Now that my surgery is over on both knees, will i begin to walk normal again? Will I go back to my normal activities. I am 51 years old, and feel like a crippled old woman. Besides depression and loss of memory most likely from the strong pain meds I am taking. I am curious, am I cured, and will I be normal again, such as pre AVN stage. Thank you.

-- Susan Harakson (Snuzi32@a0l.com), October 29, 2004

Answers

Hi Susan,

It takes time to recover from TKRs and hopefully you will be able to resume normal activites as you heal. You ask if you will be healed of AVN from having the surgeries. The answer is no. AVN is a complicated disease that can attack joints at any time. The key is avoiding such things as smoking and alcohol which can actually stimulate AVN.

If you are not familiar with it already, there is a support group for AVN that is very active and encouraging. You can find it at: http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/AVNSupportGroupInternational

-- Barbara Kelly (bkelly@dol.net), November 02, 2004.

Although a total knee replacement is never quite the same as a normal knee (skiing, basketball, contact sports, etc.) patients are generally able to do all of the 'activities of normal living'. That is a bit of a buzz word, but most patients can lead a normal comfortable life. This of course depends upon you rehabilitation, but the outcome for most patients is excellent. Achieving maximum improvement can take as long as a year, but 90% of the results are experienced by about 3 months. As you already know the first few weeks can be quite difficult, but the end result, according to most patients is worth the trip. Hang in there. best,

David S. Hungerford 5601 Loch Raven Blvd. POB G-1 Baltimore, Md. 21239 office 410-532-4732

-- David S. Hungerford, M.D. (dhunger@jhmi.edu), November 15, 2004.