Annette VanVeen (Gippe)

I think we should have a goodbye to Mark's old knee lunch before the 17th.

Mark Podolner

I agree with Anette - Let's see if we can get a date in the next few weeks for a small luncheon at Manny's whether we celebrate the loss of my arthritic knee or not. If the basic recovery period averages 3 monhths I would be mobile and comfortable in February (though I would think I could go to lunch much earlier). In the middle of April my wife and I are going on a Mediterranian sea cruise folllowed by a week in Spain. So I'd be back in the middle of May approximately. 

How about November 9 or 10 for luch at Manny's? There might just be a few of us but then we could plan the next one. 

Gus Pappas

mark who will be doing your knee replacement?

Nancy Apel (Jones)

Hi Annette it was great meeting for lunch!we have to do it again soon!good luck on your surgery mark!i wish I could join all of you for lunch but we will be out of town.we do need to celebrate our 70th birthdays togethe in May.

Mark Podolner

Gus - 

My knee replacement surgery is being done by Dr. Richard L. Rosseau at Good Samaratin Hospital. Are you in the business? Do you have any advice? 

Marki 

Nancy Apel (Jones)

Hi gus!it is great to see your name here!it has been a long time since division with Mrs.Gordon.i was hoping you would make it to our reunion.i happy to see your life turned out well and you found happiness!looking forward to seeing you again.

Michael Segal

" Hey A - Rod , get off the commentator desk and shoot some ROIDS into to the butts of the CUB team " !!!

Yours truly Michael Segal from Miami Beach. Segalmsid@aol.com

Susan Moise (Herman)

Could use his bat!!

Mark Podolner

Since it came up in our discussions on this web page I wanted to let everyone know that I had my knee preplacement surgery on Thursday and I am recovering well. Thanks to the multiple narcotics and other medications,  the pain is only mildly excruciating. I am able to get around on my walker some now and I've already had a home PT and nursing session. Everyone says I'm recovering without any problems (so far) and that would seem to be accurate. My grandkids brought me flowers and hand made cards in the hospital and I have been reveling in all of the attention and sympathy. 

Steven Andes

Great news!

Susan Moise (Herman)

Mark, good news.  Hope your reccovery is speedy with no issues!  Thanksgiving is here so give thanks for what seems to be successful surgery!  And soak up all that attention while you can!

Gus Pappas

I'm glad you are doing well...get back to normal soon because you are important to a lot of people ...

How are you walking? 

Mark Podolner

Steven and Susan - 

Thanks for your words of encouragement about my recovery from knee replacement surgery. I'll be up and around soon and ready for  another lunch at Manny's or whereever. 

Gary Matthews

Hi Mark;

As a retired PT who worked in the field of geriatrics for nearly 40 years and treated a multitude of hip and knee replacement patients in their homes, I can honestly tell you that the most important part of this whole rehab process is being compiant with your home exercise program and being conscienctious with it even after being discharged from out-patient therapy.  If you do that, your long term results should be outstanding, hopefully returning to your pre surgical activity level....probably a higher level!

Although admittedly not the norm, (and probabbly not recommended by many surgeons), I play tournament level softball with several guys who have had knee replacements and perform very well in the field and on the bases.

So, anyway, good luck with your new bionic knee; take care and stay active.

Gary      

Sherry Zivin (Terao)

Mark,

Sending you hopes for a quick total recovery!  I had both my knees replaced about 6 years ago, and wished I'd done it years earlier.  I have zero pain in my knees and full mobility.  I'm still working on those muscles around the knees, tho'.  Your victory is certain....just be wary of those pain meds; they play havoc with your digestive system!

Regards,

Sherry

Mark Podolner

Gus - 

Thanks for all your support and encouragement. It's been great getting re-introduced to you through our mutual knee issues. I can walk pretty well already - actually lying in bed is more painful because my leg is full extended, which is the way it should be but it makes sleeping hard. Stairs are still a challenge but I'm getting there. I'm guessing I'm be  up and around in  2-3 weeks and available for lunches at Manny's or wherever.  

