Stories - How my life changed after knee replacement:

Surgery was on a Wednesday, discharge from the hospital was on a Saturday. You are gone, but not forgotten. If you chose in-home nursing and physical therapy instead of going to a nursing home, you are seen on the day of discharge by "your" nurse and physical therapist.

One of the problems you face when you go home or to a nursing facility is that you don't truly understand that you can't do the things you could do prior to surgery -- at least, not yet.
That lack of understanding was at the root of my two falls; one the day I came home, one the day following surgery. These were definitely a set-back for my physical therapy.

And, there is nothing quite so embarrassing as having to call the local fire/rescue people to help your husband get you up out of a corner of the bedroom, where you stumbled - with the walker - when trying to reach the bathroom! We survived all of this, and the doctor had me come in for x-rays. Since everything was where it should be, I went home to start the physical therapy.

It went well. The physical therapist was a no-nonsense, do-the-exercises, do-them-correctly, do-them-as-many-times-as-specified, but-no-more, tough taskmaster. I finished my therapy at a clinic, and everything, both in-home and in-clinic, went very well.

If you are truly serious about your recuperation and rehabilitation, you listen, you do the exercises, and, eventually, there comes a day when you take a step without thinking about which is the "good knee." You step off a curb without thinking of "up to heaven, down to hell," to remind you of which foot to put forth first for a step down. Successfully climbing or descending steps takes a bit longer.

Life after rehabilitation of the knee was unbelievable. It was like going through a magical time machine. How often we say "we'd like to be able to go back." Well, this knee surgery gave me that opportunity. What a team - the surgeon and his surgical staff, the hospital nursing and support staffs, the in-home nursing and physical therapists, and the surgeon's office staff, who are your first line of contact after discharge.

Because the other knee also was bad, I did not gain total mobility with this operation, but I was once again able to walk with my husband, swim, go out with friends when it included some walking. I was so happy.

Would I say this was an enjoyable experience? Of course not. I am a total "wuss," afraid of needles and blood and pain. This was an extremely difficult decision for me to make, but I am so glad I did. So glad that I went back for Knee #2 the next year!