Nowadays, many people are living with osteoarthritis and have significant difficulties with their lower limbs, myself included. This is especially true for people who are above 45 or 60 years old. Although these dysfunctions can occur in any joint, they quite often manifest in the knees due to a condition called Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease.
Imagine waking up in the morning and fall back down because your knees cannot immediately support your weight. Conceptualize not being able to take your first step because your knee feels stuck. Or the bones roughly rub together, creating a crackling sound known as Crepitus.
Worse of all, imagine having to stay in your living because you can hardly make it back home. Going on a walk without protracted rest periods, breathlessness, and exposing a pitiful limp is not an option. Some of these unfortunate vignettes are intermittent occurrences, but most have become a standard part of my daily living.
Living with Osteoarthritis
In my case, living with osteoarthritis means arthritis predominantly affects my right knee. But, I see early signs that I may have difficulty with my left hip. This is another affliction I look forward to. Atypically, walking downstairs is even more challenging than walking up to them. Imagine how demeaning it can be to have both youth and elderly rush past me in Olympian fashion while I take baby steps. Sometimes, I have to interrupt their flight to request them to help me carry something.
Upon attempting to pursue physical therapy, I found it intolerable. Coming home from it was much worse than getting there, and for the balance of the day, I was “totally spent,” as I am now whenever I go out. Recently, I received an injection of Cortisonem, which lasts for months for many people. But for me, the relief is only for about one month. The substantial and extended elevation of my blood sugar levels had not a positive effect.
One summer day, while on the bus, I saw a woman in her late forties or early fifties—intrigued that she wore shorts despite an unsightly scar that extended from about a foot below her knee to approximately a third of the way up her thigh.
We began to converse, and she revealed that six months earlier, she had knee replacement surgery. She said, before that, she had suffered tremendous physical and emotional pain and shared many of her experiences with the scenarios I mentioned before, and even more.
Don’t Suffer in Silence
As she spoke, her exuberance and buoyancy were inspiring. She said she felt no shame about her scar but was rather was proud to not experience any more pain. I never met anyone who had knee replacement surgery before. I too began to feel quite happy that there was a probable remedy to my despair.
She mentioned the hospital where she had the procedure; a facility with an excellent reputation. She said she was as excited to meet me. We exited the bus and proceeded in opposite directions.
She raised both arms shouting, “Do it, do it, do it!”; raising one arm, I retorted, “I will, I will, I will!” Within a few weeks, my enthusiasm began to wane due to the possible consequences of the treatment. I am an elderly who lives alone.
I fared going to an in-house rehabilitation center. It’s nothing more than a glorified nursing home. I once had a close family member confined to a skilled nursing facility. I’m not fond of the idea.
Final Thoughts
Finally, I am conscious of the frequency of nursing home abuse. Skilled and rehabilitation nursing facilities cause patient deterioration due to negligence and over-dependence. So, I continue to remain at home for several days on end, which, of course, is not the most fruitful way to live. Indeed, since then the quality of my life is better. I may not opt soon for surgery, but when I do I’ll be sure to weigh all my options. If you’re living with osteoarthritis, join arthritis support groups. And learn more about how to cope with the degenerative disease.
Jeff Redekopp is a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has worked in cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs as a staff member, coordinator, and manager for twenty-two years. He is also a freelance writer and web researcher.