Went to see the ortho surgeon the other day. I'm qualified for a new knee but I'm not in any hurry to schedule the replacement. The surgeon doesn't make the procedure sound as promising as some people do. He says there can still be pain with the new knee and there's always the 1% risk of short-term infection and it's for "light duty". Walking is Ok, but not running or intense sports. I do want to hike again but even a new knee wouldn't guarantee that.

He also points out that it's elective surgery so they take more precautions. I'd have to get clearance from the dentist that there is no infection under any of my caps or root canals. This is questionable since I spent $200 in September for an hour in the chair and x-rays only to have her decide that the tooth with the "spot" under it didn't have to come out that day as planned.

So it gets complicated.

There's also the recover time. The first three weeks are not awfully pleasant and he prescribes pain meds for 3 months. Probably nothing heavy duty, just a scripted anti-inflamatory. There's also the issue of not being able to do thing that I need to do. This time of year is carry in firewood (if it every gets cold) and in the spring I want to garden and cut next year's wood and outdoor stuff like that. So there really is no good time to do this.

So I'll try to lose a pound a week which takes a great deal of impact off the knees and hope that ibuprofen doesn't rot my liver.

Here's a full length video of a total knee replacement for anybody who'd like to see the procedure.

https://youtu.be/O3EwHEsMfE4