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Revision TKR Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie

[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
Bonnie, we're missing you here. I'm guessing that you are in the midst of living life and time is limited. Would love to know how you're doing. My hubby had both knees done the end of September and still is unable to stand on his own; but he's getting there slowly but surely. Building up unused muscles takes a lot of time---keeps us busy here with exercising everyday.

Drop us a line when you can.
[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
 
bottomshollow said:
[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
Bonnie, we're missing you here. I'm guessing that you are in the midst of living life and time is limited. Would love to know how you're doing. My hubby had both knees done the end of September and still is unable to stand on his own; but he's getting there slowly but surely. Building up unused muscles takes a lot of time---keeps us busy here with exercising everyday.

Drop us a line when you can.
[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
Click to expand...

Oh what a happy day you made for me in getting this message today! Thank you so much for thinking of me. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of all of you and I feel guilty every day that I am not here. I have missed all of you so much but after a while I felt like I was just obsolete...part of that is probably just my frame of mine, I am so happy that you thought of me. Yes I am living life and yes with limited time, not that I am having a lot of fun, just working and still taking care of Dave, and yes...still trying to gain back the ROM that I lost when I sat in the hospital for two months. I peaked at 137 October 2011, lost it down to 110 March 2012, and now with some blood sweat and tears I can make 120. All the soft tissue tightened up and it does not want to budge.

I finally came to terms with myself that I am no longer a long distance runner. Although I have run in a couple of 5K's for just for fun, I know that there will be no more marathons for me, it is just not worth the risk. I cycled in September and October but an just not motivated to ride my bike and practically have to have my arm twisted to go out and ride. The one thing that I do, do for myself is to workout at Plex, my PT place and Sports Performance Training facility. We still work on my ROM twice a week and I do cardio and weight training. My abs, I have a 4 pack now, still working on getting the 6 pack. If I can't do anything else the one thing that makes me happy is Plex!

Not wanting to be left out of the marathon experience, I wrote to the people at the Houston Marathon last September. I told them about myself, all the marathons that I had run and about my new knee. I told them how much I loved the Houston Marathon and still wanted to take part even though I could not run it. I asked if I could volunteer at the finish line. My letter was forwarded to the Houston Marathon Committee, who contacted me...telling me that they have not added anyone to the finish line for 5 years, they don't accept volunteers, that these people are recruited, but at the same time telling me that if they did decided to add another volunteer to the finish line that they would give preference to their Marathon Veteran's (which is what I am). I was told that there would be meetings, no promises and they would contact me one way or another in a month or six weeks. In mid November I got an E-mail asking me to call the finish line volunteer coordinator. I called, told them who I was that I was calling at his request, he answered the call and his words to me were exactly, "Welcome to the finish line!" They took me in, I am honored and flattered. I will be there to help any runner needing any kind of help once they cross the finish line. They asked me my shirt size and jacket size so they could get me the official gear. So I will be at the finish line to see, congratulate or help every runner who crosses the finish line. If I do a good job they will keep me every year!!

Dave will be having surgery again week after next. The original surgery has left him with a hernia the size of an egg, just below the left rib cage. We saw a hematologist to find out if he could come off Coumadin and he was able to after 6 months. Saw a endocrinologist to see how he can stop predisone because that has been a big problem. So slowly but surely he/we are getting there, it is just a very long road.

I am sorry that your husband had to have both knees replaced Bottomshollow. But he is in good company with you! I don't know how people do two at a time. I am finally to the point where my knee does not hurt anymore, but it does still get very stiff if it gets cold. I do wear a compression sleeve most days just to keep it warm, and it feels so much better that way.

Now that you found me again, I would like to stay in touch. I really have missed you all, I guess I just needed a wake up call, that you cared!

xoxo
 
[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
Gosh, Bonnie, it is just so good to hear from you. Sorry that you have had to give up marathon running---but it looks as if another door has opened for you to keep you in the midst of the action; and I have no doubt that you will be there every year at the finish line.

So glad that Dave is improving. I understand about the long road. My hubby will take another 2 to 3 months before he is standing and doing in walking. Without the knee replacements, he would have been doomed to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He hasn't really walked for the last 2 to 3 years, so this will be a long road for us----but we will get to the end of it.

Please do not feel that you are obsolete or have nothing to offer----that's far from the truth. And don't wait so long between posts. We love hearing from you and catching up on what you're doing. You know we care.
[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
 
Bonnie, I am saddened that your marathon days are past. But glad you are still part of the experience! I hope Dave continues to improve, I know the challenges of caring for the other.
 
Bonnie, it is so hard to give up something that we love---but that seems to be a part of living these days! I think you were smart to find a place for yourself at the finish line--good work there. Being a part of something has many different meanings and you have succeeded there. Kelly
 
Bonnie, I have had to give up a couple of things that I thought I would be able to do Basketball, whether one on one or on a team was so much fun for me. Dr. Defee told me even when I get down to my playing weight it would be too hard on the knees! So I just think about what I will be able to do! I mentioned downhill skiing to Dr. Maale and he said "not yet!" I expected him to ask if I was crazy! :happydance:
 
This morning I drove into the city to meet up with my two BFF's at Memorial Park where we started our many, many, training runs of marathon miles over the last 15 years. The 3 of us ran together for 6.2 miles. It felt wonderful to be there again and with my two best friends, I had fun, I felt good, still feel fine. We headed up to Starbucks afterward for coffee and good conversation.

My son is so wise, after telling him about my great morning, he replied, " I am glad that you had a good time. See, you don't have to do marathons, just have fun running moderate mileage with your friends." He is so right, and Sonja you are too. This gets me thinking about what I can do, not what I can't do.

