I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
In article <[email protected]>, CW
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
> a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
> walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
> make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
> constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
> apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
> I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
> the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
> steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
>
Keep at it, CW! Sounds like you're determined, and progressing well.
I can only imagine what that first step felt like. Must have been quite
the event!
Congratulations on this major milestone!
On 8/1/2012 6:54 PM, Twayne wrote:
> In news:[email protected],
> CW <[email protected]> typed:
>> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I
>> spent the last year in a wheel chair. In the last month,
>> I have progressed from the chair to a walker and now just
>> a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
>> make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly
>> enough, I have to constantly remind myself how to walk.
>> You wouldn't think you forget but apparently I did. My
>> knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think I
>> am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a
>> while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it
>> goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15
>> screws in my lower leg.
>
> I take it since you posted here you have a wooden prosthesis somewhere?
> What's your question?
>
>
Do you understand FO?
"CW" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
This may or may not help you. I had knee pain in both legs for years. got
so bad I had to pull myself up stairs using a hand rail. I took Glucosamine
Chondroitin with MSM for a year with no results. Sister in law with same
problem, but was on crutches. Did same thing with no result. She was
alerted to add about 1/3 cup of Aloe Vera JUICE with each pill. After a
short time no more pain and tossed the crutches. Doing fine now. I started
the same regime and in a months time no more pain and go up steps no
problem. I assume the aloe acts as a catalyst to make the pills work. I buy
the Aloe juice at Wal Mart for $7 a gallon. So inexpensive to give it a try.
My knees were worn out due to age (85). Now I still motorcycle trail ride
with no problem. WW
IIRC, life expectancy of a replacement is 20 years and they can do two of t=
hem before the bone is too short.
Additionally:
Long bones can be lengthened fairly easily, but that is an option, more so,=
for younger folks. The knee replacement stems can be long to short, to ac=
commodate correcting height and/or one leg longer than the other, etc. The=
disability parameters, as that, will usually dictate the best option and/o=
r game plan.
Another reason for getting the most exercise you can, now.... it strengthen=
s your bones. You will need strong bones to support the knee implants. Al=
l the time you were "idle", your bones lost bone mass. Use builds back tha=
t bone mass.... *in your spine, also. Your knee joint is the least of your=
concerns, right now.
Again, good luck and hang in there.
Sonny
On Wednesday, August 1, 2012 4:55:46 PM UTC-5, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year =
in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a =
walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can onl=
y make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to cons=
tantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but apparen=
tly I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think I am to =
young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if the pai=
n goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel p=
late and 15 screws in my lower leg.
Hang in there. Apparently you're doing great with your progress. Yep, whe=
n the knee becomes more of a handicap, signifcantly affecting your life and=
living, then it's time for the replacement. If you had the operation now,=
it may very well affect your progress with learning to walk again. Prior =
to any knee or leg operation, one needs to have their muscles built up, to =
help with the surgery recovery. Well maintained strong/toned muscles do wo=
nders for recouperation, that way. When there's pain, it's your body telli=
ng you to back off, from whatever you're doing. =20
Good luck and keep at it.
Sonny
On Wed, 1 Aug 2012 14:55:46 -0700, "CW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
>a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
>walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
>make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
>constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
>apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
>I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
>the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
>steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
I had both my femurs shattered and was like you in a wheel chair, the
doctor is likely right. When I first started walking and sometimes
now you can hear me coming the knees are popping so loud. I had bone
to bone in the hip, but as you strengthen and build core muscles it
start to work it self out. Ironically 3 years later I'm back at the
same place doing physical therapy. It's a problem when your mind
makes promises the body can't keep and your too stubborn to realize
it.
Mike M
On 8/2/2012 2:28 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> tiredofspam <nospam.nospam.com> writes:
>
>>
>> Can the juice work on it's own, or do I need the Glucosamine Chondroitin
>> with MSM ? I took them for a while and they didn't help me.
>> They were expensive too.
>
> If you have a costco in the area, you can get GC+MSM (1500mg/1500mg) for
> about 6-10 cents per day.
