Long Energy Banner

Body, Mind & Spirit Connections: 29 staples later…

0
Share

By Pat Larsen

For Capital Region Independent Media

Headshot of a female named Pat Larsen
Pat Larsen

This is a story about perseverance, adjusting expectations, finding humor in this experience and yes, 29 staples.

Not wanting to keep you in suspense any longer than that last sentence, the reference to the “staples” is about the excitement and thrill of finally arriving at the day when my surgical closure and bandage would be removed following my total knee replacement. I had dreamed of this day for two very long weeks.

Two weeks isn’t so long, you say? On the contrary, my friendly readers, two weeks is a total of 20,160 minutes, to be exact. 

When I arrived at my post op visit I was all smiles, my usual jovial, light-hearted, friendly self. I greeted everyone by first name and they responded in kind… “big day, Pat!” Yes, it was. 

Let’s fast forward… Once the silicone bandage was removed, I counted 29 metal staples along the suture line on my right knee area. I was in a bit of shock. The nurse assistant began gloving up and unwrapping all kinds of tweezers and gauze pads. 

There I sat, legs extended, my excited smile having faded to a look of terror on my brow and I managed to squeak out… “how do you remove them?” and “is this going to hurt?” 

You would’ve thought I was doing a Netflix comedy stand-up (well, sit-down in this case) show, because everyone in the room just chuckled.

In truth, before I knew it, all 29 staples were out and I had survived. 

Just as you might expect a young kid to be rewarded for their bravery, I was then taken out to lunch by my husband, coach, caregiver extraordinaire. Home care instructions in hand and feeling such a sense of relief and release from the constraint of the surgical bandage. I could’ve run a marathon. 

Here’s where my “expectation” issue drifted yet again into phase 2 of the adjustment to the knee joint being free to learn how to move with more ease while still healing from the metal and plastic prosthetic implant that now made up my knee.

No more staples or bandages, just my muscles forging ahead.

Kind of a be careful what you wish for a moment that lasted 1,440 seconds.

I quickly realized there would be no marathons in my immediate future. 

You can’t blame me for dreaming.

The most frequent question I’ve been asked since my April 10 surgery is “was it worth it?” 

Ahhhhh, that will be the makings of a  new column soon, I promise.

Pat Larsen lives in Greene County with her patient husband Chris. Many who follow her on Facebook also know Chris is a great cook. On a temporary medical leave but Pat plans to return in June to teach fitness classes for Baby Boomers and seniors at the Shamrock House in East Durham, NY. Classes and educational programs to help live your best life at any age are offered mornings. You can reach Pat at pelarsen5@aol.com or at 518-275-8686 or on Facebook at “Pat Larsen”. 

Related Posts