In an article by Tracey Bryant, The University of Delaware researchers Joseph Zeni and Lynn Snyder-Mackler in the Department of Physical Therapy are doing research on Rehabilitation of Older Adults after Knee Replacement. Their findings showed a weight increase in 67% of those having had knee surgery, compared with a control group. Over a two year time period the average weight gain was 14 pounds.
Their findings included the following statement :
“For physical therapists and surgeons, the common thinking is that after a patient’s knee has been replaced, that patient will be more active,” says Snyder-Mackler. “But the practices and habits these patients developed to get around in the years prior to surgery are hard to break, and often they don’t take advantage of the functional gain once they get a new knee,” she notes.
For those of us that have endured long term chronic pain, have altered our lifestyles for years and were in great pain prior to surgery, I totally relate to this statement. I know the gap that existed for me when I was suddenly pain free and I was supposed to trust that I would now be able to do things I could not do previously. I remember having to watch others do things, like get into a car. I had a developed a crazy distorted way of doing it. And what was strange was that I could watch another person do it but my muscles struggled to understand it. I had to go very slowly, trying to imitate the move and eventually I could do it. But it was as if there was a loud internal voice telling me “You are really going to pay a pain price if you try to do that. You can’t do that”
This is the reason I continue to want to connect on this subject of chronic pain recovery. There is much more that someone needs to do to thrive. In addition to joint replacement surgery, we need other interventions. We have to reconnect with our selves as we were before the pain experience. Pain leaves a lot of debris that needs to be cleared to fully appreciate a new lifestyle.
Have you felt a disconnect in being able to appreciate your abilities post pain/surgery? How have you dealt with it?
Mary Byrne Eigel 
I have experienced this time and again after a flare-up. I have found Feldenkrais to help me safely discover efficiant and appropriate ways of moving within the current state of my body.
I routinely recommend it to patients after injuries or trauma, as it helps move out of the compensatory movement habits.
Cheers,
Rebecca 🙂
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your journey too. Continue to be a light to the world in your own special way… =)
Bless you and your kind words.