So... new post from me. I'm here, just struggling to find my way, 13 months after left TKR, and I did learn a thing or two, along the way, - which I gladly share with everyone who will listen to my dreadful english (I am danish).
TKR March 05, 2020 - the first year of Corona.
April 12, 2021
I have been thinking about the learning and accepting proces you are going through, when you go through a TKR surgery. I have written down some of my thoughts.
Also, I was just thinking about something else. How the way you walk, can effect your knee so much, I mean; how you put the foot down, how you stand on it, etc. It has made a huge difference for me, learning to stand/walk correctly, it's almost unbelievable.
ALTERING EXPECTATIONS.
I admit that maybe my (way too high) activity-level also have something to do with the bad period I went through recently.
I was not ready to accept, that I couldn't do EVERYTHING I wanted. There were limits.
LIMITS! I just HATE limits! But there I was; 6 months, 8 months, 10 months, and finally 1 year after my TKR, and forced to accept the limits. It took me a long time, and I admit that I still struggle. But I have learned a great deal along the way. I have really improved! The knee, of course, have improved, gotten stronger, but the biggest improvement is MY HEAD. My mind, my thoughts. My approach to my recovery. My patience. It's one thing to have all this pain, and limitations, BEFORE surgery. Before the BIG SURGERY. But that is kind of EASY to handl, because I said to my self; "this is just temporary. Once I have my new knee; everything will be fantastic". I know the doctors said, "it will take time, it will be a hard, tough recovery, and you have to realize, that not everyone will be able to return to ALL activities they want, or were use to".
I think I just closed my ears, when they said all those things. I think I believed it would be totally different for me. I was a superwoman, and everything was possible for me, right?
I just want to tell you - and my self;
"Hang in there. Find your way. Do what you can, and enjoy the things you actually can. Accept the limitations, and be kind to your knee. If it hurts, then stop what you are doing, - even if it disappoints you deeply, that your knee is not were you hoped it was. Don't let anybody force you to do exercises that hurt your knee. If it hurt = STOP! I truly believe that it is not meant to hurt. If your knee get stiff and swollen hours after an activity;... you have done too much. Even if you think you have hardly done anything; you DID overdo it. Accept it, and learn from it. Try again, but easier. It's all about balance. Your knee will - mostly - gladly work with you, it wants to heal, but if you abuse it, and put too much strain on it... well, it gets cranky and stop cooperating.
Don't compare yourself with others. You are unique, you and your knee are unique".
It has taken me soooo long to appreciate that, but I am getting there. Hope you will too.
Thank you for this forum, and thank you for writing messages to me, telling me about your experiences, it helped a great deal.