Up until a week ago, I still had all my original parts. But that was then; now, thanks to one of the minor miracles of modern medicine, I have a new (left) knee. The surgery itself went well, and heartfelt thanks go out to my surgeon and all the selfless people in the OR and the Recovery Room who took such good care of me. I didn’t know it at the time, but surgery was the easy part. The real journey was yet to come…
Friends who had been there before told me. “Stay ahead of the pain.” “Take all your meds, even the scary ones,” they said. “Be sure to do all your physical therapy,” they advised. They were right, of course, but there was something else they didn’t tell me: “Don’t get discouraged. Recovery takes time so be patient and be a good patient. You’ll need a lot of help.” Now, a week into recovery, I know that to be true.
Trauma, even when it’s planned in advance and carried out by caring professionals, is, well, traumatic. Maybe you think you can see the pain coming, maybe you even intellectually understand it, but you don’t really feel it ’til it hits you in the solar plexus, or, as in my case, in the left knee. And, sadly, you have to feel it to truly understand it. It has to hurt to heal.
The first day after my surgery was a seductive honeymoon. The cutting was done, the worst was over. Wrong! On that second day, the pain blockers were still conscientiously doing their job so it felt like my recovery would be a piece of cake. Not only would I be able to stay ahead of the pain, there wasn’t that much of it. I ditched the walker, put away the heavy duty pain meds. Little did I know…
Since that day, life has slowed to a crawl, or, to be more precise, to a limp with a cane. Existence lies somewhere between a chair, the couch, and bed. Time is measured in twenty minute increments of ice therapy. Every six hours, there are two Extra Strength Tylenol; at other intervals, there’s an antibiotic, an anti-inflammation pill, low-dose aspirin for my heart, and a little pink pill to help keep me regular. (Sorry! Too much information?) There’s not much I can do for myself: the heavy lifting—literally, figuratively— falls squarely on my wife. Were it not for her, someone would undoubtedly find me covered in cobwebs when the snow melts. If there is a special line reserved for caregivers to enter heaven, she’s at the front of it.
Some day soon, I know I will turn the proverbial corner and begin to feel better. I wish I felt so certain about that other pain we’re all feeling: the endless turmoil and duplicity, the ugly viciousness on the streets of Minneapolis, the storm clouds over Greenland that threaten to unravel NATO from within. No unearned, gifted Nobel Prize can ever ease the pain of all the trauma we are suffering from a botched surgery performed by a glowering, demented quack and his twisted team of enablers. Should we somehow survive this mess, our recovery will be long and painful. But this I know: it will be worth it.
I’ll be right back.
Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. His editorials and reviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine. His most recent novel, “The Tales of Bismuth; Dispatches from Palestine, 1945-1948” explores the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is available on Amazon and in local bookstores. His newest novel, “The People Game,” is scheduled for publication in February, 2026. (It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon.) His website is musingjamie.net.
BARBARA PERRY says
Having had two knee replacements (2010 and 2011) I can tell you to keep up your physical therapy and yes, the ice does help with the pain. I remember telling my surgeon after I was done with the physical therapy (but still did some at home) that my knee did not feel like it was mine. It wasn’t that there was still pain, it just didn’t feel right. It was about 6-7 months before it felt “normal”. I can say that I am more than thrilled with my results and how both my knees feel now. Just hang in there and best of luck on your recovery.
Jan Bohn says
Did you know they test new pain medications on knee replacement patients? Having had 2 knee replacements I can understand why.
terry w sullivan says
I had my left knee replaced in June. I can’t help you with the latter but in regard to your knee, get your physical therapy at Tidewater in Easton and do as they say and you will feel better soon!
Barbara Perry says
Having used both Tidewater and Pivot I can tell you that both do a great job with your physical therapy. Pivot is not as big or crowded as Tidewater.
Jayne Bourke says
Oh dear! We forget Biology is what it is… cells take time to regenerate, tissue needs to mend, incisions need to heal, bones need to adapt to foreign objects embedded in them.
We know from the song “you can’t hurry love,” well you can’t hurry healing either. It really takes far longer than optimistic surgeons tell us patients to recover… maybe in a week or two you see some changes, a month out with PT there’s more function & mobility.
But, it hurts. It’s a major construction project with power tools on body parts not meant to be cut, drilled & sawn!
Please remember, Ice is your friend. An ice machine is bliss & worth every penny … plus you may just have another joint replaced sometime as many of us do. But ice numbs pain, reduces swelling… you’ll learn to love it if you do it.
Being a patient patient is hard. Really hard. But things really do improve eventually. And, you’ll be glad you did it once all your healing is really finished… but let your body do its work.
Be glad if you’ve got a disability placard for your car… or get one now. Even if you’re not the driver, you still need to get to appointments.
Knee replacements are hard. It’s a really complex surgery and if docs were honest about REAL recovery time & recovery pain, half of us would have second thoughts. I’ve had several replacements & my knee was the worst.
Staying ahead of the pain is really important, being prepared for all the stuff you’ll need & creature comfort you might want helps, having good support system of folks you love & who love you helps… try to distract yourself any way you can. Be careful not to overdo or fall. Just know it takes time & it’s way more than you think.
Soft tissue heals differently than bone, incisions and muscle heal differently, too. You will survive this! Honest. But it’s a big deal, so be kind to yourself & your kind caretakers.
We’re really lucky to live at a time things like this are even possible & so successful. Keep your eye on the prize: It’ll be awesome not to have chronic pain. But there are hoops to go thru to get there & you really will be fine…. A little different range if motion maybe, but better than all that chronic debilitating screaming pain.
When it’s time, be faithful with your PT. It really matters. Ractice at home. PT pain is temporary; your healing will be permanent and bliss!
But, please remember you can’t hurry love… nor your healing. So, wishing you a reasonable, patient & peaceful recovery! This, too, shall pass!
Jamie Kirkpatrick says
Bless you, Jayne. From your lips…
Jayne says
Thanks, Jamie! You WILL survive! But, what a great reason not to shovel snow this weekend! Take care, sending you healing good wishes! Thinking of you!