Knee Replacement 20 Days Later (Sandy’s Story‪)‬ The Bee's Knees

Knee Replacement, 20 Days Later

Listen to our interview with Sandy Leman about her knee replacement and recovery by clicking on the PLAY button above.













I grew up in south Louisiana.

I danced a lot growing up because people in Louisiana dance a lot. And I was really into it. I also loved competitive sports. I moved to Texas and had several children, but I stayed active. Playing tennis and racquetball morphed into pickleball in recent years.

I'm 69 years old. Being physically active was really important to me and as long as I could do that, I was happy. But towards the end, prior to my surgery, I'd gotten to the point where I had to do something or I was going to lose the ability to be as active as I like to be.



























My Love of Pickleball

The court is smaller than a tennis court. It's pretty efficient. It's very social. A lot of ex athletes play pickleball. And a lot of people who really aren't athletes at all play pickleball, but those are two different levels. I was playing sort of in between, but I played a more aggressive pickleball, at a higher level. When I played I used a lot of energy and it was really good for me.















Stretches for Pickleball and Tennis

For those who are pickleball players we have a educational article and video about how to get ready for your game. Experts in their field of physical therapy, learn how to make sure you do not cause injury with your love of this growing sport. Click on the picture to learn more.





























Athletics and My Knee History

My knees were a little bit bowed. That's a genetic imperfection that might have contributed to the problem, but nonetheless, they certainly didn't slow me down. I was very fast runner, very competitive athlete. I didn't have any problems most of my life. Having children might have taken its toll on me. But I always stayed active play in between having babies.

 

Torn Meniscus

Then I tore cartilage in my knees and had both of them operated on. I did that by lifting something very heavy and pulling it on a wagon. I shouldn't have done it. But right after that I had to have a meniscus repair. I had the other one fixed after a snow skiing accident.



























Knee Performance Decline

From what I understand, when you lose meniscus cartilage it makes you more susceptible to complications. I have no arthritis anywhere else in my body. No aches and pains anywhere. Hips, hands, shoulders, everything is great. But my knees started to sort of break down because I played tennis three or four times a week. I played racquetball three or four times a week and I was playing pickleball at least two or three times a week. Just generally speaking, after the surgery, especially on my right knee, I never fully recovered from that the way I would have liked. I had to compensate for a lack of strength and range of motion.













15 Good Years

I went on like that for probably 15 years. Although I was very active eventually it just played itself out and I had to get the surgery. I found myself not wanting to go places where I'd have to walk far. I was not in constant pain and I slept well. But it was enough that the pain from overexertion got to where it was causing me not to want to do things that I would normally do.