Bad Knees Blog - take 19

It's just over six weeks since I was pierced, drilled, and injected with my own processed stem cells, since I left the miraculous brace behind, and since my doctor suggested I'd make more dramatic progress from that point on. I've completed thirteen hours of physical therapy and countless hours of hopefulness and frustration. First, I am better. Both of my legs are much stronger and, for the most part, more flexible than they were six weeks ago. I have significantly less pain at night (although I'm having a shoulder issue right now), I'm walking the dog again, and I've regained my boyish good looks. The important question is this: Am I feeling better because of the stem cell therapy, or am I reacting to the intensive physical therapy and my monastic fasting from nasty medications and not-so-nasty alcoholic beverages. As an aside, I've lost 15 pounds since November (not necessarily a good thing, as I was not overweight at 165 pounds). At this juncture, I don't know what the answer is. My leg is better, but it's far from perfect. I still have a knot on the inside of my knee that restricts flexibility, and I'm not yet ready to hike any of the Adirondacks trails or, for that matter, to get back on my road bike. My wife tells me to be patient. The stem cells can take up to six months or a year to do their work. I know this intellectually, and I'm hopeful, but I'm also concerned and, at times, I find myself thinking about whether or not I should have gone right to a knee replacement. It's hard to be patient. I also realize that she is sacrificing a summer of hiking because of my infirmity, and that's not fair.

The good news is that the rhubarb is up and ready to be transformed into my version of my mother's fabulous rhubarb pie, the lilacs are about to explode with color and fragrance, my family is doing well, I love my wife, and Reilly the wonder dog is snoring on the couch. The story of my knee is ongoing. I hope to have good things to report as we move ahead, so stay tuned to find out if my hopes will be fulfilled or, ultimately, dashed. Either way, it's a good story. Until then, be healthy and happy.