Walking Steadiness

[lclev]

I had a knee replaced on August 8th. At the end of September the health app on my iPhone notified me I was walking unsteady and at risk of falling. It recommended I start doing balance exercises. I had to laugh. I was well aware I could fall. I also was aware of all the pain. It has now been 14 weeks, the knee bends well, pain is much reduced and according to the app I am much steadier! Good to know. If anyone has ever had a knee replace you know it is very painful - both the healing and the physical therapy. And you certainly are unsteady during this period of time.

Lisa

 

[Slydude]

Glad you are doing well after surgery. It's certainly no fun feeling unsteady.

I've never specifically had knee surgery but I have had surgeries that resulted in the knees being immobilized for several weeks while the rest of my leg healed. I can attest to the fact that it can be hard on the knees.

For anyone doing hip/knee surgery,, do the physical therapy and that's coming from someone who hates doing physical therapy. Do the therapy. Several people I've talked to who have had hip/knee surgery consider the therapy to have significantly aided their mobility.

 

[lclev]

Glad you are doing well after surgery. It's certainly no fun feeling unsteady.

I've never specifically had knee surgery but I have had surgeries that resulted in the knees being immobilized for several weeks while the rest of my leg healed. I can attest to the fact that it can be hard on the knees.

For anyone doing hip/knee surgery,, do the physical therapy and that's coming from someone who hates doing physical therapy. Do the therapy. Several people I've talked to who have had hip/knee surgery consider the therapy to have significantly aided their mobility.

Oh yes, I did all the therapy - for this new knee and my prior two hip replacements. I graduated from therapy! And yes, I hated every minute but worth it!

Lisa

 

[IWT]

for this new knee and my prior two hip replacements.

You've almost become a robot, Lisa . Just one more knee to be replaced and that would balance you up just right.

Ian

 

[lclev]

You've almost become a robot, Lisa . Just one more knee to be replaced and that would balance you up just right.

Ian

I keep rubbing my remaining original equipment knee and say. "Nice knee, good knee, healthy knee..."

Lisa

 

[pm-r]

both the healing and the physical therapy. And you certainly are unsteady during this period of time.

At least it didn't report you as being drunk in a public place...

And hopefully everything will be back to normal pretty soon for you.




- Patrick
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[Slydude]

Oh yes, I did all the therapy - for this new knee and my prior two hip replacements. I graduated from therapy! And yes, I hated every minute but worth it!

Lisa

I have a habit of referring to physical therapists as dungeon masters due to the similarities between them and the people who ran torture dungeons.

It's not their fault they usually start out as such nice people.

 

[MacInWin]

I complained once to a physical therapist that I was old enough to be her grandfather so go easy. She thought for a few seconds and then said, "OK, gramps, gimme 10 more reps." No sympathy at all!!!!

 

[Slydude]

I complained once to a physical therapist that I was old enough to be her grandfather so go easy. She thought for a few seconds and then said, "OK, gramps, gimme 10 more reps." No sympathy at all!!!!

See what I mean. There's a good possibility that what were once nice people have been re4placed by some kind of cyborg.

 

[pm-r]

She thought for a few seconds and then said, "OK, gramps, gimme 10 more reps." No sympathy at all!!!!

It sounds like she was possibly well trained by the military and then retired to Private Practice...

 

[MacInWin]

Well, in her defense, she and I became friends, she also provided therapy for my wife, and now she and her huband and four children are "part of the family." My daughters call her the "daughter I never had."

 

[lclev]

I give credit to all the therapists who worked with me for getting me moving. Knees take a lot longer to gain range of motion and completely heal. I had only my hips to compare it to and now realize there is no comparison. The hips were a breeze compared to the knee. But all is good now - no more tilting at windmills!

Lisa

 

[Slydude]

I had a few physical therapists as a kid. I also got to know one or two while working in the school system. All of them were wonderful people - right up to the moment they were assigned to torture me with "exercises". For my own good of course.

 

[techiesteve]

I give credit to all the therapists who worked with me for getting me moving. Knees take a lot longer to gain range of motion and completely heal. I had only my hips to compare it to and now realize there is no comparison. The hips were a breeze compared to the knee. But all is good now - no more tilting at windmills!

Lisa

You are correct re the difference between hip and knee replacement, my left hip replacement was very welcome around 12 years back with no issues now. It had previously been fractured long ago in a car accident in the early 1970's. My left knee is the worst of the two, and I'm not looking forward to its eventual replacementI had a lucky escape around 5 weeks back when I had a stroke at the top of the stairs and fell down to the landing. Was in a nearby hospital stroke ward for 2 weeks, now being visited weekly by a therapist working to get full feeling back in my left hand fingers, and making good progress. It could have been far worse.

 

[Slydude]

Here's to your continued recovery.

 

[lclev]

You are correct re the difference between hip and knee replacement, my left hip replacement was very welcome around 12 years back with no issues now. It had previously been fractured long ago in a car accident in the early 1970's. My left knee is the worst of the two, and I'm not looking forward to its eventual replacementI had a lucky escape around 5 weeks back when I had a stroke at the top of the stairs and fell down to the landing. Was in a nearby hospital stroke ward for 2 weeks, now being visited weekly by a therapist working to get full feeling back in my left hand fingers, and making good progress. It could have been far worse.

Wow! Glad you are making progress. Getting old is not easy or fun. Praying for your total recovery.

Lisa

 

[pm-r]

Getting old is not easy or fun.

But I and most people hope and suspect and trust it is better than the other choice.




- Patrick
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[Slydude]

But I and most people hope and suspect and trust it is better than the other choice.




- Patrick
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My sentiments exactly. It may not be fun, but it beats the alternative.