Fred: you need the serious sit down with your Doctor. Dealing with the arthritis is one thing , a double knee replacement quite another. For one thing, both knees may not heal equally. You have to weigh all the pros and cons. Also talking to your Ortho after your PCP is important. He/She will shed another light on it. Then you sit down with the Mrs. and discuss it.

I am so sorry for the pain and the rigidity. I know you love being out and about. That spring jaunt in the car, daily scooter rides with the little puppy. And I don't want to see you lose any of your independence. You have worked too hard, too long for that.

Keep us updated and know I am thinking of you. Debbie

Fred, If you're not already on glucosamine, you might want to try it. I think you have to be on it for a few weeks or so before noticing any difference. Also, you can keep the knees moving when you're sitting by doing exercises to strengthen the muscles in your upper legs so you're not putting a lot of strain on the knees when you do walk. If you can afford it, look for a recumbent bike to work your leg muscles. We bought a really good used one for Gary on Craigslist - it was barely used and I got it for $80 (worth about $300). His caregiver gets him on it a couple times a week. Even though his right leg is very weak, we force him to concentrate on using it to peddle, as opposed to pulling it around with the left leg. He tries to cheat, but we catch him every time. lol Also, pool therapy for your legs is great. You can probably use some outpatient therapy funds from medicare to help with that if you can find a physical therapy place that has a pool. Hope you can avoid the replacement. I've been stalling mine off for the left knee for nearly 15 years now, and exercising in the pool and keeping the weight down does help considerably, along with the glucosamine.

Debbie,

My doctor is like me He don't want to do that since my left side is paralyzed head to toe at this age and definitely not both at once!! I sure don't want to do it either and I can tell you now my mind is not into having it done anytime!! I saw men and women on the same floor with me when I was there recovering from the stroke... I decided then I didn't want that done I would go to my grave like I am!!! Of course I never thought I'd have the problems I got now! I think I can still live through it all!!! My mind is "I don't want it done ever"... I'll keep you posted!

Sarah,

I may try that and the bi-flex stuff too, I just have to see! I got the exercise bike I used daily from VA years ago and I use it daily sometimes twice and that's how I'm able to keep going like I do now since I don't have in house care or a regular lady three times a week anymore!!! The little dog keeps me going and moving, she loves to go and ride the scooter so I got plenty company and encouragement to keep moving!!!

Oh we have a senior citizen center witl all the machines too and I go there periodically too!! Thanks again!

Fred: just some advice. Some of the supplements work great. I used them to get through Menopause - could not do hormones and use the Glucosamine for my hands. However, you must run any of those supplements by your Doctor and your Cardiologist before taking any of them. Debbie

Debbie,

I got you, yea the doc and me will sit and talk, advise, and consider my progress so far and what he thinks will be best for my condition at my age!! He has to write the scripts or call them in for me so I won't take nothing he don't think is right for my conditions!!

Like he took me off high blood pressure med saying I no longer needed them!!

I also think trying to rehab a knee replacement with one leg that don't work, would be very difficult, no matter which knee you had fixed. I hate to hear how much pain you are in, I just don't know the answer, seems like we sometimes are stuck.