When I had my first knee replacement, a church member called about a week after the surgery and said, “I can help you,” and so we asked her to come to the house. To say she is a physical therapist feels her short; she is a healer. Her visits were a big part of my successful recuperation. As I have prepared for my second surgery, which comes up next week, I have been in touch with her. Over the weekend, we were at the same pizza party and she said she had something she wanted me to do that might sound odd. I was all ears.
“Before the surgery, I want you to have a conversation with your knee. I want you to talk out loud and tell it everything is going to be okay. Tell it that you are going to have surgery, that it is going to think it is going to die, but it won’t. It will hurt, and it’s a big deal, but everything is going to be okay.”
I am planning to follow her advice. And it might be worth saying to more than just my knee.
My depression is unrelenting. My job is going through some difficult changes. My knee hurts. This morning as I journaled, I found myself saying, “Things are rough, and they may get rougher, but they aren’t going to kill you. It will hurt, and it’s a big deal, but it won’t always feel this way.”
And also with you.
Peace,
Milton
You’ve got this Milton!!
I had my left knee totally replace in 2015. Then I had my right knee cap replaced in 2018. Physical therapy was the same stuff and came easier this time.
My issue is I have a low pain tolerance which works against me… my husband is just the opposite.
I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Linda
Blessings on you, dear Milton. You’re in my prayers, and thank you for sharing this. It was just what I needed to hear tonight. Peace—
You are not alone, Milton. We love you. We are with you and for you.
You’ve got this Milton. Whenever I think of you I think of as a Renaissance Man. You are so creative, caring, artistic, and gifted in many ways. So having a conversation with your knee will create the space for all good things to happen. Miss you!
This is helpful. And a relief from all that is going on around us as well as from our own physical annoyances. I do believe it is courageous to face things as you do, despite your feelings of depression. “Good Conversation.”