What doctor did you use and do you recommend him?
@Tanya Great that you have two surgeons lined up - I consulted two before I decided as well. However, I had my surgery in CA at Scripps LaJolla, because I was living in SoCal at the time. I have since relocated to Denver, and I have consulted with Dr. Ted Parks for my one year exam. Dr. Parks seems terrific - I certainly felt like he gave me his complete time and attention, even though I had already had the surgeries done by my Scripps OS.
As far as activities, I am not able to get on my knees comfortably, and haven't been able to sleep on my stomach in years due to neck arthritis. I miss it sometimes. I was pretty crippled prior to the knee surgery and could not navigate without a walker. Today I can walk two miles without any problem, get in and out of cars with no difficulty. I still have a bit of challenge going upstairs as far as my right knee is involved, and have to help myself up with a handrail. Sometimes I still feel a little wobbly, but I am very careful. I have no complaints really. When I think of where I was two years ago (my surgery was 9/11/17) and where I am today, there is no comparison. I am so grateful.
I am scheduled to see Dr. Parks tomorrow morning in fact. When I saw him last year he wanted me to come back in a year to make sure that the right knee was progressing properly. Normally the call back is five years after the first year's exam. He was so great - told me to call him if I had any problems at all, that he was there if I needed him. Made me feel so secure, because it was a little scary to be in Denver when my surgeon was located in CA.
So that's my post-Denver story, Tanya. Feel free to ask me anything knee related. I remember when I was still in the planning stage, before I had settled on my OS and getting both knees done, I was so scared. I didn't want to live the rest of my life confined to my apartment, so I was ready to take the leap and get it done. I had both done at once because I didn't want to waste any more time. I'm not going to lie - it is a rough surgery and a difficult recovery, but so well worth it. Imagine where we would be 100 years ago - crippled and confined to bed or a wheel chair. Makes me shudder to think of it.
All best - Mary Lou