Tag Archives: knee

here we go again…

11 Wednesday Mar 2026

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

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So after that disappointing attempt last week to get my GP to push for a new traumatology appt based on new x-rays (she wasn’t having it) I actually GOT A CALL TODAY from the hospital saying I had an appointment for my knee… tomorrow! And well damn, that wasn’t happening because I have two couples booked for a sherry tasting at the exact same time, so I asked if we could find another date. And so now it’s going to be on March 23rd, ten-ish days from now. Which is better than nuthin. I hope.

You may recall that back in August during my last traumatology appointment they did basically nothing but ask for more x-rays, give me a useless jab in the knee, tell me to take opioids (as well as the usual lose weight, ride a bike, go to the pool) and then said they’d see me again in three months. THREE MONTHS. So I am not expecting that when I show up next time they are going to suddenly say… a knee operation? Well why didn’t you just say so? How’s next Thursday?

They keep fucking me around. Like last time they said they needed the new x-rays to determine if my arthrosis had developed to the point that they could request a knee replacement. When I told them I was actually more interested in having the torn meniscus repaired – because that was actually causing all the serious pain and it’s a fairly minor op – they said they couldn’t okay that until they saw the extent of the arthrosis, even saying that an attempt to repair the meniscus before having that info could make things even worse. Fucking what?

You’re seeing the pattern, right? Here, get these x-rays or this MRI taken so we can make a decision on your treatment. But then by the time I get the follow-up appointment the test results are already too old to be useful and so… yep… need to retake those tests. And it goes round and round. Meanwhile, as long as they are “following protocol” and writing in their reports that they have told me to lose weight, go to the pool, ride a bike and take pain killers, and have requested new tests, then they are off the hook. Next!

Watch this space. I was hoping to get a friend to come with me as back up but the only person I can think of who might actually be able to help isn’t available. Well, I have ten-ish days to prepare. Wish me luck!

knee news

18 Monday Aug 2025

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

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I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE KNEE SPECIALIST. The call came in this morning and I almost couldn’t believe it. It’s for next week, August 28th and while I know I should be happy I’m also nervous, because of course this is just to find out if my surgery will be approved. I’ve already printed out my page outlining everything that has happened (and not happened) since May 2023 when this whole knee saga began. Hopefully it won’t be glossed over and dismissed like it was by the trauma guys last October.

To wit my friend Sharon has offered to come with me and be my advocate. Thing is, I’d be an excellent advocate for someone else, I just can’t manage it for myself when I’ve got all the other scary feelings going on. What can I say, hospitals trigger me big time. Anyhow… stay tuned. If it ends up being a simple meniscus repair I could be up and walking again in no time. A replacement would obviously be a longer recovery. And of course in either case I’ll end up going on another waiting list. But first things first.

too many hobbles

04 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in health, knee saga, knees, Malaga, sevilla, spain, trips

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I think I really overdid things this past week. I mean, I try to get out for a hobble each day, as well as doing my chair workouts five times a week. But between Málaga-Marbella and Jerez I worry that I may have actually done some extra damage to The Knee. Because now it seriously hurts (even more) like fuck. Today I wanted to go to the market and gave up half-way there. The thing was, once out and about you just kind of have to keep going. Especially if you are in the centre of pedestrianised Málaga (no taxis!) or when your lunch location in Benalmádena ends up being at the bottom of a very steep foot path (ouch!).

But I persevered then took a couple of days off before heading to Jerez. I don’t know if that was a mistake or not, or if all of it was wrong to do, but dammit I’m so tired of not being able to do things. And with NOBODY helping me with info about what I should or should not be doing (other than go to the pool, ride a bike, lose weight). Not one doctor has told to either keep walking or stop walking. And so I keep on, not exactly walking, but hobbling on my trusty crutches. Clocked over 15,000 hobbles in Málaga and another 12,000 in Jerez. And each one hurt so much. I just want my life back.

I can’t walk

16 Friday Aug 2024

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

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cant walk

Seriously, I cannot walk anymore. I’ve been doing my best to get out and about each day, but this past week I just can’t. It just fucking hurts too much. Even with the cane, even if I walk slowly. The extreme shooting pain in my (front lower left) right knee makes even a short walk around the block an exercise in constant agony. And so I wonder if I should be even trying to walk on that leg if it hurts THAT bad. Because the pain ends up extending down the entire lower leg. The left knee is no picnic either, but compared to this… there’s no comparison.

I can still shuffle around the apartment, more or less. But each time I have to get up to go to the kitchen, the bathroom, whatever, I have to steel myself for the inevitable shooting pain. Even so, I’m still doing my daily chair workouts (yay! thank god for them!). But my next MRI is a whole month away (September 16th) and I honestly don’t know what to do between now and then.

Not only has this put a serious damper on my Staycation (it’s actually pretty depressing and has left me feeling all scatter-brained, unable to concentrate) I’m worried about next month. I have some tours booked in those first couple of weeks, but… a four hour walking tour? Srsly?? I mean, I know we’re not walking the whole time, but that’s an easy 8,000 steps. I could probably still do the wine tastings as it would mean ONLY hobbling down to Morales and back again. But the tours? How? Going to the supermarket almost has me in tears.

I’ve been icing the area, using different anti-inflammatory creams, keeping up with the chair exercises, but every day it’s getting worse. What I need is a proper diagnosis and then a plan of action… treatment? physio? surgery? I just need to know something. Not knowing what is happening is really dragging me down. Anyhow, just venting today because being stuck inside and the constant pain is really getting to me. xx

PS
for those asking… I can’t take anti-inflammatory meds like Ibuprofen due to my BP, and I won’t live on a steady diet of pain killers. I just won’t.