Dear, sweet Lizalily... I, too, am counting the days with you... and will be there with you in spirit as you go through this painful process of knee replacement... you truly do have the faith and the upbeat spirit to get through this, and I believe you will overcome this little obstacle and be back in the garden in no time! As always, I'm keeping you in my prayers... I don't know how you and Cindee manage... I'm such a huge baby, and I'm not sure I could deal with the pain without my normal doses of pain meds. I abandoned Celebrex years ago in favor of something much stronger that actually takes the pain level down to the point where I can get out of bed and move through the days... and sleep through the nights. Some days are worse than others, but I think the accident definitely shifted my Lupus into a higher gear... I can certainly relate to unfolding after a long car ride! Our doctor is in Chicago, which is a 3 1/2 hour drive, one way! I'm thankful we only have to go once every three months! It's an all day adventure, and at the end of the ride, I'm stiff as a board! Lizalily, I hope you and your partner have a wonderful time tomorrow for your last big fling before surgery! It sounds like you have a great day planned! Cindee, I think Lizalily is right... you'll be much better when it's all said and done, and both legs and hips match length-wise... you have way too much enthusiasm for life to let this get you down! I see you as having this wonderfully fun-loving, bubbly personality... and I hate to see you down in the dumps. :-( Both of you should be happy, and thankful, that your problems will soon be distant memories! You both are good friends and wonderful people, and you deserve to be happy and live life without pain! I'm pulling for both of you, and I know everything will work out just the way it's supposed to! You'll both be running circles around your gardens in no time flat! I'm in the process of taking lots of flower pictures to share during recuperation time, and I hope I can at least put a smile on your face, Lizalily... and for you, Cindee, there will be lots of garden pictures, and hopefully photos of my new bulb garden in full bloom! My best to both of you... I have faith that all will be well... Hugs!

I agree with asolo; coumadin must be monitored carefully. Depending on his coumadin levels, my husband has a blood test every 2-4 weeks. My mother went through the same thing after her hip surgery. However, all their blood work was done at a lab. If your MIL is just going to a lab, she probably needs to make a specific appointment with her primary care physician to discuss the pain issue. Would that doctor have access to all her medical records, including those from the specialists that have treated her for the heart valve replacement & ileostomy? That way the doctor could make an informed decision about which medications could work for her. It also may be time to consider accompanying her to the doctor appointments. Often times the elderly don't understand what the doctor has said and, therefore, can't explain what was done. And sometimes, after weeks of complaining to their loved ones, they won't even mention their complaints to the doctor. Your MIL may need a second set of eyes & ears and an advocate when she sees her doctors.

I tried it--in fact, I bought a large bottle (360 caps) by Neutraceuticals from Vitacost.com. I didn't try it for long, though, because it seemed to make my joint pain worse. I can't say for sure that the ACV was responsible, but I stopped at least temporarily. Later I read that it is the acid in grapefruit and oranges that causes joint pain for some, so perhaps the acid in ACV is the problem. Somehow that doesn't seem all that likely, though, so I may give it another try. If that doesn't work, I'll be offering the bottle as a giveaway on the KT. :-) My joints are feeling relatively good now, though. Giving up peanuts and grapefruit made a huge difference! Thanks for asking, Judy.

Thanks, Kathy! I just had X-ray of my knee & it is wearing out! Shots don't help long & I am now on a metal off-set cane all the time & ice packs & need a transport wheelchair. May have a less invasive procedure done to remove the pieces of bone that have broken off & irritating the membrane. Total knee replacement I am told by friend ( & others who have had both done!) say the knee replacement is MUCH more painful with longer healing & a lot of PT - over a year! than the hip replacement was! I am not a patient person with myself & hate all the outdoor gardening, etc. I have done all these years that I now can't do at all... poor hubby now has to take over most of it & I try NOT to be critical of his methods? So much fun in a kitchen chair on wheels trying to make meals & trying to stay off my leg ... gee! those kitchen cabs., sink, the stove burners, etc. are so much TALLER than I had imagined?!! :) Adelante here has been SO good about getting needed handicapped equipment & now I need a small, narrower transport chair for the house & car as the walkers don't work now with my knee. Wish my condition now, Kathy, was more amenable to your suggestions but think it has gone too far & sadly I had no warnings earlier! I too, like your mother, will soon be 79 & been quite out-door gardening/lawn mowing active all my life & no major joint issues on either side of my family except osteo in hands. Janen: Yes, Dr. has me now on Rx (that strength not available off-shelf now I heard) 600 mg Ibuprofen 2-3 times/prn a day & it helps well for 3-4 hrs.! Was taking Tylenol too & alternating with the other but worry about the long-term affects of each!? Which is best for inflammation & which for pain ... I haven't figured it out yet for sure! Thanks Janen!