Arthroscopic knee “repair”

Hello all.  I have been meaning to sit down and blog an update but the days are full and the energy is low.

My Right Knee

I had a surgical procedure of my right knee meniscus on February 20.  The procedure went very well.  I was able to walk on it right away - of course, they use nerve blocks to mask the pain and the blocks last anywhere from 10-18 hours or so.  But even once it wore off, I thought there was a big improvement.  It wasn’t 100% perfect but the improvement in the knee was evident. 

But what was really unbelievable was the impact on the rest of my body.  

Although the surgery was on the right knee, my left knee was also having problems and on some days it was as bad as the right knee.  After the surgery - no pain in my left knee.  And as of today - two weeks post surgery - my left knee is still symptom free!

And then there is my lower back.  I have significant arthritis in my lower back - enough that I have received 2 treatments of steroid injections to relieve the pain.  Remember, I have low kidney function due to a kidney surgery in 2023 - and I can’t take most pain relief drugs because of that.  So steroid injections are my go-to.  After this surgery - no more back pain!

So what accounts for the improvements in the non-surgical areas!  Well I have been limping for at least a year and using a cane for the last 8-10 months.  Apparently my alignment was so out of wack that I was causing myself more problems.

Bottom line: I should have done this sooner.

All of that is the good news.

The bad news is that I will need a knee replacement at some point in the future in that right knee.  I guess the damage that he cleaned out was considerable - and that cushioning between the bones is much reduced increasing my risks for knee replacement.  I really didn’t want to hear that.  

But for now I am off my cane.  I am walking like a normal person.  I am back to doing my leg exercises and will return to the gym on Friday.  Walks for exercise right now are tough.  It does aggravate the right knee some and I am loath to push my luck (it has only been 2 weeks!).  

I have two goals right now.  

• Right now I am taking very short walks.  I have no energy - so improving my stamina is #1. 
• Number #2 - improve my balance.  Apparently if you walk on “three legs” (a cane and 2 legs) long enough, your balance degrades.  If I can’t make improvements on my own, I’ll go back into PT.

For now I am happy with the improvements even if they didn’t make “everything like new.”  I am focused on whatever I can do to avoid knee replacement surgery - but if the right knee side-lines me enough, I guess I will be forced to do it.

Focusing on the positive for now!