TKR Canadian Girl's Journey

[Ellejay]

Hi everyone,
How lovely to hear all the news, mostly positive, proving that our operations were worth all the pain and heartache.
I also hardly ever post on here any more, life is far too busy and interesting these days . Both my knees are doing well, I'm walking, cycling, swimming, I'm at the gym three times a week, and eventually some of the weight I put on whilst waiting for both tkrs is coming off again. My knees are a bit stiff first thing in the morning, but once I'm up and about they are fine. As all my old friends on here will know, I am particularly pleased to get back on my bike, we have been away in our touring caravan this week, and I was thrilled to be able to cycle along country lanes again. The pleasure of being able to go for a walk without pain still makes me smile.
I have a three week old grand daughter, and spend a lot of time with my grandson, who at three and a half keeps me on my toes (&knees). Life is active and good now.
Best wishes to everyone, particularly the class of 2014, keep moving - pain free! xxx

 

[71Beetle]

Hi @IrishMike,

I understand about not giving updates. I found I was repeating myself and focussing more on what wasn't going right so I focussed on the physio and just getting better. I do a lot of walking but my fitness level has decreased significantly in the past two years. The year before the surgery because of the debilitating pain and the year after the surgeries because of the pain. Notice it is no longer debilitating.

I can ride a bike, I can garden, I can take walk, I can swim. I have a lot to be thankful for but I honestly thought I would be much better than I am now. I see my surgeon for my one year check up in a couple of weeks so will see what his thoughts are.

I finished up physio last week. My choice. I was going two times per week and it was costing a small fortune to not see results. I do my physio exercises everyday (almost) so if I can maintain the same motion, why put the money out. Lovely people and I will go back if I feel I am backsliding but I need to see results to keep shelling out money.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday and that your knees allow you to do everything you want.

Take care!

Lisa

 

[71Beetle]

Hi @Ellejay

Great update! Sounds like you are very active and loving pain-free life. So happy for you!

Are you able to kneel? I still have too much pain to do so. And I would be afraid that I could not get back up.

Happy to hear you are on the bike. I use my exercise bike but I have not used my outdoor bike. I am doing well on the rowing machine but I get sore if I go more than 15 minutes - will keep at it though.

Well, thanks for stopping by and have a great summer!

 

[IrishMike]

@71Beetle Hi Lisa,

I am going to see my physio tomorrow, Thursday, for the 1st time since December. Like you, I felt that I was spending too much money (which I can't/don't want to afford). I also felt that every time I went to see him, he would fix one thing but something else would go wrong; I decided to take a break and concentrate on building up my strength and monitor the pain/discomfort that this may bring.

I still have the same issues with both my knee e.g. scraping sound when I stand up, tight IT band etc. so my visit to my physio tomorrow is for him to sort out my IT bands and give me a massage to help with my stretches etc.

I am working with a formal training programme e.g. upper body (Monday), lower body (Wednesday) & total body (Friday) - I also try to go on the Turbo Trainer (Cycle) 2/3 times a week for an hour. This is working for me and if my knees get sore, I don't cycle until I am happy. This helps with my strength, weight & fitness and hopefully my recovery - I am reasonably happy but impatient to "be fixed", I have also pushed my deadlines out to next year by being "steady Eddie" and taking each week as it comes...

My right knee is now 17 months old but still gives me some issues but is a lot better that before the operation - I have to keep reminding myself this and that I am a lot more active now. I don't blame my knees as much these days for my inactivity...

Anyway, take care of yourself and your knees

Mike

 

[Ellejay]

@71Beetle
Hi Lisa, I CAN kneel, but I don't like to, its not comfortable. I am getting up and down off the ground much more quickly and slightly more elegantly these days, essential for playing trains with my grandson. I only had 5 PT sessions and they finished in March, I did lots of hydro exercises on my own, but I'm now swimming properly twice a week. I use the treadmill, bike and rowing machine at the gym as well as going for walks outdoors. I'm really pleased with the timing, I'm able to get and about now the weather is improving.
Enjoy your summer xxx Lyn

 

[71Beetle]

Hi!

It has been a while since I have posted. I see a couple of my original recovery buddies are still active... @Pumpkln, @Nana moon 27, @Celle but I see a lot have dropped off. Hope everyone is doing well!

This month marks my 2nd anniversary with my new knees....I still have some stiff days and get frustrated with what I can't do but overall I am pleased with what I am able to accomplish. I walk a minimum of 10,000 steps a day (these Fitbits are addictive) and I do 20 squats every time I come out of the ladies room (LOL...too much information I am sure but it has really kept me accountable and increased the strength in my legs)! I still cannot kneel so have not yet got back to yoga but it is still a goal of mine.

A lot has changed since I wrote last...

I left the job I was in after 19.5 years. I was unhappy for a while and felt I was not treated fairly when I was off for surgeries and during my recoveries. It was a big move but I do not regret my decision, even though it meant a very significant decrease in earnings that we have not yet recovered from. I was fortunate enough to find a job that allowed me to work from home, working with a small local consulting firm. The owner and I have known each other for 20 years and he brought me on with the hopes of making some changes in his firm and to grow sales. We signed a one year contract so I was able to plan my next career move...and I started with a very large consulting firm in May. I am still in sales and business development and I love it. I am able to contribute while learning so much about their world class methodologies and processes.

