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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
@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!
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There's great wisdom in what you say, @dna41 : "Whatever you decide, you need to be comfortable mentally with that decision." I've not decided yet what I will do––I've more than two months to weigh the pros and cons––but if the next two months have anything resembling a "theme," that them will be to arrive at a place of comfort with whatever may be my decision. Having already had a TKR (albeit when I was two decades younger!), I'm cognizant both a TKR's possible risks and possible rewards. If life's a betting game, I'm simply not sure yet of how I'll wager. 🙂 Thank you so very, very much for your most thoughtful, empathetic message! I wish you the very best. Cheers! –Ray (@ray666)