The Half Way Point
Three weeks ago, I posted this video, that is very similar to the knee replacement surgery, I had done.
Here are my before and after pics, so you get a better idea of how bad my knee was, and what it is like NOW!
As you can tell from the initial picture, my leg was very bowed, due to Osteo Arthritis. I had very poor range of motion, and was quite limited, to what I could do.
In May, of this year, I went in for what was my 3rd Cortizone shot. You can only have 4 per year. They weren’t working good, or lasting as long, anymore. The Dr. said, “We can do this anytime you want.” He was talking about the conventional type of knee replacement. I knew the day was coming but, I just wasn’t prepared, for being laid up for 3 to 6 months. After asking all my questions, about doing it this way, or that way, and hearing, “NO, You need a new Knee!” I said, “I would go home and chew on it for a while.” I had been in poor condition, and needing this for at least, the last 5 years, my family says, more like 10, or more years. The thing was, they had wanted me to try and hold out, until I’m 60,(still a few years to go) because the replacements, only last for about 20 years.
The next evening on the news,there was a clip, much like the video above. I immediately, Googled, and got the information, and found out that the nearest place to do the surgery,similar to above, was Vancouver, Washington. They also took my insurance, which is ChampVA. I made the appointment, and everything else fell into place. I was told by the surgeon, that on a 1 to 10 scale, my knee was a 9.5, ready for the garbage can.
My surgery, was a total knee replacement, that took 2 hours. The best thing about it, is your ligaments are not involved, and the parts are made specifically to you. The parts take about 6 weeks to make, and come with jigs, in a surgical tray. I got up the same day, to do a little weight bearing and walking. On Wednesday, I got to go home. The three hour ride home, was a little much, but I made it O.K. Friday, was the first day of PT, by Saturday, I went from the walker, to a cane. On the following Tuesday, (eight days later), I went back to the Dr. I took the cane, but was walking without it. I haven’t used it since. By 10 days out, I was done with the pain pills too.
Total healing on this procedure, is 6 weeks. I have to wear, the not so fashionable TED hose,(I hate them) but don’t want a blood clot, so it is a fair trade off, I guess. I have 9 days left, on Coumadin, that has been the worst part for me, by the time they get me in the range they want me in, I will be done. The worst part of it is, you can’t have vegetables, that have vitamin K, in them. I can’t wait to have some broccoli, and a nice Spinach Salad. The other thing is, I can’t drive until November. Have to be sure the reflexes are as they should be.
If this, or a hip replacement is in your future, you owe it to yourself, to at least find out if this type of surgery, is the right choice for you.
For me, it was worth going the extra miles (167miles) from home, to have it done this way. From what I know, there are only 3 places in the country doing it, this way. So, do your research, and planning, and as for me, this is one of the best choices I have made, with absolutely NO regrets! I just wanted to share this with you, so that you know how wonderful technology is, and that You, NOW have choices!
What would these tools do for your business, and your POCKETS?