>
> http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11245398
>
> These have worked well for my knee (slightly torn meniscus).
>
> scott
>
We are due to get a costco here in the next year.
Right now it's about 45 minutes away.
"CW" wrote:
>I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last
>year in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the
>chair to a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape
>though that I can only make it about a block before I have to rest.
>Oddly enough, I have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You
>wouldn't think you forget but apparently I did. My knee is still
>bone on bone. My doctor seems to think I am to young for a knee
>replacement. He said to give it a while and see if the pain goes
>away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel
>plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
-----------------------------------------------------
Congrats.
Have a friend who got a knee replacement.
As others have said, you want to be in best shape possible going into
that surgery.
Good luck.
Lew
On Wed, 1 Aug 2012 14:55:46 -0700, "CW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
>a wheel chair.
CW, hope it all goes well for you. At the very least you're out of the
wheel chair.
tom
On 8/2/2012 9:57 AM, WW wrote:
>
>
> "CW" wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
> a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
> walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can
> only
> make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
> constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
> apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
> I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
> the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
> steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
>
> This may or may not help you. I had knee pain in both legs for years.
> got so bad I had to pull myself up stairs using a hand rail. I took
> Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM for a year with no results. Sister in
> law with same problem, but was on crutches. Did same thing with no
> result. She was alerted to add about 1/3 cup of Aloe Vera JUICE with
> each pill. After a short time no more pain and tossed the crutches.
> Doing fine now. I started the same regime and in a months time no more
> pain and go up steps no problem. I assume the aloe acts as a catalyst to
> make the pills work. I buy the Aloe juice at Wal Mart for $7 a gallon.
> So inexpensive to give it a try. My knees were worn out due to age
> (85). Now I still motorcycle trail ride with no problem. WW
Cool, I like the fact that at 85 you still trail ride.
I have a question, I play Volleyball almost daily.
I have had both shoulders rebuilt, my knees are my Achilles these days.
I blew both ACLs, and that's part of the problem the other is just the
vertical that I have, when I land it is a pounding.
Can the juice work on it's own, or do I need the Glucosamine Chondroitin
with MSM ? I took them for a while and they didn't help me.
They were expensive too.
And Twayne like Leon said FO!!
WW wrote:
>
> This may or may not help you. I had knee pain in both legs for
> years. got so bad I had to pull myself up stairs using a hand rail. I
> took Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM for a year with no results.
> Sister in law with same problem, but was on crutches. Did same thing
> with no result. She was alerted to add about 1/3 cup of Aloe Vera
> JUICE with each pill. After a short time no more pain and tossed the
> crutches. Doing fine now. I started the same regime and in a months
> time no more pain and go up steps no problem. I assume the aloe acts
> as a catalyst to make the pills work. I buy the Aloe juice at Wal
> Mart for $7 a gallon. So inexpensive to give it a try. My knees were
> worn out due to age (85). Now I still motorcycle trail ride with no
> problem. WW
This looks like advice worth trying. I gave the Gucosamine a try for
several months, and it did nothing noticible for me. I'm going to get the
Aloe Vera juice and give it a try again. If nothing else, I should have
nice smooth innards - right?
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
> So I am curious, did you have a procedure done at all?=20
I understand the knee surgery is pending.
> FWIW a neighbor just had her knee replace a couple of months ago, I think=
she is about 50ish. She was walking "2" days after the surgery, on pain me=
d of course but today about 8 weeks later she is riding a bicycle again, se=
veral miles a day. From what I hear the secret to a quick recovery is for y=
ou to wake up from surgery with a peddling machine working that leg. Anothe=
r friend in her 70's woke up that way and recovery was quick.
Once a prothesis is put in, it's ready to go, period. The only thing preve=
nting the patient from getting up and going is the soft tissue that has bee=
n "damaged" by the surgery. It takes 21 days for that type of wound to ful=
ly heal. Similar with hip replacement.
