@kudzu Couldn't have said it better myself. Use it or lose it. The medical establishment may have some worries and problems, but their constant urging to patients with mobility problems, especially osteoarthritis, is to keep moving. It might suck some days, some worse than others, and yes the weather does affect the body that way, but if you make it a habit it becomes a daily desire, and that is the best medicine...keep moving.

Another perspective: you really can't move much, so....................................you sit much. Deep vein thrombosis....ever heard of that? DOACs are going to be what reduces your risk to a low level if you ever find that you're a sitter for many hours each day.

How is your heart rhythm? Is it demonstrably reliably in NSR, except for the odd PAC? Or, do you get runs of PACs, maybe some atrial fibrillation now and then, some SVTs? This is where you would be thankful you already take a DOAC twice a day.

None of us is especially keen to have to remind ourselves to pop pills two-six times each day. But, if they keep us going, mobile, mentally 'with it', able to drive safely, able to sleep calmly and gratefully each night,....I would take the drugs. That's just me. I like living, and living 'well' is the goal.