the REAL knee update

No ice or freezer in the hotel, so Coca Cola it was!

So, unlike the the information in the knee update, this information is accurate to the best of my knowledge!

After about 10 days of the Cortisone, I knew the shot wasn't going to cut it.  It got me through the first week and a half of school, though.  So, for that, I am very grateful.  Unlike last year, I know the students I am lesson planning for, the teacher who is currently teaching my classes and the students know me, my rules, and my expectations.

This will make it a smoother transition to WALK back into my class next week!

Anyhow, the REAL knee update is this:  I was very fortunate to come across an American orthopaedic doctor who was visiting Shanghai for a week.  He was able to do my appointment, pre-op, surgery, post-op and physical therapy all within one week!  Unbelievable!  And I'm so grateful.

This guy has operated on Bill Clinton before, and members of Congress and Senate.  Figured I could trust him a little... ;0

He was able to see on the MRI that I had a condyle defect (or "hole") in my meniscus.  Originally, he wanted to take cartilage from somewhere else in my knee and fill the hole.  But once he got inside my knee, he realized the hole wasn't quite big enough, so he had to drill holes in my bone (ouch!) to form scar tissue over my condyle defect.  Basically, using the body to heal itself...  pretty cool.... but hurts like crazy!

He also found loose cartilage that he removed.  Oh, and a microfracture on my tibia.  So, I had been walking around on a broken leg.  No big deal.

Physical therapy has been going well.  I got a new exercise bike that I love and am trying really hard to get to where I can walk into the classroom on Wednesday!  Yesterday, I walked around and up and down stairs WITHOUT crutches.  Happy Birthday to me!

I still have the fracture, which will have to heal on its own.  But, I'm on my way to recovery!  In the meantime, disregard most of what I told you about my knee caps, ligaments, etc. in the knee update.  It just simply isn't true.  And for that, I am also grateful!

 

Carol and Me
Carol has willingly been a fabulous
nurse to me on this journey! :)

 

Foreigner in a wheelchair--great photo op!

 

Jenny and Me
Jenny came to take Carol's place in Shanghai and has taken on the
role as my Physical Therapy Coach! :)

 

Emily came to visit me in Shanghai, and
of course, wanted a ride!

Thanks again to all you awesome people who are helping us through this!