This will be my final entry for this blog.
I am happy to say that I have survived my total knee replacement of the right knee with amazing success. As of December 8, 2011, I celebrated my one year anniversary with my new knee. I visited Dr. David Denzin who performed the knee replacement one year ago for the one year evaluation. An x-ray was taken, and everything looked good. My knee flexion after one year is 125 degrees, which is in the normal range. By comparison my left knee can flex to 135 degrees. Dr. Denzin noted that while most knee replacement patients improve up to one year after surgery, some continue to improve up to 3 years post surgery. So, I might get a few more degrees as well.
At the one year evaluation, I asked Dr. Denzin about carrying weight with the knee replacement, such as lifting and moving a couch across the living room or carrying something heavy in the 100 pound range. He did not seem overly concerned, and only commented that I should use commen sense when lifting anything, but not to limit myself because of the knee prosthesis alone. The only restriction he stated was to avoid running as a sport, but that running was okay if I needed to move quickly across a busy street.
One other item to note was bowling with my knee prosthesis. I bowled for the first time since the surgery on December 21. My bowling form was off, and it fell awkward rolling the bowling ball. As I am a right-handed bowler, I had to balance and bend my right knee while releasing the 16 pound bowling ball with my right hand. My knee was not comfortable with the motion, as the bowling position required the full weight of my body on the right leg with a bowling ball in motion with the right knee flexed at about 40 degrees. It was not painful, but the knee felt stiff and uncomfortable. I suspect with exercise focused on that particular movement, I could regain comfort when bowling. Since I bowl infrequently, I will not give bowling further concern other than to note it here in the blog for readers who may be avid bowlers.
