Dear Mick: After my TKR in June 2022, I felt like I'd been hit by a freight train. In the past, I suffered kidney rupture in the USMC, cancer and heart disease, but this level of pain and dysfunction was like none other. At 75, I thought I was done for and would happily pass onto the next life. But I refused to succumb to the pain. For the first few weeks I lay immobile, hoping the pain would pass. Oxy made me sick so that was not an option plus I didn't want to get hooked like another patient I knew. After 3-4 weeks, the pain began to subside & I was able to eat again. In the interim I lost 15 lbs and that allowed my other knee (which had the same terrible arthritis) to work again. Rage overcame me and morphed into determination, I was not going to allow this procedure and my mistake agreeing to it, to end a creative and functional life. I rekindled my love affair with exercise and worked those joints and muscles not encumbered by the hideous pain and crippling dysfunction. Subsequently, I went thru an MUA to increase ROM, Genicular Nerve Block to mitigate the nerve pain, surgery to remove scar tissue and UltraSound to identify defective scar tissue in the patellar tendon. Whereas I was once a competitive racquetball player, I am pleased I can finally walk on a treadmill for 15 minutes before inflammation forces me to stop. Nine months after TKR my arms and other leg muscles are vastly stronger and I am able to perform Honey Doos and help my kids restore their camper. I had to fight like hell to overcome the pain, depression, anger and remorse. I had to learn about every procedure & every acronym to compensate for a health care system (not Mayo) that allocates a mere 11 minutes for a visit. I lost more weight to make it easier to move myself about. Find your courage, decide if u don't want to become a couch potato, and every day take another small step towards recovery. Some people recover quickly, that wasn't my situation, but it can be done.

It's 5am, time for morning (brief) walk. Best regards.