Kelly, I know that you've had to give up a lot too. I think I will be very happy at the finish line!
 
My husband had his surgery this morning. I have not seen him yet but the doctor says things went well. I am back in the hospital where I spent two months of my life earlier in the year. Seems strange as all those old scary feelings resurface again.

On the upside I got my ROM back up to 122 yesterday, so next goal is 125. I want my 135 back!
 
I think I would like to change the name of my thread...I am on the other side, but I only ran (1) 1/2 marathon since my surgery. I do run shorter distances every now and then...So if you read this Jamie could you help please?

"Running, Cycling, Weight Training On The Other Side!"
 
[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
Bonnie, to you and yours----looks like weddings are in the future. My hubby is learning to walk again too after his 2 TKRs---so I know a bit of what you're going through. But life is getting better slowly, slowly.

Since I was here---I changed your thread title as requested.
 
Oh Judy, thank you so much! I hope that your husband is doing well. Maybe 2013 will be a new beginning for all of us. I have to say that I got your cute card...just loved it. I didn't read about the card exchange till it was a bit late but next year I will get on it sooner. So "Top of the New Year to you from the Bottom of my Heart!"
 
I am happy to read that the pieces of life's puzzle are beginning to go together for you---your husband, while undergoing surgery---is progressing and you are still active and happy!
 
Here I am again...apologizing for not being here so much! I get busy with life, husband, house, work, and not much computer time as compared to when I was home 'just' recovering. Yesterday my knee was 22 months old. That is just so hard to imagine that I have been here for over two years and so hard to imagine that soon my knee will be two years old.

I've mentioned before that I lost ROM from 135 to 110 when my husband was hospitalized. I am still trying to get it back. Truly I know I don't need the 135, but I'd like to have more than the 118 that I have now. When I have worked with my PT in the past few weeks I have gotten to a painful forced 122. I can no longer just hop on my bike and start to pedal without working through the discomfort type pain of bending farther than my knee wants to bend just to pedal.

I decided to try Airrosti, and have been for two treatments so far. I don't know if it will work or not, I get so discouraged that in the back of my mind I think it will not help although on the outside I am saying I hope it will help. My doctor says my knee is just fine, is able to bend perfectly but the soft tissues are preventing me from getting more ROM. Today my Airrosti doc told me that if after the course of treatment that if I don't improve noticeably that she will refer me back to my ortho to look into the possibility of scar tissue preventing me from bending. She says that the two months that I sat at my husbands bed side set the stage for scar tissue to start moving across the front of my knee.

Does anyone know anything about this? Not Airrosti but scar tissue at 22 months post op? I was 10 months post op when my husband went into the hospital and by the time I went back to PT at one year post op, that was when I measured at 110 degrees. Josephine, Jamie, have you ever heard of anyone having to have scar tissue removed at my level of recovery 22 months post op?

So here is my knee tonight, all taped up after Airrosti. :-(
[Bonesmart.org] Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie
 
Bonnie, I had to have scar tissue removed from the front of my knee cap at almost three years post op. It had started early and just got worse and worse. I think that kneeling on it might have contributed to the growth of the scarring in the front of my knee. at any rate I had an "Open Lysis of Adhesions" and have a thread by that name.

I was having extreme pain when I pedaled my bike. My kneecap now moves freely. I did loose some rom--went from 150 to 145, but I don't really notice the difference. Maybe in yoga, my legs don't cross as easily. At any rate, I hated the rehab--8 weeks of doing table exercises. but, now I am happy that I did it. Kelly
 
Bonnie, now it's MY turn to apologize!!! Somehow I missed your post back in December. Hon.....I do hope you NEVER, EVER feel like you have no place here on BoneSmart. We'll always be your family and want you here when you can. Sometimes life kind of gets in the way, but we always want to hear from you!

I think you're doing really well getting that ROM back. It does seem to come a bit slower when you are farther out from surgery, so don't lose patience with it. Just keep working. After all, you ARE moving forward....even if it's small steps at a time.

Jo should see your tag tomorrow and respond to your question about scar tissue. I don't think it's likely to be an issue for you since your decrease in ROM occurred well after surgery. As long as you are making forward progress, I think you probably should continue with your exercises and not opt for anything more aggressive. At some point if you hit a wall, you could talk to your surgeon again. But it doesn't seem like you're at that point right now.

So sorry your husband needed more surgery. How is he doing??? I bet that hospital visit was a bit difficult for you. I'm glad it is history now.

The news about volunteering for the finish line team is fantastic!!! I also like your new perspective of focusing on what you can enjoy each day. Life has so many wonderful options to make a person smile, it has always seemed a shame to me to dwell on those things that don't. I'm living proof of that old saying, "When one door closes, another opens!" It's happened to me multiple times!

Hope to hear more from you when you have a few moments. You are such a bright spot on BoneSmart!!!
 
RunA42K said:
Josephine, Jamie, have you ever heard of anyone having to have scar tissue removed at my level of recovery 22 months post op?
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It doesn't happen often but it does happen. That's rotten bad luck for you, Bonnie.
 
My husbands buddy had scar tissue removed when he was more than a year out. It went well, wasn't too big a deal, and has been fine since. He's very happy.
 
I went to physical therapy, had a hard time peddling the stationary bike without pain. Would end up peddling with the mid foot instead of where my foot should have been on the pedal. After a good warm up on the bike and some excellent stretching out by my PT, I measured in at 116. So disappointing...we tried again and with much work and pain I got to 118. It is depressing to me since I was once 135, I am going backwards. The 118 is not really what my ROM is, it is what I pushed to with a lot of pain. Airrosti this coming Monday and Wednesday and more PT on Friday. Last resort will be to see the OS and ask about scar tissue. :-(
 
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