Kneedless to say

open thread_6.jpg

I'm still recovering from my knee replacement surgery and it went quite well. A little different from the right knee, a robot, named Frank, assisted and I had to spend a night in the hospital. All good.
I'm able to stand with weight on it, briefly, and tomorrow is my first appointment with my Torquemada PT.
Earthling2 is a real godsend. Much kudos goes to her for wrenching my body in and out of bed and the LazyBoy, and cooking my meals. She is tending the garden nicely and cleaned the inside of the Motorhome and restocked it with everything we would need to "Bugout" if need be.
Actually she, and I, are jonesing to hit the road again after a two year hiatus, what with Covid closing all the National Parks and some State Parks and other travel restrictions. Plus the runup to my right knee surgery started last summer (blood tests, exrays, MRIs, Dr visit, etc.) all come together Oct.4th. I'm surprised they got the second one ready to go so soon, but I requested to be free of pain for the summer of 2022. Wala.
So, I will kneel to the commentariat and open the thread for whatever is on your mind.

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being pain free is a real blessing

Thanks of the OT

Oh, and btw, if you would like to see the essay listed
under the OT banner, in the tags box at the bottom
type in Open Thread. That gets it there.

Cheers!

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10 users have voted.
earthling1's picture

@QMS
I had typed in open thread, but without a hashtag. Could the have fouled it up?
I'll get this right yet!

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4 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

@earthling1
the hashtag was the culprit.

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4 users have voted.

years ago on a different coast, a buddy of mine had Both knees done
a week apart
couple of days later I come out of the cabin to see him walking(with canes) up the road. I ask him how far he’s going he replies he can make it to the barn
yeah, I says, can you make it Back?
walked(slowly) with him halfway there and he decided to turn around

he was damn near White with pain, and sweat Rolling down his face when we got back to the house
his wife baked some treats for me for escorting him

moral of the story?
push all you want, ya gots to make it back

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9 users have voted.

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

earthling1's picture

@Tall Bald and Ugly
Are you still "livin' on the coast, mostly"?
Gotta be some great weather down there right now. If it weren't for these knees, we would be cruisin' the coast right now.
We usually go in March or April. Aiming for fall or next year.
Thanks for the post.

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5 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

still here on the left coast @earthling1 in NoHum above eureka
jonesing for work
what with most companies requiring the jab doing more pick up/maintenance work
and laughing in bosss face during interviews when that comes up

kneedless to say interview pretty much Ends at that point

push to discomfort not pain
then rest

but you know this

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5 users have voted.

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Half of my friends had to re-do their surgeries, as that first one was botched. Hope yours was a rip roaring success.
I was glamping in cabins near state parks, all of which were closed back in 2020. What a cluster f'k.
Glad you have your motor home stocked up, sitting idly by while you heal.
I am now suggesting to my friends and family that they get their surgeries, even dental surgery, since food shortages ain't the only thing happening.
I hope you and everyone has a good day, and plans for more to follow!

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8 users have voted.

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

earthling1's picture

@on the cusp
We pretty much spent the lockdown working/playing on the farm. Got a lot done, building a pumphouse, gazebo, expanded the garden, and removed some more stumps, and put a gate up at the creek.
We were going stir crazy at our suburban Vancouver home.
Agree with the advice to get any expensive procedures done now. There is no telling what prices will jump to in the near future. Or what a new Congress will do to Medicare. Roe vs Wade anyone? Nothing is safe anymore.
Thanks for the post.

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5 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

@earthling1 I was thinking about needing dentures, but none available sort of shortages. So many of the parts or components in our medical and dental stash are from China.
I am helping a family member get his dental work, which will likely be complete extraction and dentures done now. I will help with his payment plan.

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5 users have voted.

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

Good you are getting repaired and that the repair went well. Good luck with the PT.
Also Jonesing for travel/camping etc. but with a twist. We got rid of our trailer and also had downsized from a 3/4 ton full crew cab to an "extended cab" 1/2 ton, but we can still haul a ton of stuff and were beginning to try "motel camping" when I became pretty much housebound. Our 2 or 3 trial runs worked out pretty well, though most places only have a nuker, fridge and sink and our 1 burner propane unit pretty much must be used outdoors (balcony, truck tailgate, picnic bunch, etc) because of smoke and CO alarms. The next thing is to find a suitable portable one burner induction top.

meanwhile, it is supposed to go to 85 today and I really have to get the shade cloth cover up over the patio so we can dine out there on days that we overheat the kitchen with whatever we cook, like pizza, stews and the like.

be well and have a good one

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7 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris , and your post of yesterday but missed the chance to leave a word both times. Glad to hear you're feeling better and up to snuff to plan a road trip. That's exciting.
We found that many RV parks have a section for tent camping. Since we don't have an RV the tent option is my preferred way to spend the night but we do "camp" in motels on occasion. The dog likes it as well as he seems to enjoy the spectacle of us sleeping on the ground along with him. (Also there is no doggie cash deposit to add to the bill). Some of these RV parks are pretty pleasant, and I much prefer cooking outside in a park-like setting than in a parking lot.

We've missed our annual road trip up north for the past two years. Hopefully we get to change that soon.

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5 users have voted.
enhydra lutris's picture

@randtntx

first trailer. We tend to gravitate to high wind areas, plus I have chronic lower back issues and really dislike dealing with wet tents, especially taking them down in the morning and then setting them up the next night. A long slow trip south from the Hoh along the coast stopping nightly and raining all the way to Patrick's Point, CA sort of did it for us.

be well and have a good one

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4 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

studentofearth's picture

Nice to hear plans are moving in the direction desired.

