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TKR Lavender's getting a new left knee for Christmas

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Hello Holly @lavender,

Hope that you knee is settling down after the Cortisone injection on Monday.

Really do enjoy your very descriptive posts and wondering if you ever considered writing short stories about "your special park" and all that you and your husband have experienced there and maybe the local paper would print them.

I'm improving slowly, still using one cane when outside for stability & safety when walking.
But, not to use it when in my own home. Had my 1-1 PT on Monday and she is happy with my progress, but one of the muscles that make up the 4 quadricep muscles is week, so have order an E-Stim machine to electronically work on the quads. It should arrive today in the post.

Had my first water therapy in the pool yesterday and found it very relaxing and beneficial. It is held in a school for children with disabilities and they open the pool to adults who need water therapy on Monday & Tuesday 2:30 -3:30.

They have a life guard, but you do your own exercises, so about 15 women and 4 men were working away. Some are paralysed from waist down, some have MS, some chronic arthritis, so more than orthopaedic TKR and THR.

Going to read a few more posts, so will wish you and your husband a lovely day.

Take care,
Cathie
 
Hi @NetballKnees It was so nice to receive your post and so happy you popped by thank you for coming along. We love going to our park lots of open space, so many trees all different types along the rivers edge and all through the park area. I inherited this love for trees from the the love my Dad had for them. I am happy you come along with us on our walks and share our beautiful park and how much we love going there.

The leaves are starting to turn a bit here and starting to see their reflection in the water . I think it is neat how different parts of the water look . Some areas flowing over the waterfalls drop into white foam and love the sound of the water so relaxing and peaceful. There are fish in our park you can see them coming to he top and some areas look like glass then looking over a few feet the water might be in small waves it is like a new story each day and our love for the geese and ducks and sea gulls is something that we have looked forward to for so many years each spring when everything comes back from its winter sleep. Somedays when the water is still it looks like thousands of fairy ligght dancing on the water it sparkles my friend described it as fireflies reflecting on the water. We used to have a water fowl park in our city, a place that kids went to see on day trips or just somewhere we would go during the summer with my parents .

Deer would roam through it and all types of swans and geese and small animals all in a natural setting. When I was small geese could only be seen here . Someone broke in one night animals were missing and a pair of swans were found dead the person that intruded during the night was caught and charged.

After so many years of welcoming visitors to share time with the wildlife the water fowl park was closed and the river that ran through it is the same river that runs from end to end of our city out to the country and it is the river that flows through our park. You can still see that some of the geese have bands on their legs from when they lived in the waterfowl park and have made their home in our park now. I believe that geese and ducks and other nature have so much in common with us. They care for their young and know more then we sometimes give them credit for they are quite intelligent and are starting to fly in formation they are strong and love to hear them honk as they pass by. Feel a connection with them have watched them since they first appeared with their Moms and Dads on the river.

Lately the geese are flying so much more in the skies about the park and days we go we have counted up to more then one hundred of these beautiful creatures. They gather from other parks around our city we are fortunate to have green space our city and there is another park that sits closer to where we live now we lived in an apartment when we were first married that backs on to it just on the other side of the small highway which leads into our city. Some of the geese gathering are from these parks to . I believe that they remember you some run up as you walk over to sit and feed them. One lady was uncomfortable one day as a bunch of geese started to run along the side walk towards us. We told her it was alright we spend time with them and they were welcoming us not uncomfortable as they knew we cared about them. Recognized the family of 11, the family of 4 and the others one of the geese was the tiniest one she was so tiny like a baby chick compared to other small geese but she was so tiny. Still grouped together were eleven geese so the tiny one we worried about survived.