There are range on motion machines to assist the patient to get going right=
after surgery. Depending on the patient's problems, some can get up and s=
tart walking, immediatley, and some can not. The machines slowly increase =
the range of motion the knee will flex, i.e., say 10=B0 the first day, 20=
=B0 the second day, etc., until relative full range of motion is achieved. =
Often times, during this machine course, the patient will be motived to no=
t use the machine and eagerly do the workouts on their own.... some folks c=
an tolerate this type of "self induced" pain/slight pain better than others=
.
There are several reasons why one needs to get moving as soon as possible a=
fter surgery. A few:
1) The longer one waits, the more scar tissue will develope, such that rang=
e of motion may become restricted... and sometimes restricted to the point =
of the knee becoming stiff. Scar tissue can form so bad and so fast, it wi=
ll "lock" the knee, preventing movement or it hurts enough that the patient=
doesn't want to do the exercise on their own. Some patients are less acti=
ve and sometimes it's hard to get them going, then they develope a stiff kn=
ee. In bad cases, as this, we've had to put the patient to sleep and manua=
lly/forcefully yank/flex the knee, literally ripping the scar tissue apart,=
in order to free up the joint.
2) The sooner a patient sees improvement, usually they are motivated to kee=
p going and more so on their own
3) The patient needs to maintain the tone and strength of their leg muscles=
. The muscles around the knee provide lots of support for the knee joint. =
It's not just the ligaments and connective tissues that provide support fo=
r the knee.
4) Movement helps the body remove any potential for blood clotting, even sl=
ight clotting, hence further enhancing and speeding healing and recovery. =
Movement keeps the blood vessels open and functioning properly. Movement (=
flexing and contracting of muscles) acts like a pump to keep the flow of bl=
ood going, especially through the veins. The veins carry blood not only ba=
ck to the heart, but to the kidneys and lymph system, for cleaning/filterin=
g and/or removing any "trash" in the system. The cleaner the blood, the be=
tter it can absorb oxygen from the lungs.
5) Good steady improving movement equates to the patient progressing nicely=
. If there is evidence of some halting or sporadic movement (other than co=
mplaint of pain), i.e., (subjective observations) in routines/regimine/sche=
dule, then there may be a reason to monitor for infection, which would be a=
sign of some interference with a normal improvement schedule.
Sonny
On Wed, 1 Aug 2012 14:55:46 -0700, "CW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
>a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
>walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
>make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
>constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
>apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
>I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
>the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
>steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
Congrats. Glad you are getting about.
The doc may be right about the pain going away, but, unless I guess
your age wrong, you are not too young. My daughter had both knees
done before she was 40.
IIRC, life expectancy of a replacement is 20 years and they can do two
of them before the bone is too short.
On 8/1/2012 5:55 PM, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
> in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to
> a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I
> can only make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I
> have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you
> forget but apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor
> seems to think I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it
> a while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports
> should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
Cool.. that's a big step.
See a sports orthopedist for a second opinion on the knee replacement.
They have a different view of some things than regular orthopedists.
Good luck... walk each day a little bit more.
See if you can get a stationary bike for a low impact muscle
strengthening, if you are not going to a physical therapist.
You can stick it in front of a tv or your computer and build up.
On 8/1/2012 4:55 PM, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
> in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to
> a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I
> can only make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I
> have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you
> forget but apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor
> seems to think I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it
> a while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports
> should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
So I am curious, did you have a procedure done at all?
FWIW a neighbor just had her knee replace a couple of months ago, I
think she is about 50ish.
She was walking "2" days after the surgery, on pain med of course but
today about 8 weeks later she is riding a bicycle again, several miles a
day.
From what I hear the secret to a quick recovery is for you to wake up
from surgery with a peddling machine working that leg. Another friend
in her 70's woke up that way and recovery was quick.
On 8/2/2012 10:33 AM, Mike Marlow wrote:
> WW wrote:
>
>>
>> This may or may not help you. I had knee pain in both legs for
>> years. got so bad I had to pull myself up stairs using a hand rail. I
>> took Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM for a year with no results.