The local highways are becoming busier. The motorhomes, trailers and boats are still below past patterns. Grocery stores seem to have fewer and fewer patrons the last three months during the weekly shopping treks. It is not because of home gardening. Still too many cold (below freezing) nights for significant food production. Perennial herbs, eggs, a few overwintered biannual vegetables and wild harvest greens are providing some variety in the kitchen.

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9 users have voted.

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

earthling1's picture

@studentofearth
how Utah and other hi-desert envionments could have such extremes in temps from night to day. The clear crisp air at night was wonderful though.
We have more rain coming but there's not much to do outside anyway. Everything is planted.
Just sittin' back watchin' the crops grow.
Thanks for posting.

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5 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Granma's picture

A torture chamber. There are rules for how much and specific type of exercises according to how long post surgery you are. What I have observed and experienced is that the young PT or PT Assistants are often inclined to push too hard. You have to draw the line for them. Older, more experienced PTs seem to have better judgement. You are not supposed to be put in heavy duty pain by PT.

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5 users have voted.
earthling1's picture

@Granma
should have used a snark tag there.
Although it's important to regain range of motion before it's lost to cartiledge regrowth, I wanted the PT to push me hard, and I told him so as I wanted to heal quickly and then get the left knee replaced.
He was young but very capable and we got along great.
None the less, I still have a few weeks of very painful stretching exercises to get my range of motion back.
I'm probably the Torquemada.
Thanks for your concerrn though.

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7 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

enhydra lutris's picture

@Granma

be well and have a good one

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3 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

earthling 1, that the end of one road is in sight (the fixing-of-the-knee-road) and the much more enjoyable beginning of another road ( the hit-the-road-trip-road) is just around the bend. Thanks for the OT, I have been enjoying you past posts on gardening as well.

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5 users have voted.
earthling1's picture

@randtntx
Will soon get back to focusing on gardening/farming to begin the OT.

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3 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

snoopydawg's picture

I couldn’t imagine the pain of arthritis until this morning when I went to close my hand. One joint said ouch and it’s just one and a small one. Well I had it severely in my jaw, but that went away when my teeth did. Should have done that sooner. Damn hindsight!

On the national parks topic make sure you make a reservation because everyone and their dawgs bought an RV last year and have fled to the great outdoors. I’m hearing that the parks are full already.

As for Medicare…yeah Biden is continuing Trump’s attack on it and even moving people who have been on traditional into it without their knowledge. Omar is the only one speaking out. I will raise holy hell over anyone trying to put me on it a year from September. I aged out of SSI last year but can’t get on Medicare till I’m 65. Fortunately still on Medicaid which I have had very few problems with. This is what everyone should be on in my opinion. Get sick, see your doctor, don’t fuss with any bills. They’ve only denied one medication because they said I didn’t qualify for it. I disagreed but rules are strict.

Here’s to you getting back on the road and being able to do what you want!

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8 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

earthling1's picture

@snoopydawg
Working hard to get my mobility back. One good knee is no better than two bad ones. They both have to funtion properly.
They're really pushing Medicare Advantage plans, which are a backdoor grab of Medicare funds. They make it sound great, but I have a rule of thumb that says if the overwhelming amount of adverts on tv are pushing something, it's probably a scam. Because somebody has to pay that enormous adverts budget. To my knowledge, Medicare doesn't even have an advertising budget.
There is also an attack on MC from another angle involving contracting your healthcare out from your doctors office. If your doctor asks you to sign something, read it carefully. You could find yourself off of MC and on a private insurance.
Of course, they all prey heavily on the elderly.

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7 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

ggersh's picture

my wife is on the path of needing a new knee and we've heard both
some good and bad results....maybe it's all about the Doc having a
good day or not??

Yep Medicare Advantage is a mony grab at privatizing Medicare, I believe it
was unabashed Liberal who kept warning us about this.

Anyhow in the 50's here yesterday and today 90 by Sunday, that's springtime
in Chicago to a T.

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6 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

usefewersyllables's picture

@ggersh

in both knees for many years, and I finally can't take it any more. I'm going to get them both done this year. I had my right knee on the schedule for last December, but my insurance (that had approved the surgery) retracted their approval after I'd booked it, so I had to cancel it. It seems that they didn't like the fact that I'd already reached my out-of-pocket max for the year, so they wanted to push it back until the next plan year- with a new OOP limit, of course.

So I cancelled them as well, and went on my wife's insurance. They seem more sensible about these things, and aren't doing the preexisting condition dance (no shit it's preexisting- it takes years of hard work to get them this fucked up!). Right knee will get done in mid-July, and the left will then get done as soon as I'm recovered enough- but still on *this year's* out-of-pocket, by Gawd. What a racket...

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8 users have voted.

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Had the right hip replaced about 10 - 12 years ago. Same thing - bone on bone. The surgery was
traumatic, full recovery will never happen. It is almost like PT for the rest of my life, except for
the idiocy and expense. Now the left one is establishing a neural pathway to pain in my brain.
Be damned if I go thru that again. Just have to learn to live with the pain I guess. Ibuprofen and
Tylenol are about my only friends anymore. I don't mind going broke so much as shoveling the
hard earned money to the doc's, tests, co-pays, deductibles and etc. I'd rather suffer the
consequences of a life well lived than mortgage my soul for the medical industry.

good luck

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6 users have voted.
Sima's picture

No walking on uneven ground for a bit. Learned that after I broke my ankle and was in a toe to thigh cast for a few months. Took a year after until I could walk across the uneven pasture easily. Enjoying a vacation or two in the RV sounds great!

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5 users have voted.

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so