Joint replacement reflections.

In the 13 months since my second total knee replacement, I have had many revelations.  My mobility is 100% better than before, even after I had lost a lot of weight.  My knees are not 100%, even after more than a year.  I can't kneel now, nor do I believe I will be able to again.  I can stand, though, for unlimited amounts of time, when 15 minutes was my top limit before.  Would I do it again? Yes, if I had proper personal support, like I did last summer when Nathan was at my beck and call.  Would I recommend it to someone older than 80 or 90?  Never.  

I hear so many difficult stories of elderly people being encouraged to have joint replacement surgery, and I cannot believe it is in most of their best interests.  I feel that in some cases, it is a blatant abuse of Medicare funding.  I know that people of all ages get their joints replaced, and some people even felt I was too young at 57.  But the truth is, it is a physically demanding surgery and rehab, that I don't feel most elderly people, especially frail individuals, are up to.

I'm still going day by day, and I am so thankful that my own individual experience with joint replacement surgery has been positive so far.  I want to be able to get around easily for many more years. I'm also thankful that I didn't wait until I was older.