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

Posted by Ray Kemble @ray666, 4 days ago

Hello.

I'm looking for advice. I'm 81, live alone, and have idiopathic large-fiber neuropathy, which means I have no neuropathy-related pain but a good deal of balance difficulty. Although I've only fallen a few times, I do need to exercise extra caution (a cane) when I'm walking about. My physical therapist has told me that the only way I'm going to improve my balance, or at least keep it from getting worse, is if I do all I can to strengthen my legs.

But here's the problem: I have considerable arthritis in my left knee. (My right knee is a TKR, or total knee replacement, done almost 20 years ago––when I was almost 20 years younger, not living alone, and without any balance issues.) When I try to do many of the exercises I need to do to strengthen my legs, my arthritic knee screams bloody murder. 🙂 I've had countless gel and cortisone injections in that knee; they used to help. But now not so much. My orthopedist tells me that a second TKR is the only solution.

But a TKR at 81? Living alone? With balance difficulties? I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place: on one hand, I could have the surgery, then do my best to strengthen my legs, but no matter how much I exercise, still have balance woes; on the other hand, I could nix the surgery, grin & bear it through the arthritis pain, and simply reconcile myself to there being nothing I can do to better my balance. I've already been scheduled for surgery, but it's not until late September, so I've lots of time to consider if this is what I want to do.

Has anyone else been faced with a similar decision? I'd love to hear what you decided, and––especially!––are you happy with your decision?

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

carolyn066 | @carolyn066 | 1 day ago

In reply to @ray666 "Hi, @slarson14 "I am deathly afraid of being stuck sitting or confined to a wheelchair." Me,..." + (show)

@ray666 , I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's responses! What great spirit everyone has. I am not in the same situation. 66 with successful TKR 6 months ago. Reasons unknown, the surgery cranked up nerve pain down my leg from my back. It has really knocked me out of the game, but I keep trying. All of you inspire me! Thank you! Best to all!

Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 1 day ago

Good morning!

And thank you, Everyone, for your responses to my topic! The advice––yes, or no, to TKR surgery to a fellow like me: 81, living alone, with certain balance issues due to PN––grouped themselves into two loosely-defined categories (as Ihad expected): advice that I proceed witha TKR, and advice that I not proceed with a TKR. I wasn't so foolish, when I'd created this topic, to expect that your collective responses would make up my mind for me. I full expected to be left with a lot decision-making of my own to do. That, however, doesn't diminish the gratitude I feel toward all who offered their advice. If any would like to know what I ultimately decide––and, perhaps even of greater interest (if I opt for a TKR), how it goes, just let me know and I'll do my best to keep in touch.

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

catheem | @catheem | 1 day ago

In reply to @slarson14 "@genie15 "Get it in writing before you roll through those operating room doors!" Best statement EVER." + (show)

@slarson14 If you have Medicare, they can have you go to a facility for rehab..My mother-in-law chose to do that.

ewei6911 | @ewei6911 | 1 day ago

In reply to @johnbishop "Hoping you get some good input Ray @ray666. Not sure what I would do. I'm 82..." + (show)

@johnbishop
My sympathies with trying to get up from the floor. It's both very frustrating and laughable. I had total hip replacement surgery in 2020. One of the exercises in physical therapy afterwards was learning how to get up from the ground if I feel. The internet has several videos showing how it's done.

judycat | @judycat | 15 hours ago

If you have a PPO, or live in a state like California or other states where you could have a Nano Knee procedure. I would highly recommend it. I only used a walker the first day and was walking my dog a half a mile by day three, I did not need any assistance. I was 77 years old. I have also heard that that Jiffy Knee is also less invasive. I had the traditional knee replacement 11 years ago and yes, it was a nightmare. I did have a full recovery and my knee did very well, but the recovery is so much more painful, longer, more invasive than the Nano Knee procedure. Nano Knee procedure is pricey because Medicare does not pay for the scan. However, it does pay for the surgery. If you could afford Nano Knee, my advice is do it. !

Ray Kemble | @ray666 | 13 hours ago

In reply to @judycat "If you have a PPO, or live in a state like California or other states where..." + (show)

Hi, @judycat. Thanks for introducing me to an alternative form of joint repair. I'll be the first to admit that I'm without any bad memories of my right knee TKR (other than the constipation due to the post-op opioid pains, which I quit taking and turned instead to Tylenol), which has me believing I'd do just as well the second time around. That's not necessarily true, of course. I know that. –Ray (@ray666)

judycat | @judycat | 4 hours ago

I cannot take Opiads at all because I get so sick, nauseated, and cannot quit throwing up. Plus the horrible constipation side effect. The strongest thing I could ever take was also Tylenol, which is like putting a Band-Aid on the traditional knee replacement; however, with a Nano Knee as long as I iced it throughout the day and elevated it occasionally….Tylenol a day was all I needed.