Category: knees

Shocker…not…..

My knee is “f”‘d up again.

I am due to work with 5 year olds on Friday and the podiatrist who initially diagnosed my tendonopothy said I needed to invest in firmer shoes.

Well, like a dummy, I listened to him, and wore the shoes for 3 hours on Saturday.Now, below the right hand corner of my knee cap on my left knee, I have a helluva bite pain.

This is, IMHO,falling under the “when it rains it pours” category.

If there is some relief tomorrow, well, I’ll lay low and hope for the best.If not, I guess I’ll traveling to Somers’ Point for my birthday.

Tra-la-la-la…you know the rest….ppppbt!

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All the News That’s Fit to Print

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Well, we spent the morning in Somers’Point, where I had an appointment to see my infectious disease doctor, who had told me to stay on my antibiotic and the ointment that he had prescribed for me, and wants to see me a week from Friday.If there is no significant improvement, then, I am assuming, that the hospital bag I have packed and taken to the past three appointments which I never used might actually be opened.It goes without saying that I am hoping against that.

I am supposed to start walking” a little” to try to get my legs used to getting out there again.I was warned that there was to be no excess, or I might end up back at square one.That’s just what I need…NOT.We have all been playing the price for being stuck in the house, or should I say all of us but Jim.

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The overcast day was an appropriate match for my mood.I had been around the block enough that I KNEW there was a chance that I’d have to be admitted.Thanks to the creme he told me to put on, the creme lightened my knee so it wasn’t the scary shade of violet that it was. Now my knee looks almost normal, but a little warmer shade of pink.As per the doctor’s directions, I started walking a little outside in order to get rid of my sea legs and get them working back to the state that they were in at the beginning of last month.

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Two of my nurses can’t wait to accompany me on my walks.

Putting It Out There

Today, I touched base with my orthopedic doctor and updated him with what’s going on with my leg.

Sitting my desk while I was on my phone,I saw my calendar and realized I’ve been laid up with this for almost three weeks.

Three weeks,two antibiotics…

The doctor told me he wanted me to come in tomorrow so he can actually see what is going on.I realized that I am going to get some peace of mind.Either I am going to have to get admitted and get some stronger antibiotics or I am going to another course of my current antibiotics.After all my cancers and other illnesses,I have always appreciated being healthy.Being over 55,I realize that you have to savor what you have and come back stronger to keep it.I have been laid low for a reason, and, in the end,I know the result is I’ll be back stronger than ever.I am trying to rest and get better,and at the same time,recharge my batteries.Granted there are times the girls and I look at each other, and I know they miss the norm I have established with them, especially since we have been down here full time.I know the first time that we get all out back walking together,it’ll be like we never stopped.
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The bay will still be there.Things will be the same.In order to go on,though,there’s one important thing.

“I’ve got to get better.”

We all can’t wait!
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A New Day, the Same Ailment

It’s a beautiful day down here at Delaware Bay.I should qualify that by saying, I THINK it’s a beautiful day.

I can see out my front and back windows and it is a pretty day, but I haven’t been out of the perimeter of the house.You see, I woke up this morning and the red that was working to leave my knee?Well, it came back with a vengeance.I am waiting for the orthopedic doctor to call me back as I type this.

It is a pretty day. All my windows are open, no air-conditioning, and a good breeze is going through the house.The girls are in their usual positions, which is always a few feet from me.I had the inspired idea to call my buddy Denise, who was my maid of honor, and it was good to hear her voice.So with the exception of a warm, red knee,I am good.

Sorry for venting, but that is over.Things have got to be looking up!

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Missing…

God, I miss being outside!

Since I’ve been sick I’ve been as far as the perimeter of the front yard and back yard, although Jim and I snuck out real quick for some banking this afternoon: it was a car ride so it really didn’t count!
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We have spectacular sunsets down here at the bay, and I have to admit, there are times where I’d just be too tired, and I figured I’d walk down to the bay tomorrow and, like mass transit, “catch the next one.”

I don’t think I’m going to be missing them once I get better.The key here, though, is to actually BE better so I can walk down and catch them. I know the girls miss being out, and being in the yard, for them, is a lousy substitute.
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The girls are with me as I type this, and Zush is lying low and Kasia is looking out the window for her dad. I have a lot of mileage to make up with them!
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Five years…

Some days it seems like only yesterday.

