23 Days and Counting

Recently I had knee replacement surgery. My original knee was pretty much bone-on-bone for the most part and to get any relief and improvement on the quality of life a replacement was the option.

My surgeon uses the quad sparing procedure, which means my scar is on the side of the knee and not directly over the knee. As the name implies, it spares cutting through the quad muscle. which is supposed to allow for a quicker recovery.

I am three weeks and a couple of days out from surgery. The staples and sutures are out now. I am back to work part-time. I have a "sit down" job - which I discovered actually involved me moving more than I thought I did. I never realized how much I was up doing one thing or another during the day. I am having to consolidate my standing and walking trips since I am still using a walker and will until my physical therapists tell me to graduate to a cane or walking sticks.

What I did discover during my down time from work is that I don't miss anything on television during the day while I am working. I am certain there are some shows that might be interesting but I didn't find them. I discovered that I need to get a hobby. Now what that would be, is beyond me at this point. While I was physically trying to recover, I really needed to have sort of creative outlet. Reading and internet surfing just did not cut it either.

An important part of recovery is patience. Well, let me just state, that is not an easy thing to do. I have to remember to not try to do too much too quickly. I have to remember not to twist suddenly and I have to really work on how I walk. I had babied the old knee so long that I have to concentrate on stepping correctly and getting a natural step back. I also have to remember I am not a spring chicken either. That is probably the hardest part.

I am looking forward to the rest of the recovery adventure as I have a goal to be an active participant in life and not just a bench warmer. It is 23 days and counting.