Bilateral TKR I did it!

[robynhood]

Well the arthritis society certainly picked the right person in you to be a spokesperson. That last paragraph above was truly inspiring and you sound so wise for someone so young. You are very inspiring and they couldnt have picked anyone better. Keep on healing well Jesse. Always a pleasure to read your posts.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Always a pleasure to read your posts.

exactamundo

 

[robynhood]

In English that means Roy agrees

 

[kneeper]

You'll be a great spokesperson, Jesse.

 

[ditzy dinah]

It is also incredibly interesting to see the differences in attitudes between surgeons and PT's in different countries! I must say, I heart the attitude of the medical system in the United Kingdom.

Thank you for that Jesse, having worked for the Nhs for most of my working life, and still do, that is heartwarming to hear. Have you seen the Ken Loach Documentary film that came out in March this year "The Spirit of 45" ? That will show you where the attitude of the Medical System in the UK came from, and what is happening to it now. I am not ashamed to say that is moved me to tears.
I have been following your posts with interest and am glad to hear that you are doing well, and that auntie has coughed up with another week in rehab...good on her!
I am not surprised that the Arthritis Society has asked you to be a spokesperson this year, you will do very well, and inspire those who listen to you...Good Luck...go spread the word!!

 

[calamity]

Congratulations Jesse for being chosen as spokesperson for the Arthritis Society. You are and will be an inspiration to so many people. I'm so glad to hear how well you're doing.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers,
Jane

 

[Lmarshall]

Hi Jesse, I have jyst caught up onyour thread. I had bilateral knee replacements in June and am coming along, despite my little setback (I tore my quadricep muscle in my left leg) I really believe it aas inpart, due to pushing myself too hard to gain ROM.... so please dont push!! You sound like you are doing super!! Crying, and sleeping on your back seem to be a very common thread with most of us. Mycrying has finally sloweddown quite a bit, but good sleep still eludes me. I hate sleeping on my back, and I can now sleep on my sides, butmy stomach is out of the question since my muscle tear. keep up the great progress!

 

[Diesellily]

Congratulations Jesse on being selected as a spokesperson, what a wonderful chance to help others! Glad to hear you're mending well but still be very careful with your new knees. Love n hugs xxx

 

[Jsankowski]

Always a pleasure to read your posts.

Agreed!!

 

[I'm so ready]

I have enjoyed reading all of you post. You will make a super great spokesman. You have a great attitude about living.

 

[MissJ]

Jesse
I only wish I lived in Canada so that I could see your inspiring messages for the Arthritis Foundation. You will be a magical spokesperson.

 

[Ready]

Congratulations, you will no doubt deliver!

 

[Bionic woman2]

Hi Jesse, just popped in to check on your process. I see from your quote below that you're literally hanging tough!

so I cautiously dangled both my knees over the edge of the bed and ... no pain. I let them dangle there for two minutes waiting for the stabbing pain to appear on the inside of my left knee… But it didn't. I mustered up the courage to push my knee back a little further and still no pain! Hallelujah, whoop-dee- do!

Excellent! Wasn't that a wonderful feeling of accomplishment that most folks take for granted. Congrats on being chosen as the Arthritis Awareness Spokesperson too! You GO GIRL!

I heart the attitude of the medical system in the United Kingdom.

Me too! Let's move.

 

[My knee Charlie]

Great attitude. I really think that is so much of this recovery. Along with patience and lots of meds lol

 

[robynhood]

Hope you are continuing to recover well. Let us know how you are doing. X x

 

[Jesse for the Fight]

Well I'm three weeks and two days out of my surgery. Mostly feeling fatigue now. I leave the rehab facility on Friday and am restless to do something exciting. I know I can't do much physically but as a painter I have unique opportunities to make great works in the comfort of my own studio.I graduated university last June and since then I've not been able to leave my house having a hip replaced and then two knees I can't express how much I want to get out there, make my mark, a career, life of some sort ...to Be creative, work with a team and make a difference - ANYTHING But sitting around twiddling my thumbs and watching TV all day while resting and icing would be great.
I made a lot of friends with the seniors here at rehab and I will be sad to leave. One fellow staying here at rehab asked me to paint a portrait of his wife whom he just lost. I feel honored that he asked . I love doing portraits but I've never done one this meaningful before. Losing someone you've been married to for so long must be the hardest thing.... He offered me $100 for the portrait and I didn't have the heart to tell him what it was actually worth knowing that he had to go through that loss as well as revision knee surgery ... I'd do it for free if I could afford the supplies...
So I guess I've got some stuff to keep me busy while healing and keep working on building my skills as a painter... I've also been trying to write my blurb for the 'arthritis society' ( Canada's version of the arthritis foundation ) to tell them my story. So much has happened and I can be either overly optimistic or equally pessimistic... Neither of which are very helpful. ...Editing and being concise is a tricky business.