This upcoming Thursday marks five years since my double knee replacements.I remember taking the girls for a last walk the night before the surgery, and as I walked down the hill toward the field, I felt the crunching in my knees and thought that it’s the last time I’ll hear that sound and feel that feeling.

So much has changed in those five years.

My Mom is gone,we left the city,I retired…I can go on and on.

Fortunately,with my union bargained medical benefits.I managed to get through the whole deal,and the pain is a faint memory.

Life goes on.

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Bermuda Triangle of “Knee-d”

My leg is rebelling.

More precisely, after close to a year of fit bit zipping, my right leg below my knee, is rebelling. Yesterday and today,it has been swollen a bit.

If you remember,or if you are late to the party, I had double knee replacements in March of 2011.So there should be no issues, right?

Hah.

With the swelling as one part of the Knee-d Bermuda Triangle, the second part would be the medical care.

Oh yeah.Had double knee replacements and have an issue with a leg? Don’t move ninety-some miles away from the surgeon who replaced your bum knees.You see, down here in the boonies, NOBODY wants to deal with your sore leg, as they don’t want to touch someone else’ work.Nice, eh?

The third point of this triangle is the leg itself.I used my head and didn’t do 15,000 steps today: I was babying it a little bit. The leg is somewhat less swollen than it was yesterday, and honestly, pain was really not an issue.It’s just when something gets swollen with your leg, and you know you are smack dab in the middle of your fifties, you get concerned.

Thanks to my friend Kate for a long distance consult.To my other buddies who have heard my tale of woe, thanks to you too. Zush and Kasia still got walked and by using my head, we are hopefully going back down to normal.

Stay tuned.

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Inland Ice

Yesterdays’ post dealt with chunks of ice in Delaware Bay.

Overnight we had sleet down here that would have had Katerina Witt shaking her head and going WTF?

Our handicapped ramp in the back is metal, so when I take the girls out, I have to go out very slowly, as I still have the phobia of landing on my knees and seeing pieces of metal sticking out of my knee replacements.It’s almost 4 years but falling on ice is still pretty scary.

We went down for our walk this morning and although the temperature was pretty stable at 28, you were getting your head wet from the ice melting when it dripped off the trees.I feel sorry for Kasia, because with weather getting warmer, she will definitely miss the snow. The girls are pretty good though, as they know the tone of my voice when I tell them,”Go slow for Mommy.”

I hope, gentle reader, you have fared well in the ice. Hang in there: spring is coming.

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A bit of Fit? Or A Fit Bit?

I bought a zip fit bit to cover my fitness needs while I am healing from my blown out tendon in my knee. My physician seemed to feel that walking was a pretty good way to go.

I just got my weekly email from Fit Bit and found out that since Sunday I have walked 11.81 miles and I went “whoa.”I never realized that.Prior to having my zip fit bit, I have gone through pedometer after pedometer and lost them. This zip Fit Bit clip is securely fit on my clothes.It is accurately measuring my steps and I find that I am trying to meet a 10,000 a day step quota.

Stay tuned.

Hurting

I have been trying to be religious about attending my flip fitness class.

Until last week.

I left class and as I walked away, my right knee started flaring up. Not good, considering that I have two knee replacements.

I have picked up a fitbit, because throwing my leg into different positions may not be the thing to do: it might be time to gp back to basics, while my knee heals.It’s rough after having gone through the knee replacements, because you remember how it feels when things swell up and then when it actually blows up again.It’s like it’s your worse nightmare.

Walking will be the tour de force for the next few weeks until the knee quiets down.Here’s hoping that it will.

Sausage legs

Zush gets her vet visit on Friday morning and I went to my doctor today.

Evidently, the equation of more than halting off a water pill is not very smart, as far as I am concerned.My legs have been swollen, I am not a salt girl, and I was scared.

I went to my doctor this morning with my low blood pressure and he determined that going from 50 mg to 12.5mg wasn’t working….you think?

New medication starts today so we’ll see what’s what. I can’t say I am in pain: I just am really uncomfortable.

Stay tuned.

Tired beyond words

Boxes have been moved into the Undisclosed Location II and boy are we busy.