>> Sister in law with same problem, but was on crutches. Did same thing
>> with no result. She was alerted to add about 1/3 cup of Aloe Vera
>> JUICE with each pill. After a short time no more pain and tossed the
>> crutches. Doing fine now. I started the same regime and in a months
>> time no more pain and go up steps no problem. I assume the aloe acts
>> as a catalyst to make the pills work. I buy the Aloe juice at Wal
>> Mart for $7 a gallon. So inexpensive to give it a try. My knees were
>> worn out due to age (85). Now I still motorcycle trail ride with no
>> problem. WW
>
> This looks like advice worth trying. I gave the Gucosamine a try for
> several months, and it did nothing noticible for me. I'm going to get the
> Aloe Vera juice and give it a try again. If nothing else, I should have
> nice smooth innards - right?
>
An old acquaintance swore by WD-40.
tiredofspam <nospam.nospam.com> writes:
>
>Can the juice work on it's own, or do I need the Glucosamine Chondroitin
>with MSM ? I took them for a while and they didn't help me.
>They were expensive too.
If you have a costco in the area, you can get GC+MSM (1500mg/1500mg) for
about 6-10 cents per day.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11245398
These have worked well for my knee (slightly torn meniscus).
scott
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last
> year in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the
> chair to a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape
> though that I can only make it about a block before I have to rest.
> Oddly enough, I have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You
> wouldn't think you forget but apparently I did. My knee is still bone
> on bone. My doctor seems to think I am to young for a knee
> replacement. He said to give it a while and see if the pain goes away.
> I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel plate and
> 15 screws in my lower leg.
Happy for you for your progress. Sorry that you still have a way to go.
Hope it will seem like last century as soon as posssible.
I have a couple of plates in my leg and a dozen screws. No problems with
airports. I think mine may be titanium, but I'm not sure. Titanium is a
metal that bones grow into. Weird but true. Some Swede found out and
that's why tooth implants are made of titanium, and I think the screws
for bones too.
--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid
tiredofspam <nospam.nospam.com> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> On 8/1/2012 5:55 PM, CW wrote:
>> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last
>> year in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the
>> chair to a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape
>> though that I can only make it about a block before I have to rest.
>> Oddly enough, I have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You
>> wouldn't think you forget but apparently I did. My knee is still
>> bone on bone. My doctor seems to think I am to young for a knee
>> replacement. He said to give it a while and see if the pain goes
>> away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel
>> plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
>
> Cool.. that's a big step.
>
> See a sports orthopedist for a second opinion on the knee replacement.
> They have a different view of some things than regular orthopedists.
>
> Good luck... walk each day a little bit more.
>
> See if you can get a stationary bike for a low impact muscle
> strengthening, if you are not going to a physical therapist.
>
> You can stick it in front of a tv or your computer and build up.
I'll second the bicycle for muscle strengthening. Think about it - it
exercises and strengthens, but you don't have all your body weight
hitting your knee with every step.
--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid
Larry Blanchard <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> And yes, you can forget how to walk. I was diagnosed with rheumatic
> fever when I was 8 or 9. Spent 3-4 months in bed. When they finally
> let me get up, I had to crawl or hold myself up by hanging onto a
> wall. Took a week or two before I could walk normally again. I
> remember thinking it was a big joke -on me! It might take a bit
> longer for an adult to relearn but you'll get there.
I was bedridden for 6 or so weeks around same age. No box at my feet.
Achilles tendon shrunk, and I couldn't walk right away either ...
--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid
On 8/2/2012 12:53 PM, tiredofspam wrote:
> Cool, I like the fact that at 85 you still trail ride.
> I have a question, I play Volleyball almost daily.
> I have had both shoulders rebuilt, my knees are my Achilles these days.
> I blew both ACLs, and that's part of the problem the other is just the
> vertical that I have, when I land it is a pounding.
>
> Can the juice work on it's own, or do I need the Glucosamine Chondroitin
> with MSM ? I took them for a while and they didn't help me.
> They were expensive too.
>
>
> And Twayne like Leon said FO!!
>
>
I am sure that we are comparing apples to oranges here but I have a
couple of inspiring feats accomplished by a customer of mine and by a
friend of a friend.
