Re: Re:Do your new knees become your own?

[Guest guest]

Judy, That's right. I forgot about your scare with the infection. LOL...you know, I went through the same thing -- was sure the doctor put in the wrong size knee. My physical therapist thought it was a hilarious notion. But I was seriously concerned for awhile. Now I accept that the artificial knees are bigger than my real ones were, and probably no one would know that except me. I'm sure we'll be more accepting when they start feeling like they are truly our knees. I'm not there yet. How about those of you who have more time in: Do your knees eventually feel and move naturally? Do most people continue to have spots of numbness throughout their life? Thanks! Regards, Donna Judy

<jdytart@...> wrote: Donna - I'm looking forward to getting back in the water again - sinceI had a little infection in the incision area on one knee, I thinkI'll wait until January, just to be sure.I read that same story about women and "special" knee replacements forus - When I asked my doctor about it, he said it was just hype -marketing. Well, whether it is or isn't, I'm sure not getting mineredone! But, you know when I look at my knees they definitely don'tlook the same as my knees did

before - they seem bigger, especially onthe outer side - and I wonder if that has something to do with the"fullness" feeling. When I asked my doctor if the replacements couldbe too big (part of the question about special women's replacements) -he of course didn't think so.I guess I'm just impatient - I need to keep on with my exercise - andnot overdo, which I am VERY prone to do - and see how it develops.Judy> Well, it has been about 7 weeks since my bilateral TKRs -I seem to be> progressing well, according to my doctor and PTs - and it's true, I> can bend both knees past 125 degrees, I am walking and using my> exercise bike, and my pain is very much diminished except at night> when I'm still needing vicodin. But I still have a complaint - (never> satisfied!) - and that is the feeling in both knees that is hard

to> describe but is a kind of stiffness or "full" feeling when I move. > And what bothers me is that my doctor said that at this point in my> recovery I am at about 70% of where I will eventually be - and the> stiff/full feeling in my knees might never go away.> > So, you folks who are farther along in this process than me - do you> still have pain/fullness/numbness or other problems? If so, do you> eventually learn to just ignore it, or does it still bother you? (By> the way, though I call it "fullness", my knees aren't really at all> obviously swollen.)> > Thanks,> > Judy> > > > > > > ---------------------------------> Everyone is raving about the all-new beta.>

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[Guest guest]

YOU ARE RIGHT. However I am ready for the alternative. (smile)

On Dec 10, 2006, at 2:03 PM, Margaret wrote:

> Old but not ageing?

>

> From the moment we are born we start ageing.

>

> I don't mind ageing, as the alternative is much worse. Isn't it?

>

> Aussie Margaret

> RTHR 1990 revised 2004

>

> Re: Re:Do your new knees become

> your own?

>

>

> I am 4 years out on my first one and a year on #2. I find that I fall

> more and still have the numbness on the outer side of my knee. The os

> said that was normal because they cut so many nerves. I don't pay much

> attention to the fact I have bionic knees but do try to protect them

> and also am more unstable. I don't know if that is age or because of

> the artificial knees or a combination of both. I am not old but aging.

> On Dec 10, 2006, at 9:19 AM, Donna Hart wrote:

>

> Send instant messages to your online friends

> http://au.messenger.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Donna

I'll probably be the reverse of you - hips then knees (sigh!)

-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of Donna HartSent: Monday, 11 December 2006 11:27 a.m.Joint Replacement Subject: RE: Re:Do your new knees become your own?

Thanks, !

I'm feeling good about it now. I just wonder what it will feel like a year from now and the year after that.

I went through what you did, though I'm 56 -- not nearly as young as you. (Keeping up with a little one must have been a challenge. I at least had my 20s, 30s and part of the 40s before this began. Still, when the doctor called me in April and said it was either narcotics or replacement surgery, I sat down and bawled my eyes out. I was surprised at my grief. As with you, it had moved very quickly. The year before, the doc thought I had at least a few years yet. But it only took me an afternoon to decide to move forward. I don't regret the surgery in the least.

The hips are next. Now I'm reading all the postings by you experienced hippies out there!

Warm regards,

Donna

Harnett <wjkh@....nz> wrote:

Donna wrote "I'm sure we'll be more accepting when they start feeling like they are truly our knees. I'm not there yet...

Do your knees eventually feel and move naturally?"

Donna,

I haven't had my knees done, just my hip and I don't want you to take this the wrong way but: it's possible our protheses will never feel 'truly our own', simply because they're not - they're a good, man-made replacement. But without them, we'd probably end up in a wheelchair one day.

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[Guest guest]

You're welcome Judy. I'm still way to early to be cutting my toenails, but am enjoying my brief outings to the outside world. Having crutches is great, as people get out of your way

(post-THr, Day 13)

-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of JudySent: Monday, 11 December 2006 12:11 p.m.Joint Replacement Subject: Re:Do your new knees become your own?

