Abused photographer's knees to get some relief

For the last several years, I have been limping around on a bad knee. I admit, I abuse it. I spend a lot of time on the floor taking photos and my right knee gets the brunt of it.

For years I put up with the pain. I decided to go to the doctor three years ago and see what was going on.

Old age – well, not that old, but in my family, the cartilage doesn’t seem to last too long.

I decided to try all the steps before going for the surgery. I started with physical therapy. For several weeks, I drove to Rawlins for physical therapy twice a week.

The whole process took about three hours – 45 minutes each way to drive and one hour for the therapy.

It was working for a while until my leg started to go numb.

A disc in my spine was rubbing against a nerve and causing my leg to go numb.

I had an MRI and went to see a specialist in Salt Lake City.

So now the big question for my doctors was which ailment was affecting what.

I got an injection in my spine and I felt much better.

Before, I could barely walk a block without being in tears. I was in so much pain.

Now, the pain in my back was gone and my knee was bearable for a while.

I was advised to stop the physical therapy and see how things go.

Pretty soon, my knee starts screaming in pain and as a result, I start getting the injections in my knee.

While the injections have helped, in the past two years my knee has gotten worse and it is time to get it replaced. Probably a year overdue – according to my doctor.

“How long will you be out?” Keith McLendon, the Saratoga Sun’s graphic designer asks. “Well, at least for two weeks – then desk duty,” I replied.

That down time alone will drive me crazy, but I am hoping the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience.

My mobility has been somewhat limited for the last few years and it gets really old not being able to be as active as I once was.

I used to walk two miles a day, and now I am afraid to because it’s so painful.

Even though Keith has put out the Saratoga Sun many times while I have been out of the office for vacation and other surgeries, it has been with a pretty experienced staff.

This time he has newbies to work with and I think he is a little nervous.

He is used to me working until midnight, if needed, to finish up the Saratoga Sun on Monday nights, and I have a lot of other “little” jobs I forgot to tell my staff I do.

I have to be honest, I am more than a little nervous about getting a whole joint replaced. I have heard all kinds of stories, mostly good, but some bad. I just hope I am tough enough to handle the challenge of physical therapy.

So, as I go under the knife June 30, say a prayer for my staff as they work to put our paper out for the next two or more weeks without me.

I know they will do a great job.