as soon as doctors will allow. While most late-in-life joint replacements will work fine for the life of the recipient, getting one replaced at an early age can risk wearing out. Allane Harris of Hickory Cove had a total knee replacement in 1999 — the result of a fall that crushed her knee cap. Nineteen years later, the pain returned, and Harris said she felt as if the knee might collapse, especially walking downhill. Hoping to get back to her daily Jazzercise sessions, she explored having another replacement. After being told there was some risk of losing her leg if the surgery did not go just right, Harris sought a second opinion from Dr. Thomas Brown of the University of Virginia Medical Center. “My other knee, an arthritis case, was replaced in Lynchburg six years ago, and the recovery was a breeze. I expect this one to be much tougher,” Harris said before her surgery. After the surgery, Harris deemed it a success and has since started therapy to regain flexibility and strength. J o i n t r e pl ace m e n t pat i e n t s
can’t go it alone. A
responsible, tolerant and loving caregiver is critical to both pre-surgery preparation and post-surgery recovery. Most doctors prefer joint replacement candidates to have a live-in caregiver rather than have them stay at an in-patient rehab facility. Caregivers can help gather recovery equipment and supplies and oversee a patient’s prescribed preparatory exercises to build stabilizing tissue strength in the joint that will be replaced. Post-recovery patients typically need help with trips to the bathroom, meal preparation and to administer medications — plus ice packs to relieve swelling and pain. “You need to be really vigilant, especially for the first 24 to 48 hours at home,” said Gale Taylor’s husband, Bill. “Gale got dehydrated and passed out twice while headed to the bathroom. Fortunately, I was right there to ease her to the floor both times.” Doug Pafford helped his wife, Sharon, through two knee replacements about six months apart. “It’s pretty much a full time job, 24/7, for the first few days,” he said.
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when your she-shed is burning, mayhem strikes, and your lizard is loose. Whether it’s for your home or business, when you call locally owned Ryan Harris Group, we answer the phone right
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We promise. ryanharrisgroup.com 540-375-9078 LAKE | |FRANKLIN FRANKLINCOUNT COUNTY 540-463-5648 540-375-9078ROANOKE ROANOKEVALLEY VALLEY || SMITH MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN LAKE Y 540-483-5648 SMITHMOUNTAINLAKE.COM
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