Mark Podolner

Hey Gary - 

I really appreciate your professional prerspective and all of it is accurate in terrms of what I've experienced and what I've heard listening to stories for the past decade (having had this condition for a long time). I've had some trouble dealing with  the pain issues which then restrict my exercising but that's gotten better as I've learned what's most effective - Norco versus  morphine. I've had 3 PT sessions at home and next week I go to outpatient PT. I'm pretty highly motivated since I'm a active person. Also the activities I engage in don't require much lateral movement - hiking, biking and swimming. I found that I couldn't even play golf well because my osteoarthritis is pervasive and the degenerative disease in my back inhibits that torque you need for a good swing.

My primary motivating goal is a Meditarian sea cruise that Marion and I are taking in  April to celebrate our 40th anniversary. And if I can do it I'm scheduled to drive (or fly) to San Antonio and Scottsdale at the end of January. I pretty much work backwards from the trips that we plan. This also gives me a high degree of motivation to do those boring and painful PT exercises. In fact I'm going to do a set right now. Thanks again for your support and advice.  

Mark Podolner

Susan - 

Thanks for your worlds of encouragement. At Thanksgiving time I am definitely thankful for my kee and all the parts that connected to it (which have now been removed to make room for the bionic alternative). With some hard work in PT I hope to be up and around fairly soon.

Mark Podolner

Sherry - 

I knew there had to be others out there who had this very common surgery for people our age. Did you have both knees done at once?  I know several people who have done that and there's no way I could have pulled that off. 

I find that in alot of medical advice you get from doctors you still have to figure out a lot yourself - be your primary health advocate. Now I was already constipated from the other medications but the real killer on that fron is the morphine and I very quickly realized that and  use Norco (Vicadon, Hydrocodone) as my primary pain killer along with  Celebrex as an anti-inflamatory. Now before this surgery I had been prescribed "Linzess," which is a powerful anti-constipation medication (too strong before I started taking these painkillers). Now there's a battle going on in my body between Linzess and Hydrocodone and Morphone, which basically keeps things in balance. None-the-less, I defintiely look forward to getting off all this stuff. 

It's great to hear that your recovered so well and regretted not doing it sooner. I have a feeling that's what's going to happen to me. Thanks for your encouragement. 

Paul Kerman (Margievalenti@gmail. Com)

Hi Mark,

Glad to hear you are doing well! Don't overdue, no set backs please.

Paul 

Steven Andes

I echo the comment about keeping up with physical therapy.  You have to keep moving.  I can move much better now with the new knee than before.  But, the new knee tightens up if I don't do the therapy.

Susan Moise (Herman)

Anyone with experiene with a T12/L1 bulging disc that is pushing against a nerve??  Cortison shots did zip. Started physical theraphy last week-hoping that will give me some relief. Surgery not an option according to 2 different surgeons!

Sue

Felice (Fifi) Kaufmann

Sue - How open are you to alternative therapies? There is an Eastern Medicine treatmnet called Gua Sa that TOTALLY did the trick for me. Accupuncturists, which I think I spelled wrong, often know this technique - If you can't find anyone who does this, let me know - The woman I saw for Gua Sa literally wrote the book on it ad she would undoubtedly be able to help.....

Felice aka Fifi

Gus Pappas

Fifi can you please give me her name and number

I would like to giver a try I have those same type of pains.. thanks ....

Felice (Fifi) Kaufmann

Hi Gus - She is in New York CIty ( where I now, alas, live) - so unless you live here, which I think you don't, it might not work... 

HOWEVER, do I recall that you are a PT? (Cant remember why I think that but,.....) - She has some professional lectures on You Tube which would enable you to describe the technique and make it easiser to find someone in your community who might know someone who might know someone (and on and on) who could do it.

This is her website: http://guasha.com/research/  If you write to her and use my name (Felice, not Fifi - "Fifi" is only for  people who knew me before age 25, so y'all get a free pass)  I'm sure she will be able to give you the names of people in your commuity who do this technique

This is a video done by one of her students that explains Gua Sha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJuuIcI-4Es. As a PT you may understand it ways that others (like me) do not......

And just for good measure, here is her bio on You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIl710EYGRg

NOt sure if ths will help - but if all else fails, if you ever come to NYC, I'm down for getting you in to see her or somebody!!!

Fifi  

PS Apparently there are many accupuncturists who do this technique but don't necessarily advertise it - so maybe all of the above is irrelevent and you could do better by just calling around......