TKR at 81, living alone, and with balance difficulty: a good idea?

Thanks, @sbcarcht, for the book rec. I called my favorite indie bookstore and they've a copy on its way to me already. On to the uneven ground! 🙂 Cheers! –Ray (@ray666)

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)

@genie15
It is possible but, unfortunately, that possibility is unpredictable. I had a no pain recovery. I did have my son take me to the outpatient center and back and he took me to the first checkup (one week after surgery with my surgeon's PA). My wife is home but not much help. So, I could have done it with an Uber or Waymo to drive me to the first appointment but I think I would still need a friend or relative to take me to and back from the actual surgery.

But, as I said, it is unpredictable and therefore cannot be planned for.

@sueinmn Fabulous idea!

@genie15 "Get it in writing before you roll through those operating room doors!"

Best statement EVER.

Am like you: I will be alone when I need to have my left knee replaced. I must say I don't have balance issues, though. Sorry to hear that you have that issue.
Does it hurt for you to do trainer bike? Does your trainer bike allow you to stand up as you peddle?

I do a LOT of trainer bike to keep my legs strong as I age and it does not cause me knee pain standing or sitting to peddle and it is a very good training bike, heavy, so standing and holding on is very stable as I work out.

I invested $2100. in my bike when I turned 65 and it has been worth every dime. I use it nearly every day for 30-60 minutes - minimum four days a week. I use it for HIT training on that bike (peddle as hard as I can for one min standing up then sit down and peddle low to moderate for three minutes - then repeat as much and as long as I can, for my heart, too. I do it with great music going in my hearing aides so the work out is less of a beast.

Am considering investing in a rowing machine, too, as that helps legs and back, am just trying to find a good one.

One thing for sure is that I won't be going to some "rehab" place! At our age we will be treated like "old people" babies, catch some infection and die there and that is not on my radar.

IF you do decide you will need to go to a rehab center, make sure you investigate their infection rate, and check it out well BEFORE you have surgery?

I like the suggestion on here: find nursing students, or PT students, or some upper level high school kiddos who want to earn some extra cash? Also: try calling your area agency on aging and explain your situation and seeing if they have any INDIVIDUAL volunteers or caregivers who want to earn some cash for 2-3 weeks? OR if you have a Catholic school - how about calling them and finding a good upper level high school student?

Heck, I would come help you if we lived close! Too bad there isn't some screening service Mayo could manage to ask for helper volunteers, make a elder helper network of vetted volunteers who could use a bit of cash to cover travel to help other elders??

Good morning, Steve (@steveinarizona) That's something I hope I'm realistic to believe: no matter how caefully I may plan, something can still go wrong. I remind myself repeatedly that no matter how successful and manageable my first TKR was, that's no predicter of how a second TKR would go. I'm both glad and sorry that I've so much time to decide yes or no to surgery. Glad, because I've time to weigh the pros and cons; I'm not being "rushed." Sorry, because I've so much time to ponder––and ponder––and ponder––and … I've moments when I wish my doctor had said, "Forget about it, Ray. You'r just not a good candidate for a TKR." But that isn't what he said. And, after all these years, I know my doctor. He's not surgery-obsessed. He, like me, is a careful-thinking man. Thank you, Steve, for your thoughts! They are much appreciated. Cheers! –Ray (@ray666)

Hello, @slarson14

I never know quite how to describe my balance "issues," to put a measuring stick to the degree of difficulty. I've sometimes thought in terms of 1-to-10, 1 being, "You'd best remain in bed," and 10 being, "What balance difficulty?" Using that scale, I'd say my difficulty is a 7 or 8, and that's an average; some days my balance will be a 5 or 6, and other days a 9, or even a 10.

I'm unsure of what you mean when you say a "trainer bike." Is that a stationary bike? I have a recumbent bike, which I ride not nearly as often as I should. (After reading your post, however, I'm inspired! I'll be on my recumbent bike before this day is out, and perhaps tomorrow and the next day, too. Thank you for the inspiration!)

And a rowing machine! Now that you've mentioned a rowing machine, I think I'll purchase one. I've used them lots whenever I've gone to PT, and have always felt they've been of great help, especialy when it comes to upper body tone and flexibility.

Same here: No "rehab" places for me! A couple of years ago I had a septic infection and, after a few weeks in the hospital, I was finally cleared for discharge but only with the understanding that I next go into a local rehab facility. What a dreadful experience! Ordinarily I'd fuss to learn that my insurance would no longer cover some service or other which I was finding beneficial, but I was absolutely delighted when I learned that my insurance would no longer cover my time in the rehab facility.

Thank you for your many suggestions for where I might post-op help. I know our city's Agency on Aging does lots of good work. Some years ago I was acquainted with the then-director of the Agency, and I recall her saying that the Agency's No. 1 problem is that city residents in-need all too often didn't even know the Agency existed.

You close in saying, "I would come help you if we lived close!" That's the most generous thing I've heard in a long, long time!

And perhaps, as you hint, Mayo might look into the possibility of a seniors "network" of sorts, to help direct volunteers when and where help is needed. A most excellent idea!

Best wishes,
Ray (@ray666)

@ray666 You said: "I was absolutely delighted when I learned that my insurance would no longer cover my time in the rehab facility".

I had a female friend say the same thing when she was "assigned" a "rehab" facility after her second major back surgery! lol.

I took care of her for the first round, but was unable to fly to be with her when she suddenly had to have a revision. I felt really bad for her stuck in that facility.

It truly warms my heart when you say you were "inspired" to get on the recumbent bike. Never stop for more than a day...

I was athletic all my life. If I can't stay active and going, may as well "take me outback and shoot me".

I am deathly afraid of being stuck sitting or confined to a wheelchair.

Hi, @slarson14

"I am deathly afraid of being stuck sitting or confined to a wheelchair."

Me, too. That's it, isn't it, the rock-hard center of our worst fears, having to so radically accommodate our disease that we lose all sense of who we are. I'm contesting some of this right now. I lost my partner last year. That's why I'm living alone. I'm 81, reasonably healthy, but 81 is still 81. I I have my neuropathy with its related balance challenges. Those balance challenges, such as they are, have had limited impact on three-quarters of my life, but they proved sufficiently challenging to necessitate my quitting my day job. Tote all that up and what have you got? Me, lately having some difficulty recognizing myself. Me? Oh, where have you gone? Identity? You little devil. Where are you when I most need you? LOL

Ray (@ray666)