Rictus

[rictus01]

been asked for an update, so here goes

knocking on 11 months now.

well since most know I managed to make (in a limited fashion) the annual ride-out I'll start from there.

I haven't made any improvement and I don't think I will with out futher surgery as my days tent to follow the same pattern.

Generally I get up and suffer really bad cramp in the mashed up hamstrings at the back of the knee when lifting the leg off the bed and swinging it round, this with luck will only last 10 minutes or so, but then I've to put weight threw it and stand, I can't put my full weight threw it just yet and have to take it very slow, it's easy to twist it at this stage and I've done so many times, that'll be another 30 minutes sitting on the floor where ever it happens, over the next hour or so I'm able to sort of pull it together a little more and can manage a better speed once I have my brace on.

Being back at work (well sort of) I go upstairs to my PC and log on, sit there until the cramp returns (getting up then to walk about a bit/ a fine balance between the cramp and the pain of walking) I come downstairs at lunchtime and take the brace off, it takes the hour for the pulsing of returning bloodflow to stop, by which time I have to put it back on.
Back up stairs and finish my day.

that's my normal working day, pain of one kind or another pretty much all the time, but as the only painkillers that work are rather strong stuff I rarely use them, relying instead on Hot water bottles and deturmination.

I've worked on the principle that I need to build up stamina as my consultant won't put me in for the futher surgery until he feels I'm up to it, but alas the more effort I seem to put in the more tired I become with no tangible improvement in stamina, I've even tried the other way and done nothing, hardly moving for days at a time , but seem to be just as tired, I've no answer at the moment but just carry on as best I can.

riding well, I try to maintain as much normality as possible, I've been at Soho and Selkent regularly for a while now and have done a few ride-outs (even a couple of Guildford meets and an Essex one), but all require a price to be paid, I've got used to the fact the knee will be playing up after one of these forays, it's become normal to spend until 10 am Saturday sitting waiting for the knee to calm down after a Soho friday night for instance, and ride-out will leave me unable to walk for most of the following day the knee just feels like a couple of raw bits of meat rubbing together.

However I persist as following the upcoming operations at best I'll be away from bikes for 6 months again and worst may never get back on a bike, with that in mind I got myself something a bit more enjoyable to ride, a very shiney T'bird sport, very nearly as comfortable as the CB but a lot nicer in the corners and try to ride it most days, I've become very adapt at masking the pain as most folks aren't really that comfortable with it around and on the occasions I can't I tend to take myself away from others for that same reason.

I have my bad days as well, when it just hurts more even I've done nothing and many a time I've got home to find walking up the steps to my dorr is beyond me, so a hands & feet approach has been needed, but that's all ok, it's my normal.

the future ? well with any luck and everything going right I could end up with the ligaments repaired/replaced and although the consultant went to great lengths to tell me it won't be anywhere near pain free, hopefully a reduction in day to day pain can be achieved, but the biggest benefit will be the ligaments holding the bones inline so they won't wear as they are currently, this will mean the joint should last longer than the 3 years pridicted (if I wasn't to have futher treatment), so hopefully I can put off the need for a complete replacement. the price for this, well it's three more open surgeries on the knee,so with the cumlative scar tissue they have projected no more than 50 degrees of knee bend (I need 120) and he's stated I won't be riding again, however having proved them wrong already I'm willing to give it my best shot to do so again.

just everyday life is hard at the moment no plans can be set in stone as one twist or misplace foot and my day is over; but I won't be beaten and will continue to ride the bike (even if it is poorly) and help out those requiring it when I can, until they chop me up again.

I go to see the consultant the begining of next month and am hopeful to start the surgeries before christmas, so those local and perhaps not so will see me around, down but not out.......yet.

Cheers Mark.

Good luck Mark, you have come so far already, and i hope the surgeries will turn out for the best. I can't believe its been 11 months. You were proving doctors wrong from the start, sneaking out the ward for a fag lol, i'm sure you'll do your best to prove them wrong once again

Again good luck and see you soon

Sammy
x

[rictus01]

Seen the consultant today, and although the leg is in worse condition than 3 months ago when I last saw him, a stiff upper lip and bit of consealment, seem to have worked and he'll put me in for the next lot of operations, timescale ? well assessment day about a month and first Op early December.

although I still don't understand why they make you take off all the protection you have, then proceed to wiggle it about to all thoughs positions you normally avoid as they hurt.

So most of the day on painkillers today, but objective achived.

Cheers Mark.

[rictus01]

Hospital Letter recieved today, assessment day 20th November, admission 11th December.
Minimum three day stay, so Op number four (& five) on the way.

Pleased in a way, at least I've got a time now, little scared, but it has to be done, this is the most risky one as the bone graft op(well two ops at once really, have to take the bone from my hip in one, then open the knee and graft it on in another) is only about a 40% chance of working, but I'll hope for the best.

Cheers Mark.

[rictus01]

Cheers Lee.

Best of luck with that, it's about time you have some coming your way.

Good luck Mark....speaking as someone who has hopefully seen the back of the operating table(once was more than enough for me!), i hope it all works out for you.

[rictus01]

Anniversary time, yes it’s been a year, the longest one of my life, here's praying the next one’s better.

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by rictus01

Anniversary time, yes it’s been a year, the longest one of my life, here's praying the next one’s better.

Cheers Mark.

You realise we aren't gonna buy your knee injury a birthday present, right?

well done Mark - youre stubborn pig headedness is shining example

will drop round next time in area - was down at Dobles a few weeks ago...