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Will new knees be good enough?

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Gene, you are amazing! Good luck with that race! I am still riding a recumbent bike at PT and they won't give me permission to ride a real bike yet.....which is probably good since I am such a klutz and might fall! lol
 
BigGene, at the rate that you're shedding the pounds, you may have to change your name. Good job on the bike ride too! :yay:
 
Sunflower,
Thanks, I've been fighting this weight battle for a long time. 3+ years ago I weighed 400 lbs. I lost 120 of those pounds in about 8 months and have bounced around since.

Those who fight weight issues know thatlosing weight is not always the difficult part. The really hard part is finding a longterm strategy that maintains weight.

I confess that as well as I have done over these last three months I fear what happens when I reach a long or short term goal. I have have never gone all the way back to 400 but I have been up and down between 280 and 335 several times.

In any event at 6'5" I will remain BigGene for quite some time.
 
BigGene,

I am so proud of you! You have accomplished so much and you are on your way to a fantastic bike excursion! I am jealous!:biggrin:
 
BigGene said:
Those who fight weight issues know thatlosing weight is not always the difficult part. The really hard part is finding a longterm strategy that maintains weight.
Click to expand...

I've found that as I continue with my recovery my preference for food has changed. I ate relatively healthy before the TKR but I've noticed that I desire fresh, wholesome food and my body feels better as a result. Maybe this all started while I was on the narcotics? :what: Anyway, I am now used to eating healthier over the past several months and I no longer desire the food that I used to crave.

I suspect that once you have both knees replaced that you'll have not only met your goal, but exceeded it. :dancy: :yay:

So maybe we should call you NewGene. :biggrin:
 
Good I like that, when I am sub 250 lbs with two New knees I will change my name to NewGene. 40 down 40 to go. Me and my knees will then be GOOD ENOUGH!!
 
I think when you get "sub 250" we should just call you "Gene-yus!!!" You are gonna feel so good when that day comes.
 
Well done on your weight loss that's fab and im glad you had the knee replaced also it is hard at the start but does get better even though the light at the end of the tunnel may keep moving it will stay in one place one day and you will feel better
x
 
You are an inspiration BigGene. Congratulations on the weight loss, the great attitude and your recovery. :biggrin:
 
Tomorrow I am 10 weeks post-op. I know the Smarties will say it is still early in the healing process. I have been back at work since week 6. Riding my road bike 15 -20 miles a couple times a week. Go to the gym and do eliptic and treadmill when I don't ride and take days when I do no excercise.

After exercise I feel good. I usually ice and elevate, just because I hear Smarties in my head.

So I am lucky and doing great right? Way ahead of many recovery paths.

So why am I posting today.

Well, it's because the last week or so I think I have developed an occasional sharp "pain" on the outside of my knee. Doesn't last long, no need for meds, but I don't think it was there before. A little bothersome at night, more than before, but not losing sleep or needing meds.

I want to assume it is soft tissue strain from my workouts. It does seem to get better after a rest day.

But it has been making me nervous. I need some Smartie advice. Is this typical? It is me just becoming impatient because I am doing so well in a general sence.

Or is there a reason for concern?

I'm now considering deleting this whole post. I think I am just whining. I read posts from those that are a year out and still have issues and think I should just shut up.

OK, that's my report. I think the problem is more in my head than my knee but I guess I just needed to vent and write out my thoughts.
 
This opinion may be way off, but here goes. Your leg was twisted with the old knee. With the new one it is straigtening. This takes time. As it straigthen ligaments, tendens and nerves get rubbing on each other. I expereinced this in both my legs at different times. I did self massage, water therapy and active release massage on the muscles and other soft tissues far away from my knee and it lets the leg get straight and the soft tissues 'untangle.' Your activities may be helping as long as you are getting good stretching and flexibility of all your tissues, even as far away as your shoulders and arms.

Like I said - just an opinion based on my experience.

Keep riding Gene - the weather here has been fantastice as I got in good rides Friday, Saturday and today. But stretch and get massages.
 
Gene you are an inspiration, again and again. Maybe you are really a "Genie" just coming out of the bottle to achieve a magic that inspires others. I applaud all your efforts. It does take awhile for it to all settle down, but you can always call your dr. or take a day off to get extra rest. Hugs, Ann
 
Sounds like normal healing to me - but I am not a knee expert by any means. You are still early out as you say and there are muscles and soft tissues that will complain at having to work in new ways.

Ice and elevate and maybe don't work that knee so hard for a few days.

You are doing just great Gene!
 
What Rupp said plus a bit of over-activity giving you the dreaded Ilio-Tibial (ITB) Band Information which is quite common. Follow the stretches and take some anti-inflammatories and it should be fine. Nothing to worry about in regards to your knee but don't let it linger too long (more than a couple of weeks) before seeing your doctor as it can be a pest to get rid of.
 
I would second Josephine's thoughts about the ITB syndrome. The stretches work quite well.

One thing that I did was that I froze water in paper cups and rubbed the ice right over the area that was inflamed. Worked like magic.
 
Thanks Josephine and Smarties. Yup my symtoms clearly co-incide with ITB.

So i will Ice, rest, and STRETCH.

By the way, I am now down to 290 lbs. Down 43 lbs since RTKR.
 
Gene, my ITB periodically flares up , just my right leg, thank goodness..... ice does the trick, but I do use a heating pad at night. I t seems to relax the ITB so my knee doesn't feel so tight. I still get "twinges" here & there around my knees, but I believe that's the healing process and nerve endings coming alive again....numbness is slowly diminishing.
Congrats on the hard work of weight loss!!! :yay:I had to lose weight before I could have knee replacement....currently down 144 # since 08-2007, I lost 30 # after BTKR. So Worth It!!!!!
Enjoy your summer
 
Great job on the weight loss Gene! :thumb:
 
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