First off, my customer rides in the MD bike ride from Houston to
Austin. This past Spring she rode 100 miles on the first day of the
trip and 75 miles on the second day. She is 76 years old.
My friend used to own a bicycle shop in Houston and her husband at one
time organized that same ride from Houston to Austin. A couple of years
back an older gentleman made the trip in one day, 175 or so miles. He
was 94.
On Wednesday, August 1, 2012 2:55:46 PM UTC-7, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year =
in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a =
walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can onl=
y make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to cons=
tantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but apparen=
tly I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think I am to =
young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if the pai=
n goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel p=
late and 15 screws in my lower leg.
Dude, welcome back among the living. All the best. The body is an amazing t=
hing and hopefully it will respond to your request for improvement.
On 8/1/12 4:55 PM, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
> in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to
> a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I
> can only make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I
> have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you
> forget but apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor
> seems to think I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it
> a while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports
> should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
Glad to hear you're walking! Keep up the good work, as hard as it may be.
Opinions on other issues aside, I'm very glad to hear that you are
progressing.
My "niece" had a leg amputated due to childhood cancer. She got new
crutches the other day and was bragging about learning how to "run" on
them. Obviously, that really opened the waterworks for me and the wife.
Congrats again, and I pray for continued success and healing.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
On 8/1/12 4:55 PM, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
> in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to
> a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I
> can only make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I
> have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you
> forget but apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor
> seems to think I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it
> a while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports
> should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
Glad to hear you're walking! Keep up the good work, as hard as it may be.
Opinions on other issues aside, I'm very glad to hear that you are
progressing.
My "niece" had a leg amputated due to childhood cancer. She got new
crutches the other day and was bragging about learning how to "run" on
them. Obviously, that really opened the waterworks for me and the wife.
Congrats again, and I pray for continued success and healing.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
In news:[email protected],
CW <[email protected]> typed:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I
> spent the last year in a wheel chair. In the last month,
> I have progressed from the chair to a walker and now just
> a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
> make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly
> enough, I have to constantly remind myself how to walk.
> You wouldn't think you forget but apparently I did. My
> knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think I
> am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a
> while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it
> goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15
> screws in my lower leg.
I take it since you posted here you have a wooden prosthesis somewhere?
What's your question?
On 8/1/12 4:55 PM, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
> in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to
> a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I
> can only make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I
> have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you
> forget but apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor
> seems to think I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it
> a while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports
> should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
Glad to hear you're walking! Keep up the good work, as hard as it may be.
Opinions on other issues aside, I'm very glad to hear that you are
progressing.
My "niece" had a leg amputated due to childhood cancer. She got new
crutches the other day and was bragging about learning how to "run" on
them. Obviously, that really opened the waterworks for me and the wife.
Congrats again, and I pray for continued success and healing.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
"CW" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
**************************************************************
Hope you get along well. As far as the airport, the steel used in surgery
is nearly always non magnetic grades of stainless steel. I have a bit of
hardware in my back, too.
-- Jim in NC
On Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:55:46 -0700, CW wrote:
> I'm so badly out of shape though that I can
> only make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have
> to constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget
> but apparently I did.
Hang in there. But make sure that "out of shape" isn't due to
circulation problems before it's too late. I was getting out of breath
after a short walk and blamed it on asthma. When I finally went to the
doc he found I had an artery that was 98% blocked. He said "don't wait
so long next time!".
And yes, you can forget how to walk. I was diagnosed with rheumatic
fever when I was 8 or 9. Spent 3-4 months in bed. When they finally let
me get up, I had to crawl or hold myself up by hanging onto a wall. Took
a week or two before I could walk normally again. I remember thinking it
was a big joke -on me! It might take a bit longer for an adult to
relearn but you'll get there.
Good luck and keep us posted.
--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw
On 8/1/2012 7:54 PM, Twayne wrote:
> In news:[email protected],
> CW <[email protected]> typed:
>> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I
>> spent the last year in a wheel chair. In the last month,
>> I have progressed from the chair to a walker and now just
>> a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
>> make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly
>> enough, I have to constantly remind myself how to walk.
