Okay – here’s the latest – Surgery Monday 11/23/09 – on crutches (per post surgical Nurse order) through Wednesday night, knee totally swollen, every time I try to put pressure on my leg tears come to my eyes – I call my surgeon Wednesday night because it doesn’t feel right – I thought I would be walking… He was angry that they put me on crutches, he told them no crutches and wanted me to be weight bearing. Yes, there would have been more pain, but I think I lost a day or so in the process of healing.
Lots of ice at least 5 or 6 times a day for 30 minutes at a time. I didn’t touch the crutches again and am now walking, but my gait is nowhere near normal yet, and I am still in a lot of pain. This makes me crazy because I have a high pain tolerance. Every day is a little bit better – I am hoping for a lot of progress this weekend. My surgeon called me back Thursday morning to check on me (and my state of mind) and assured me that everything would be okay. He said range of motion will still be difficult because of the swelling, but to do what I can. I can’t drive until Monday – 1 week – so going to the gym to even get on a bike is out of the question. This has not been easy, and I think my expectation were way too aggressive. I just need to be better so that I can catch my flight on Tuesday – this gig cannot be postponed.
Since I have written last, I have had not one, but two surgeries. The first surgery was to repair a ruptured plantar plate, torn ligaments in 2 toes and a fracture at the ball of my foot. The plantar plate is actually the cushiony, thick pad that covers the bottom of your foot, and protects the many bones in the foot. Well, I actually split mine in half – not very common and supposedly not easy to do, just my luck. I had the surgery on August 17, 2009 and am still in the process of healing 13 weeks later. My surgeon, Dr. Megan Leahy of the Illinois Bone and Joint Clinic, is absolutely amazing and we immediately hit it off due to our common love for the Chicago Cubs.
I was flat on my back for a full week, on crutches for 4 and then in a walking surgical boot (Cam-Walker) for 4 more weeks after that. I am in my 5th week of wearing shoes, my 2nd weeks of wearing “normal” shoes with my new Ortho inserts, which I love. During the time I was in my Cam-Walker I was putting undo strain on my knee while “learning” to walk again and this caused the Meniscus in my knee to tear. The day I got my Ortho inserts, I told Dr. Leahy that I was having a lot of pain in my knee and she immediately sent me to see Dr. Edward Forman, another IBJC doc, whom I have seen numerous times in the past. He ordered an MRI, which was done that afternoon and I was back in Dr. Forman’s office at the end of the day scheduling Arthroscopic Knee surgery for Monday, November 23rd, 2009 – yesterday. I will be back in his office on Monday the 3oth and will most likely scheduling surgery number 3 to repair the damage to my left knee that was also caused during the extended healing process of my right foot. Oh well – better to get it all fixed now and be healthy and surgery free (hopefully) for years to come.
It has been a couple of years since Incubus was in Chicago and last night I definitely got a well needed fix. Incubus played at the Charter One Pavilion on Chicago’s Lakefront and I really have to say, it was the BEST Incubus show I have ever seen, and I have seen them well over a dozen times.
The favorites just kept coming and coming, including songs from the band’s early days including: Redefine, Vitamin and Certain Shade of Green from the S.C.I.E.N.C.E album. Most of the attendees were familiar with the later hits beginning with the release of Morning View which spawned the hit “Wish You Were Here.”
Prior to the show, I was able (once again) to participate in a Make Yourself Foundation Meet & Greet with the band. The guys immediately recognized us and Brandon stood up and gave me a big hug, recognized that I got my hair cut and said that he really liked it a lot. I chatted with Mike about Harvard, as I had to opportunity to speak there this past fall. Ben and Chris talked with me about the last time I saw them at the Double Door in Chicago and Jose chimed in that they had told him that I was there and he was sorry that he missed that show.
