Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel

[JuneBug88]

Hi Everyone!

I have to share the WONDERFUL day I had yesterday! I had my TRK done Nov 27th and havent been able to do much as in sitting up tolorating sitting in the car or being to social in the upright position. Yesterday my family took a drive to this resturant that we love that is 2hrs away I was able to do it with out pain, sat had dinner with friends who live out there, visited with them for 2 hrs then was able to tolorate the 2hr drive home, WITH OUT PAIN!!!!!!!!! It has been at lease 2 years that I have been able to do this! I am excited! If you cant tell. I had to share this with you, and to let others that are post op it will happen. It takes time but it will happen.
I want to wish every one a healthy and happy New Year!
Debbi
aka JuneBug88

 

[Sue]

This is awesome, Debbi!

I also would like to report some happy progress. Two days ago, I walked with my husband and some friends all along the waterfront in our town. I didn't try to figure out the distance, but it was at least a mile. And I had no pain afterwards. Yesterday morning I was a little stiff, but no more so than I would be the day after a challenging PT appointment.

Then yesterday I started to clean up my vegetable garden for the coming year! I pulled up all sorts of big weeds that had pretty much taken over one part of the garden because I've let it go the past two summers when I was having so much knee pain. I am reclaiming parts of the garden that I haven't been up to using for the past two years--and I'm going to have my biggest ever veggie garden in 2008! Yay!

I had my right TKR on October 18th, so I am about 2 and 1/2 months since surgery. Life is starting to get a lot better than it was before the surgery.

Sue

 

[Josephine]

Aaww- ladies, you are awesome! Such wonderful news and on New Year's eve as well!

God bless you both and my good wishes and prayers for a truly wonderful and painfree 2008!

 

[Bev55]

Perhaps sharing 'good' news is the way to counter the fears and the difficulties along our common paths....

A week ago, in between pain and tears, I was convinced that I'd never walk again....... (a familiar feeling???). A few days later though, after progressing from two crutches to one, I took my first tentative steps.... I'm very slow, and do kind of waddle like a duck, but I am now traversing the house mostly without crutches. It's an exhilliarating feeling!!! Five and a half weeks post op of a PKR in one leg, my mental state is far more positive. It's given me the strength to handle the 'lows' a little more bravely.

 

[referee54]

I have had two arthroscopic surgeries before I had both knees replaced on November 8th. Needless to say, the recovery from three litle tiny incisions is quite a bit different than a six-inch one. There were times that I was discouraged, but I had to remind myself that my arthritis didn't come about in a matter of weeks, and the PT and rehab weren't going to solve it in a matter of weeks, either. I am now driving and grocery shopping (albeit slowly!) and going to church and to the mall. Your life comes back to you slowly, but it does come back. There a still some peaks and valleys, but too often we dwell on where we were in terms of progress yesterday rather than a week or two weeks ago. I used a cane for only a week---it is still here, but I do not need it. We are fighting a war that is won with small victories, and those lead to the largest one---normalcy of our lives.

Hang in there all, and Happiest of New Years to you all!

Tim C.