I learned prior to surgery that it was helpful to learn and do the exercise before removal and this aids in recovery afterwards. I faithfully did so and yes, was glad to have gone through the motions to make recovery that much better. Apparently I was a "good student" because I was able to complete my recovery on my own after the initial three week home prescribed therapy. As long as I did my exercises (twice a day) then there was no need to visit with a therapist throughout my healing. And I did. Three months later it was a repeat session, Knee #2 was out and replaced as well. Again, I self-therapied after the home therapy for three weeks and found myself out and about in a fairly quick manner.
So now its two years l later. Finally the scars are beginning to lessen, losing their "frankenstein" appearance and fading into a fainter line. And knee pain is a thing of the past, gone, removed, replaced and thats a good feeling. But there is more to just getting new knees. There is the daily reminders that these knees send or better yet its the legs that are attached to those knees. Anytime spent in a sitting position, no matter how long, is accompanied by a reminder of their artificial-ness. You go to stand up, legs say whoa, lets think about this and with a solid push forward I tell them, yes we are moving and we're going to like it. And away we go. Kinda of a dull pressure that hasn't started to feel like they're really mine. Wonder if they ever will.
I try to walk, a lot and I still think I "hear" these joints clicking, again, not sure if that will ever stop being weird. Kneeling at Mass is interesting but if Our Lord could endure the suffering he did I figure I can handle a little discomfort for a bit. Emptying out bottom cabinet, ha, not happening, kneeling to scrub the floor, whatever, weeding out in the garden, bend at the waist, stair climbing has gotten pretty good but I'm still cautious, hiking through the hills with Tim, not really happening either but I blame that on the ankles (another story). Putting on and tying shoes, trimming toenails are all another part of the challenges of new knees.
So I really feel like these surgeons that perform these awesome surgeries to really help us out need to add and extra chapter to their book on What's about to Happen?. I do not regret any of my surgeries to deal with the old knees of mine but I do wonder if I would have questioned things more if I had known "about the New Normal".
