us.

best wishes to you and ur dear wife!!

i appreciate you and all u do for those on this forum💁🏻😀☺️

We just have to be thankful for what we have left. As I have mentioned many times, my wife, age 78, is in advancing stages of Parkinson's. She has gotten to the point of not being able to enjoy going much of anywhere. She had to quit driving 2 years ago so has to depend on me for everything transportation wise. Something in he brain has sort of turned off a little of her brain and she cant cook anything that requires following directions. She is fatigued to the point of near exhaustion most of the time. Like I say, if it wasn't for Dr's appointments we wouldn't have a social life. She contiually worries about having to wind up in a nursing home in a short time. So recovery from something that has a recovery is certainly important and meaningful to those going through it and shouldn't be looked at like as insignificant but on the other hand there are things that can't be cured and ply worsen with time till eventually they lead to your demise. Glad you got to spend Passover with your family and yes, you do way too much.

I am always grateful for having something that can be fixed. That is a mantra by which I live my life. Thanks anyway, for reminding me. Sometimes one forgets. Ur situation is not to be envied, but I can tell u r a guy who makes the most of ur life; regardless. Getting older is no picnic, but it certainly beats the alternative! 

 

Ice is still your best friend when you overdo....even when you don't.  After a long stand.....do yourself a favor for a few minutes; ice and elevate.

thanks Mary.

Sounds sounds like u might live in Florida ? Or similar environs. We r still in the north east, 45 mins west of Boston. The steps in our house are the killers when it comes to lugging in the groceries, etc. we would love to make a move, but still haven't figured out where to go. Also, we have 4 grandchildren in the New York area, hard to leave them. 

We r going to Italy in September to celebrate our 50 th anniversary , and perhaps after that we will start exploring area to move.

ilove ur "my get up and go, got up and went"!!!!😄😂😛😜

u r still early days, continue doing ur exercises and all the rest and u will see a big change shortly. 

Best, Damy 

 

Florida has been my home for half my life.  It's a growing state and Old Florida is just a memory but it's still a great place to live. B U T becuz my kiddos live in Ga, 400 miles north and I'm gettin' older, a widow, and am now considering moving a little closer. Checking out St Marys, Ga, or Bufort, SC...both are 3 hrs closer. Yes, I recall well the feelings re moving away from your kids but the rewards came by the wonderful, quality visits from them. We share great memories of those special times. Have fun in Italy and Happy Anniversary. 

Thanks, Margie,

what part of Florida do u live in? We. Ay take a road trip this fall and search out places to move to. I hear Bufort, S.C. Is beautiful . I also hear that Georgia is a lot cheaper than many other places.

take care, Damy 

for us, my late husband and I, Florida was "fittin" for our lifesyle. We both enjoyed boating and fishing but because Fla and Ga are sister states the drive was ok even for short trips so after looking around the state over the course of a few years, we found our little place on the gulf.  SC and GA coasts, are of course, on the Atlantic.

fripp Island, SC is nice but $$$. Bufort has a good variety and St Mary's Ga has plenty of water and places to fish...lol  Marge

I had rather quick knee replacement, within 6 weeks of having knee freezing on me.  I was dancing until then so muscles in good shape.  Just this week a friend of 82 had TKR and is fine, walking up stairs, etc.  She also had a few weeks of physio.  So this seems to be a factor in recovery. All those waiting fir surgery, take note of John's experience.  Sounds Likre you did really well.

thanks for thanks for ur reply, John. And ur interesting story.

u sound like u have it all together, balancing ur life w/ work, $, social interactions and a good attitude. Yes, being in as good shape as possible, pre surgery is most helpful. Take care and stay in touch.

damy 

I put weight on my TKR immediately .....used a walker for two weeks and transitioned to a cane.  I wonder why the huge difference in protocols? Never did crutches.

Same for me Mary. Walker at home for a few weeks and transitioned to a cane. I o lay used o e crutch on the stairs for stability. That was while I was usi g the walker. Gave up the cane at about 7 weeks or so.

Over time I've noticed its a country by country decision. The UK is almost consistent with crutches and the US is almost exclusive walker to cane. My Dr's wouldn't let me think of crutches as they wanted the foot hitting the floor asap and then again maybe they didn't want me falling and breaking my neck. On ACL ,meniscus etc it's always crutches because theybdont want pressure on the leg for awhile

I thing your right OFG, I did crutches when I had a scope procedure done on the other  knee. Funny thing is that procedure is gone from my memory.  Hope this one fades as quickly. 

