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TKR at 81, living alone, and with balance difficulty: a good idea?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: 10 minutes ago | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
Hi, Sue (@sueinmn) I'd like to think my plan (actually, my doctor's plan) sound manageable, at least at this early juncture when I've still weeks to consider the pros and cons of surgery. I'll confess (knowing "me" pretty well by now 🙂 ), I'm hoping in the end (Decision Day?) the pros will out-number the cons. I've mentioned to a number of friends the wild sense of exhilaration I felt driving away from the orthopedist's office minutes after he'd told me (with a good deal of appropriate cautioning) that he could help me (a TKR), but only if I wanted his help. As a person with large-fiber neuropathy, an incurable disease, I'm so used to doctors saying (variations on) "I wish I could help you, but … ", it was absolutely mind-blowing to hear a doctor say "It is possible I can help you." Words I'll not soon forget. Even if in the end I choose not to have the surgery, my orthopedist's words are words I'll not soon forget." –Ray (@ray666)
Replies to "Hi, Sue (@sueinmn) I'd like to think my plan (actually, my doctor's plan) sound manageable, at..."
@ray666 my sincere and brilliant advise is to stay FAR AWAY from any invasive knee surgery. Most of the time the results are not as favorable as the statistics provided by the manufacturers lobby and arthroscopic co conspirators. I know I know I sound like a quack but I am a 78 year old athlete still swimming biking and lifting daily and the absolute most insane thing in my life was listening to these salesmen. It’s a $ and numbers game. They need you . You do not need them.
The recovery time is painful and long and at your age you dontwant that.
Grin and bear it and tolerate the pain because when the doc’s and PT are done with you there are no guarantees that it will work. But there is a guarantee— you will suffer….
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@ray666 I just had a TKR on March 9. I am 84 and live alone. I spent the first week at my son's home and he helped me keep a daily schedule of icing, elevating, eating good food and taking a myriad of medications. I always made sure to stay ahead of the pain and that has helped tremendously. I have been home alone for a week and a half now but I have PT come in twice a week to measure my improvement and show me new exercises to help me walk normally. My leg looks well healed and I think I am doing really well for my age. I also have balance issues but that is one of the things PT helps me with. I used an ice machine most of the time and that really helped with the swelling. I don't really need the walker now but I will use it now and then to help me walk correctly. Whatever you decide, you need to be comfortable mentally with that decision. It took me some time to get to that point. Good luck!