This and That

Last Wednesday, Jan 21st, I had surgery on my right knee for the second time within 18 months.

The first time, the MRI showed a torn meniscus. It was very painful, and since I'm on my feet most of the 12 hours I am at work, it had to be repaired. So, off to surgery. The doctor did a lot of repair work on my knee, but said she didn't find the meniscus torn. Way too good! I was thrilled. After six weeks of physical therapy, and 12 weeks off, I finally returned to work.

My knee never did feel the same again. I couldn't kneel, or bend my knee all of the way, and the pain never did completely go away. I had a total of 2 cortisone shots, and a series of 3 ortho-visc shots in my knee, after I returned to work. (The ortho-visc shots are made with the gel from a rooster's comb and are supposed to help replace some of the gel in the knee.) My knee felt a little better, but after 10 months, I found myself back at the doctor with increased knee pain.

Another MRI showed that the meniscus was still torn. ARRGGHH! Nothing but surgery again, would work. I was not able, or ready to go through it again, so I waited for 7 months. The doctor didn't want me to wait any longer, because the longer I waited chances were that the tear would get too large to repair. Thus, the surgery last Wednesday. She finally found the tear and was able to repair it, along with the removal of some scar tissue, and a chondrotomy (repair of some cartilage).

All I know for sure is, that my knee hurts a whole lot worse this time around. Not just my knee, either....it hurts all the way down to the tip of my toes! At least there is hope of it getting better.

In other news. Just before Christmas, son #2 was finally called back to work after having been off for several months. Yeah! All three were working again, now. Then a couple of days before Christmas, son #1 lost his job. Today, son #3 was laid off. I despise this economy right now. We may all be living under the same roof again soon, if things don't start looking up. Wow. That would really be something. Y'all prayer for us, y'hear?

I suppose I should go to bed. This pain, and the vicodin has my body clock all messed up. It may have my brain all messed up too, and this post may not even make sense. G'night.