Knee Issues

If you go for the replacement be sure to do the therapy. It really helps.
DICK

phillyg wrote:
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.

Just to help you adjust your thinking not everyone who uses a mobility chair is too lazy to exercise. I'm blind in my left eye and have trouble with depth perception. I tend to miss the exact location of tree roots, items to step over etc. The chair can helpme avoid simple falls for objects my right eye misjudges.

Bob Vaughn wrote:
My knee has no cartilage, absolutely none. I had a slight knee pain and felt if I walked more it would go away. WRONG answer. I went to the gym every morning and walked the track for an hour. It finally got so bad I could not walk without excruciating pain. By the time I was able to see the ortho surgeon there was nothing between the bones in my knee. So now I am looking at a replacement knee as they do not put zerk fittings in knees....

This is one of the conditions STEM CELL is supposed to help.
They use your stem cells

I'd bet that NanciL recuperated so quickly because she was in shape prior to the operation. My Wife's knee recovery is ahead of the curve partly because we bike 2000 miles each year (in late 70's).

Clay L wrote:
When I had a hip replacement they checked (x-rayed) my knees and told Note that Medicare now requires you to be using a cane or walker before they will pay for the operation.

This is not true. My better half had a replacement a month ago and Medicare covered it.

Bob Vaughn wrote:
My knee has no cartilage, absolutely none. I had a slight knee pain and felt if I walked more it would go away. WRONG answer. I went to the gym every morning and walked the track for an hour. It finally got so bad I could not walk without excruciating pain. By the time I was able to see the ortho surgeon there was nothing between the bones in my knee. So now I am looking at a replacement knee as they do not put zerk fittings in knees....

When you have no cartilage left your only option is a knee replacement. It's really no big deal anymore. I had one five years ago and I hike and play pickleball. I couldn't do it before the replacement. I also had a shoulder replacement and it's stronger than my good shoulder.

It is so much easier than using a scooter and much better for your health.

When I had a hip replacement they checked (x-rayed) my knees and told me I would probably need a left knee replacement in the future. Four years later the joint was bone on bone and was replaced last September.
I can kneel and crawl and the degrees of rotation are the same in both knees. Many people won't be able to kneel or crawl - I am one of the lucky ones. Doing a lot of kneeling is more comfortable with a Folding-Garden-Kneeler

Before the operation I learned a lot of coping skills. Go up one step at a time starting with the bad leg first. Use the good leg to push up one step then lift the bad leg up to the same step then repeat. Going down steps the good leg goes first - still one step for both feet. Also used to lift myself up from a sitting position with my arms.
The last six months or so before the surgery I used a cane. Note that Medicare now requires you to be using a cane or walker before they will pay for the operation.

They do make lifts for RV's, but they are expensive

Knee replacement is the best option.

I have had two knee replacements. In spite of weighing more than I should, I was back to hiking at 10K feet in the Sierras about 10 weeks after each surgery. Crawling or kneeling are no longer good, which makes gardening a different experience than it used to be.

RV steps are not a problem for me. I am careful to use the assist handle.

Possibly the best after-effect of the 2 TKR's: no more knee pain. Yay! After years of it.