OP
OP
NetballKnees
senior
AustraliaHello Everyone at Bonesmart ... I am not sure whether anyone is still on here that I "knew" before ... especially Lyn, Cathie, Jackie, Lee, JoAnne, Deb, Kerry, Jean. I realised, with a shock, the other day that it is now just exactly 2 years since my first TKR was done (left) and 14 months since the right was done. I have been lurking around here lately reading posts that take me back to the very early days in the life of a TKR-er. I thought I would pop in and give you an update on what my knee life is like now.
As I said, two years since the left knee and 14 months since the right knee. I can manage to do everything I need to do, but still cannot ride a bike, much to my disappointment. My left knee is right on 90 and my right knee still hovers around 85 and can get to about 90 on a good day. The left knee will turn the pedal on the bike, but not the right and I am still so disappointed about that. Going into the replacements, I always knew that I would not be able to do anything I couldn't already do, but two years down the track to not be able to do something I could do easily and loved doing, before the TKRs, really depresses me.
Still, I have managed two fantastic cruises since retiring last November - a 2-week cruise to New Zealand and a 4-week cruise around Australia. I have also just completed my dream trip to Canada / Alaska, ending that trip with 4 days in Boston.
Unfortunately though, I have mismanaged my super income (which was not very big to begin with) and this has ended up with me having serious financial difficulties and almost losing my rental accommodation. I wish I had someone/something to blame for this - climate change, global warming ... anything, but it all boils down to my utter stupidity with money handling.
Anyway, back to the knees. Am I happy I had them done? If I was to be perfectly honest, I would say 'NO'. There is no pain in the knee joint any more and I know the knees themselves are strong, but the tendons and (I think) ligaments that surround the knee are very painful at times and hinder my walking sometimes all by themselves. I have also been diagnosed with severe arthritis in the left foot/ankle, so pain is still my friend. As for the pain I used to have in my knees - well, I had put up with that for years and given my time over again, I would continue to put up with it and I would still be able to go to the gym and do all the exercises I loved, especially all the bike classes. I would put up with it until there was no choice at all about having the ops done.
Stairs ... I can go upstairs normally, but slowly and have to use the bannister, but downstairs is still both feet on each step until I am down
Getting out of chairs ... still difficult unless it is quite a tall chair. I usually have to do the pensioner rock (you know - back and forth, back and forth, building up momentum). I cannot get down on the floor (well, to be honest, I can, but there is no way I can get back up again). My Grandson actually described me as his "sit down" Nanna, which broke my heart. I cannot kneel ... it actually hurts and feels so weird. There is still a large amount of swelling around the knees and they are still numb. OS is of the opinion that at this stage, I won't get the feeling back and my ROM won't improve any more either.
However, he is happy with the knees, not interested in the trouble I am having with my ligaments (MCL in particular) and has signed me off to see him in another 2 years.
I have also had a little battle with a melanoma on my back, which started out as a tiny little black mark and has ended up with a 15cm scar across my back, a scar in my armpit where they took out lymph nodes and a five year period of regular check-ups with the oncologist, surgeon and dermatologist. Still, it's a better outcome than the alternative.
All in all though, I am a lucky woman. I have 4 children and their partners who love me and now TWO adorable grandchildren - Sebastian who is 4 and baby Adelaide who is now 6 months old. She was born 6 weeks premmie, but is doing splendidly now.
Also, if anyone is reading this and is interested, I did do a blog of my trip around Canada/Alaska and will post the link if you would like to read it. It could help those of you who are having trouble sleeping.
I hope everyone out there in Bonesmart world is doing well and having as little pain as possible and is bending up a storm with those knees.
Hugs ... Ellen
As I said, two years since the left knee and 14 months since the right knee. I can manage to do everything I need to do, but still cannot ride a bike, much to my disappointment. My left knee is right on 90 and my right knee still hovers around 85 and can get to about 90 on a good day. The left knee will turn the pedal on the bike, but not the right and I am still so disappointed about that. Going into the replacements, I always knew that I would not be able to do anything I couldn't already do, but two years down the track to not be able to do something I could do easily and loved doing, before the TKRs, really depresses me.
Still, I have managed two fantastic cruises since retiring last November - a 2-week cruise to New Zealand and a 4-week cruise around Australia. I have also just completed my dream trip to Canada / Alaska, ending that trip with 4 days in Boston.
Unfortunately though, I have mismanaged my super income (which was not very big to begin with) and this has ended up with me having serious financial difficulties and almost losing my rental accommodation. I wish I had someone/something to blame for this - climate change, global warming ... anything, but it all boils down to my utter stupidity with money handling.
Anyway, back to the knees. Am I happy I had them done? If I was to be perfectly honest, I would say 'NO'. There is no pain in the knee joint any more and I know the knees themselves are strong, but the tendons and (I think) ligaments that surround the knee are very painful at times and hinder my walking sometimes all by themselves. I have also been diagnosed with severe arthritis in the left foot/ankle, so pain is still my friend. As for the pain I used to have in my knees - well, I had put up with that for years and given my time over again, I would continue to put up with it and I would still be able to go to the gym and do all the exercises I loved, especially all the bike classes. I would put up with it until there was no choice at all about having the ops done.
Stairs ... I can go upstairs normally, but slowly and have to use the bannister, but downstairs is still both feet on each step until I am down
Getting out of chairs ... still difficult unless it is quite a tall chair. I usually have to do the pensioner rock (you know - back and forth, back and forth, building up momentum). I cannot get down on the floor (well, to be honest, I can, but there is no way I can get back up again). My Grandson actually described me as his "sit down" Nanna, which broke my heart. I cannot kneel ... it actually hurts and feels so weird. There is still a large amount of swelling around the knees and they are still numb. OS is of the opinion that at this stage, I won't get the feeling back and my ROM won't improve any more either.
However, he is happy with the knees, not interested in the trouble I am having with my ligaments (MCL in particular) and has signed me off to see him in another 2 years.
I have also had a little battle with a melanoma on my back, which started out as a tiny little black mark and has ended up with a 15cm scar across my back, a scar in my armpit where they took out lymph nodes and a five year period of regular check-ups with the oncologist, surgeon and dermatologist. Still, it's a better outcome than the alternative.
All in all though, I am a lucky woman. I have 4 children and their partners who love me and now TWO adorable grandchildren - Sebastian who is 4 and baby Adelaide who is now 6 months old. She was born 6 weeks premmie, but is doing splendidly now.
Also, if anyone is reading this and is interested, I did do a blog of my trip around Canada/Alaska and will post the link if you would like to read it. It could help those of you who are having trouble sleeping.
I hope everyone out there in Bonesmart world is doing well and having as little pain as possible and is bending up a storm with those knees.
Hugs ... Ellen
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Ellen, how wonderful to hear from you, I often think of you and wonder how you are getting on. I so enjoyed our chats, it seems ages ago now.
ugh!