My eldest son finally got his act together and decided he wanted a fresh start out of Ottawa. He moved to Calgary, Alberta earlier this month to live with my sister and her husband. He wants to find a job and hit reset on his life. He was working two jobs here to save money but the pull of the old friends and damaging lifestyle was becoming too much for him...so he decided a move away was the only way to improve himself. I am so proud of him. Not only because he kicked his bad habits but also because he had the strength to make this decision. I miss him terribly though.

So with one son having moved out and the middle one likely going off to university next year if all goes as he plans, we have decided to downsize our house. We really can't afford it anymore and have incurred debt in the last year that will take some time to get out of. Selling now and moving to a smaller place will allow us to get back to focussing on our retirement plans and funds. We will look for a bungalow this time as well as I expect I will need to get a refresh on the knees before we retire and move to a lakeside property (if all goes to plan). So our house has been on the market for 4 months now but no real bites. There are a lot of houses for sale in our area and now the high season is over...we will see how the summer goes...if anyone knows of someone looking for a beautiful home on 2 acres of property in a suburb of Ottawa, let me know!!

That's all the fun stuff going on in my life. would love to hear how everyone else is doing.

Have a great weekend!!

 

[Pumpkin]

Great to hear how well you are doing! It was a rough go in the early days as I recall.
Look into St Joseph (you bury him in your yard) to help sell your house. I told my neighbors to try this, they had an offer in a few days.
Good luck selling your house, and for you upcoming move.

 

[71Beetle]

Hi @Pumpkln

You are the third person that recommended the Statue to me...I must try it. I found it a little corny and sacrilegious but it seems to work for others...I have nothing to lose.

What's new with you?


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum

 

[Pumpkin]

Doing well here, back at work a few days a week as I ease into retirement. My knee is a little out of alignment, I can walk a little over a mile, just as long as I don't do it every day. All in all the revision is much better than the primary TKR which hurt 24/7.
We have done some traveling to Antarctica, then I finally made it to all 50 states, our next trip is to Glacier Nat'l Park.
Hope St Joseph works for you, all you have to lose is the few dollars the statues cost.

 

[Celle]

Hello Lisa,
How lovely to hear from you again!
It sounds as if your knees are doing well.

What a lot of changed circumstances you've had.

I'm glad the newest job is one that you're happy doing.

Best wishes for the sale of your house and land. My husband and I are starting to downsize, too. The house is all on one level, and it would still be suitable for us for many more years, but the large garden is now starting to be too much for us.
We have started down-sizing our possessions, getting rid of the things we no longer need and won't have room for in a smaller place. While my husband was away, back in February, I made a real effort and I took two full car loads of unwanted stuff to our local Hospice charity shop. There will be more to go there later!

Both my knees are doing well. I hardly think about them nowadays.

Best wishes!

 

[Josephine]

Lovely to hear from you but I'm concerned about your ongoing pain.

I walk a minimum of 10,000 steps a day (these Fitbits are addictive)

I suggest you either sell it on Ebay or put it in the bin! They are the worst thing ever for TKR patients because they encourage over activity.

I do 20 squats every time I come out of the ladies room

I can't help wondering why you are still doing these are 2 years? Because of this, I am not at all surprised you are still in pain.

Tell me, are you still going to gym?

 

[71Beetle]

Look into St Joseph (you bury him in your yard) to help sell your house. I told my neighbors to try this, they had an offer in a few days.

I bought the St. Joseph statue and buried him in the yard. Will look forward to some good vibes and a positive outcome!

 

[71Beetle]

Hi @Celle

Thanks for the note. Happy to hear that you are doing well and that you rarely think of your knees.

Downsizing is a big job but I am looking forward to it!

 

[71Beetle]

Hi @Josephine

Thanks for your concern, I feel great except for the occasional stiffness and do not feel like I am overdoing it. It has been a long haul to get to this stage and I would not recommend this activity to someone that is new to TKRs but it has been two years since mine.

I do wish I could kneel so I could go back to yoga...that is my ultimate goal. If you have any tips, I would love to get some ideas.

Have a great weekend!

 

[Josephine]

I feel great except for the occasional stiffness and do not feel like I am overdoing it.

I don't agree. There is not way you should be doing 20 squats 3 or 4 times a day. It certainly would account for your pain and stiffness.

 

[Pumpkin]

Lisa,
Wondering why you want your threads merged?
Chris

 

[71Beetle]

I don't agree. There is not way you should be doing 20 squats 3 or 4 times a day. It certainly would account for your pain and stiffness.

I have just started doing the squats in the past two weeks. I don't have pain...just the stiffness that has been with me since my surgeries...I will back off from them and see if it improves.

 

[71Beetle]

Lisa,
Wondering why you want your threads merged?
Chris

Hi Chris,
I thought we could only have one recovery thread and it would be nice to continue the original one....if possible.
Thanks!

 

[Josephine]

@71Beetle, well there are exceptions, such as when the original thread is more than a year old!
But I've moved it anyway and thank you for being alert to our preferences!

 

[71Beetle]

I can't help wondering why you are still doing these are 2 years? Because of this, I am not at all surprised you are still in pain.

I am not still doing them...I just started doing them again as part of a challenge I am doing with my walking friends.

Tell me, are you still going to gym?

I don't go to the gym...I was using my rowing machine over the winter months but had to stop when I shattered my humerus bone in my upper arm in an unfortunate accident at home. I started walking as soon as the weather allowed and have been building up my steps.

I am proud for what I have accomplished so far this year...I had a heck of a painful recovery the first year. I don't have pain, just stiffness when I sit for longer periods and in the morning. The only pain I get is when I try to kneel.