>> You wouldn't think you forget but apparently I did. My
>> knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think I
>> am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a
>> while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it
>> goes. Airports should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15
>> screws in my lower leg.
>
> I take it since you posted here you have a wooden prosthesis somewhere?
> What's your question?
>
>
Evidently they now make wooden frontal-lobe replacements. Still a few
bugs in the design, it seems.
On 8/1/2012 5:55 PM, CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
> in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to
> a walker and now just a cane.
Progress! And yes, a big deal.
I'm so badly out of shape though that I
> can only make it about a block before I have to rest.
I had an entirely different situation that also made the smallest
exertion a major undertaking, for a long while. I found that each
improvement seemed to come before I noticed it directly. Rather than a
deliberate "test" like walking around the block, I'd forget my glasses
upstairs and climb the steps to get them. I'd come back down to the
computer and only later realize, "hey, I just climbed the steps, almost
normally".
Each accomplishment is another milepost on the road to better things.
And by all means take encouragement wherever you find it. People, most
people anyway, are happy to provide it, even people you only "know"
online. A number of folks on a piano discussion board were very
supportive when I was on the mend, people I have never met. Think of the
lone asshole here as useful contrast; put there to make the good wishes
of the rest stand out in greater relief.
All the best.
On 8/3/2012 4:22 PM, [email protected] wrote:
>> So I am curious, did you have a procedure done at all?
>
> I understand the knee surgery is pending.
>
>> FWIW a neighbor just had her knee replace a couple of months ago, I think she is about 50ish. She was walking "2" days after the surgery, on pain med of course but today about 8 weeks later she is riding a bicycle again, several miles a day. From what I hear the secret to a quick recovery is for you to wake up from surgery with a peddling machine working that leg. Another friend in her 70's woke up that way and recovery was quick.
>
> Once a prothesis is put in, it's ready to go, period. The only thing preventing the patient from getting up and going is the soft tissue that has been "damaged" by the surgery. It takes 21 days for that type of wound to fully heal. Similar with hip replacement.
>
> There are range on motion machines to assist the patient to get going right after surgery. Depending on the patient's problems, some can get up and start walking, immediatley, and some can not. The machines slowly increase the range of motion the knee will flex, i.e., say 10° the first day, 20° the second day, etc., until relative full range of motion is achieved. Often times, during this machine course, the patient will be motived to not use the machine and eagerly do the workouts on their own.... some folks can tolerate this type of "self induced" pain/slight pain better than others.
>
> There are several reasons why one needs to get moving as soon as possible after surgery. A few:
> 1) The longer one waits, the more scar tissue will develope, such that range of motion may become restricted... and sometimes restricted to the point of the knee becoming stiff. Scar tissue can form so bad and so fast, it will "lock" the knee, preventing movement or it hurts enough that the patient doesn't want to do the exercise on their own. Some patients are less active and sometimes it's hard to get them going, then they develope a stiff knee. In bad cases, as this, we've had to put the patient to sleep and manually/forcefully yank/flex the knee, literally ripping the scar tissue apart, in order to free up the joint.
> 2) The sooner a patient sees improvement, usually they are motivated to keep going and more so on their own
> 3) The patient needs to maintain the tone and strength of their leg muscles. The muscles around the knee provide lots of support for the knee joint. It's not just the ligaments and connective tissues that provide support for the knee.
> 4) Movement helps the body remove any potential for blood clotting, even slight clotting, hence further enhancing and speeding healing and recovery. Movement keeps the blood vessels open and functioning properly. Movement (flexing and contracting of muscles) acts like a pump to keep the flow of blood going, especially through the veins. The veins carry blood not only back to the heart, but to the kidneys and lymph system, for cleaning/filtering and/or removing any "trash" in the system. The cleaner the blood, the better it can absorb oxygen from the lungs.
> 5) Good steady improving movement equates to the patient progressing nicely. If there is evidence of some halting or sporadic movement (other than complaint of pain), i.e., (subjective observations) in routines/regimine/schedule, then there may be a reason to monitor for infection, which would be a sign of some interference with a normal improvement schedule.
