Two-Year Post-Op

Where does the time go?  Another year, and another visit to Dr. Kerina.  November 8 will be two years since my TKR, and a good two years it has been.  I am spending hours on the tennis courts five or six days a week, and walking for as long as I want.  No pain.  It is truly remarkable.

But, I did have one little hiccup a week or so ago, and that prompted me to push up my annual checkup with Dr. Kerina.  My knee swelled up for no apparent reason, and it swelled on a day when I did not play tennis, but rather was walking around doing normal everyday chores.  I managed to play tennis the next day when it was still swollen, and it brought back distant memories of playing in pain, which I hadn't had to do since the TKR.  Frankly, it was a scary thought.  So, I called, and was lucky, once again, to get in two days later.

Of course, by then the swelling was gone, and all was right with the world.  But I had my list of questions about the whys and wherefores of the swelling, as well as a recap of what happens when it wears out.  Bill and I went together, and with the obligatory forty minute wait, finally met with Dr. Kerina's PA, Martha.  We were both very impressed with her, and I would have no hesitation seeing her in the future for knee related issues.  She spent the time, and answered all the questions we had.  She said the swelling was probably from a ligament that I twisted.  She also reiterated that the knee should last 15 to 20 years, depending on the activity level, and the first thing that will need replacing in the piece that rests between the two metal part of the knee, the artificial meniscus, for lack of a better term. The xray shows that it has not worn down, and the xray will show when it has, and when it needs to be replaced, sometime in the distant future.  That will entail an outpatient procedure where they  open up the knee following the first incision, but replacing the flap is a comparatively simple procedure, and will not result in the same pain and rehab as did the TKR.

Then,  she escorted Dr. Kerina in to look over the xray, and make sure she hadn't missed something.

Dr. Kerina remembers me as "Arden's Knee" and asked if he could put a link to this blog on his web page, which, of course is fine with me, as I told him a year ago.  In exchange, I have some interesting beers to look forward to, a quid pro quo, as it were, since we are both beer enthusiasts , especially beer from micro breweries.  So the good Doctor will provide me with a sampling of some of his favorites.  How fun is that!

Also, the upcoming issue of a local magazine will feature Dr. Kerina on the cover with some news about him and his organization.  I'm looking forward to seeing that.

All in all, the body is doing well for its age, and I really can't complain.