It's been over three months since I've posted to this blog, and six months since the TKR, and I was reminded that it might be time to either continue it, or close it out. I figure that the knee won't last forever, and I'm sure issues will arise over time, so I'll continue to post regularly, but not as often. As of now, though, here is where I am:
Having this knee replacement has changed our lives in very positive ways. For me, I am excited to actually have some pain free days. I say some, because even though my knee causes me no pain whatsoever no matter what I am doing, I do have other arthritic aches and pains to contend with. The only difference is that pain is now a sometimes thing instead of a constant.
As an example, I just spent four days (well, actually one was spent travelling to and from) in Vegas. Granted, there is not a lot of physical activity connected with a trip to Vegas, but the point is that I was able to do everything everyone else does as far as everyday activities. I can walk for miles, stand around watching people play craps, wear high heels (but not too high), and I even contemplated climbing the rock climbing wall in the fitness center, but my better judgment prevailed and I stuck to the elliptical. (As an aside, I was not prepared for the fact that smoking is permitted in casinos, not to mention that in order to get to the elevators to get to your smoke free room, you have to walk through the casino. Go figure.)
As for tennis, tennis is great. Before I made the decision to have this TKR, my biggest concern as far as tennis went, was whether I would ever be able to play at the same level again. In all my research beforehand, asking people about their experiences, I never really found anyone who played at my level who had the surgery, and then continued playing. Not to say they are not out there, because they are; only to say that I couldn't find anyone like that. So I have been very pleasantly surprised, to say the least, that my tennis is as good as or better than it was before. Now, I am able to cover my own lobs, cover my partner's lobs, bend my knees when I'm serving, run down drop shots, and love every minute of it since it is all PAIN FREE. What a concept!
So now I am mentally planning my next trip to NY and/or Boston and/or London to visit my kids and grandchild knowing that I can keep up with them, even Little Lissy, who is pushing 2.
Of course, at this age, when you fix one body part, other body parts protest, since they got used to being off balance or not used or whatever, and now their job has changed. So over the past three month, I have been through various other "injuries." For instance, I was having pains in my lower back/buttocks, which would come and go, on and off the tennis courts. And, to add insult to injury, my neck also causes problems. So I have done my best to keep those issues at bay, and have found a good chiropractor to help.
All that being said, life here in beautiful Harbor Hills with Bill is good, and we are on our way to a tennis game this morning.