My cortisone shot was quite painful but worth it as when waking up today decided to take off the bandage and look not swollen and looks more like my knee did before all of the damage to it. Noticing that when walking this morning the grinding seems to be going away a bit and remembering a little more what it felt like walk with a little more comfort. Not wishing any more cortisone shots to be needed hoping that surgery date is not far off and hoping that it will make walking the pleasure that it was before when it was so much easier to do. Wishing you a wonderful day and wonderful to receive your post and thanks. Holly
 
@lavender Good Morning Holly! I think that because of our Air Force base here, the geese flying over Missouri get confused. We often see them flying the wrong direction. Hope they eventually get to where they need to be.
Glad your shot is giving you some relief!
 
Hi @marmora It is nice to hear from you Cathie and sound like you are doing so wonderfully with your knee. The water must feel good to step into and so much more comfortable than other pt stuff. Happy to hear that pt is encouraging in the way they do their job and that you are not needing your cane as much. You have done so very well in such a short time.



I found difference with my knee this morning it feels now like it is starting to help with the bone rubbing feeling. I was told to take it easier on it for the first 48 hours to give it a chance to settle down and not to expect too much for up to maybe 10 days but looking today I can see an indentation mark where the needle must have been injected into and no sign of any redness which I was told to keep an eye out for. I think even though it was pretty uncomfortable painful the effort was well worth the feeling that I have today that it is moving a bit smoother.

Surgeon showed me my x-rays and explained why the replacement is very necessary and surprised how little space between the bones there is it makes things clearer as to why my knee has been having such a difficult time. Medical discoveries this one is so precious as without having a replacement how many of us would maybe end up travelling by wheelchair.

I love our park and wrote to our city newspaper one day and thanked the city for preserving this land and after a writer sent in a letter complaining about her dislike for the geese I thought people should hear their story. Talking to people in our park that we meet along our way please to see that so many share our love for the geese and all that the park offers to those who spend time enjoying the beauty of its surroundings and nature that lives there.

During my families turmoil with the lack of facilities for seniors old age homes I wrote to our paper pleading with our city planners asking them to fulfill the promise that they made to build a long term care home as the ones here were all filled to capacity and waiting lists were long. I explained that after reading that the decision to place one of these facilities in our city 20 years before had been dismissed and the problem was only getting worse for those who could not care for them selves and needed a place to live with care. The option to build was presented again by our provincial government and the city was held responsible to make right what had been left 20 years before.

I wrote two more times and my letters were published when I went to help my Mom out with her pre op appointments I mentioned that I was waiting on replacement as well and when they asked me my name to check on my date they recognized my name and the head nurse complimented me on the letter written and said they said what should have been said on behalf of those who needed this support. I wanted to make a difference for my Dad did not want to see any peoples parents go through what mine did. Positive feedback from people who read the letters and it was because of these letters a meeting was held in our city. almost 100 people attended some very old and we were given a chance to express our personal reasons for attending and supporting this very important subject. I was asked to takes notes for our table and after the meeting I was approached while getting ready to go home by the city paper who did an article and wanted to interview me. I have always been looked at as being a quiet person, never wanted to make any fuss or uproot anyone but even though sometimes we think our importance may be overlooked in this busy world we do matter.

The article was printed and my story of my Dads struggle after being placed in the nearest home with a vacancy to our city which was one hour ride each way and so very unfamiliar in every way to him was told. Our city had supported a home in a town within a 45 minute drive tax money for the past 20 years has been used to subsidize this home and no vacancy even so was found. Now after the meetings letters and other things like phone calls we have a long term home, it was always there but at the time needed it was filled to capacity. It is now set up to handle the needs for more long term care people and although a new home was not built if my Dad was still alive he could have found a place to stay there close to my home and his home and a ten minute drive any time of the day to keep an eye on how he was being cared for.

A few minutes away from our park and the neighbor hood he loved to live in when we were tiny. No longer do we subsidize a home that is not part of our city. Small voices can make a difference even though it does not seem any one will be listening. Hoping that this has helped other families with loved ones that may never have to see them go through what we saw my Dad handle and the lasting effects that these memories of feeling helpless in the way that things sometime work.

