Finally some good news | Arthritis Information

These knee braces have been such a curse. I also wear wrist braces and when I make myself, my CPAP machine. A couple of years ago I was teasing my friends that I would never have a romantic moment again in my life. At bedtime, I look like a cross between a transformer and Groucho Marx wearing scuba gear. Let some man make it past that.

Well one of them talked me into joining eharmony.com. I met a really great guy on there. Lo and behold, he was blind. So, that took a lot o fear out of my meeting him when he flew out from LA to meet me which I thought was very brave and gallant especially when I lost him at the airport (not my fault, I swear).

As we dated, he quickly learned how much I hated those ugly, uncomfortable braces. So, as soon as we would get some place private he would hear this loud, ripping noise (they are attached with velcro). It was pretty hilarious the first time he heard that, not know ing what was going on.

Soon that was the opening sound to every romantic moment we shared. We've since broken up. But I had to tell him I was getting rid of them. He insists that I must make one final recording of that unique ripping sound, amplified of course or he has threatened never to talk to me again.

I worked really hard to try and maintain my knees and some kind of miracle must have happened. Four years ago, I was told that I needed total knee replacements. But at age 43, they weren't going to do it. Besides, I was too big of a surgical risk and the surgeon refused to touch me.

My Rheumy scoffed at that last statement. He did the Synvisc shots that the surgeon refused to do and sent me to Physical Therapy. I had the worst insurance so I had to pay out of pocket myself. But I did six months of PT and got to where I could walk with the braces and the cane. That cost me about 00. Later, when my hip almost caused me to fall because I had developed fluid on it, I decided to go with a personal fitness trainer who worked in conjunction with my Rheumy. I did that for a year and probably invested another 00 out of my own pocket. For about a year, I was even able to ditch the cane.

The weird thing is that when they did the MRI and xrays this last time, my knees no longer showed bone-on-bone damage. Did my knees actually improve or has the surgical techniques? Or, are the films wrong, the first ones or these? It will be interesting to see what the surgeon actually discovers when he can view the insides with the scope.

This is the reason though that I am such a strong believer in PT. My knees collapsed suddenly and I couldn't even put my left foot to the floor. PT fixed that and kept me mobile. Maybe it also saved me from having a knee replacement (at least for now).

All of this is why I am celebrating so much. And, no, Nini, I'm not posting a picture. I really am shy about my appearance now.

I really want to emphasize that the investment you make in keeping your body intact is worth it. I am fortunate that I don't have a spouse to run this by and could just do it. I made lots of sacrifices in other areas to do the PT and the personal trainer. But I was at the point of not walking then.

Deanna, what a powerful story of what you've specifically invested in financial sacrifice and painful work to hang on to your abilities. That belongs in your letter to the senator. A powerful stereotype bust-er if I ever heard one.

That PT must have been grueling! And the amazing results. You've just kicked my tail into getting back on the elliptical machine that I've been avoiding lately. If you can do all that, I can get my sore little bones back up on that machine.

Now I understand even more how upset you were earlier when you thought you weren't going to be able to have your surgeries, after all you have done to maintain your ability to walk.

So much of our outcomes are in our own hands, and in our own minds. You set such a great example of strength in both areas. Thank you for posting this part of your story.

And I love the ripping sound of your braces coming off! Romance and RA are pretty funky, but that's just hilarious.  

I'm glad to know that I don't have to have a man's knee. I have short, little legs. It would look very odd.

Fortunately, it is not supposed to be knee replacements at this time. But I'm sure glad you posted it since someone else might be headed for that knife.

I still can't believe that they'd put men's knees in women. What are they thinking, "Oh, I'll make a man out of you yet?"