I have a solution for getting off the floor and while it's a not a quick solution, it definitely worked for me. Once I accepted that the TKR knee was never going to live up to my expectations, that it was never going to function like before and w/o pain, I learned to live w my new limitations. The days of climbing under a car restoration project or working on the brakes of an airplane would never be the same. With arthritis, I could still get into tight spaces but the pain and inflexibility of the TKR to bend properly meant a lifestyle adjustment was necessary. First, I compensate for the TKR inadequacy by building up the muscles in my hands, arms and legs. I go to the gym 3-4x per week and my regime is many pushups, curls, and lower leg exercises to build the calf muscles to compensate for the failure of my TKR knee. With good music and a great headset, it's a pleasure, not a task. After a few months I am proud to say it worked. I balance better using calf muscles and have not fallen in 10 months. Using two hands and one remaining arthritic but functional leg, I get up from the floor and couch. I recently climbed 4 flights of stairs, non stop, using the balls of my feet and other muscles rather than place the entire burden on my defective TKR knee. The second measure was to lose weight. Asking my arthritic (but functional knee) and my stronger arms to lift me off the ground was easier when my weight decreased. Third, my wonderful wife of 53 years offers to hand me tools when I am under a vehicle and that way I can avoid so many ups and downs.

My decision to TKR was a hideous mistake but I can' undo it. It took months before my rage settled down, but once I accepted my plight, the next step was problem solving. I refuse to become a couch potato, too many Honey Doos that need my attention, and waiting for some doctor in an 11 minute consult to solve this problem isn't going to happen. Is the TKR painful during and after exercise? Yes. Does it feel numb & hot and become inflexible after a short walk? Yes. Do I cringe with pain when I climb onto the torso twist machine? Absolutely YES, but all of that is less painful than accepting a sedentary and boring life.