I like to use the term "fer shitza" whenever I describe my knees.  They are absolutely positively fer shitza & have been for many years now.  Of course, as we age, it seems the things that hurt just keep getting worse & my knees are no exception.

My knees prevent me from doing a lot of things & that list has gotten longer too, with the years.  Once in awhile I can walk through a big store like Hobby Lobby or Meijers but most of the time not, so hubby pushes me in a wheelchair....on the rare occasions I go.  We try to go to an amusement park about 75 miles away every year, with the grandgirls, and it's an all-day affair. with lots of walking.  This will be the 3rd year I'll be in a wheelchair for the festivities.  The more-than-a-few years before that, we didn't go at all, because of my knees.  I was too embarrassed to be pushed in a wheelchair.  I've thrown that embarrassment out the window since then. 

I went to an orthopedic surgeon about 35 miles away over 10 years ago.  He's one of the orthos that take care of the knees of the Notre Dame football team.  I figured if he took care of that huge franchise, he was one of the best.  He was, I suppose, but my appointment was a total of 10 minutes.  He listened to my symptoms, bent my legs a couple of times, told me it was pointless to try cortisone injections, pronounced the diagnosis that I needed bilateral knee replacements, and said to call him when I was ready to set that up.

Needless to say, I never made that phone call.

I had x-rays done on my knees not so long ago.  The technician, before doing the procedure, asked me why I was getting x-rays that day.  I told him "To show my doctor how bad he knows and I know my knees are."  

I'm NOT getting any knee replacements...partial, total, or anything else.  As a retired R.N., I have my reasons.  Those reasons are in the same bag with the reasons I don't like taking prescription medications or going to the doctor unless absolutely necessary.

My fer shitza knees and extensive osteoarthritis are both what keep me from exercising as is critical for a diabetic to do.  But I've tried, believe me!  Last year I bought one of those gizmos that you mount your street bicycle on, to make it a stationary bike for inside the house.  I thought I could at least do that.  

Nope, my knees are so bad that I couldn't peddle it.  They wouldn't make that round circular motion.  I sat on the bike & bawled because I never ever dreamed I couldn't ride a bicycle anymore.  I thought I could & the fact that I couldn't do it never entered my mind. 

I bought one of these exercise thingies a couple years ago.  I've tried it several times but could just never make it work.  The chair you're sitting on, when you pedal it, has to be just the right height.  I tried several chairs but none of them did the trick.  Other things were wrong with the design too, that I won't bother listing here.

I sold it at the garage sale this year, for $5.

In the constant quest to find a way that I could get some exercise, I was browsing Amazon when I came upon this....an electric exercise thingy!  I never knew they made such a thing.

BINGO!!!!!

Oh my gosh, this little gizmo is a miracle!  It doesn't look like much & frankly looks like it would be sold by a snake oil salesman who was in the habit of making false promises.  But I'm tellin' ya, this thingy is wonderful.  When I use it, I feel like I've taken a nice long walk without my knees screaming afterward.  My husband tried it first & said he felt like his whole legs were exercised.

I like to pass on information like this in case anyone else is in the same position I am.  There's many settings so you can start out slow & either stay slow, like me, or increase the speed.  Just put your feet on the pedals, start the machine, relax, & let the machine do the work...but your legs truly are "doing the work" too.

I hope this helps anyone out there in need of answers like me.

Blessings, Andrea xoxo