Know that one day my brother took my letter to read to my Dad I had been very sick that spring and he said that my Dad looked at him and cried he was proud and he knew this way that he was so very loved. In my own quiet way helped to make the need heard. 2 weeks later he died too late for him but maybe other loved ones will be helped Holly
 
Hi @tiredwife Yes it is feeling better today crossing my fingers but think this shot is going to help and thanks. It must be hard for them flying with the other stuff that shares their skies . Noticing that many geese and other birds have a very difficult time when things like fireworks displays were happening all of the noise and some a few years ago we so frightened that they got out on the busy road and were hit while trying to sort it all out. So sad made me cry that this could cause them to die. Amazing how they know their plan and how to migrate even after being just babies and then organizing to travel for such a distance. Miracles of life so many around us that we take for granted like trees making their leaves, and flowers knowing what they should look like and just amazing to see. Have a great day and wishing your husband a fast recovery and no more knee pain. Holly
 
Today we decided to have our lunch in the park so we went and picked up some chicken and off we went. Took my Dads walker just to have some thing to sit on crossing the grass and my husband felt more comfortable knowing that my leg would not be pushed . I miss the walks but we did go in a bit and found a nice table beside one of our favorite benches and had our lunch.

The squirrels in our park are really tame and noticing a small one looked like a baby kept sitting up near the bench looking up and standing on his back legs paws ready for any falling bits. Could not just let him sit there so I gave him small bits of the taters and he kept coming back actually ended up sitting on the bench beside me waiting for more. Tomorrow is the 48 hour mark so going to do more and my knee is not making the bone on bone sounds as much so maybe it is working. It was quieter today noticed a tiny little girl sitting up on a picnic table maybe 3 years old and having something to snack on with her Dad. They were out together and walking a larger dog and next thing we saw she had the leash in her hand and she was walking him on her own. He seemed to know she was new at this whole thing going slow kept looking back at her as if to say I know this is new for you so I will take it slow so cute he was bigger then she was and they were managing very well together.

Love to see people with their kids, watch them together and the joy of the kids as they cross the bridge or up the brick pathway running to get closer to the slides and swings they seem to love being in this park to. It is quite windy today and the sky was very cloudy looks like maybe we will have a storm. Making the most of this lovely weather before the snow and hoping that it will last for a while longer. Then to buy some cucumbers and lettuce on the way home and some tomatoes to the fresh produce this summer is just so so good and all were on sale for really good prices nice to have before the season is over. Hope you are having a nice day Holly
 
[Bonesmart.org] Lavender's getting a new left knee for Christmas
[Bonesmart.org] Lavender's getting a new left knee for Christmas
our park last fall
 
Holly @lavender

Your story about the letters to the paper and the meeting that followed really made an impact on the lives of others. And yes the power of the written word can be very strong.

You achieved a great deal and your Dad was very proud of you.

You should also be very proud of yourself.

With kind regards,
Cathie
 
@lavender Loved your story about the little squirrel. We rescued a baby squirrel off our back porch once. He was quite the character. When he would eat rose petals he would get a rush of energy and tear around the house. When he was old enough we moved his cage outside and left the door open in it so he could come and go. We left food in it for him and for a month or so he would still come up to us and take food from our hands, but after a while he quit returning to his cage and wanted less and less to do with us. He grew into a huge squirrel. Your park is beautiful.
 
Hi @marmora Cathie thanks so much for your kind thoughtful post. I remember at the time thinking after the letters and the meeting if anything would change. I was very impressed to see how many people shared the same concern talked to a lady outside the room before the meeting and she was so stressed her Mom had been placed in a retirement home and the beginning of her having many falls and no one to help made her feel like me very helpless.

