Thursday Sept. 17, 2009:The 1st Anniversary of my Partial Knee Replacement

Today marks the 1st birthday of my Oxford partial knee implant. I spent the day working---8 hours on my feet, something I certainly couldn't do a year ago===and for many months prior to my PKR. Although 95% of the time it feels fine, occasionally I do get twinges but for the most part, I can't even describe how much better my knee feels. Unfortunately, my other knee and my left hip now have their pains, but at least my other knee feels really so much better, I can't even describe it!

I never did have doubts about having a PKR before the actual surgery, but if I had, they would be dispelled by now. If I ever need replacement of the aforementioned other knee and hip, I would do it again---even though there was a lot of work involved in getting it to the point where I am now, but all totally worth it.

I'll be spending tomorrow at the Big E, a very large fair which requires a lot of walking. It was something I said last year at this time that I would want to do the next year and I am. So Mission: Accomplished (unlike other things that have been declared accomplished, lol).

I meant to take a picture of my knee today but didn't get a chance to. Maybe tomorrow! In the meantime, if you're someone reading this who is thinking about having a PKR, if your situation is one that you are at the point of thinking about having one, if I were you, I'd go for it. I spent quite a few months in terrible pain pre-surgery and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life living that way.

Monday April 20, 2009

I meant to write this yesterday but somehow the day passed and I never did! We had a very very busy Saturday. We went to Cambridge to see Andy. Due to parking permit issues, we had to meet him (and his girlfriend) at a T-station down the line from where he lives, where there was also a humongous parking garage. I went up and down stairs like I hadn't in probably a year and a half. We took the T to Somerville and had brunch at Renee's. I had French toast with chocolate sauce and raspberries! Yum! Then we took the T to Brookline to see my old house. where I lived until the end of 3rd grade, in June, 1963, when we then moved to NYC. The brick wall in front of the house wasn't there when we lived there. Andy kept asking me why my parents sold the house and moved to NYC because the house is amazing. We also saw the park across the street from it where I used to climb trees and go to an annual Easter egg hunt. Then we took the T back to Cambridge to his apartment where we met the darling Sasha kitten. Not a great picture (see above) but the only one you can actually see her. Then we walked to Harvard Yard. On the way, Allen called to say if it would be okay to have dinner with Kathy's parents as well as them once we got there. Once at Harvard Yard, I thought about my parents being there, as my mother was class of 1940. Lots of tourists and others around. Then we took the T back to where the car was parked, drove the kids back tio Andy's apartment and left for Easthampton to see Allen and Kathy-this around 3:30ish maybe. We got to Easthampton, met their new cat too (forgot to take a picture) and then went out to dinner at a diner we've been to with them. We met Kathy's parents there too. Nice dinner, although the waitress forgot a lot of things. Then we drove home. Having left the house at 8AM and arriving home at about 8:45PM, it was a long day but a great day. I could never have walked that much a year ago without terrible swelling in my right knee and terrible pain. Thank you, Oxford Partial Knee Replacement! My left knee (unreplaced but with its worsening issues) survived too but was a little achy. Leg muscles -mainly calf-were a bit stiff yesterday but are feeling better today.

I'm not working this week but am working next week, but at the end of the week so it's like having 2 weeks off again, unless I get called in to work unexpectedly. We shall see.

Tuesday April 14, 2009

I realized last night that my new knee is actually now beginning to feel normal again, with the few moments of discomfort mostly when I'm trying to get comfortable or trying to sleep and either I turn wrong or I'm putting too much pressure on the Oxford implant area. My right leg no longer feels like it's longer or heavier than my other leg. I had some tightness on the lateral side and that's slowly fading. The hamstrings are rarely tightening up now. Yea! Only took nearly 7 months (although everyone told me it would be a year before I felt completely normal again) after my partial knee replacement, and my ankle is still feeling like it needs to crack frequently. But on the whole, it really feels so much better! Now I just wish my left knee would stop reminding me all's not well there!

Thursday March 5, 2009

Still waiting for my medical records to arrive. No mail at all yesterday probably because Jonathan parked the black Jeep too near the mail box for the mail truck to pull up close enough. So I am hoping today will be the day.
I am pretty sure I'm not working next week at all. Going to check again later. I am. however, working Friday and Saturday of the following week, having found them on the self-serve stuff of the Macy's site again.
Despite the bash of my knee into the dishwasher door the other day, I didn't get a bruise. Maybe some slight discoloration but definitely not a bruise. I think my platelet count will be lower next week than it's been judging by the number of little bruises I've managed to get. But I could be wrong. A week from today I have an appointment with the hematologist and I guess I'll find out. New knee is still doing well for the most part. Only at night do I get some pain for some reason along the side of the Oxford implant, but nothing terrible. Yea!

Saturday Feb. 28, 2009

Just a quick post to say that I noticed a few days ago that my new knee (Oxford Partial, which is the brand of implant I have) clicks when I bend it and the lateral side of the same knee makes crunchy noises (ut oh!) when I bend it.