On Dec. 4 I had my left knee replaced. It is my third implant which follows a hip implant six years ago and a shoulder replacement last February. I will be having my right knee replaced next May, making me part of the new improved bionic human.
I am grateful that orthopedics has come this far, but I wish I could have been part of a more futuristic procedure which I’m sure will rely totally on stem cell regeneration. Won’t it be great when they can simply regenerate cartilage and bone without cutting, sawing and suturing?
Healing from surgery or any illness does give you a lot of space for reflection. This can be good and bad. The bad side for me comes from my inner critics that scold me for getting into this predicament in the first place. “Why did you have to be so excessive? You could have been more moderate and then this wouldn’t have happened!”, or “ How come this happened to you? Other people go full steam ahead and don’t have to have joint replacements!”F
Unfortunately when I like something, I really LIKE IT! I danced most of my life and taught aerobics for over 20 years. Part of the excessivity was based on the fact that I was a single parent and needed the money. However when you’re young and nubile you cannot project yourself into the place where the very thing you love will end up hurting you.
The information on overusing joints and its negative outcomes was certainly not available then. I use the aforementioned argument with inner critics often and it seems to quiet their voices. However, the “Why did this happen to me?” scenario is harder to get rid of.
I have a huge attachment to injustice and my situation seems riddled with it. I was, after all, trying to earn a living so that I could pay the mortgage, feed the kids and continue to have heat and electricity. But all of those responses mean nothing, a compromised joint doesn’t care, and the reasons why did not get me canonized. It is what it is! Which is a metaphor I find both appealing and repugnant.
So what have I learned from my surgical journeys? First and foremost, don’t take your body for granted. It is an incredible vessel and it usually serves us well. We need to reciprocate and give it the care it needs. You can rest assured that I am definitely going to use common sense when it comes to my exercise routines unless of course I will be able to learn the Argentinean Tango, then all resolve may go down the ballroom drain!
As a bilateral hip replacement patient, I certainly can relate to this. I learned a lot while going through rehab for both new hips when I was in my mind 40s, and have written a lot about the process. It wasn’t fun, but I am grateful for all I learned from the experience. I wish you speedy healing!
Hello Loretta!
I’ve been looking for an email address for you or some way I could get to you privately, but this will have to do. Been a fan of yours for 30 years; used to use cuts from your videos as energy breaks for management trainings I was conducting.
Anyway, what I am writing about is a book I just finished titled RUSHAHOLICS ANON. Maybe you can tell from the title what it’s about. I am wondering, if this does indeed get through to you, if you could get back to me — jimballard33@gmail.com — with your answer to my herewith request to send you a sample of the book. My not-so-hidden agenda is: If you like it, would you consent to write a Foreword for it? (You can check me out, author to author, on amazon.com under either Jim Ballard or James Ballard, as I’ve used both on several books.)
Thanks, Loretta.
Jim Ballard
It took 2 1/2 hours to get here (long story) but the Universe insisted that I find you and read this blog because I recently heard that cartilage can be regenerated with success in many cases. I first heard about it on podcast #1274 on Super Human Radio. The person behind the Intra-Articular Growth Hormone Treatment is Dr Dunn at http://www.iagh.com. You may want to check it out the next time an original part needs replacement 🙂 Also, for your comfort, a reminder that grain promotes inflammation and you may wish to consult with your Naturopath regarding inflammation. Consulting with a Naturopath changed our lives and aches and pains are history at our house – it’s all about nutrient dense food and maintaining lean muscle mass (little but effective exercise). Cheers!