My Poor Right Knee, Part Two

As I mentioned last month, I had two surgeries in the 1970s to remove torn cartilage from my right knee.  In the 1980s, I took up running which built up the muscles around my knees.

However, over the years, my right knee started to weaken as a result of bone rubbing against bone with little or no cartilage to protect it.  I noticed this especially during the period after I moved to Brazil in 2013 at age 67.

At the beginning of my period in Brazil, I walked a lot to the homes of my English language students.  I experienced no difficulty because of my right knee.

As time passed, I noticed, not pain, but weakness in my right knee.  It got progressively worse.

I started thinking about knee replacement surgery as an option.  However, to me, the cons outweighed the pros.

In May 2023, at my son Bret's wedding in St. Augustine, Florida, my niece Cindy strongly suggested I would wind up in a wheelchair the way my right knee was progressing.  That influenced my thinking.  Now the pros were in the lead.

I decided that 2024 would be the year for my knee.  I started with my health insurance company (Prevent Senior), but they were very slow to react.

Then I went private.  Through a recommendation by my student Jose, I found Dr. Arnaldo, one of the best knee replacement surgeons in Brazil.

I liked him right away.  He spoke English and answered all our questions in a kind and patient manner.  Dr. Arnaldo would give me a new right knee.

The date was July 19, 2024.  The place was Hospital Nove de Julho in Sao Paulo.  I was not nervous; I was eager for the surgery to happen.

The surgery was the easy part, at least from my point of view.  What came next was difficult, at least for the first month of the recuperation process.

I started physical therapy almost immediately after I had a new right knee (made of steel, titanium and plastic) plus a great big scar.  I started off walking with a walker in the hospital where I stayed for five days.

I was happy to return home, but my leg ached.  Everywhere I needed to go, the walker led the way.

But, the good news was Paula, my therapist.  She was great.

Eventually, the ache went away and I graduated to a cane.  A few months more and I didn't need the cane either.  

After 5 months, I didn't need therapy any more.  My new right knee was perfect.  Thanks to Dr. Arnaldo and his team and Paula.

Special praise and many thanks go to my wife Cristina.  I could not have done it without her.  She put up with a patient who was not patient.