In a world, in a culture, filled with multiple avenues of going here or doing things, it is often hard to stay focused. On November 11th of last year, I had knee replacement surgery. The doctor had “bought me” ten more years before surgery was an absolute essential. I was 62 at the time of the first diagnosis and he felt I was too young and too active to do the surgery back then. His belief was that he could by me some time before having the surgery. 3 steroid injections, one hyaluronic acid shot, and 10 years gave me the time I needed. When the last shot lasted one month and I had trouble walking from the hospital doors to my vehicle at times, I went to him and said, “It is time.” He agreed. The surgery was a bit more extensive than he planned due to my bowed leg. He shaved the shin bone, moved some ligaments and tendons around and gave me a new knee all at the same time. Then came the rehab which seemed to go pretty well in some respects but his desire to have the back of my knee to be totally flat on the table is still not a reality. I am down to about 2% but not quite there. I’m still doing rehab at the Y on my own, doing the exercises they prescribed.
I won’t lie: it is sometimes discouraging when I know what I want and where I should be but can’t seem to get there. I mean, I am happy I can walk pain-free for the first time in years. The problem is that I want it all now. And when I say, “Now” I mean “NOW!!!” But what I need to keep in mind is the end goal. He told Tami after my surgery that I will feel absolutely fantastic in 6 months. Hmmm. That leaves me 2 more months of rehab and some discomfort as my “restored” knee adjusts to my lifestyle. I want to rush things along.
But I can’t. I have to take it one day, one exercise, one rehab session at the Y at a time. I have to stay focused on the immediate work with the future goal in mind. Proverbs 4:25-27 says, “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” (NLT) Of course, wanting to be further along is not evil (except when it plays with my mind). 🙂
But the warning to stay on the straight path is something we all should heed. Fix your eyes on what lies before you. Don’t look left or right. And most definitely, don’t look behind you.
Having physical issues as we age can be so difficult for us, Bill, even when it’s the best path we could hope to be on. God knows our needs before we ask, doesn’t He? Let’s stay on the path He has laid out just for us and be thankful.
Blessings!
I have no desire to divert from this path Martha. 🙂 Even though it is taking longer than i want.
Bill, My prayers include continued recovery and mobility for you and those prayers have already been answered. You are better than you were and will continue to improve. Keep looking forward, keep moving forward. One step at a time.
Thanks Ryan. and that is my plan one step at a time.
I will keep the prayers going Bill. The final stretch is always the hardest. Honestly you look so much better than most of the people I know that have had a knee replacement. Keep up the good work, and yours eyes on the Lord, all the work will pay off in the end.
Thanks for the encouragement Gail. It means a lot.
My wife had one knee replaced in 2018 and the other in 2019. She followed instructions exactly, including all rehab and exercises. It’s made a huge difference in her quality of life – she can actually rise from sitting at a table and not have to use the table as a support. But rehab and exercises were the key – we’ve known people who didn’t do much of them or got tired and bored, and it really made the surgery not as successful.
I have heard the same thing Glynn. There is a man at the Y who said when it got to where it started hurting in rehab he told them to stop. Now he regrets it. I don’t want that. Obviously, your wife did not as well. Thanks for the comment and the encouragement.