Thursday, June 17, 2010

Meet My New Little Friend


Meet my new little friend. The reason I’m not going anywhere much in June and July is—aside from my needing to stay put and write books—that I’m having partial (or at least I _hope_ it’s partial) knee replacement surgery tomorrow.

I went to see an orthopedic specialist at the behest of Elder Daughter (an OR nurse), when what I thought was chronic tendinitis in my right knee got suddenly worse. She said a cortisone injection might clear tendinitis up entirely, and could certainly make it feel better. Worth a try, eh?

So I went, and they took X-rays of my knees. In comes the doctor, remarking, “You’re awfully young to have so much arthritis.” Then he glanced at my chart and said, “Oh! You’re 58!” (I suppose this is a more respectable age to have so much arthritis.) He then said, without preamble, “You need a partial knee replacement”—adding, somewhat more kindly, “It’s probably hereditary.” (My total lack of cartilage, he meant.)

So we’re doing that. In about eight hours. For the curious (and un-squeamish), here’s a link to the surgical manual for the operation.

I’ll probably be in the hospital only two days, if everything goes well. Will try to write again and describe events, as soon as I feel up to it, but if you want to, you can check in here, on the “Diana’s Knee” thread in my Compuserve Books and Writers Community folder; my assistant Susan will post brief updates there until I’m back.

Many, many thanks to all the kind people who’ve been praying for me and wishing me well—I appreciate it HUGELY!

See you in a couple of days! [g]

50 comments:

  1. Here's to smooth surgery & a quick recovery!
    :)

    I'm sitting here in Sweden impatiently awaiting the translation of An echo... It was due for release now in June, but has been postponed till August. :(
    Patient, I am not! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very best wishes on your surgery. I hope the new knee makes you feel like a superhero! (Wouldn't you love an excuse to wear a cape?)

    ~Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  3. Extra prayers on the way this morning. Hope you and your new friend have a very long and happy acquaintance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow Cool! You realize that you will now set off the metal detectors at every airport that you travel through... ;) Better remember to bring that doctor's note every time, or you will be sent for the full body search... :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. i am 58, too, and have hereditary knee arthritis, although i have no symptoms yet--also found in a knee xray when i twisted an ankle and fell down on it--and the only reason i believe it is that my mom had it bad:( i'm starting the raisins-soaked-in-gin anti-inflamatory home remedy i got from perople'spharmacy.com, figuring it can't hurt. maybe it will keep it asymptomatic longer? anyway, good luck on yours, i'm sure it will be fine. (maybe raisins would be in time for the other one?:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. My husband just had bilateral total knee replacements at 47! He was in Airborne back in the 80's,and he had post traumatic degenerative arthritis. His surgery was June 7th. Poor thing was bone on bone in some spots.Right now he is in rehab,and can bend his knees to 90! He hasn't been able to do that for 3 years!
    Good luck with your surgery,Diana! Sending you healing thoughts!!!
    Donna
    Littlecottageinthecountry.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good luck with your surgery Diana. Hope it's a speedy recovery .Best wishes from Heather

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thinking of you this morning and wishing you a fast recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very warm wishes for a good surgery. You will be in my thoughts & prayers, Diana.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my! Here's to a speedy and very uneventful recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  11. That looks like a good thing to have on the cover of your next book! Good luck Diana.
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Diana,
    You will feel like a new woman with your new knee. I had a full replacement in 2003 at the age of 53 and I woke up with pain after the surgery it was the pain from surgery. The knee felt great. Rehab is the key! Indeed it is hereditary and I am looking at getting my other knee done at some point in 2 yrs. Have to take care of the back first. (Us 58 yr old gals are starting to break down a bit aren't we)? Healing hugs and let everyone wait on you when you 1st get home. You deserve it. Susan, LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. OH... take care. Praying all goes well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Best of luck with the op - you'll be sprinting around those highland games before you know it *g*

    ReplyDelete
  15. Good luck and a speedy recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Good luck with the surgery, I hope it goes well and that you have a speedy recovery. My father in law had a full knee replacement and although the exercises he had to do were hard at first he feels so much better, I hope the same goes for you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I had one last year at age 52 and compared to finding out that I also had cancer, it was a breeze. Best of luck and the hopes that your recuperation was as easy as mine. What a relief when you can finally walk pain free again!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Just finished Echo and found your blog today in time to wish you the best of luck with the knee surgery.
    Healing vibes coming your way from another 58-year-old. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sending many prayers your way, for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. Good news your husband will be taking care of your every needs for a couple days, make it good. ;-) Hope to hear from you soon.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Diana, I hope your surgery goes well and that you make a very speedy recovery!

    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  21. Good Luck for the surgery Diana, and a speedy recovery :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm delighted to find your blog! I'll light a candle for your surgery, and I'm sending up prayers.
    XX00

    ReplyDelete
  23. So sorry to hear about your knee, but it looks like your in very good hands. Jus the same, I wish you a speedy recovery and God bless you . . .

