Making the transition

Status
Not open for further replies.

edk

senior
Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
413
Location
Champaign, IL US
So I'm 4 months post single TKR and I realized from reading the posts that
I'm no longer in a good position to offer advice to knee replacement folks
cause its hard to remember what I felt like in the dog days of the replacement.

On one hand there are so many people who are hanging around here a month
in front of where I am/was who were invaluable and I consider great friends.
On the other hand I read the posts from the people about sleeping/ROM/pain management/
PT and I think I remember that but it doesn't govern my life anymore. My knee
isn't perfect but its a lot better than it was preop. I'm glad I did it but now I think
about things other than knees.

So on one hand I'm feeling useless to a lot of you folks who are thinking or have just
done the big nasty. On the other hand I feel like a role model for reaching a point
where your life is not governed by how much pain and stiffness will be in your knee
tomorrow.

I hope this makes sense but this is also what a good bottle of Oregon Pinot
does to you.
 
Makes perfect sense to me here in Oregon Pinot country! I haven't felt this good in so long I had forgotten what it felt like! Now that I am not taking pain pills at the end of every day--- I am even drinking wine again myself! Which are you currently enjoying?
 
Makes perfect sense to me here in Oregon Pinot country! I haven't felt this good in so long I had forgotten what it felt like! Now that I am not taking pain pills at the end of every day--- I am even drinking wine again myself! Which are you currently enjoying?

We were celebrating - it was a Bergstrom
 
Makes perfect sense to me here in Southern Jack Daniels country too!!!
But, I'm well remember our camaraderie through all of the trials and look where we are now.
First I don't want to loose contact with my buddies...and we've already lost too many.
Secondly, just this week, I hope by sharing my experiences, I've helped those who are currently "in the pit" of the TKR experience. Share some experience, make them laugh a little....play with my monkey.....what the heck..I'm loosing it.
 
For the record, it's not just regional wines or good ol' boy Jack D that contributes to forgetting. (I know you all know that, it was just the segway...) Non drinkers as well have to stretch to remember. In the real world i have actually come to a point where I hate to be identified as the person who had BTKR and bounced back so quickly. I'm grateful to be "fixed" and that I did have a easy and speedy recoop, but it is not all of who I am, especially now. I find myself secretly grateful that fall is approaching as pants and longer skirts become more common. I hate jumping out of the car in a parking lot and people stop and look, all they see are the scars. Initially they were a badge of honor, but now I'm ready to move on.
I feel some relation to the newbies, it's inevitable. But they have formed their own generation. It is still fun though to check in, chat and relate to my "generation".
 
Personally as somebody whose op is still forthcoming in September,its great to read all the posts from those who have been there done that and got the t-shirt,to those like muyself about to embark on getting a "quiet knee"..
Even better to know as time goes on you forget..what bliss,and good to hear from people who have been there.
Also very envious of anybody who lives in "Pinot " country..or any country where sunshine abounds! we have forgotten what sunshine looks like in our "Great British Summer"......
Nin
 
Doug
Your experiences and humor have helped this recovering hippy so much. I would love to visit each and every one of my new replacement friends. Actually a new knee, yet to be hippy and recovering hippy are planning a get together in a few weeks in socal.

If you were closer to my parents in Fl. I would just for kicks have to introduce my dauthter to your son, then get the he....out of dodge!!!
Before they become a thread of their own!!!

And now that I have had my first cortisone injection in my knee, who knows what is to come for me!!!!
Thanks for being here
Judy
 
I've helped those who are currently "in the pit" of the TKR experience. Share some experience, make them laugh a little....play with my monkey.....what the heck..I'm loosing it.

Just as long as you don't spank your monkey
 
I can remember tearing the adhesions and having trouble sleeping; I can also remember the long bouts with PT. Now, however, after having the bilateral TKR's in November of last year, I can honestly say that my life now is as normal as it was before all of the arthritis happedned. I am coaching, riding my bike to school/errands, and feeling no pain in what people call my "bionic knees." While some things have blended away in the mist of the past, I am sure glad that I went through it all.

