Anyone that read my bio or has been a member since we moved from the old site, knows both my knees, and my right ankle, and left elbow got smashed up in bad parachute jumps and from getting run over by a Jeep and hit by a forklift.

If I have any kind of luck, a lot of it has been bad luck.

So I was at VA Medical Center today, and Chief of Othropedic Surgery was ' ' this close to putting me in the hospital and doing my right knee replacement in 3 days.

But.... I have nobody at home to take care of me after I leave hospital. So I need to ask the State Benefits Coordinator (I work for the State as a Vet Rep, helping vets get work and training) tomorrow at work if my medical will cover a rehabilitative therapy stay in a local nursing home for about 6 weeks. If my coverage will do it, then I an probably schedule the surgery for August or September.

So if I "vanish" for a while, it will be getting rid of one of my pains by enduring agony of range of motion therapy for 6 weeks. Small price to pay for pain free right knee.

But, I will take my laptop there, so as long as they have wifi or wired, I'll be able to log on and complain.

* Last updated by: privateer on 2/29/2012 @ 2:56 PM *

Good luck with the opp , are you getting a artificial knee or a knee reconstruction.

Getting that angle back will be a big thing for sitting on a bike,

Good luck and keep us posted

I hope some GOOD LUCK comes your way bro +1 keep us posted !

Good luck on the pain relief surgery and thanks for the heads up!

ethin14 - will be knee replacement, and they may do both at the same time.

I'm glad the surgeon didn't admit me on the spot, I'd rather go through 3 months of antibiotics just to make sure there are no inflammations or infections when surgery is done. Infectious germs migrate rapidly into cut bone sections, they are drawn to the bone marrow, and if they get in, you are in deep doodoo.

I have to lose some weight, too. five years ago I lost 95 pounds in a year on the Nutrisystems food program. So I'm starting it again, they offered me 50% discount for life if I resubscribed. So should be able to lose 20-25 pounds by August on it, and this time I hope I can afford to keep subscribed at the lower price because it would be entirely possible to lose 150 pounds in a year just from staying on their food plan.

Since I can't exercise, and I refuse to take prescription weight loss drugs, or have bariatric sugery, food is the only way I'm going to lose the weight. Strange to say.

Good times!... Atleast it sounds like you'll get a few months to enjoy your new Connie before going under the knife.

Taking care of yourself is the best thing a guy can do the make riding, and life in general, more enjoyable.

My civilian major medical won't cover in-patient rehabilitative therapy after the surgery. So I have to wait until the VA decides if it will house me in the nursing home on campus at the local VA Medical Center for that.

Its only 6 weeks, but I can't afford to pay 24 x 7 nursing out of pocket.

2ND that. My wife pushing me to take PGX Link Click, tells me it's not a drug and works with no BS ????

Lindsay says you are already a sexey beast and do not need to worry about dropping 20.

Its only 6 weeks, but I can't afford to pay 24 x 7 nursing out of pocket.

What about the neighbor lady?... You was "takin' care of her", time for some reciprocation.

privateer, my family is full of artificial Knees seems to be the thing that everyone gets , all to date have been a big success.

Most are walking same day or next day, go home after a week and back at work at 4/6 weeks with desk jobs, still on the way back at 6 months but 90% there, 12/18 months will be as good as it will ever be.

Getting the angles back is the hard bit , leg flat and that all important one of knee bend.

They tend to have big weight problems and heart problems, if they can do it I have know doubt that you can

It is rare here to do both at the same time, but dose happen, tends to be about your general health and can you handle it

All the best

* Last updated by: ethin14 on 3/5/2012 @ 12:14 AM *

DogoZX wrote:

What about the neighbor lady?... You was "takin' care of her", time for some reciprocation.

Would have worked, excepted she moved home to Georgia because she couldn't find work around here. This is a bad place for people wanting to find work unless you are a medical licensed person, or a fine physical specimen and able to do material handling well (most distribution centers here have draconic productivity requirements). Not even IT people have a lot of luck without moving towards the bigger urban areas.

Anyway, my primary VA physician is due back from vacation this week, so maybe we can move mountains and get VA to agree to provide post-surgical care at the VA Medical Center nearby.

Things are tough all over, eh? You see the unemployment rate for my community in the wikapedia link I posted last week?

Fingers crossed for the VA stepping up and doing the right thing for you in a timely manner... I'm not a Veteran, but many in my family are, and I have seen first hand the BS that they have had to go through to get the proper care they have earned many times over.

Good luck...Hope the surgery doesn't slow you down too much.

Thanks, Shogun1 !

I won't let them do it until October or November now. I refuse to let them end the riding season before it gets going.

Well...... in early April the VA Orthopedic Surgeon I have been talking to for years called me at work, and said "your left knee replacement is scheduled for April 25th."

I'm like, are you kidding me? Since when does the VA ever move this fast?

I hated the idea of missing the COG National, because its the 25th anniversary of the club, and going to be great rally with a lot of people from all over the US and even Canada, Australia, England, and Germany. But also realized I ought not look a gift horse in the mouth.

So the left knee is done. Its healing pretty well, I'm not quite 4 weeks out and I can walk well with just a cane. Sort of need the cane for the right knee anyway. It is technically in worse shape than the left one was.

I will be riding again by the end of June.

Right knee gets done in November, so I can get it strengthened up over the winter.

Retire on August 1st.

Life is good.

EDIT: Picture..... at about 2 weeks.

* Last updated by: privateer on 5/20/2014 @ 3:41 AM *

Geez Priv....glad THAT's overwith...heal up quick and be safe;)

Get well soon!

2010 ZX-14 MotoVlog

Oh and though the picture doesn't show it, I am now the new thinner me. Down to 220 from 350, and going to lose 30 or 40 more. I now match the springs in my Ohlins suspension, lol.

Once the right knee gets done you'll have a sexy looking pair of knee caps. I hope you get back in tip top shape. Congrats on the weight loss, that's no small task, you should be proud. And your retiring on 8/1 as well, more congrats.

God Bless and speedy recovery to ya!!

Ok, the left knee is doing very well. I should be riding again by the end of June. Good news, I have a ton of trips planned. Especially after August 1, since I won't have to go to work anymore.

Looks like the right knee will get done in November. Perfect.

Except I won't be able to cheat and drive my truck early like I did this time. I need the right leg for the brake and accelerator, so it will mean staying out of the truck for at least a month, maybe 6 weeks.

Glad you are through my man. May you be back on the bike and riding again soon. Mad love

Welcome back to the road, Privateer.