Category Archives: knee saga

rainy wednesday

10 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by in cats, knee saga, knees, sevilla

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So damn… woke up at 6 am (actually a welcome change from the usual 4 am) listening to THE RAIN. And then had a look at the forecast. I mean, I already know that on rainy days I am basically stuck inside, especially since the Polka Dot Poncho let me down. Hobbling on crutches means no umbrella is possible and so these days I am more or less resigned to being, well, resigned. BUT today Luna had her appointment to get a cyst removed. which we’d made in November. Dammit.

At 7 am I texted vet Sonia and asked her if I could reschedule because the thought of Peter and I trying to get there and back again in the ALL-DAY RAIN without umbrellas (Peter carrying cat, me on crutches) and trying to find a taxi (we’d already gone through that hell recently) was just… no. And hey, no problem, Luna is rescheduled for next Wednesday morning. But it was another reminder about how my world is shrinking because I can’t fucking walk. So far the forecast for next Wednesday is sunny.

churros therapy…

17 Monday Nov 2025

Posted by in health, hospitals, knee saga, knees, sevilla, spain

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Nope, I’m not in Jerez. This is that other only time I eat churros – after an early-morning doctor’s appointment. Remember back when I showed you this video and was concerned because it said that to evaluate the progression of knee arthrosis the surgeon needs to see a weight-bearing x-ray, and for the ones taken in August I was lying on a metal table-bed thing.

So I got in touch with my GP (phone appt) and asked if she could request a weight-bearing knee x-ray for me before my next (ha!) surgeon’s appointment. She had a look at the x-rays on her computer and said that the report said they were weight-bearing (con carga), but I told her I distinctly remembered lying down because when they turned my legs to the side it hurt. She said that was for the lateral ones, the front ones were done standing up according to the chart. Which I don’t remember at all. These were done in a mobile unit x-ray station outside the hospital and I was sure I got up on the table and they did both x-rays that way. Or was I? Fuck. Thinking back, there didn’t even seem to be enough room in there to do a standing up x-ray. Anyhow, I convinced her to make another x-ray appointment for me which was today. At 9.00 in the morning at a health centre way the fuck far away.

Last week I tried to change the appointment to a later time (sometimes you can do this online) but couldn’t find a way, nor could I find a number to call. So whatever. It would have to be today at 9.00. I already knew I would spend a mostly sleepless night (and I was right!) but the other thing was that Storm Claudia still wasn’t done with us, though according to the weather office she’d be clearing out by noon today. Damn. Well, maybe I’d have some luck? Spoiler alert – nope.

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polka dot poncho

07 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by in health, knee saga, knees, sevilla, weather, welcome

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Enough already. I cannot walk (in the streets) without crutches (since August 2024). And I cannot use an umbrella whilst hobbling along on crutches, for obvious reasons. Last winter (rainy af – yes, much needed but still) made me realise how much this limits me. So… hello polka dot poncho! Not quite a famous blue raincoat but let’s see if this helps. 

e-trike time?

21 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in health, health & happiness, knee saga, knees

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Went to see the GP last week to get the results of last blood test (all good apparently!). I also mentioned my disappointment with the surgeon’s report, that she had only prescribed pain killers, including a fucking opioid, with a revision supposedly in three months time. I explained to my doctor that this WASN’T TREATMENT it was avoiding proper treatment and then I asked how I could ask to get a second opinion.

To my surprise she actually took the time to explain to me that with arthrosis and other knee problems the first line treatment is painkillers until such time that the surgeon agrees that surgery is necessary. She said that for the moment I was not going to get anything else… BUT (and apparently it’s a big but?) she said the fact that they asked for new x-rays and a follow-up in 3 months means that they haven’t ruled out surgery. Yet.

So okay… I’ve heard stories of people waiting four years for knee surgery. And yes, if I had private insurance – and paid whatever add-on – I could have had this done a year ago like my pal Charo. Meanwhile, she had to get hers done over and even now walks with a noticeable limp. 

Anyhow, got me thinking that I may well be stuck in this loop for longer than I even want to imagine… so what can I do? The other day I saw a woman pedalling down the street on a trike with a comfy basket to hold stuff and I thought… maybe? A bit of quick research shows me that most e-trikes are super heavy and expensive so not really for me, because I would also like to use this not only for getting around but also for daily exercise. Meaning I’d also want to be able to pedal the thing, not just use it as a get-around vehicle. So if anyone has any experience with trikes, would love to hear from you.