It’s not like we are in there immediately: far from it.The little things add up and it makes for a long day. Add onto the long day a sore leg and it just intensifies it by a thousand fold. When you need a good comfortable chair, well, fat chance: the furniture comes in another eight weeks.
So for now, it’s just good night,and it’s off to a shower and bed.

Tomorrow is another day!

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It’s quiet.

It’s 1:17am and I am the only one awake in our home.

Amazing what trying to rebound from slipping and falling will do to you.

I crashed and burned about 9:30pm and Kept my aching body under the covers. I had a scare when walking the girls last night that the ligament behind the right knee was not feeling too supportive and I have not felt that in a long, long time.It’s hard to believe that it’s going to be three years since the knees were replaced.Jim and I both agree that we have to shake off this temporary abode malaise and start getting our act together. I personally am looking forward to having a fully working kitchen again and flatlands to exercise myself and the pups in.

Bring it on!

Below? An almost three year old picture of the knees while in rehab…lovely, right?
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Falling….

…I’ll give you a hint: it isn’t in love.

We had an inch of snow flow an hour this morning and when I was walking down for the bus, I fell one time and it was very funny.There was so much snow and ice packed down, it was as if I dropped my butt on a chair made of snow.

After laughing about that and walking a little further down, my next fall wasn’t so funny.With two knee replacements I got a little scared because it felt like a ligament was hurt.Needless to say,I finally got up,waited for a bus that never came, and then had to walk up 4 long city blocks to a different bus’ stop.

**sigh**

Is it April yet?

Any one left liking snow?

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My Kasia is the only one I know, right now that is still in love with snow.

Every time we get out and there is fresh snow**which seems to be quite frequent of late**, she runs around and goes crazy and then makes doggie snow angels in the snow. Jim and I can only laugh, because it really is as if she is having the time of her life.

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My Zosia, on the other hand, shows that she is a seasoned veteran of snow. Her forte’ is fresh white snow to eat for as long as she wishes.I guess it’s her equivalent of vodka on the rocks. To us in seems always incredible, in that Zush turns almost puppy like in the snow.

I come home from work, my body tense from fear of falling and hurting my knees,tight from walking on what crunchy snow there is, and just waiting to hit the front door.

My snow bunnies greet me.
It rocks!

No shoe like an old shoe

Last night I said goodbye to an old friend…

A 15 year old pair or clogs with heels.
**sigh**

They were the first leather clogs I bought, and I was in Lancaster. I remember they were a steal at $15.00!
I wore them to death until my knees gave out, and I put them back on post-op.

They passed away, part from wear, part from rot, yesterday. A better, more comfortable clog I’ll never know!

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Thanks for another Friday

This Friday my thanks are solely centered on restful times.

Despite my ability to get around on my new knees, sometimes I get off the train or bus and the steps are steep. I came off the steps one day this week and as a result, my right leg is swollen.

As I can walk on it, I just have to rest it and try to get the inflammation down. I am thankful for Undisclosed location, and the ability to rest. The walks with the girls will be short, but the main thing is we’ll all be together !

Have a nice weekend.

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Happy Birthday, Titanium Style!

 It was one year ago, on the 18th of March, that I had my two knees taken apart, and two new titanium knees put in their place.

It has been a long haul… LONG, long haul..I did my PT post-op , and  I can do steps , but not quite well enough to make me happy. I know it takes time, but you wish you can walk, er, should I say, ambulate, as a “regular” person. I can bend my knees and often do my exercises to keep them a little limber, but sometimes, you think it would be nice just to be able to jump out of a car. I am just biding my time, trying to get the weight down, and make the knees work.

It was hysterical to look at the picture that I have added to this post one year post-op. I remember the relief at actually having my knees done. The mere fact that when I’d be standing up, I would no longer hear the crunch crunch of bone on bone when I would walk-that was a thought that made my day. The bow-legged stance that I had adapted along the way would be a thing of the past, and I was so happy to say good-bye to it. My youngest dog daughter, Kasia, NEVER had a real walk with me. New knees would allow me to finally get her out with Zush on a real walk. Zush, who suffered with me as my knees went downhill, would be walking full-steam with me again. As my nephew Greg would say, “It’s a win-win” situation.

Thank you to all who have helped me, prayed for me, supported me and stayed by me during this year. I have another 29 years to go on the warranty, according to Dr. Bartolozzi…..here’ hoping!

 An actual post op shot of one of the two knees the hours after surgery.

