Posted in Bionic Bubbe Miracle knee

It is so hard to believe that three months ago today I was in an O.R. listening to a saw cut my useless knee out and hammer in this shiny new bionic one. I know I tease about this being bionic, but it truly is.With that in mind I figured I would tell you a few thngs I have learned since getting my new knee.

First, God is faithful. I have trouble explaining to people what God did for me. I asked for peace and just like Solomon asked God for wisdom God gave me peace and a whole lot more. It truly was miraculous.

God's timing is perfect! I was told over nine years ago that I needed new knees. For nine years I did very lttle because the pain was great. They really like you to be over 50 before they make you bionic. In those nine years technology has realy improved. If I had had it done nine years ago, they would probably be replacing it now.

Obedience is a gift. I have spoken to so many peole who have had knee replacement and are not much better than befor the surgery. Why? They did not do their exercises. When a doctor says take these pills three times a day, we do that and get better. When he says bend your knee 30 times three times a week, we think that is a suggestion. NO it is not obedience makes everything work.

Will is also a gft. Sometimes I did not have the desire to lift my leg one more time but the will to be strong again made me lift it again and again. Sometimes it was for me, sometimes it was for my husband. I thought if he was willing to do so very much and pay for me to have this knee and work so very hard for every extra dollar that came in, I had to do this. Whatever it takes to motivate.

Things that seem silly actually make all the difference. I remember about eight years ago a doctor saying I could exercise in bed.... I laughed. Somehow I thought if you are not laying on the floor it does not work. So I did not do them. Than I had surgery and it said wiggle your foot so I did. It said lift your leg, so I did. It said bend your knee and I did that too. All the time I did this, I was laying in bed! I guess he was right. Any movement is better than no movement.

Physical therapy can be fun. Really! It is all in the attitude. My team all had some type of knee injury so they got it when I said No! No is a good word, some pain is expected, but deep pain does not heal. So be in charge and say no if it hurts!

Sharing the joy of standing up from a seated position or walking across the floor with a rubberband on your ankles is a joy worth sharing. Telling your therapist you ar ehappy to see them is something they hear very seldom. Saying Thank you for the wonderful ice pad that freezes your knee puts smiles on their faces. Coming in with one gives you great care.

Remembering keeps everything in perspective.Yesterday there was a lady 2 weeks out of surgery. I watched her struggle to do the simplest movements and remembered. I remembered watching the 90 year old man with the rubberbands around his ankle saying "someday I want to do that...sigh" And now I can. Standing up with no hands I never thought I could do it, Now they make me do it on rockers! I told her , keep up the good work!

Ice is your friend. I was told early on that swelling equals pain. So I lived with my Iceman, on of man's greatest invetions on my knee 24/7. And was practically pain free. I kept it on for almost three weeks straight. Than I went to Ice packs when needed. They are so very good at doing their job.

God will surprise you. I expected to walk and I expected to get by after my surgery. I didn't expect the gifts that followed. I forgot how much I love to exercise. But I love riding my bike, running, actually running on an elliptical and rowing a boat on a rowing machine is the coolest! I forgot how fun it was to play. But the biggest surprise has been watching the hard work pay off.

Don't listen to Job's companions even if it comes from someone you trust. My therapist asked me how hard I wanted to work. I said my knee is rated to bend 125 degrees so I want atleast 123. He said a local doctor in town is happy "if" his patients get to 100 degrees. That was what I HAD to get to to ride the bike! How could he be happy for them to settle for mediocre? This is the same doctor that said I was too fat so he would not do the surgery. I now have an easy 128 degree bend. And had lost a ton of weight now that I can move. If I had listened to him, I would be in a lot of pain and really hurting. I would not be walking and exercising and not be going on a hiking honeymoon for our 35th anniversay. Good thing I didn't take his word for it. They had asked me if I wanted him for my doctor....The NO could be heard in the Parking lot! I am so glad we said no to Him and Yes to Dr Ching.

My leg feels like my own leg again. I no longer have to take to my leg and brain reminding it how it is suppose to lift and move. I walk normally. There are moments when I hear my joint, or it feels out of alignment. I just get on my Bike pedal for a couple of miles and everything goes right where it should be.

I have learned it was all worth it and I will be doing this again in a while (probably after winter so I can do the exercising and walking). What an amazing age we live in.

Now I am off to see my doctor, it seems I came home from camping with vertigo. This does not fit into my water aerobics or my exercise plan so it has to be dealt with quickly!

So the moral of the story is "any movement is good movement and you don't have to be on the floor to get the job done. You just have to do it! ( boy does that have Nike written all over it!!!) Maybe they will give me a pair of runners for the plug...I am going to need them you know!