I volunteered to take notes as no one else felt comfortable and made a point of asking before hand if this would still allow me to share and participate I was told that this was what they wanted. People kept adding things to the conversation made me feel good to see that there was an interest almost so that I was trying to keep up but happy to see that people cared enough to offer their stories. It also made me feel sad to realize that this was such a wide spread problem and that without this type of meeting it may have been passed over once again and left never being discussed again. I was never someone who like doing public speaking very nervous but this made it easier kept seeing my Dads face and knew it was for him.

I wanted someone to speak for what my amazing Dad was dealing with and although after the meeting things seemed quiet the article was printed and she wrote most of what I said word for word and then after this I started to get phone calls neighbors , thanking me for taking action and even the nurses at my Moms pre- op who I thought would maybe think I was not being supportive of the medical system but instead said they deal with this watching people up rooted and moved from their lives and finally they said maybe they would not see this happening anymore happy to have shared our story.

They said it had to be told and people had to be made aware. My Mom told me one day it was a shame that the effort was made and no more talk of what would happen, then just over a month away news that the new arrangements for our new designated old age home so just took a little while but things did change. My Dad knows looking at me as I believe he does that he was and is loved and wishing I could have brought him home but he always said think it out try to do the right thing and thinking it was done. Holly
 
Hi @tiredwife. I really enjoyed your post about the care you gave to that little squirrel. Kindness is something that does not cost us anything but even to that little squirrel you gave shelter it is so very important. Sometimes we look at other living things and just forget that they also have a right to live their needs are like ours they need to be fed and safe. Some would say just a little squirrel but if we can look close so many things in common and being kind to smaller creatures in our lives then maybe it helps to let us see how to be kind to each other to. Nice that you have such a kind heart and even the little parts of nature deserve love. Holly
 
I am so excited today woke up to a sugar reading back to the lower target goal I have been waiting for. I have been working at this and although my readings have come down a bit and much better today I had a 5.0 this is the lowest morning reading since before surgery and so excited. I did not think I was worried about the cortisone shot but maybe I actually was and after the shot my readings for the few days jumped up so much higher then they have ever been. My surgeon warned me this would happen so the numbers did not shock me so much I had a 23 the day of my needle but feel like I am making progress and now maybe things will get back to normal low numbers when first starting diabetic treatments 4 years ago then started to climb over the past 2 years this was put down to the stress of stuff by my family doctor and now so excited maybe on the road to all being back to much more normal. Would love this to keep on this way wanting sugar more under control before surgery and now maybe more medications can be cut back. Hope you have a wonderful day just too excited to hold it in. Holly
 
@lavender
[Bonesmart.org] Lavender's getting a new left knee for Christmas
Happy for you! Glad your sugar is getting better!
It's funny how all squirrels look alike until you raise one. We could always pick him out as he ran with other squirrels in our back yard. He had a dark smudge on either side of his nose and a dark line down the middle of his face. Love you photo. Looks like the leaves are turning.
 
Hello Holly @lavender

Very glad to hear that your blood sugar levels are going down again.
Mine have been all over the place since surgery, but my doctor told me this can be normal and if it continues for much longer he may adjust my Victoza injection from 1.6 to 1.8 mg.

The pictures of your lovely park, due show the signs of Autumn in the colour of the leaves.

Your are a very kind person and your love of nature and animals shines through in your lovely posts.

Hope that you and your husband have a pleasant day in your park and the weather in Canada doesn't turn to winter too soon, so that your trips to the park will be shorter due to the cold.

Take care and good wishes,
Cathie :flwrysmile:
 
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Hi @marmora and @tiredwife Nice to receive your wonderful posts and thank you . Just came home from our park and great to read your posts. Today in the park it is starting to look more like fall. The water is very deep much deeper then we have ever seen it up to top and the waterfalls are running very fast. I have never seen the falls this high water flowing at least 12 inches above the barriers. During the summer a number of pieces of wood have gathered over the falls tree trunks and large branches. The geese and ducks and seagulls seem to like sitting on the branches and up off the water so they can relax in the sun. These tree trunks and branches are not visible today water is so deep they are totally covered up . The little dock area where they have the paddle boats tied up when they are running is under at least a foot of water and hoping that no one gets too close as the current is very strong.

