ridgw003
senior
My surgery isn't until Tuesday morning at 9:15. I, of course will start off with all the basics. Right lateral partial knee replacement with a tibial tubercle transfer. This will be my 7th surgery on this knee (all detailed elsewhere), and my 13th overall. The doc expects a full recovery, whatever that means at this point.
My purpose for starting this recovery thread early is that I am trying to start my recovery early. As part of the lead-up to my surgery, we have done things as a family that hurt like hell. A three day drop to Disneyland, I did a 20K canoe race, coaching t-ball, going on walks, and tonight, camping with my five year old daughter in the backyard, just because she likes sleeping next to dad.
All of these things got me thinking. First, I am a big believer in if you believe you can do it, you probably can. If you have faith in yourself enough to prepare for something, you will probably succeed in it.
I believe that, someday, I will be able to redo this month long farewell tour for my knee without pain, pain medication, or having to make sure I take ice packs and ace wraps. I believe that, someday, I will be able to go for a walk with my kids and my wife, without lagging behind or hurting. I believe that this surgery, despite being unlucky number 13, will succeed, and I will recovery fully.
Despite all this faith and belief, I am nervous. Those demons always seem to creep up in my mind before a big event in my life. Before my marriage I wondered if we were doing the right thing, if we were rushing things a bit too much. Before each one of my three kids, I wondered if we could really afford it. Before my deployments, I wondered if I would come back. While all of these things seems to be working out fine, well in fact, those doubts and fears always seem to creep in.
What if this surgery doesn't work? What if there is no change? What if the surgeon, like the contractor on the house last year, is grossly overstating his experience? What if he, again like the contractor, can't do a straight grout line to save his life?
I know that this surgery is happening, and I believe it will be a long and arduous recovery, but I have faith, that in the end, I will be ok.
My recovery is starting tonight. This beautiful little girl softly snoring in the pink sleeping bag with purple moose next to mine. We watched the light fade away and the stars come out. She asked me which stars were the important ones and I tried not to regurgitate facts from my physics class. She reminded me that she is afraid of the dark, but that it was ok because daddy was right next to her.
These kids, the simple joys they bring to me. The smile on my wife's face when she see's me get home from school. The happiness of my dog when she watches me pull a piece of ham off just for her. These are the things that are going to drive my recovery, just like they have sustained me through many other tough times in life.
This community has done its part as well. You have quelled many of my fears and have given me support from those that have been in my shoes before. Through this community, I have made friends with like interests, like minds, and like conditions. Thank you for that.
I apologize for the rambling nature of my first recovery post. I will try to keep the others a little more brief. I just had a lot on my mind.
Good night all, I'll see you on the flip side...
Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart mobile app
My purpose for starting this recovery thread early is that I am trying to start my recovery early. As part of the lead-up to my surgery, we have done things as a family that hurt like hell. A three day drop to Disneyland, I did a 20K canoe race, coaching t-ball, going on walks, and tonight, camping with my five year old daughter in the backyard, just because she likes sleeping next to dad.
All of these things got me thinking. First, I am a big believer in if you believe you can do it, you probably can. If you have faith in yourself enough to prepare for something, you will probably succeed in it.
I believe that, someday, I will be able to redo this month long farewell tour for my knee without pain, pain medication, or having to make sure I take ice packs and ace wraps. I believe that, someday, I will be able to go for a walk with my kids and my wife, without lagging behind or hurting. I believe that this surgery, despite being unlucky number 13, will succeed, and I will recovery fully.
Despite all this faith and belief, I am nervous. Those demons always seem to creep up in my mind before a big event in my life. Before my marriage I wondered if we were doing the right thing, if we were rushing things a bit too much. Before each one of my three kids, I wondered if we could really afford it. Before my deployments, I wondered if I would come back. While all of these things seems to be working out fine, well in fact, those doubts and fears always seem to creep in.
What if this surgery doesn't work? What if there is no change? What if the surgeon, like the contractor on the house last year, is grossly overstating his experience? What if he, again like the contractor, can't do a straight grout line to save his life?
I know that this surgery is happening, and I believe it will be a long and arduous recovery, but I have faith, that in the end, I will be ok.
My recovery is starting tonight. This beautiful little girl softly snoring in the pink sleeping bag with purple moose next to mine. We watched the light fade away and the stars come out. She asked me which stars were the important ones and I tried not to regurgitate facts from my physics class. She reminded me that she is afraid of the dark, but that it was ok because daddy was right next to her.
These kids, the simple joys they bring to me. The smile on my wife's face when she see's me get home from school. The happiness of my dog when she watches me pull a piece of ham off just for her. These are the things that are going to drive my recovery, just like they have sustained me through many other tough times in life.
This community has done its part as well. You have quelled many of my fears and have given me support from those that have been in my shoes before. Through this community, I have made friends with like interests, like minds, and like conditions. Thank you for that.
I apologize for the rambling nature of my first recovery post. I will try to keep the others a little more brief. I just had a lot on my mind.
Good night all, I'll see you on the flip side...
Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart mobile app