Surgery With Dr.LaPrade

Surgery went well today!

Nothin like a team of all smart, handsome guys takin care of ya :)

More posts to come on Dr.LaPrade and the surgical post-op.

In the mean time ... thank God for percocet!

Patellar Chondroplasty at the Steadman Clinic in Vail

I've had a few people ask me exactly what kind of knee surgery I am having today,

and why?

Well ... let me explain.

Dr.LaPrade at the Steadman Clinic in Vail will be doing a Patellar Chondroplasty on my left knee.

As it has been explained to me, patellar chondroplasty is pretty much a clean up job.

See this brace?? Well, let me explain ...

It all starts when you're a freshman in high school and your orthopedic doctor tells you to take a season off from softball because you are ruining your knees.

You smile and say to him

"No way. I would much rather experience agonizing pain for the next 5 years"

Make sure you smile when you say that though.

He will say "Ok, you athletes are stubborn, but maybe when you stop growing it will improve"

Congratulations. You now have what I like to call false hope!

For the next few years you slide, dive ... do everything you always did.

Yes, because none of these things are hard on your knees or anything?

Eventually, when you think you can take no more, you'll decide to hang up your jersey

and you'll tell yourself that it will improve upon doing so.

Oh but wait ... not only did you play softball 50 weeks a year ...

you also skied ... black diamond moguls ... all winter. 

And you don't want to stop that.

Your knees hate you.

They are out to get you.

So it doesn't get better.

It swells. It catches. It clicks.

Your grandma can now squat more than you.

Enter: SURGERY

Cause:

Effect: Patellar Chondroplasty
(for the record, I was safe right there!!)

The cartilage behind my knee cap is now in shreds

like your nasty neighbor's yard

and it needs a serious mowing job.

That is how it was explained to me at least. 

Hopefully I didn't overwhelm you with medical lingo.

Anyways, wish me luck! :)

Summer in Vail

Today was my first and last mobile day in Vail.

I took advantage.

Strolled around the beautiful Vail Village.

Columbines were in full bloom :)

Got me feelin a little Colorado spirit.
How Beautiful is Vail?

And hey - it was a successful day.

I set in stone my life goal:

to own a shop of some sort ...

graphic design, cupcakes and cards ... whatever

and live above it in this magical place.

My place will of course be complete with 

adorable sleeping dogs on my steps

and children playing in the fountain outside ...

I'm going to conclude this post with a thank you to the Steadman Clinic.

 A preliminary thank you that is ...

if they mess me up tomorrow, I can revoke it. Remember that over there guys.

Anyways,

thank you for not only being the best orthopedic surgeons around

but for also being in Vail :)

Vail or Bust

So tomorrow morning I am leaving for Vail, Colorado.

I wish I could say this is just a fun summer mountain trip ...

but its more of a 

"sucking-the-fun-out-of-anything-you-could-possibly-do-on-a-fun-summer-mountain-trip" trip.

KNEE SURGERY

It is about 4 years over due.

The endless softball, the black diamond skiing ... it took a beating.

I'm in good hands though. Steadman Clinic is the best of the best.

Dr.LaPrade will be my surgeon.

If there was ever a knee expert ... it's him.

I will be posting more details about the surgery and procedure these next two weeks.

And in the mean time, look at the silver lining,

what better place to be sliced?

VAIL, Colorado? 2 weeks of rehab is sounding quite alright.

Wish me luck :)