Cynthia’s Support and Communication

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ContributorCynthia, 69Read Full Bio

Biography

Cynthia, 69, is a newly retired grandmother. She went from having a very active lifestyle to a more sedentary one due to her job and a return to school to get a Master’s degree. After a fall, which made walking hard her surgeon recommended that she have both of her knees replaced—which she had been putting off for years. She had both knees replaced over the course of three months.

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ContributorCynthia, 69Read Full Bio

Biography

Cynthia, 69, is a newly retired grandmother. She went from having a very active lifestyle to a more sedentary one due to her job and a return to school to get a Master’s degree. After a fall, which made walking hard her surgeon recommended that she have both of her knees replaced—which she had been putting off for years. She had both knees replaced over the course of three months.

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Instead of going to a rehabilitation center after being in the hospital, Cynthia insisted on going straight home. She did not realize that being at home would be so hard. Small things were impossible things to do at first. Her husband was a huge pillar of support and Cynthia had to rely on him, which did not come easy to her.

CYNTHIA: One of the things that I was adamant about when we scheduled the first surgery, that I was gonna straight home from the hospital. I was not gonna go to any rehabilitation, any other facility. And with my husband being with me 24/7, he really was a good caregiver. He still is. And I did not realize how difficult it was gonna be for me at home. And as an example, at night if I had to get up to go to the bathroom, I could not get out of bed by myself. He had to help me by lifting the left leg and then gently bringing it down so that I could put it on the floor. And then get on the walker and then trudge off to the bathroom. And he would stay awake the whole time. And when I would come back then he would get up again and help me back into bed.

CYNTHIA: He has been very, very attentive. I mean even bringing me my coffee in the morning. Which I was so accustomed to doing on my own. Or getting up to get a glass of water or an icepack. He's always there. And I could not have done it without him.

CYNTHIA: Facing joint replacement surgery is probably one of the most intimidating medical procedures that we have to face.

CYNTHIA: You can't take an aspirin and it won't be there tomorrow. Because when you have joint pain it stays with you until you do something about it.

CYNTHIA: I've tried to explain to a friend of mine who had surgery with another doctor how important the physical therapy is. When he goes to take measurements it's very, very painful. And you really grit your teeth but I realize myself and I try to convey this to other people, they say no pain no gain. And that's very, very true. You know and you have to also consider that the physical therapy is a temporary thing. And the-the most that you can cooperate with them and do what you're supposed to do, the sooner you're done with it and g-get on with your life.

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