>
> Sonny
>
And there is,
5. Insurance insists you free up that bed. ;`)
"tiredofspam" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
On 8/2/2012 9:57 AM, WW wrote:
>
>
> "CW" wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
> in
> a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
> walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can
> only
> make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
> constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
> apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to
> think
> I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see
> if
> the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
> steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
>
> This may or may not help you. I had knee pain in both legs for years.
> got so bad I had to pull myself up stairs using a hand rail. I took
> Glucosamine Chondroitin with MSM for a year with no results. Sister in
> law with same problem, but was on crutches. Did same thing with no
> result. She was alerted to add about 1/3 cup of Aloe Vera JUICE with
> each pill. After a short time no more pain and tossed the crutches.
> Doing fine now. I started the same regime and in a months time no more
> pain and go up steps no problem. I assume the aloe acts as a catalyst to
> make the pills work. I buy the Aloe juice at Wal Mart for $7 a gallon.
> So inexpensive to give it a try. My knees were worn out due to age
> (85). Now I still motorcycle trail ride with no problem. WW
Cool, I like the fact that at 85 you still trail ride.
I have a question, I play Volleyball almost daily.
I have had both shoulders rebuilt, my knees are my Achilles these days.
I blew both ACLs, and that's part of the problem the other is just the
vertical that I have, when I land it is a pounding.
Can the juice work on it's own, or do I need the Glucosamine Chondroitin
with MSM ? I took them for a while and they didn't help me.
They were expensive too.
It appears both are needed. I get them from Puritans Pride Their catalog #
6130. Thatâs a bottle of 120. Buy 2 and they send 3 free. Thatâs 600. I
take 3 a day at mealtime with the juice. The juice is not the best
tasting so I add equal amounts of a fruit juice to it.. Costs $37.98 plus $4
something shipping. So that makes each pill about $.07 per pill. So at $.21
a day I get my life back. You can find their site if you Google. WW
On Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:33:46 -0500, Leon <lcb11211@swbelldotnet>
wrote:
>On 8/1/2012 4:55 PM, CW wrote:
>> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year
>> in a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to
>> a walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I
>> can only make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I
>> have to constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you
>> forget but apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor
>> seems to think I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it
>> a while and see if the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports
>> should be fun. I have a steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
>
>
>So I am curious, did you have a procedure done at all?
>
>FWIW a neighbor just had her knee replace a couple of months ago, I
>think she is about 50ish.
>
>She was walking "2" days after the surgery, on pain med of course but
>today about 8 weeks later she is riding a bicycle again, several miles a
>day.
>
> From what I hear the secret to a quick recovery is for you to wake up
>from surgery with a peddling machine working that leg. Another friend
>in her 70's woke up that way and recovery was quick.
I've been told basically the same thing. Get right in to the PT and
work as hard as you can. It does promote faster and stronger
recovery. I shattered both femurs and todays after surgery they
started PT. God do I remember knocking heads with nurse Ratchet.
Mike M
"CW" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
==============================================================================
Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, encouragement, and advice. You guys
have given me a lot of good info and helped me make decisions on dealing
with my condition.
Thank you all. I very much appreciate it.
CW wrote:
> I am going out for a walk. No big deal to most but I spent the last year in
> a wheel chair. In the last month, I have progressed from the chair to a
> walker and now just a cane. I'm so badly out of shape though that I can only
> make it about a block before I have to rest. Oddly enough, I have to
> constantly remind myself how to walk. You wouldn't think you forget but
> apparently I did. My knee is still bone on bone. My doctor seems to think
> I am to young for a knee replacement. He said to give it a while and see if
> the pain goes away. I'll see how it goes. Airports should be fun. I have a
> steel plate and 15 screws in my lower leg.
>
Yep! My wife has a knee replacement. When we went to Japan, she had
to have the whole body scan, or x-ray. They paid it little attention
in Japan, but when we got back to Atlanta, they gave her the full
body x-ray again before they would let us leave the airport. Not sure
about the logic in that.
Hope you continue to do well.
--
G.W. Ross
Closed Hearing for the Caption Impaired...