Every once in a while.
Just for a few moments at a time, I forget that I have a new knee.
Just every once in a while.
It is wonderful when that happens. While reading the few books I have read during my recovery, I was able to forget for larger chunks of time. Usually, though, it is for just a little whisp of time.
When I was considering the surgery, I knew that it would change my life. I knew that there would be a long recovery period before those changes happened. But what I didn’t fully appreciate was that even during recovery, my life has changed. Substantially.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I specifically recall that there was a moment of clarity that came when I was about 6 months along. It came to me in the parking lot of a large shopping mall. “I am not going to get out of this without a lot of pain.” Duh!
Somewhat similarly, I recently had the realization that I have an artificial knee. Ummmmm, duh!
I will have it for the rest of my life. I will always have to tell the airport security people about it….and I will probably always be “frisked” by hand. I will always have to answer yes to the dental questionnaires about medical conditions and will have to take antibiotics before getting a tooth filled. I will have a couple of metal pieces left behind when I am cremated. My replacement doesn’t look quite like this one, but you get the idea……there are hunks of titanium at the ends of my bones!
Total Knee replacement : AP view (Xray). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What will my kids do with those when they try to sprinkle my ashes in the wilderness of the mountains I love?
At seven weeks post surgery, I am doing well. I will likely be starting back to work next week. I have to wait for the official okay, but I see no reason not to return. I do my exercises, I am on the elliptical for 20 minutes at a time. I can go up and down stairs fairly well, I have been driving. My knee gets stiff, and a little sore if I overdo things.
But all in all, I am fully recovered.
Except that the thought is always with me. I am constantly aware that my knee has had surgery.
Except for the blissful few minutes at a time when I forget.
True full recovery will be mine when someone has to remind me that I had knee surgery.
Just My Life 
If you get up here next summer I will remind you, assuming I remember. Glad that you are doing well!
By: Jon on November 5, 2012
at 9:29 am
I remain astounded that we are now able to receive artificial joints. If you always remember, I don’t think that doesn’t mean you haven’t fully recovered. It just means you remember something amazing was able to be done when not so long ago you’d have been stuck with a bum knee.
By: Secret Agent Woman on November 5, 2012
at 8:22 pm
Well, with age, memory fades, so you just might forget about the surgery 🙂 I’m glad your recovery is going well. Getting back to work will bring some normalcy to your day, so that might be good, too.
By: jannatwrites on November 5, 2012
at 8:55 pm
When a major change occurs in life, it seems to be constantly on our minds, then as time passes, less so. It’s a wonderful thing that our minds can let go of both the bad and the good so we are ready to embrace the new that comes along.
By: RustedGranny on November 7, 2012
at 8:42 am