My fellow gimps--My one-month report

Nurses Disabilities

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I just thought some of you might like a follow-up to my previous post about the miracle of water-walking.

One month ago, I could walk about 10-15 feet. I gorilla-walked by hanging onto furniture or the wall, pretty hunched over. There was pain. I need say no more :)

Today, I walked over 75 feet without hanging onto ANYTHING. (Although my fellow nurse followed behind me with a chair, just in case, har har). I'm pretty straight. I'm pretty pain-free, most days. The edema in my legs has gone from 4+ to almost nothing, although I still have pretty bad swollen feet and cankles ;p

Don't get me wrong--it wasn't easy. I have worked really hard at this. I've worked hard at exercise before, though, and seen no improvement. I thought all I could hope for was to maintain what I have now. Just the thought that I might be able to improve, after all these years, has me as giddy as Twilight Sparkle and Hello Kitty combined.

I just wanted to post this in case it might help someone else. I was living in a hope-free environment and, suddenly, there it was :) I love the pool. I love water-walking. I ordered a new swimsuit today, one size smaller. I bought a waterproof music player. I can't wait to get back in the water.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

WOW! That's pretty inspiring!

As of tomorrow, I'll be eight weeks past my second knee replacement. This one has been far more difficult than the first. More pain, more stiffness, less range of motion . . . . I'm up to five minutes on the treadmill and ten minutes on the recumbent bike in Physical Therapy. Per my PT's suggestion, I'm going to join a health club so that I can do the bike and the treadmill every day -- that will help build strength and stamina. So if anyone walks into the gym tomorrow and sees a Crusty Old Bat with a walker going to work out, that would be me!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

That is great for the both of you. Ruby I would hardly call you a crusty old bat. I love your wit and wisdom.

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Great! Thanks for sharing. This might come handy in my future years. :)

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Ruby, as an ex-rehab nurse, I think knees are one of the toughest things ever. They've improved a lot, but they have a really tough post-op course sometimes. I'm so glad you have made it OK this far. Sometimes it is really hard to get up and go out to the gym and I have to tell myself, "It hurts to move...but it hurts a lot more if you don't move."

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My experience with knee replacement 3 years ago was somewhat similar-second knee was much more painful post op and not adequate PT(insurance issues)

Wish I had water therapy available but didn't. Have started yoga 6 months ago and have seen overall improvement in knees and general strength and flexibility. I take a chair yoga class and am able to get to the floor and back with just some cushioning of my knees.:sarcastic:

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
My experience with knee replacement 3 years ago was somewhat similar-second knee was much more painful post op and not adequate PT(insurance issues)

Wish I had water therapy available but didn't. Have started yoga 6 months ago and have seen overall improvement in knees and general strength and flexibility. I take a chair yoga class and am able to get to the floor and back with just some cushioning of my knees.:sarcastic:

Chair yoga sounds interesting. I tried "Beginning Yoga," and found that I couldn't get to the floor and back in the time allotted. It was miserable.

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Try the chair yoga if you have a class available locally. There is also a DVD by Peggy Cappy called "Yoga for Arthritis" which might be helpful. Either way give it a try. I have found it to be very beneficial.

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