1. You will stop having pain in your knee!
2. You can now play with your grandchildren!
3. You get to have a handicap sticker!
4. You'll share hilarious antidotes with all your friends!
5. Your surgery wasn't as bad as you expected!!
6. You get waited on by your loving spouse!
7. You get all your meals in bed for a few weeks!
8. You're children and grandchild will visit you more!
9. Your grandchildren will imitate your funny walk!
10. You'll get your life back after about seven months!

At the Colonel White High School Class of 1964's 50th Reunion celebration I was forced to use a cane to get around because of the pain and stiffness in my knees. As I socialized those two nights, people naturally asked if I was going to have knee replacement surgery. I told people I was only a few weeks off from undergoing a total knee replacement; explaining I had put off surgery for far too long limiting my quality of life. During both Friday and Saturday nights, I discovered that a number of my alumni friends had already gone through the procedure or were thinking about having it done. A few alumni suggested I write an article for the CWHS 1964 website about my up-coming surgery and recovery. So for those of you that are debating a knee replacement procedure, I dedicate the following account of my surgical odyssey in hopes it will give you some insight into the total procedure.

I knew it was time to schedule my surgery when my cortisone shots only lasted a few weeks and not the three or four months they were intended too. With the return of the pain and stiffness, my mobility became severely limited. For the most part I was house-bound and when I did go anywhere, I was relegated to using a cane, signaling it was time to have my knee replaced.

I don't know how many times I picked up the phone to schedule my surgery and then quickly lost my nerve and hung up. One morning I didn't hang up and I scheduled my surgery for Aug. 19th 2014. I could have had it done earlier but; I didn't want to miss the 50th reunion celebration after all the hard work I had put into it.

After months of waiting, Aug. 19th finally arrived and I was on my way to Miami Valley South hospital. I had already completed all of my pre-admittance forms, x-rays, an educational class, and a physical, so there was very little to do when I got to the hospital, except wait to hear my name called. To my surprise, I was able to hold my anxiety in check and found myself quite relieved that the waiting was finally over. I thought in a few hours, my surgery would be history.

The next chapter in my journey would be my stay in the hospital. Keep in mind I had never been a hospital patient, so this aspect of my surgical trek would all be new to me. After my procedure, the Doctor told my wife that the surgery was successful and I would be in recovery for a few hours before I would be taken to my room. Once I got to my room my wife said the Doctor came in to check on me, followed by a series of other medical staff. Since I had only a few recollections of that morning, my wife later filled me in on all that transpired before I came to.

As I finally awoke, I surveyed my room and was happy to see my wife at my bedside making sure everything was in order. She should know because she had one of her knees replaced. Unfortunately, she had to have a revision done on the same knee. The first thing I truly remember was asking Marsha if I had missed lunch. My wife and the attending nurse both laughed. The nurse said "no and she would bring me a menu and I could order anything I wanted."

My stay was filled with nurses almost hourly checking my vital signs, followed by a series of nurses asking me my name and birth date before giving me my medications. This routine was performed around the clock. My physical therapy came on the second day in the hospital. I was asked to walk down the hall with the aid of a walker, to the therapy room where they taught me how to go up and down stairs. Since adding a stair lift to my home, I only needed to demonstrate I could climb two steps to reach the stair lift, which I did. When I got back to my room, the discharge nurse (they have a nurse for everything) was processing my paperwork so I could leave that day. After a few hours wait, I was wheeled down the hall and out the door to meet my wife, as she was now my official chauffeur for the next six weeks.

A short drive later we arrived home and my wife quickly ushered me into our house. Once inside I traversed the two steps as I had been taught and was now slowly being transported up the stairs on our very expensive stair lift. With a sigh of relief, I tucked myself into bed and said a small prayer of thanks for helping me do the unthinkable. My first ordeal was now history and the second act was about to begin - my recovery coupled with rehab.

My first few weeks at home were very hard on me, not because of any pain but, because I was unable to find a comfortable position to sleep. If I got a few broken hours of sleep at night, I called that a blessing. My wife was up almost hourly, both day and night for the next week or so tending to my every need. She helped me to the bathroom, administered my medications, refilled my ice machine, and brought me my breakfast, lunch and dinner in bed. I know our love was strengthened by this experience. She lovingly reminded me I had done the same thing for her- but twice.

My in-home convalescence began with an evaluation to determine the length and type of home therapy I would require. I was scheduled for therapy three times a week and in addition a home-care nurse would regularly look in on me.

The home-care nurse was very friendly and answered all of my questions. She took my vital signs, checked my knee to see that it was healing properly and showed my wife and I how to change the dressing. After two weeks she removed my surgical staples - mind you, with out causing me any discomfort.

My home-therapist put me through a number of strengthening exercises plus she taught me how to walk properly using a cane. After five weeks I was evaluated and found ready for out-patient physical therapy. I went to out-patient therapy for four weeks. Twice a week my therapist put me through a variety of exercises from riding a stationary bike to climbing stairs. He also gave me exercises to do each day while at home. I became strong enough to walk without using a cane but I still used it to go up and down steps.

My overall progress was somewhat hindered because my cortisone shot in my other knee was slowly losing its effectiveness. My doctor had told me that I would need to have the same surgery performed on that knee. I am now scheduled for my second replacement surgery this March.

As of today I am back using a cane to lessen the discomfort associated with my left knee. It is my goal within six months of my second surgery to be able to walk without the aid of a cane and be free for the first time in twelve years of severe joint pain. Last week one of my grandkids who delighted in imitating my "penguin-like" walk, told me "grandpa you're walking pretty good now. Now you can come to all of my soccer games."

But before I can go to all of my grandkids various games and dance recitals, I'll need to go through the entire process one more time. However this time I'll know what to expect and be able to hopefully recover in a shorter period of time.

Well, the second total knee replacement is now history. Unlike the first, I remember every detail of my hospital experience. After a day in the hospital, I was sent home to begin my recovery process. It's been fourteen days since my surgery and in many ways I am progressing at a much faster pace. The one and very painful difference is severe pain in my upper thigh area above the incision. The pain does not last long but it is very intense. Today my nurse just took out my staples that bond the incision together and I am now ready for my first shower. Sponge baths are now a thing of the past!

My home therapist is putting me through a very rigorous series of exercises from walking a few blocks to having me on my peddler for 15 minutes. I have now graduated to out-patient physical therapy at Miami Valley South Hospital,- the same place I had my first therapy workouts. Because my goal is to have my knee flex to at least 120 degrees and my knee extension to zero that's what my therapist works on during my sessions. I had no problem with my knee flexibility after my first surgery. I got to 120 degrees before I even went to out patient therapy but, this is not the case this go-around. My knee is still swollen and quite stiff and that has limited my flexibility. After much pain and repetitive stretching exercises, I am up to 120 degrees. It has been a long and arduous process but, I have reach to my goal. I still have one more week of out-patient physical therapy. Note,- the pain I had experienced in my upper thigh, is now gone and probably was caused by the "T.E.D. Hose" I was required to wear for so long to insure against blood clots.

I have been walking more and more without the use of my cane and I hope to be free from using a cane for the most part by the first week of June. My grandchildren won't like that because stealing grandpa's cane has become a cool game to play. I make a big fuss over who could have taken grandpa's cane. Everybody gets a big laugh but, right on cue, my cane miraculously appears with no guilty party confessing to the deed. I will miss this game too.

I hope this article will help anybody that is contemplating knee replacement surgery.