“(I’m) walking up to four miles a day.”

Rhonda’s Story

What was life like before joint replacement?
Before my knee replacement, I was miserable. I used to walk two to four miles a day and was reduced to barely getting from point A to point B. 

What was the turning point for you?
I knew I needed change when my knee swelled up one night and I couldn’t put any weight on my leg. I had to crawl to the bedroom to wake my husband to take me to the emergency room. Once there, they wanted to continue bracing the knee to see if it was going to improve, and that’s when I made the decision to have the surgery. 

What is life like now?
After having total knee replacement, it took about a month for me to get through the initial part of healing. It took three to six months to totally get back to walking up to four miles a day, and I was able to get a part-time job.

What advice do you have for others considering joint replacement?
I wished I hadn’t waited. I should have told my doctor sooner I was ready to start enjoying life again, and I should have just done it.