Orthopedic Assessment
[ Thursday May 2nd 2019 at 12:40 pm ]
In December 2018 I sent this orthopedic surgeon a 2-1/2 page letter. I outlined the various attempts at a recovery and the unsuccessful response of my knee joints. Then I asked to be assessed for double knee replacement surgery. After writing this letter my family doctor asked me to be open to stem cell transplants as an alternative to surgery in the hopes of restoring my knee joints.
I've just completed a thorough orthopedic assessment my letter triggered. This could have happened before now. I've just had too much to deal with and couldn't give this my attention. I am really pleased with this appointment.
I own a quality digital camera. I brought my laptop computer with me to display photos of both my knee joints in a flared up state so the surgeon could see some of what I was concerned about. This has proven helpful. I could see how my initiative has motivated the surgeon to get to the bottom of what is actually going on.
Following my hip replacement surgeries the surgeon was pushing me really hard to quit using my power wheelchair. I question if this was fare, although coming from good intentions. I really don't think the surgeon understood that I was already "all in" and the problems in my knee joints were much more severe than he had come to realize. I needed my wheelchair out of necessity. My knee joints were preventing my hip joints from strengthening and completing a successful course of physiotherapy.
The surgeon has now understood me. I am happy to move forward and see where this leads. I see the commitment and am keen to see where this goes. I don't know that I am able to make recovering a full time job as I've done in the past for several years. My life is badly out of balance. Too much has ended up on a high priority "to do" list. Going forward I am only willing to engage in treatment that doesn't prevent me from being engaged in life. The better part of 15 years has now passed since this became critical. I just can't justify continuing to make this my #1 priority any more.