What Made You Decide to Have Knee Replacement?
My left knee the orthopedist told me he did not know how I was even walking. I wasn't in pain but the lack of mobility especially the week before my surgery was horrible, I could hardly walk and was very happy that I scheduled surgery when I did. I was down to the point I had to do something or end up in a wheel chair and at age 56 that was not an option.
What Were You Not Prepared For?
I had a right hip replacement in 2006 and that was a walk in the park. I was in constant chronic pain up until the time I got surgery. I couldn't wait for the surgery because of the pain level. After the surgery the pain was gone except some incisional pain but that was nothing compared to what I had before the surgery. Now the double knee replacement I had in May of 2009 was another story. The surgeon opted not to do both replacements at the same time. I had one done one week and the other one the 2nd week. The pain was horrible from the surgery pain killers around the clock. Trying to move in the bed was impossible and you felt so helpless.
Lessons Learned
- Going to rehab after the surgery was the best thing I ever did without that I still would not be moving. That is the crucial piece. Today my knees are much better but it is now December and still have pains in my knees at night in bed and the Doctor told me that was normal. You really don't realize how much you bend down on your knees which you cannot do after knee replacement. It is very difficult to sit on the floor and then get up without the knees so you really have to be careful. It is a long road from start to finish...
