Use it or lose it question

[Juanice]

I am 7 weeks out of bilateral TKR and doing great. ROM and extension is good. I have been released from PT and the doctor is very happy with the knees.

Unfortunately my back is acting up. This is an ongoing problem that started affecting me about 10 years ago. I have visited with my orthopedic (who did the knees), my pain management doc and a neuro surgeon. All say surgery is inevitable, it's just a matter of when I can no longer live with the pain. Just like deciding on knee surgery. The surgery will involve fusing 2 levels of the lower back so movement after the surgery is strictly limited until the fusion "takes" - generally 6 to 8 weeks. Walking is the only exercise allowed and from what I have read I don't think you can do a lot of that at first.

I am very concerned about how recovering from back surgery might affect the knees. I plan to do the surgery at the end of January so the knees will be just short of 4 months. I plan to go back to the gym next week and will work very hard to get everything in as good of shape as possible. I'm 64 and 40 lbs overweight. I have lost 10 lbs since the knee surgery.

Any thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jamie]

Jaunice, obviously any weight you could lose will make things easier following your back surgery. Since you're doing well now with your new knees, they probably will not be an issue for you then. So sorry you have to go through another major surgery so soon. My husband has had fusions done in his lower back and it really did the trick.

Just like with your knee, though, be sure you are getting a surgeon who does a lot of THIS type of surgery. I would suggest you might look around a little for a surgeon. I'm not sure it is the best choice to have the person who did your knees (an orthopedic surgeon) work on your spine. My hubby's spinal surgeon was a neurologist and ONLY did spinal work. It can be very tricky to get it right.

 

[Josephine]

Have you tried a chiropractor? A good one might be able to help and help you avoid surgery.

 

[cindy88fan]

We have a chiropractor here that says in his brochure "when surgery is your only option come see me". My sister went to him after her neurosurgeon said she needed surgery and now after seeing this chiropractor....her back is just fine. Like Jo said, look around for a well qualified chiropractor. If that doesn't do the trick and you do have to have the surgery, I think your knees will be just fine. Since walking will be the only exercise you can do if you have back surgery...walking will be good for your knees as well. Good luck and keep us posted.