Bilateral TKR Pams Mar 16, 2020 bilateral TKR

[pamsknees]

It’s now a little over 6 months since my bilateral knee replacements on Mar 16. I know it’s a year for a full recovery but I’m amazed at how wonderful it is at 6 months! Last week I had a Drs appt on the 3rd floor & in the past I would have ridden the elevator- this time I walked up & then down the stairs with no problem! I had booked a camping trip with my photography club back in Jan & was not at all sure how recovered I’d be & how much I’d be able to do. I was concerned about walking on the beach & the stairs but figured I could enjoy what I could. I walked down & up the 4 flights of stairs to the beach multiple times each day, hiked miles along the beach & rode my bike! I can’t imagine it being any better at a year but will look forward to new adventures. Attached are some photos from the camping trip. Hope all of y’all have successful knee replacements!

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Yay! Yay! Yay! I had bilateral TKR on July 6th. I’m 12 weeks on Monday. I am so happy to hear that you are doing so well at 6 months!!!! I hope I heal and progress as well as you have!

 

[pamsknees]

7 months now & life is great! My latest camping trip was far south oregon coast & just over the CA border to see the redwoods. Lots of walking - I walked almost 10 miles one day, much of it on a sandy beach! Last year this time I went to the painted hills in OR & was unable to do a 1/4 mile hike- that was when I knew I had to go ahead with knee replacements. This has completely changed my life. Photos are recent camping trip

 

[Celle]

It's wonderful to hear how well you're doing now. That's great encouragement for people who are still struggling in the early stages of recovery.

Lovely photos! Thank you.

 

[pamsknees]

It's wonderful to hear how well you're doing now. That's great encouragement for people who are still struggling in the early stages of recovery.

Lovely photos! Thank you.

Thanks Celle - I try to remember to get back on here to post every so often as I remember wanting to see some successes when I was about to have mine done or had just had them done.

 

[DJL1967]

@pamsknees Thanks for the follow up on your progress, it sure gives people like myself hope that we can get back to our active selves again post surgery. I still have a few months at least till I get the call for my bilateral TKR's but I know it will be worth the wait in the end.

 

[pamsknees]

I haven’t been on here in awhile - I intended to post every month, but time flies when you’re having fun. Today I did a 16 mile bike ride & hit 600 miles ridden on my bike since July. I rarely think about my knees now & realized a few days ago that the numbness is pretty well gone too. They just feel normal but without the pain that I had all those years. I’m so glad that I had them replaced and very glad to have done both at once. I hope all of y’all have a wonderful holiday season & great knee recoveries. Photo is from today’s bike ride

 

[sistersinhim]

What a wonderful outcome you have had! That's a nifty looking bike of yours. The low entry is the way to go. That's what I have but I'm seriously thinking of getting an electric assist bike for those long uphill rides. My body needs that help sometimes.

 

[pamsknees]

What a wonderful outcome you have had! That's a nifty looking bike of yours. The low entry is the way to go. That's what I have but I'm seriously thinking of getting an electric assist bike for those long uphill rides. My body needs that help sometimes.

I am so fortunate in my amazing outcome ( with absolutely no formal PT!). The Ebike has been so very much fun! It’s really helpful for all the hills around here. I highly recommend them

 

[sistersinhim]

What is the brand of your bike? I've looked at the internet at stores around here and I'd have to travel 60+ miles to try one out. But, to get it custom for me, it'd be well worth it.

 

[pamsknees]

@sistersinhim my bike is BH easy street pro. It’s made in Spain. I’d strongly recommend going to a bike shop & test riding them. Mine was bought used ( at less then half the cost of new with only 700 miles on it when I got it). It is not the bike I went to try out. Each bike has a different feel & until you try it you don’t know. I rode 4 & would not have even tried this one except that it was such a good deal. ( I like color so a white bike wouldn’t have been my choice) - love love love this bike! Has every feature I wanted & a bunch that I didn’t know I wanted. Going to a bike shop instead of online also gained me the help if needed. My bike had a problem, was out of warranty & the shop fixed it for half the cost of parts & no labor. I know any future problems they will take good care of for me.

 

[Birdwatcher]

I haven’t been on here in awhile - I intended to post every month, but time flies when you’re having fun. Today I did a 16 mile bike ride & hit 600 miles ridden on my bike since July. I rarely think about my knees now & realized a few days ago that the numbness is pretty well gone too. They just feel normal but without the pain that I had all those years. I’m so glad that I had them replaced and very glad to have done both at once. I hope all of y’all have a wonderful holiday season & great knee recoveries. Photo is from today’s bike ride

so happy for you! You are doing better than me. My knee still get swollen and I also still have numbness.
Bike riding really do make a huge difference.

 

[NightQuilter]

Happy new years happy @pamsknees ! I trust your wonderful healing is continuing well!

 

[pamsknees]

Thanks Lynn @NightQuilter !
my new knees have totally changed my life! Today I rode my bike for 30 miles & the only reason I didn’t ride longer was that I needed to use the bathroom & then it started raining. Last week I sat on the floor to shave a dog & had no problems getting back up. I walked up & back down 3flights of stairs last week like a normal person ..... It used to take great effort, one foot at a time to each step & resting at every landing & would hurt for days afterwards. A year ago I couldn’t walk all the way thru Costco without tremendous pain & stairs were impossible. What a Change! I hoping there’s improvement in the COVID situation so that I can visit Portugal next year & be able to walk all over exploring it- now that I’m able to walk as much as I want to , I’m ready to explore the world .

I hope all of y’all have a great new year, minimal pain while recovering & a great outcome.

 

[sistersinhim]

What a super and uplifting post! You are proof that things can and do get better!

 

[NightQuilter]

Wow! @pamsknees - fabulous progress! So happy to hear of your flexibility and endurance. And a great goal to visit Portugal. Continued success to you in this New Year!

 

[FCBayern]

The miracle of modern medicine, it's a great time to be alive for those of us with joint issues @pamsknees. outstanding to hear you have you life back!

 

[DJL1967]

@pamsknees
" ..... It used to take great effort, one foot at a time to each step & resting at every landing & would hurt for days afterwards. A year ago I couldn’t walk all the way thru Costco without tremendous pain & stairs were impossible. "

Wow this is exactly what I experience today. You give me hope that someday I can feel normal again and resume activities without the pain I am experiencing now.

Glad to hear that you are doing so well and that you take the time to post to let us all know how you are doing.

Take care and keep enjoying those new knees.

 

[Carmencita]

Hey @pamsknees. Just read your story and it is SO uplifting! It gives me encouragement and hope as I await my replacement on 18 Jan (only 2 weeks aargh!). I’m so scared that something will go wrong, but reading your story gives me strength and positivity. You’re obviously an “action girl” and are well and truly back in action - great story thank you!

 

[pamsknees]

It’s been a year now since my bilateral knee replacements- what a year it’s been! I had no idea when I went in, that when I left the hospital, the whole world would be shut down & stay shut down for a year. The new knees have changed my life. I got an Ebike in July & have put 1100 miles on it. The dog regularly gets to go for walks & now instead of planning my life around my knee pain, I never think of my knees at all. I have zero pain, & now even the numbness is gone. If not for the scar, you’d never know they weren’t normal knees! Now with daylight savings time I should be able to get a bike ride in every day instead of just my days off. This year has made me think about retirement - I’ve always loved my job but this year I suppose the lockdown & crazy politics have made for a whole lot of rude patients. My new plan is to retire in 388 days & move to Portugal with my dog, bike, camera & computer so I am busily downsizing.