Wow! Five days into the year, and I'm first getting around to posting here! I haven't been online much so far this year, so lets see if I can catch up.....
So far, 2025 is starting off good and I hope it continues! (one can only hope!
)
Two good things have happened so far this year. First, my chronic knee pain has mysteriously gotten better! The damage is still there, and the pain/discomfort is not completely gone. But the swelling inside has gone down drastically! I'm guessing that 85%-90% of the pain is gone too!
I've added a longer version of my knee story, farther down on this post...for anyone who might be interested in some of the details.
The second good thing to start my year has to do with the people who live next to us....the one's who we filled a law suit against, about a year and a half ago. On Jan 2nd, they moved out! It looks like they may have sold the place. This won't end the law suit, but it does end the possibility of any kind of nasty interaction! So, again
Ok, all caught up....for now!
My knee:
I have an old knee injury. With proper care, sometimes I can go years without it hurting. Then, without warning, it's back.....
My Orthopedic Surgon has been treating me for more than 15 years. Since I'm totally against the surgery option, he put me on Meloxicam (prescription Ibuprofen), as needed. This worked for more than 10 years, but then, a few years ago, it got bad again.
I used to get my prescription from either my Ortho doctor, or my regular doctor. Unfortunately, my regular doctor eventually told me that I can't have it anymore, because it was affecting my kidney function.
Last January, my knee was hurting enough that I went back to my Ortho (still not wanting surgery) to try the next step....a shot in the knee. Since I hate needles, this was a big step for me.
I'm so glad that I did it!!! He said that it might take a day or two before it felt better, but actually it took about 30 minutes!!! My doctor said that in order to avoid surgery, I could get a shot every 3 months (or longer) for the rest of my life, unless the shot stops working. Then, surgery is the last option.
I got another shot last April, and told the doctor that since the knee always hurts more in the winter, and less in the summer, I hope to not see him until 2025.
In the meantime, my regular doctor signed the forms and I was able to get a Handicapped parking tag.
My knee was starting to hurt more and more. Without realizing it, I taught myself to limp, as a way for it to hurt less. It wasn't until Dio brought it to my attention that I realized what I was doing. So, a few weeks ago I made the big decision. Right after the Holidays, I would make an appointment for another shot.....and to get information about the surgery.
I did a lot of thinking around the Holidays. I realized that I had
taught myself to limp. Right there and then, I decided to un-teach myself to limp!
I did it! Or, at least mostly! I really did not need to limp, the knee did not hurt as much as I had expected it to. It still hurt if I moved wrong, or jarred it, or when it was cold....but the limp was unnecessary! I was still planning on making an appointment for a shot, and to ask questions about the surgery.
The next change came during the night on Dec 28-29. In the middle of the night I half woke up and rolled over. I was just starting to fall back to sleep, when suddenly I was wide awake!!! I realized that I was so very, very comfortable.....
and my knee was in a position that it hadn't been able to go into for more than 6 months!!! 
Since then, as long as I keep it warm, I hardly even notice it! Not only do I not need another shot, but there will be NO surgery!!!
Here's to a year full of love, laughter, good health, and good friends! 
My Mom has reached a point where everything has gotten hard. Her house needs major repairs, so does her car. She lost a crown last week, and another one yesterday. The list goes on and on. 
