In early 2003 I had bi-lateral knee replacement surgery following an extended period of physical therapy and arthoscopic surgeries on both knees. It was after the knee replacements I discovered I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. The new knee joints certainly made my quality of life much better and the horrific pain I had expereinced the prior three years was now gone. I worked for General Electric in Hendersonville, North Carolina and was out of work a total of five months before returning to work with some restrictions involving standing and lifting. While I hadn't been using my arms or shoulders they had begun to hurt, especially my right one. I am right handed and much of my mobility had disintegrated during my knee recovery time. Upon returning to my job, I found it increasingly diffficult to lift the materials used in my job and load my machine to accomplish my daily routines.

I made an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon and the resulting MRI revealed my shoulder joint cartilage was non-existant.This is not at all uncommon with people who have RA as it is an auto-immune disease where the body, for some unknown reason attacks itself, destroying the cartilage tissues and many times leadsto deformity of the  jjoints affected.. My grandmother had this crippling disease and her fingers were so knarled she couldn't use her hands to do the things she once did such as quilting and even making biscuits, The recommendation from the surgeon was to have a replacement joint surgery.

I scheduled the surgery for December 1st, 2003 which coincided with my official retirement date. By being out of work for almost five months with my knees, I still had five weeks vacation and with the joint pain almost unbearable went ahead and used my vacation time until my official date of retirement. the surgery went just fine, I checked into the hosptial in the evening prior to my surgery and the following morning had the surgery. I had a nerve block and my whole right arm was numb for the better part of the day of my surgery. I was release the following morning.

After a three week recovery, I began physical therapy lasting a period of almost four months, I regained almost full range of motion. It was a quality of life issue and I do not regret having the surgery. My left shoulder has improved and with the new gene altering medications I have been taking, Humira, along with methotrexate, my RA is now in a dormant. state.  I have some stiffnes early in the day but no pain. I try to exercise regularly at least 30 minutes on the treadmill and eat a more arthritis friendly diet. Hopefully my joint replacement surgeries are now over and they tell me my new joints will last 15  years or more.