,I really appreciate your good advice - Yes, what can I do now that Icouldn't do before? Go up and down stairs without pain; move withoutcringing in anticipation, for starters... I know it's really tooearly, but I expect to be able to take long walks again, even in roughterrain, without pain - and just to be able to walk around myneighborhood, or go shopping, without planning the easiest walkingroute, how close I can park to the store, etc.Thanks again for your good attitude,Judy-- In Joint Replacement , Harnett<wjkh@...> wrote:>> Donna wrote "I'm sure we'll be more accepting when they startfeeling like> they are truly our knees. I'm not there yet...> Do your knees eventually feel and move naturally?"> > Donna,> > I haven't had my knees done, just my hip and I don't want you totake this> the wrong way but: it's possible our protheses will never feel'truly our> own', simply because they're not - they're a good, man-madereplacement. But> without them, we'd probably end up in a wheelchair one day.> > I'm 41 and have had a type of inflammatory arthritis (very similar,but not,> rheumatoid) since I was 28 and my daughter was a baby. When you have a> chronic illness, you kind of go through the stages of grief (shock,anger,> denial, acceptance etc). I know - I've been there!! This year I did the> stages of grief again in turbo-mode, as my hip pain/damage onlydeveloped in> April/May, I was told I needed a THR in August and I had it done onNov 28.> (Inflammatory arthritis can destroy joints very quickly indeed.)> Before April, I thought I only had knee and elbow problems, so thehip came> as a real shock to me.> > Just a suggestion, instead of focussing on the things that are different> with your artificial knee, turn it around and say "Wow - I can cut my> toenails again/go for a walk to the park/take a bath" etc, etc. Makesome> goals (small ones at first) and go get them Donna > > in NZ>

[Guest guest]

Gosh, Shirley, so my concern isn't totally unfounded. Well, I had mine done at the same time so at least they are a matching pair! Maybe I'll meet a guy who's into big knees. :-) DonnaSHIRLEY Shaw <sashaw11@...> wrote: Donna, You mention that you felt your knee was large after the surgery. Here what happened to

me.1/9/06 I had my RTK done I always thought the knee looked larger. I have had nothing but problems with my right knee.. On July 24 I had my left knee done. After the surgery my OS told me that he put in a smaller joint than the first one.My left knee is doing just great. I still have some pain every once in a while but nothing I can't handle. You can see the difference between the knees.Shirley Re: Re:Do your new knees become your own? I am 4 years out on my first one and a year on #2. I find that I fall more and still have the numbness on the outer side of my knee. The

os said that was normal because they cut so many nerves. I don't pay much attention to the fact I have bionic knees but do try to protect them and also am more unstable. I don't know if that is age or because of the artificial knees or a combination of both. I am not old but aging.On Dec 10, 2006, at 9:19 AM, Donna Hart wrote:> Judy,> > That's right. I forgot about your scare with the infection.> > LOL...you know, I went through the same thing -- was sure the doctor > put in the wrong size knee. My physical therapist thought it was a > hilarious notion. But I was seriously concerned for awhile. Now I > accept that the artificial knees are bigger than my real ones were, > and probably no one would know that except me. I'm sure we'll be more > accepting when they start feeling like they are truly our knees. I'm > not there

yet.> > How about those of you who have more time in: Do your knees eventually > feel and move naturally? Do most people continue to have spots of > numbness throughout their life?> > Thanks!> > Regards,> > Donna> > > >> Judy <jdytartsbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote:>> Donna - I'm looking forward to getting back in the water again - since>> I had a little infection in the incision area on one knee, I think>> I'll wait until January, just to be sure.>>>> I read that same story about women and "special" knee replacements for>> us - When I asked my doctor about it, he said it was just hype ->> marketing. Well, whether it is or isn't, I'm sure not getting mine>> redone! But, you know when I look at my knees they definitely don't>>

look the same as my knees did before - they seem bigger, especially >> on>> the outer side - and I wonder if that has something to do with the>> "fullness" feeling. When I asked my doctor if the replacements could>> be too big (part of the question about special women's replacements) ->> he of course didn't think so.>>>> I guess I'm just impatient - I need to keep on with my exercise - and>> not overdo, which I am VERY prone to do - and see how it develops.>>>> Judy>>>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> Well, ithas been about 7 weeks since my bilateral TKRs -</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>I seem to

be</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>progressing well, according to my doctor and PTs - and it's true, I</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> can bendboth knees past 125 degrees, I am walking and using my</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> exercisebike, and my pain is very much diminished except at

night</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> when I'mstill needing vicodin. But I still have a complaint - (never</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>satisfied!) - and that is the feeling in both knees that is hard to</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> describebut is a kind of stiffness or "full" feeling when I move.

</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> And whatbothers me is that my doctor said that at this point in my</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> recovery Iam at about 70% of where I will eventually be - and the</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> stiff/fullfeeling in my knees might never go

away.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> So, youfolks who are farther along in this process than me - do you</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> still havepain/fullness/numbness or other problems? If so, do

you</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> eventuallylearn to just ignore it, or does it still bother you? (By</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> the way,though I call it "fullness", my knees aren't really at all</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>

obviouslyswollen.)</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> Thanks,</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>

Judy</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>

</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> </x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>>---------------------------------</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>> Everyoneis raving about the all-new

beta.</x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>></x-tad-smaller></smaller></fontfamily></excerpt></excerpt><excerpt><excerpt></excerpt><fontfamily><param>Georgia</param><smaller><x-tad-smaller>Check out</x-tad-smaller><color><param>0000,0000,EEEE</param><x-tad-smaller>theall-new beta</x-tad-smaller></color><x-tad-smaller> - Fireup a more powerful email and get things done

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