That strange pink blob is my right knee, adorned with the fading signatures of myself and the surgeon. It’s lumpy and a bit swollen, still recovering from the stabbings, marked by a pair of white tags. I’m now beginning to feel somewhat normal, 4 days after the operation.
At first, it was painful and sensitive — I couldn’t really walk on it. That’s been changing fast, though, and now I can stand on that leg without grimacing and saying obscenities, and I can get about with the aid of a walker fairly well. Getting up from a sitting position is terribly painful, so I’ve avoided sitting much, lounging about in bed, mostly. Today that avoidance ends, and I just have to work on sitting down and standing up and shuffling slowly about the house.
I have yet to master stairs. There are two steps to get into the house from outside, and I have to work on conquering them so that I then have full freedom to explore the universe, gingerly.
I am also signed up for several weeks of physical therapy, and after that, I expect to be hiking through the cobwebby wilderness once again.
It’s a UFO – an unidentified flexing object
Thanks for keeping us all updated and wishing you the smoothest and speediest of recoveries.
A speedy recovery, and take care of your knees! Badly designed yes, but indispensable.
Take your time and rebuild strength and flexibility, both during your physio course and after. Determine what movements are best for your individual case and exercise faithfully – which is a huge PITA but better than the alternative.
(Strange how hip replacements are a breeze but knees remain a minefield always…)
It sounds like you are making the hoped for good progress, I hope that you return to full mobility jolly soon.
That knee still has a better-looking face than Trump in China when the wind removed his combover.
Looks familiar. My wife had a complete knee replacement a little over a year ago with similar photographic records. She’s much better now, but still practicing walking down stairs because that’s the motion that hurts. She’s preparing to manage London tube stations in September some of which have formidable stairs to go up and down.
Taking you time. The day after my hip replacement was two hours of torture disguised as physiotherapy. A day to recover and back again. that was the procedure for just on a month. 1 day of torture then 1-2days recovery before repeating the performance. Got rid of the walking frame in the first week. The walking stick after a month. Back on it though with crook feet and dodgy knees. Hope it goes well for you.
Be good for 6-8 weeks… or maybe 8-10 …you’re no spring chicken. I’ve had 20 years on my meniscectomy knees (if my surgeries were just placebos, i dont care, my knees dont scream anymore!) and I hope you get at least 20 good years. Heck , I hope that when you get to St Peter’s gate, and end up in the lake of fire because of course you will, you’ll be backstroking with ease! Good luck. Don’t push it.
Robro @ 6 et al. Formidible Stairs, starter for 10:- which London underground/tunnel has the worst? I managed the Greenwich Foot Tunnel stairs at 87 down then 100 back up, but my 60 year-old-knees complained…
THIS is traditionally the point at which one regrets, in one’s youth, neglecting to learn walking upside-down on one’s hands.
Thanks PZ.
Thanks for the update, PZ. Your knee looks unhappy, but that stands to reason when someone’s been rummaging around inside it. I wish you a speedy recovery and appropriate self-indulgence.
Stand back – we’re in the presence of a knight who says “knee!”
astringer @ #9 — I’m not 100% sure which station she’s particularly concerned about, but Hampstead is a guess because she’s stays in Hampstead and per the inter-tubes it’s the longest.
Your knee still looks pretty swollen, but glad to hear you say you’re improving. As you increase your activity the swelling will subside, Getting the body’s fluids circulating always helps with the swelling. why does it always feel like healing never occurs fast enough. Especially at your age.
When using stairs with a bad leg, this might come in handy: “Up with the good leg, down with the bad leg”
Get plenty of rest and take care of that leg. I want you to enjoy your upcoming retirement from Morris, and have the ability to find more of them there arachnids.