Tim C.
 
aaahhhh! All my nice people! thank you for posting such encouragement. Invaluable!
 
I am really looking forward to the day where I can honestly say that my memory of my recovery has blended into the mist of the past.
However, today I feel that I have finally come out of the storm and into a nice drizzle. :). Even though I am still hard at work, I don't regret having this surgery one little bit!
 
EDK... my husband also says the experiences surrounding his LTKR last Dec. is very dim and his RTKR done in May, is becoming more dim with every passing day. But, I remember every detail about his 2 TKR's and my RTKR is is right around the corner, on Sept. 29th. I guess there's an advantage of knowing what to expect... which I hope out-weighs the disadvantage of knowing what to expect!

BTW... I just got the book recommended on the forum "Total Knee Replacement & Rehabilitation". Can't wait to start reading it.
Sandy
 
I too am getting a good life back but still remember vividly all the pain I went through to get here. Maybe because I am still having therapy to try and get the bend I need, only this morning I was talking to my PT while I was on the recumbent bike, that it wasn't too long ago I was unable to even go all the way around on any bike, the recumbent was the hardest. I still remember when one night I couldn't sleep and at about 2am I got on my stationary bike to try exercising my knee. I actaully went all the way around for the first time. I was so happy I cried and quickly logged on to let everyone know my new milestone!!

Although this has been a long hard slog to recovery (8 months now I think) I have enjoyed every minute of gaining so many new friends that I feel very close to, even if we have never met before. I never want to sign out completely, I still laugh long and hard at Doug's posts, laughter really is the best medicine ever!! I will be looking forward to Patti posting again when she gets her 2nd knee done next year. I will need my 2nd one in the future and hope this site is still up and running, and that our wonderful Jo is still in charge!! (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))) to all my friends, Sue
 
I've been missing you, girlfriend! Good to hear from you! Keep riding that bike! I SO MUCH ADMIRE YOU for your great attitude as you continue to struggle to regain more degrees of ROM. Many would have given up by now but you just keep pushing forward. You are an inspiration!
 
Thanks Beach, you are a true friend!!

Just finished helping friends with their wedding. It poured with rain all day, they were getting married up at out trailer park (3rd marriage for both, high school sweethearts, now 58 and 60 years old). It still went really well, lots of laughter, married in the big tent (marquee) in the end.

I am at 102 ROM and holding!! I am trying deep massage now too, as well as aquafit. I am not going to settle for 102 though, just want to be able to get up and down stairs properly and also get off the sofa easily again. See the OS tomorrow again.
(((((((HUGS))))))Sue
 
Sue, how good to hear from you and know you are doing great!!! I, too, remember that night when you went all the way around on your bike and signed on. I was about in that same boat back then and cried real tears of joy for you also. I KNOW what a big moment that is for a knee recovery. You are always an inspiration for others here, but my very best memory of you is that photo in physical therapy when you were obviously pushing and hurting while strapped into some horrible device to help you get more bend. That picture is priceless! Take care and write now and then. It's always good to know that you're doing well.
 
Hey Jamie, it's so good to see you posting more often now. Actually that photo was of Cathy (Newwoman). It is a priceless photo though, I agree with you there.

Thanks for crying with me that night though, it was a big one for me!!

(((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) always, Sue
 
Hey Jamie, it's so good to see you posting more often now. Actually that photo was of Cathy (Newwoman). It is a priceless photo though, I agree with you there.

Thanks for crying with me that night though, it was a big one for me!!

(((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) always, Sue

Ahhhh....you're right. See, that's why we need to meet in person somehow. The photos help, but people with feeble brains like mine can't keep things straight! Thanks for helping me out!
 
Oh I suffer with my brain all the time.
I call it CRAFT disease, Can't Remember a F****** Thing!! .......LOL.........
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

  • Jockette
    Staff member since March 18, 2018
  • djklaugh
    Staff member since December 30, 2020

Members online

Back
Top Bottom