Knee Issues

Replacement !

I am an ex long distance runner who suffered with a bad knee for twenty years.
It finally got so bad, that I didn't want to walk any more, and three years ago had it replaced.
My goal was to be in a canoe a month after the operation, but I did a lot better, and was in my kayak a week after it.
I was amazed had how quick the recovery was, and should have done it years ago.
I now have no problem with stairs, and can hike mountains again, and it is just like I never had a knee problem

With that said; when I was in rehab, I noticed that all the people that had problems recouperating were the over weight ones

Jack L

Was just speaking with an RVing friend about this concern. She recently had a double knee replacement operation and decided to incorporate the step height of her RV into her PT. She's in week 3 of rehab and no longer plans to change the existing steps of her RV. Since she has no other health concerns like respiratory problems she has nixed the want for a golf cart or similar.

My wife has bad knees. We have a 5th wheel with 4 steps.

I added a Burr Handi Lift http://www.burractuators.com/lifts/handy_lift.htm
To help her get inside.

She uses a mobility scooter to get around. Most scooters break down into several parts to make it easy to transport. Hers breaks down into six parts with each battery being the heaviest pieces. I carry it in the back of the truck. Takes less than 10 minutes to put together or take apart.

Another option is a Hoyer Patient Lift. We used one of these to get my wheelchair bound dad in and out of our truck when he traveled with us. The Handi-Lift was used to get him and his wheelchair inside of the 5th wheel.
http://www.spinlife.com/Bestcare-Lifts-Genesis-400-Hydraulic-Manual-Patient-Lift/spec.cfm?productID=77888

We found the mobility scooter and hoyer lift on Craigslist for 1/4 the new price. Both were in new condition.

The wife and I travel with a pair of Segways. Keeps the ol knees happy.

Richard

Lose weight, get a replacement. I'm working on the first, planning the second this summer.

You can recover (of course) if you are overweight. But the better shape you are in, the faster, easier, & better you will recover.

I spend most of my time outside, so I put a lot of things at floor level in my van -- that way I can stand outside next to the door, and then just sit on the floor (it's at chair height, compared to the ground). Fridge, microwave, etc. are there. I only need to step up once or twice a day.

Moved from general rving

The worst thing is a scooter. If you stop walking your health deteriorates, you gain weight and blood pressure will most likely increase.
SO a regular workout regime would need to be instituted.
Giving scooters to everyone is not a healthy idea. The short term quality of life may increase but the long term survival will probably decrease
Get a knee replacement or check out the stem cell therapies near you.
Google Stem Cell THERAPY Florida.
If you are over 80 then do as you wish

The first thing I think of when I see someone in a scooter is, if you got up and walked more often perhaps you wouldn't need the scooter. I try to be understanding and I know there are people that have disabilities that really need the scooters. I do believe that once someone starts relying on the scooter, their health and abilities will suffer further. Just so you know I'm not a total ass, I was overweight and have already had one knee replaced, and I don't exercise as much as I should, but getting out there and being as active as possible does, I believe, improve one's overall well-being.

Hah. With my knees, the key is to do the maximum possible without going OVER the max. Going over the max means I am laid up for a long time, and THAT is what is bad.

Maybe when you see someone on a scooter, that is what they are doing -- using their knees to the max in the morning, and then using the scooter after the max has been reached.