On on the other hand, I feel like a total wimp after what you've been through.

I am in the uk had Zimmer frame first day then 2 walking sticks but some hospitals give you crutches I was seen ina private hospital as an nhs patient 

Hi Sharon!

They seem to vary in the UK too, as I was also in a private hospital but they only let me have crutches for the first two sessions after my op, then it was onto walking sticks, and at the end of the week they told me I might be down to just one stick which is a bit scary as I recall that with my first knee sometimes it didn't feel very "stable" and I thought that I might end up on the floor if I hadn't had two sticks! Last time both sticks were gone at six weeks so I'll see how it goes! 

At my first physio session 2 weeks after op I walked in using 2 sticks which I use if I am walking any distance outside she said that is fine if that's what I felt comfortable with I walk unaided indoors now and if only walking short distance I use 1 

My op was on 18/4/16 and I haven't gone walking outside yet as I can't remember when and how far I can go at this stage so do you know? I potter around the house at the moment and sometimes I misplace a stick and end up walking with one but I'd really like to go outside and walk now🚶🏻

Can't remember exact distances 2 weeks po my heart abandoned took me to the supermarket in the car and I walked round for about 15 minutes that was enough last week I walked to the doctors surgery which is about a 5 minute walk took me 10 walking slowly and carefully 

Well done! I think I'll have a little walk out into the Park for a few minutes to see how it goes as my 18 year old son is in the house today and he can haul me home if necessary!

Do you use one of those little peddle cycles that go on the floor? I bought one this time as everyone on the forum seemed to use one but again I'm not sure when to use it? Sorry for the grilling!

No I have an exercise bike haven't been on it yet but will give it a go as it was about 5 weeks po with first knee when I started using it couldn't get pedal all the way round just use to push it back and forward as far as I could until I could pedal properly 

We have a static bike which I used later on with my last TKR but I remember struggling to actually get on it and I couldn't turn the wretched pedals full circle until I was about ten weeks & it was excruciating, that's why I bought this little floor pedal thing for £20 in the hope of starting sooner so it might be easier later on when I try the static bike!🚴

I'm in UK too and was on walking frame day after op, then next day 2 crutches. At physio at week 2 she put me on exercise bike for 10 mins and told me to do this at home too. I still have to go forward and back for a while until go right round and usully it is backwards first. i do 15 mins every day now aswell as other physio. i go a walk with hubby in evening what used to take me 15 mins now takes approx 25 and i have to tell him to slow down!!! i went out this am for the first time on my own as it's a lovely am here today. I am only using 1 crutch when i go out and only if tired in house. take it easy on bike but i found it has helped with my movement.

 

Try peddling forward half way (for your bad knee) and then back down, perhaps going just a little further, doing this a few times back and forward will free your knee, but make sure the settings are on the lightest possible and your seat as high as possible (until you get going). Once you can do a few revolutions change the gear a notch or 2.  But NOT the seat height

Thanks! Just gave it a little go and not too bad so I'll persevere with that one as With the last knee straightening doesn't seem to be the problem, but the bend problem is😕

You will get there, getting over the top of the revolution if beep beep painful. Just take it slow, every time your knee has to bend, just push a little every time, then pedal backwards. Almost like a rocking backward and forward motion.  Before you know it, you will go all the way round.  Wear some earphones so that you are listening to something as opposed to concentrating on the pain. Sometimes you need to cheat to get where you need to be.  Your head is in the right place, so don't rush things. By taking things slow and constant you will have no "down" days and recovery will be just as productive.  Enjoy your impending freedom.

Treat your knee as a broken bone; what would you be doing!! By all means walk round the garden and rest. Use a cane to walk with and elevate after.  Your priority should be doing the right exercises to strengthen your muscles otherwise you will be in more pain longer and end up with a weak leg.

Thanks sueisobel for your advice and I'll try the earphones as distraction definitely helps.The elevating and icing has definitely helped with the swelling & of course if that subsides it should be easier to bend the knee. 

👍

You are most welcome.

Good luck with your healing