Thanks again, everyone, for the well wishes. I’m so glad to finally have had this done. Chronic knee pain had been with me for so long, a combination of joint-injuring accidents, and spending 11 of my 20 Navy years stationed aboard ships. Steel decks, steel stairs, steel-toed boots, no flex in anything, all took its toll. The last thing I did aboard my last ship was an accidental fall down a flight of stairs (a ”ladder” in Navy talk), and I folded both my legs up at the knees - sideways. I spent a long time in rehab, and learning how to walk again. It’s been a struggle just learning how to function, when the joints were so screwed up. I was getting shots under my kneecaps every few months for years, trying to live with it, till I could get to the point of having the joints replaced. They wouldn’t do it till I was old enough that statistically they’d only have to do it once per knee. I’m finally at that point, and this second replacement completes the joint replacements.
My hope going forward is that I’ll be able to do some of the things I’ve been unable to do all these years. There are so many hikes in Hawaii and here in the Pacific Northwest that I’d really like to try doing. My surfing days are behind me, I know, but I’d like to be able to fully enjoy my upcoming retirement.
Stick around, and we’ll learn together how it works out. I’m excited for my future.
Dave