The Bee’s Knees

Hi you guys! I’ve got some good news: soon I’ll have the bee’s knees!

What does that mean, you ask? Well, I had surgery on Thursday, August 4th to fix up my knee alignment. It’s been hurting pretty bad off and on since I tore my ACL back in the fall of 2009 (In a typhoon. In Tokyo. Long story for another time!)

I thought the doc was going to go in and just clean it up and remove some loose cartilage — nothing too serious. Instead I ended up having major surgery. (He said that there was a very remote chance that I’d have it.) It’s called a tibial tubercle osteotomy. Check out this video that explains what it is — don’t worry, there’s no blood or guts, ha ha! Basically the tubercle is a bump on your lower leg bone. The doc cut through the turbercle, leaving the ligaments and whatnot still attached, picked up the bone piece, and then used screws to put it back in where it should be so that everything lines up.

Tomorrow I go back to see him and find out what my recovery time will be like. Hoping that I get to take the brace off, or at least get to bend my knee. The brace goes from just above my ankle almost the whole way up to my hip, whew.

In the meantime, I have a nifty device that J has nicknamed The Ice Robot to keep me company — it’s my new best friend! See those tubes up there that are coming out of the brace? Well, they go to an ice pack that is under all the bandages on one side, and the other side goes into a cooler that pumps ice cold water over my knee area. Ahhhh, I love technology! Yay!

And! Doctors used to use a cast for this kind of surgery instead of the brace. So glad I have the brace, but that means that there’s no place for people to sign it! So, I’d love it if you could virtually sign it by leaving me a little comment — means so much hearing from all of you! (Thanks to everyone who emailed to ask why I haven’t been posting — that really means a ton, too!)

I’ll let you know what the doc says tomorrow! But I have a really great feeling in my heart that everything will all work out and my knee will be great in no time. Can’t wait.

54 Replies to “The Bee’s Knees”

  1. hi lisa! how’s the knee doing? best wishes!

  2. My subscription must have been wonky for a bit, and somehow I missed this post, Lisa! I hope you are getting plenty of rest and that your knee is healing well after surgery:) Your description of the op gives me the shivers but it will be well worth it I’m sure! Lol I’ve never virtually signed a brace before! Hugs, Heather:)

  3. […] have you been? I’m still recovering from knee surgery – more on that here, where you can sign my virtual cast, too. (I’ve loved hearing from […]

  4. I’m glad to hear that you are on the mend. Hope you get really good news this Friday when you see the doctor again!

  5. Hi Lisa,
    wishing you a speedy recovery and that J spoils you rotten with lots of cuppycakes! (my 4yr old calls them) lol
    We have all missed your sunshine & sweetness.
    big huge hugs from Sydney Australia!!
    Colette

  6. Oh No!!! How did I miss this? I just had knee surgery too. Mine wasn’t as extensive as yours the first go round but they realized once they got in there they are going to have to replace it. I am so very bummed :( I’ve been hobbling around for a month now.

    I just got that cool ice thing. My dad brought it over but it’s missing the top. Do you like it? I hope you are feeling better by now.

    Thinking of you!!!! :)

    HUGS!!!!!

  7. Lisa! Oh my goodness! I can’t believe the surgery you have had! I hope you are feeling better! Sending the biggest hugs!

  8. Beverly LoPinto says:

    Wishing you a speedy recovery sweetie pie Lisa! I’ve been missing your posts!

  9. Honey I hope you’ve been feeding your knees!! :) I know this will change your quality of life so I’m happy and hoping for an easy recovery.

  10. […] can’t believe it’s been a month since I’ve had knee surgery. Time really flies, doesn’t it? (Whether you’re having fun or not, […]

  11. Lisa,
    I’ve been so out of touch since school started back mid August (we go in super early), I didn’t know about your surgery.
    I just read your latest update and I am so glad everything is going well. Hang in there with you PT it’s rough but worth it and soon you really will have the bee’s knee’s.
    Best wishes!!!!
    c.
    P.S. We met CHA in anaheim, I was the French teacher. Bet you’ve forgotten, but I got to meet one of my idols that day, YOU!

  12. […] buddies were shocked — they had no idea. So I guess I can hide things pretty well ha. You can read all about it in this post, and this post. Long story short, I tore my ACL twice — once while on mile 10 of a 15 mile […]

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