June 8, 2021:

Since I have already used up my insurance deductible for the year on my kidney stone surgeries, I thought to myself, “What else could I break since any future procedures now are super cheap?!”

After weighing several options, I landed on tearing the meniscus in my right knee.

Seriously, though, earlier this spring, I iced it down after officiating basketball games and line judging volleyball matches, but it started to give me constant pain in early May. After x-rays and an MRI, the tear was revealed. Essentially, the cartilage just wore down over time.

The surgery was Tuesday morning, and I was home a couple of hours later. A photo of the tear is shown below with an arrow pointing to the posterior horn on the medial side. They cut out the torn portion and cleaned up other areas of cartilage.

They want you up and around on it as soon as possible, but putting pressure on it right now, mere hours after the procedure, is very tender and difficult. With pain meds and repetition, rehab will be easier sooner than later.

For now, on day one, eating Raising Cane’s and watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation” with ice on the knee will get me started on my road to recovery.

June 9, 2021:

It’s now 24 hours after my knee surgery. Yesterday, I could barely stand. Walking somewhere required advanced thought, planning, and time.

This morning, I felt better and ditched the cane. Stairs are a lot easier. I even took trash out to the end of the 50 foot driveway. I’m not posting this video to impress anybody, rather just to chronicle my progress for me to remember in the future…well, and to show off how Chester  has been helpful as well.

Speaking of help, thank you to all of you who reached out with good wishes and offers to assist! Yes, I’m listening and not being stubborn…Cindy Skies and Becky Taylor have already been very generous, and I’ll get back with others of you as well.

June 25, 2021:

It’s nothing profound to say that physical therapy isn’t fun, but when you see results, then it’s more motivating! In this photo, as one of six home exercises I have been assigned, I’m static stretching my right knee (that was operated on 17 days ago) up my stairs at home to help increase range of motion. When I do these exercises twice a day, my knee seems to feel worse, not better right afterwards, but my therapist says that’s normal—however, it is working.

He took measurements yesterday, and in just four days of dedicated PT, I’ve improved my range of motion flexion from a 72 degree angle to 94 degrees. I was able to pedal a stationary bike and make a full rotation around for the first time yesterday as well. I have a long way to go, but I’m getting better every day!

So, why am I sharing this? To emphasize that all of us struggle with various obstacles in our lives. Some are physical, some are mental, some are both. And overcoming those obstacles takes time. By nature, we all want instant gratification. But if you chip away a little bit every day…over time you’ll get it done! My story is nothing special, but I hope it shows once again that you can improve today over whatever happened yesterday in your life. The process is more important than the end product!