The Left Knee Problem

[Ed Hurst]

Okay, out of the blue, Orthopedics called and made an appointment for me, too, first of June. That's the folks who do the cutting, if there is any cutting and stitching to be done.

[forrealone]

Well, that's good news - only a couple months away.  In the meantime, do take care of yourself, slow and easy my friend!  

[Ed Hurst]

According to the medical literature, I'm supposed to make the joint as strong as possible before any surgery. They recommend as much low impact exercise as one can bear. So I'm moving in that direction.

[forrealone]

According to the medical literature, I'm supposed to make the joint as strong as possible before any surgery. They recommend as much low impact exercise as one can bear. So I'm moving in that direction.

Wow!  Well, you certainly know how to train and have been through enough PT sessions in your life that you know what needs to be done.  May God grant you strength, perserverence and the right spirit for the days ahead.  You got this.  I know.

God bless you, Brother

[Ed Hurst]

Update: Saw the physical therapist this morning. The medical protocol calls for six weeks of trying to see if there is anything that improves the situation first with special exercises. Now, who wouldn't benefit from additional exercises? But the issue is to see how much pain and difficulty can be eliminated that way. I'm going to play along; I do exercises at home anyway, so this is just a couple more things. I go back next week. The therapist also got me a new cane and some special tape to help isolate the patella; apparently it moves more and in the wrong way than the therapist likes. (No surprise to me; I was told they didn't track properly way back in 1992.)

I'm still thinking I might try to find a wheelchair I can afford for stuff like shopping, since most of those power carts, when available, are in abominable shape. They also don't fit my situation very well. I need something that will support my legs being extended outward. I can still ride my bike, but walking always hurts after just 100 yards or so, and it keeps hurting into the next day or so.

[IainH]

My Dad had a mobility scooter that allowed him to stretch his legs, I called them his forward controls yuk yuk..that's only funny if you ride motorcycles.

[jaybreak]

PT and the therapists get a bad rap, but mostly from people (usually men) who don't do the exercises at home. The exercises are 80-90% of recovery; the therapy sessions are more for gauging progress.

Not lecturing you, Ed, because you know that value of it. Just making an observation.

[Ed Hurst]

Gotcha, Jay. Yes, I do the exercises faithfully, with vigor and strictly by the instructions. It won't matter if they work for the stated purpose; this is how we get where God intends to take us.

[Ed Hurst]

Okay, I got a wheelchair. It's nothing special, just a couple of grades up from the clunky stuff they have at hospitals. I have to order the leg lift extensions, but for $120 and a brand new chair that retails for a lot more, I can't complain.

Update: I ordered the elevated leg rests on eBay for less than $50. I'm all set.

[Ed Hurst]

Thank you for praying with me. Today I visited Orthopedics. They say I'm a very long way from getting a knee replacement. However, the x-rays are now 3 months old, so an MRI scan has been ordered, and I'll see that in the near future. Meanwhile, I've been injected with steroids. Should be good for a few months.

Okay, so the system wants that knee a whole lot more chewed up before they take surgical action. I get that. If steroidal treatment works for me, I'll take it. The Lord will provide whatever I need to glorify Him.