My knee is so much less swollen and still feels a little strange but much better. My right knee seems less swollen to not sure if maybe because the right is not trying at this time to work as hard to take care of my left but feels less stiff very welcome feeling.

@tiredwife It was really nice to hear about your little squirrel and how you cared for making sure it was safe. I am sure it feels nice to see that he or she is doing well now and out living its life with its other friends. In a group they look the same maybe but when you really look close all animals and other parts of nature have their own distinctive features some bigger. bushier tails different shades.

One of the squirrels we see often in our park has a very short tail and the at the tip of his tail it is busier and totally white. The squirrel yesterday looked tiny his hair was a mixture of almost a golden brown and then black and so cute how they sit and eat what they find with their little hands. So many seagulls beautiful to see flying but amazing how different they look to . The pattern on the feathers is unique some spotty , some white and grey, and then the ducks and the geese. They are basically alike but then again different they to have their own personalities just love watching them and hopefully if they still come to our park in the winter as they did last year we can have a chance to stop by and visit with them still. Just to pop by and say hello.

My sugar was a little higher after we came home this is to be expected I was told until the cortisone settles maybe and just felt nice to experience a level today that felt like things are getting better. Hope your sugar levels get settled to. The way that being diabetic can change things for us @marmora never realized how many things can effect the way our bodies deal with sugar and noticing that since my one medication has been cut in half and insulin up 2 units things are working differently. It can be frustrating but most of it is just how our bodies work and some out of our control.

Surgery makes a difference never told this before but now understand that so many factors cause changes and after talking to the dietitian at last appointment she told me lots of people even people without diabetes wake up sometimes with the higher sugar in their system and told me that my levels are pretty common. Hoping that your levels will get more stable for you as it seems that it does not take too much for them to fluctuate and sometimes it seems the more careful that we are with what we do or eat the levels have their own minds a bit frustrating at times.

I have to go for a blood test next week for my checkup wondering how the results will be Seeing my family doctor the week and feel comfortable with him he does not make you feel stressed. Dietitian and nurse are great but too many people sometimes all with a different idea and trust my doctor more then anyone else. He has taken care of me for 4 years and always felt like I was in good hands. Looking forward to my appointment with him and know he will have the answer or at least know he will know how to keep things on track. My doctor and his wife were expecting their third little baby and he was talking about his little boys at last visit the ultrasound showed the baby was a little girl and he was excited his little boys are just 2 and four years old and very busy so cute.

So fortunate to have such a good doctor and surgeon to. Wishing you a wonderful day and thank you for your kind posts Holly
 
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Today watching the news they were showing pictures of the snow they were receiving in Calgary one of our western provinces. Still wearing my shorts here needed a sweater today but not ready for snow yet guess have to make the most of the nice weather while we have it as the time seems to be moving along and the summer has gone by quick. Not ready for snow yet it is only September but all areas have such different weather. Hoping to have my surgery before it gets really cold and snowy but will be happy when it happens will not feel like I am missing out on the nice weather and walking if finished before the weather gets warm again. Not expecting snow here till at least November at the earliest or hoping we have at least this long. Holly
 
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@lavender hope the higher water in your park doesn't cause any problems. Yes all animals are different when you look closely at them. You have a great evening! Hope your blood sugar stays good.
 
@lavender,

I loved reading about the animals and the overflowing banks and the changing of the seasons. In TX we have one season that seems to last the longest; summer! Then before we know it starts getting cold and we have winter. Fall does not make much of an appearance where I live; of course oil rigs and pump jacks don't have leaves either>:rotfl: Just kidding... we do have trees and they shed but they aren't pretty in this part of TX like they are in other parts.
 
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