Saturday, October 30, 2004

How I'm doing

Friends ask how my surgery went, and at this point I don't know what to tell them.  I had surgery for two reasons:  One was that I was increasingly in pain; in order to sleep at night, I had to put a pillow under my leg to get even halfway comfortable.  The second reason, and also a primary reason I didn't go ahead with total knee replacement, was that I'd like to at least work through next July so I'll be fully vested in my retirement plan at work.  Ideally, I'd like to extend that another year so I'd be 62, and eligable for social security.  I'm pretty young for total knee replacement, but once I'm retired, if need be, I'll have it.

Now, I can honestly tell you I have less pain than before surgery, and I'm not taking any pain relievers now.  But the question people ask me is, "Will you be able to go back to work?"

I don't imagine I'll know the answer to this question for at least eight weeks, when I actually go back and try it.  Meanwhile, I'm doing exercises for the upper part of my leg, keeping the left leg elevated a lot, as instructed, and surfing the 'Net a lot!  When I know more, I'll let my friends in on it.

Oh, meet my surgeon:  I'm rather impressed with her accomplishments:

Alexandra J. Strong, M.D.
Dr. Strong received her Medical Degree from the rigorous UMKC six-year medical school program. She did a residency at the Grand Rapids orthopaedic residency at Blodgett Medical Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Strong's special interests are in joint replacement, hip and knee as well as shoulder and sports medicine. Dr. Strong is the team physician for Park College with significant insights into the female athlete.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

May you be as good as new in no time, take it easy and don't work too hard.