Day 16 blog:
The benefit of having the clips out and marinading the front of the knee and scar with cheapo skin cream is already showing benefits.
The bend, whilst still restricted, is improving. Walking is becoming more normal, there is no temptation to swing it out. I can almost go up steps one at a time. I darent try that coming down because of the potential of going forward, base over apex. I've put a date in my diary to have a go at Limbo dancing, the 12th of never.
I've forgotten where the painkillers are.
Why has my progress been so good. I'm nothing special. I do try to be positive about things, and use humour to help me through challenges, that's all.
I can only put it down to the actual surgery.
Apparently I have a DuPuy knee in there, but that can't make much difference, there's not much difference between one design and another.
The procedure was just bog standard, non of these highly marketed robotic procedures etc.
So it's down to the skill of the surgeon, a nice urbane Frenchman at Barlborough hospital, just off J30, M1. He always wears a jumper and baggy trousers
How did I finish up with him? 10 years ago I chose this hospital, not because its big and flashy, it actually looks like a factory unit (and it is in the middle of a factory estate). They did a great job 10 years ago, when my recovery was virtually complete after 4 weeks, which I'll beat that this time. I'd never even known it was there, it's only 5 miles from my house, next to a garden center where I often go. A man at the gym recommended it following his 2 TKRs.
I've never been impressed with reputations, "being highly thought of" is a reason for me to run the other way. That's often image. Wearing a smart suit is a warning to me.
What can you do to maximise your chances? It can only be a personal view, but for what it's worth, here's my view of do's and don'ts
Don't be impressed by high falluting names of knees.
Big hospitals are not necessarily specialists.
Don't be seduced by new fangled techniques, they mean nothing with a ham fisted person making it happen.
Only make a choice based on personal recommendations from people who have been through it.
Use a surgeon who wears jumpers.
Use common sense.
I'm just off to walk the dogs. We are having a fantastic autumn in the UK, which makes up for the rest of the year.
Later: now back, 50% further than yesterday. One of the dogs has even more sand on her, which she is now spreading around the house.
United States
You are getting closer and closer to that light, never fear. Just keep moving forwards even when the light is harder to see, and before you know it you'll break out of that tunnel for good. 