I can't wait until I am able to do even a little bit of cardio as losing weight is a priority of mine. I'm 160 pounds on 120 pound frame. Jiggle jiggle. My mind has turned to thinking of ways to increase my bone health as well as finding activities that will keep me fit while prolonging the effectiveness of my new joints. I ordered a type of urban walking polls called "activator poles" which are specifically designed for people recovering from joint replacement surgery. I read that doing the same activity all the time can wear on an implant so doing crosstraining types of activities is beneficial. I suppose I'll have to get over my hatred of chlorine and start swimming. I suppose the elliptical will be effective? And stationery bicycling. Being active can't happen soon enough! Mental exercises such as painting, reading and researching can only take a person so far.
I can find information on how to exercise with knee implants or hip implants but as I have both navigating the do's and don'ts of exercise is a little bit trickier.

Has anyone whose had knee replacements for a length of time been able to take dance lessons of any kind? I do love to dance but I'm so scared of hurting my new knees.... There are a few great videos online of women dancing with hip replacements and it's pretty impressive but the equivalent does not exist for knee replacement.

I Dried all the flowers people brought me in the hospital and made them into cards for the residents here. Ha ha glue sticks can be so distracting. This post has been kind of long and all over the place but that's how I feel right now: the time goes on and on while my mind is all over the place.
I hope everyone's recovering well and finding ways to deal with the stir crazies. I don't know when I'll be able to start living normally but that time can't come soon enough. I'd like to be frustrated by problems not having to do with my joints. I sure hope these knee replacements work. I desperately want to walk without a limp. I read so many negative things about knee replacements and the stuff I hear that is positive about them is all short-term. I don't hear many things about people Who have had their knees four 10 even 15 years. Makes me a little uncertain.

 

[Dabber]

Congratulations from me too, you sound such a gentle and thoughtful person, I'm sure you'll be an inspiration.
Sue.

 

[new knee in June]

Dear Jesse,
You are doing so well very articulate, talented,wonderful young lady. The physical activity will come
Day,by,day...you will see improvements congratulations on being a spokeswoman for the arthritis
Foundation...I'm sure you will be a wonderful comfort to others
Take care & post after you return home,
Thinking of you,
Diana

 

[Bionic woman2]

I can't wait until I am able to do even a little bit of cardio as losing weight is a priority of mine. I'm 160 pounds on 120 pound frame. Jiggle jiggle.

I hear you Jesse, I found about 30 pounds that somebody lost, and they seem to be attached to me.

I'm looking forward to dancing too. I LOVE it and I don't know WHAT I'd do if I couldn't dance again. The good news is, I've heard it's possible as long as it doesn't include a lot of jumping. I think it's not that you can't do it, but it just wears out the knees faster. I love African dance, so ... oh well. I'll take it easy, but as soon as these knees start to work... I'm working them. I plan on starting with partner dancing and moving up to Zumba for Cardio. Right now I'm and excellent seat dancer and can do a 2 step and return to my seat. Yep, I snuck out and did a little dancing. I paid for it later, but it was worth it!

Good luck with your check-out tomorrow, hopefully a change of scenery will help you cope with not being able to get out and about YET!

 

[gazelle7777]

Jesse , I know you will be a wonderful spokesperson! You are so sweet and well spoken. I also know you will be using those poles soon! I worry also about doing too much and wearing out my new wonderful knees..like you....but you know Jesse,it is like my GrandMothers house use to be... where everything was covered in plastic...to make the furniture etc last longer...well it may last longer, but if you do not use it, how can you enjoy it? Life is fleeting and I plan to use these new bionic knees everyday and give thanks to God for them! I am going to take care of them, but not worry about what if this or that happens. Live for today, give thanks for today, tomorrow will be here soon enough!