    Best regards,
    Jovita

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hope you feel better soon. Take it easy for awhile.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Best of luck for your surgery - get well again soon.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Diana, I had hip replacement surgery in March and will recommend this process to anyone. YOur pain will be gone, you may take a bit longer to recoop (I was back to work in 5 weeks.!!!) because it is the knee but I wish you well... now you can sit down and finish that book! I love them! Noreen

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh wow. I will definitely keep you in my prayers. I hope you heal up quick and you end up with a pain free knee.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wishing you well for your surgery and recovery.
    This experience will give you more insight into Claire's expertise. You really shouldn't go to such extremes for your craft though.:)Looking forward to your next blog.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hope that you are feeling better soon! I have had a several surgical procedures done and here are a few things that I do to help make things easier if you are interested.
    1.If you drink plenty of fluids (water-not alcohol sorry) today, that will help you have good veins for the nurse that puts in your IV tomorrow. 2. If you do not like the cold operating room, you can ask the anethesiologist for something so you do not remember being in there. My favorite anethesiologist gives me something to help with that. They also sometimes have warm blankets too.
    I woke up as a child having my tonsils removed so I prefer not to be awake in the operating room even if it is prior to the surgery.
    3.I always like to have my favorite meal the night before surgery as kind of a positive send off. Something chocolate is always good too.
    4. If your family wants to wait on you and take care of you, then let them.
    Take care and we'll be sending you good thoughts for a speedy recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi, Diana.

    I was thinking of you on my drive to work this morning. All the best to you and sending healthy and quick healing vibes. I'm sure you'll deal with this with your usual aplomb! :)

    Hugs!!!!

    Judie

    ReplyDelete
  31. All the best! Hope you'll be doing the can can again very soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wishing you a speedy recovery Diana. I had a total replacement to my right knee two years ago and had the left knee done just three months ago. My recovery wasn't as speedy this time, but it is coming along, I walk without pain! I was bone on bone with both knees, however I am quite a few years older than you and my family tree is riddled with arthritis

    I reread (again) the entire series from Outlander through Echo in these last three months and it was fun to grow old again with Jamie and Clair. I hope I survive long enough to read the last of the series and learn why Jamie's ghost is watching Claire through the window. Oh God, please tell me one is not left without the other...
    Am sending good vibes for the surgery and a speedy recovery ML

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi, Diana, Looking at your photo, no wonder the doctor was amazed you're FIFTY-EIGHT!! Youthful face, gnarly knee. You deal with heredity a lot in your books....it's always a roll of the dice. Best of luck and may your new knee be better than ever. Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  34. 58 really??? I want great genes like yours! (ok not the cartilage issue..hehe) You are beautiful and don't look older than 40-45. Hope your surgery goes well. Praying for you. God Bless.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Yup, Diana,

    It seems that after 50 it's just patch, patch, patch! Along with everyone else, I hope that your surgery goes well and that your recovery is speedy and complete. Walking battlefields will feel better without the grinding arthritis.

    Best Wishes to you and your family/caregivers.

    X O Irene

    ReplyDelete
  36. FIFTY EIGHT?!!?! Goodness. You certainly do not look 58. & I've seen you up close too *g*

    Good luck with the surgery & make sure to follow the instructions afterwards. You'll be a new woman in no time.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ugh. I'm so sorry to hear that, Diana. I had knee surgery at 16 (I was hit by a van that backed into me while I was talking to someone in another vehicle - my left knee left a very nice dent in their car) and my knee doctor told me I'd need a knee replacement in about 10 years. Here I am, 35 and still hanging on to whatever cartilage is still in there. It groans every morning, so I'm sure surgery is just around the corner.
    As for hereditary, my knee doctor was my grandmother's (she had both knees replaced) and recognized me being her grandchild because apparently I have her knees. Genetics..aren't they lovely? lol
    Here's wishing you a fast and painless recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hurray for the new knee! How fortunate we are to live in a time when this is possible.
    Good luck and a fast recovery!
    You will be in my prayers.

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  39. ** DIANA SURGERY UPDATE **
    Diana came through the surgery yesterday with flying colors, and only (ha - ONLY?) needed a partial knee replacement so her recovery time will (hopefully) be much quicker and easier. She has been up and walking already (with assistance) and the doctor is so pleased with her progress, she is being released from the hospital TODAY! I'm sure she'll post her own update when she's able. Thanks for all the prayers and best wishes. I know she appreciates all her caring fans.

    Susan H.E.
    (Diana's in-house Assistant)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thank you soooooo much, Susan, for posting the update on Diana's knee surgery. I was hoping you might! If positive energy has any healing power, she'll be walking comfortably sooner than most!

    X O Irene in MI

    ReplyDelete
  41. Best of luck -- knee replacement surgery can be somewhat difficult (I know my grandmother struggled a bit after she had hers), but I'm sure it will be worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wishing you an easy procedure, speedy recovery, and continued good health, Diana. Sending healing thoughts and prayers your way.

    Sarah :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. I hope the surgery went smoothly.
    I wish you all the best and fast recovery!

    I am eagerly awaiting the eight book on Outlander series.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Diana,

    Wishing you a speedy recovery! Keeping you in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I hope you're recovery goes as smoothly and successfully as your surgery, Diana!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi Diana - by now your surgery is completed and you are most likely home. I know that all went well with you - we do partial knee (uni-knee) replacements using the Oxford implant @ the surgery center I work for - I'm the OR nurse there. Our patients go home 4 hours after their surgery with home health care looking in on them for several days afterwards. Long story short, (Ha! Too late!) they do very well - that's how I know that you also did well.

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and many happy, pain free years ahead of you with your new knee!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Diana,
    Your knee looks great and the scar is not as long as mine. I am thrilled you are able to walk unaided. I want you to see a walking aid that was given to me in 2003 when I had a full knee replacement. It was made by a good friend of ours in Grand Rapids, MN. It was quite the hit at the hospital-LOL
    [URL=http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/578000489ZbjrQS][IMG]http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/76/76/9/41/1/2274941010027880923dCjrRe_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

    Happy Healing!! Susan Lynch

    ReplyDelete