Hi Everyone! It's really been a while since I've been on here, and so much has changed. You've all given me so much support when I needed it, I thought I'd check in. I'm working two jobs right now. I don't have computer access at work (weird, huh?), so no check-ins during the day. I got a job working with pre-teens and adolescents at a local psychiatric hospital. I just completed my second week there. A few of the kids have noticed that sometimes I walk funny, and have asked about it. They think it's cool that I have Titanium knees. I'm also working two evenings a week and Saturday at a private practice doing psychotherapy. So, I've gone from my long stay at home with PT being my main reason for going out, to this really busy schedule. The first week was especially hard physically. I would get so stiff and sore during the day, I could barely walk once I got home - had to do a lot of stretching and icing to get past it. I'm noticing that it's getting easier, though. The other day, I was meeting with a client and noticed that I had crossed my legs without thinking about it. I've also found myself getting in and out of chairs without having to hoist myself up with my arms - just getting in and out without a whole lot of effort. It just sort of dawned on me that I was moving and functioning better and not even thinking about my knees for good bits of time. My bilat TKR was 10/23/07, so that gives you an idea of the time frame. I've complained on this forum about my scar sensitivity - even that's getting better and the scars have all of a sudden started to shrink and fade.
I'm hoping this is a hopeful message to everyone. It all really does get easier. My son commented the other night that I'm moving around, even going up and down stairs, without looking like i'm struggling.
I still have a lot of recovery to go, but I'll be at 6 months post op in a couple of weeks. I know I have to keep exercising and that my TKR journey is ongoing. I have no idea what my ROM is right now, but I'm not really worrying about it. I am functioning so much more normally and feeling so much better. I feel like I can finally see a future with vastly improved movement and activity. I'm not so much in the moment or the day, with my knees as my main focus. It's a good feeling.
So - please stay hopeful, keep working on exercises, and try not to get discouraged. It is so easy to get discouraged and to feel like we're not progressing or even having really serious setbacks - I've experienced all of that. It does get better!!!!!
Hugs to everyone here!
Susan
I'm hoping this is a hopeful message to everyone. It all really does get easier. My son commented the other night that I'm moving around, even going up and down stairs, without looking like i'm struggling.
I still have a lot of recovery to go, but I'll be at 6 months post op in a couple of weeks. I know I have to keep exercising and that my TKR journey is ongoing. I have no idea what my ROM is right now, but I'm not really worrying about it. I am functioning so much more normally and feeling so much better. I feel like I can finally see a future with vastly improved movement and activity. I'm not so much in the moment or the day, with my knees as my main focus. It's a good feeling.
So - please stay hopeful, keep working on exercises, and try not to get discouraged. It is so easy to get discouraged and to feel like we're not progressing or even having really serious setbacks - I've experienced all of that. It does get better!!!!!
Hugs to everyone here!
Susan