Long, long ago in a galaxy far far away, I had, like most of us, 4 fully functioning limbs, two of which were legs. They did sterling service, right up to the moment I broke my left leg playing rugby, almost 40 years ago.
While that put a crimp in my ambitions to play rugby to a high level or for a modeling career, (yeah, right!) I eventually went back to rugby, only this time with a whistle. I also ran and walked with the Hash House Harriers (the drinking club with a running problem) for many years. Basically, think rugby without the bruises.
Unfortunately, time (and my left knee) ran out, and I was waking up in agony in the night.
So I went and had a knee replacement. They do thousands of them every day, and they work 97% of the time.
Everything went perfectly, and I went home and was being really good with the exercises, going around the block on my crutches.
BUT THEN……..
Three weeks later I got an infection in the bone. 6 major, and 9 minor ops later we are where we are. I have a thing called a "SMILES Knee Joint" In this case SMILES is an acronym, and definitely not a sign of amusement. Feel free to Google it.
The last op was 8 years ago, and I've been having some slight "issues" with the knee recently. I know it won't last indefinitely, but I should get a few more years out of it. Unfortunately, they can't replace it – which means that when it DOES fail (eventually), the leg comes off.
This morning's session with an orthopedic surgeon was my first for several years, at P's behest, following those "slight issues". The upshot is that he repeated the advice I have had from other quarters. Hang on to the leg until it's too painful to bear my weight.
That sounds quite reasonable. I've grown quite attached to it!
It probably also explains why I tend to pack the diary with as much as I can. So no doubt I'll see you at the next RNA function, or on a hash weekend, or somewhere connected with writing, or – indeed – just for fun.
Someday I won't be able to do it all, but "Today is not that day!"
John :)
