07 Friday Nov 2025
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.
27 Monday Oct 2025
Posted in health, health & happiness, knee saga, knees
21 Tuesday Oct 2025
Posted in health, health & happiness, knee saga, knees
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.
01 Wednesday Oct 2025
Remember my disappointment with the “nothing burger” visit to the knee surgeon in August? Aside from being given a cortisone shot (which did absolutely nothing) I was also sent down for updated x-rays so they could see the state of things now, and I was reassured that my next appointment wouldn’t take so long as I was now “in the system” as priority. Then I was sent home with a new set of pain killer prescriptions and was told to lose weight, go to the pool, ride a bike, etc. BUT at least I thought I’d be seeing the surgeon again as soon as the new x-rays were ready.
A month later there was still no news, and for some reason the doctor’s report was not on the Clic-Salud website, so I went down to my health centre to request a copy. This is what I got…
History: 68 years old. Referred for right knee pain lasting approximately two years. Reports mechanical pain, with limited ability to walk long distances and work (tour guide). Does not take pain medication.
Examination: Overweight. Right knee with negative brush test. Pain in medial compartment, BA 0°-120°. Stable. Additional tests: Last x-ray 2023: incipient gonarthrosis.
MRI of right knee: Grade II femoropatellar and internal femorotibial compartment gonarthrosis with internal meniscus tear and chronic overload of the internal collateral ligament. Joint effusion.
Action plan: After signing the informed consent form, I performed infiltration of the right knee with mepi + trigon. No incidents.
Treatment: paracetamol 1 g every 8 hours, tramadol 50 mg every 12 hours, arcoxia 60 mg every 24 hours during periods of increased pain. Weight control and exercises. Follow-up in 3 months with X-ray.
FOLLOW-UP IN 3 MONTHS. There was never any intention of seeing me sooner. And according to the Defensor del Puebo, for follow-up appts to specialists, 3 months is the maximum wait time allowed. So they went for that.
Also… limited ability to walk long distances?? How about ANY distances, like I told her, and not without extreme pain. I mean, she saw me hobble in there on my crutches. Well I guess this is how it feels to be “just a number” in the system. I am not being treated as a whole person but as a jumble of symptoms and they are simply following protocol without, well, caring. Just get me in and out asap, fill out the report showing they followed protocol, and push the next appt to the maximum time limit. It’s very hard for me to accept that this is my life now and to feel so helpless.
28 Thursday Aug 2025
casa azahar 