Wellness has a price…

Walked with an Undisclosed Location buddy today from our meeting spot down to the channel,which Jim has ball parked as 4.6 miles round trip. I feel really good , and a hot shower later, well, I think a little back and body Excederin are in order. I feel really good, but a little achy, so I think this might  be the ticket.

Walking down here calms me and clears my mind. I have two good buddies who I walk with and with Jim getting better, well, the girls have been getting good walks from Mom, so it stands to reason that I’d be less sore than from the beginning.

It’s good to be in motion again.After four years of classical bad diagnoses of torn meniscus and $80K in titanium knees later, I am coming up to the one year mark of my surgery. Best thing I ever did, or should I say, had to do.

 

 

 

 

Save the Drama for your Momma..

…Well, since Mom isn’t here, I have been trying to help my brother Bob get seen at Pennsylvania for his knee, which is killing him. He didn’t realize that when, God forbid, it would come to a chance of surgery, the Doctor wouldn’t touch you until  you lose the weight. Bob is morbidly obese. “How am I going to lose 100 pounds in a month?” I told him you aren’t necessarily having surgery, and at least they would get you started on the road to healing your knee. Stay tuned for this one.

…On the other hand, there was NOTHING worth blanking out my brain on Sunday night more than the Kardashians. Having gone through the week I went through, I could only snicker at their drama. It’s making public television look like the only way to go.

Here’s hoping we all have a little less drama this week………( outside of the beauty of this dramatic picture)

 

Sock monkey-Part Deux

It was so funny.

This morning, after the morning walk,we came back in and had a family pass with Sock Monkey. Dad, Mom,Kasia,and Zush.

I really appreciated having my knees done, because Jim and I are the defense and Kasia runs like the wind.Nice to be able to bob and weave for the little girl to have a challenge.

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Sock Monkey

 

 

Here is a picture of my “good” girl, Zush, with Kasia’s sock monkey toy hanging in her collar.**thanks, Mom, for another humiliating picture..woof!**

My buddy Debbie Zinar was talking up sock monkeys before Christmas and when I saw one in a dog size, I got it for Kasia. She absolutely adores it, and it is good from the extent that Jim and I can throw it around the house without actually breaking anything.Once in a while, Zush gets the kind of bemused, yeah, go ahead, I don’t WANT it look but I have seen her sneak over to it-it’s so cute. It makes me appreciate having the knees done, because when Kasia and I play sock monkey in the house, I can actually chase her around the table and you can see the puppy in her scheming..too cute!

  Here is the Devil Dog, aka, Kasia girl resting, getting ready to dream of her sock monkey!

 

I wouldn’t trade either girl or sock monkey for ANYTHING!

Back in the day..

Back in the day, Jim wasn’t used to getting a wife birthday presents and Christmas presents in the same week.

Then I turned 50. Hah! Got a smart phone, shore house and HP laptop all within one month. Nice.

In anticipation of a life after my current job, Jim got me a birthday/Christmas gift last night. I have crossed the abyss. I now own a Mac book Pro. I am an apple girl.

 

Thanks Honey.

 

In other avenues, today is my Mom’s 89th birthday and I will be the first to admit that I seriously wondered if she’s see it. Thank you God, for the gift of my Mom.

It is also the 9 month birthday of my new knees….

 

Phew…

Busy weekend!

Farewell from the undisclosed location, for now…..

xxoo

My day is better than yours..NOT

Should know that when the day starts and mercifully I am at home with Jim, and running late, and need a ride to the train-not a good sign.

Make it to the fore-mentioned train by the skin of my teeth. Situated, comfortable, until 2.5 stops later…the lights on the train flicker…Hmm…don’t subway cars do that? Not trains?Well, then the fireworks started as the train lost its’ pantograph and the power that went with it.**thanking education from two nephews on trains 101 as they grew up**

Joined the huddled masses out to North Broad Street in hopes of catching a bus. Got to City Hall and caught a second bus. Got off at Inepta headquarters to get a note to excuse the lateness**read sarcasm here, as employer probably won’t accept it**, and then kicked in with eighty thousand worth of titanium to clock in by 7:223am,sweating oh so gracefully as I strode down to the office.

Hopefully, my coffee will settle me down and things, well, I am shuddering to wonder what the REST of the day will bring.

Hope yours is less stressful.