Kneeds must

I try to avoid frequent references to knee problems here but I am frequently quizzed about this so here is an update at a milestone point in the saga.

About a year ago I saw the surgeon who performed my left knee replacement in May 2012. Based on the x-ray at that appointment a year ago, he said I could go on the list then to have the right knee replaced. I declined and since then I have had the bonus of this year’s walking:

                                                2015

3 days     Completing the Cheshire Ring canal walk

10 days     North-east coast of Scotland climbing Marilyns

20 days      Macmillan Way 1     Boston to Abbotsbury

10 days      Canal du Midi           Toulouse to Beziers

18.5 days   Macmillan Way 2     Boston to Barmouth

That totals approximately 840 miles which would easily top-up to over 1000 miles counting many other day walks.

A few weeks ago I saw the surgeon again and I have at last given in. I seem to be able to walk 16 miles a day without a problem with the un-operated knee, but driving the car, and also lying in bed has become unacceptable for that un-operated knee. 

I asked if there had been any new developments since my last replacement. He told me a new, supposedly improved unit had been designed which is generally proving ok, but it has not been on trial for a long enough period to give a fully considered assessment, adding that I would have the choice between that and the previous version. I asked him which he would go for if it was him and he said the older one. My left replacement has always been sore and niggly,  up to a point, but after which it does not get worse, and it is not sufficiently unpleasant to spoil my long  distance walking; so, considering I have walked about 2500 miles on it I reckon choosing the old design is a no-brainer.

                                                       ******************

He lives not long who battles with the immortals, nor do his children prattle about his knees when he has come back from battle and the dread fray.

Homer (800 BC - 700 BC), The Iliad