I'm Back - Kinda, Sorta

[Bama Red]

Been doing the charming tour of large hospitals of the Southeast since August of last year. Trust me, if you want to take a tour - go to Italy, sunny Spain or the south of France. They're all cheaper and much nicer!

Short version - had a knee transplant at Vanderbilt Bone & Joint Clinic that came complete with a staph infection in August. Had that knee taken out and an antibiotic spacer (think cement doughnut in size and shape) put in to take the place of the knee in January of this year. The docs say that, and six weeks of IV antibiotics every day, did the trick and my knee cavity is infection-free. The docs put in a new knee the last week of April and now I'm starting all over again .

Haven't ridden the Valk since August and may be two more months before I trust the knee to hold the bike and me up. I gotta admit, I've got more than a little bit of doubt about the knee at this stage of the game. I had been talking with Zook about going the trike route and I think more and more that this may be the only way I'll ever trust the knee.

So, now that the infection is cleared up and I don't feel like warmed over dog puke anymore, I'll try to stop in a little more often. Good to see the usual suspects are still hanging around, causing trouble and creating mayhem.......

[DDT (12)]

BRm

Welcome back... sorry for the reason(s) for your absence... Glad you're going to remain a part of our riding fraturnity regardless of your knee ordeal. Several planned group rides coming up in the next couple of months, and there are always ad hoc rides springing up everywhere. Hope to see ya one one or several...

DDT

[OverdueBill]

I was wondering what happened to you.  If you sold the valk or what.  Glad to see you back and healing up.

[NJF6Cowboy]

Bama Red,

Hang in there Bud the knee will get stronger with physical therapy. My right knee was replaced Oct 26, 2011 after walking with no cartilidge for two years. I'm having good & bad days, went back to work in March, still going to PT three days a week.

I was riding the Valk in March against my wife's wishes, but I was able to hold the bike up and felt comfortable in all riding circumstances

Biggest issue will be developing quad muscles again.

Oh and I should have listened to my Mom when she said I shouldn't jump off running horses onto running steers and stop and throw said steer.

[MacDragon]

Welcome back Red... hope you heal soon and heal well.

[cookiedough]

Take it easy and don't rush it.  You can always trike the Valk or sell it and buy a triked Valk or Goldwing especially since a Goldwing has reverse unlike the Valkyrie. 

I had a very baby knee surgery unlike your full blown knee surgery mine being a torn miniscus on the inside of my knee.  It was 2 years ago and let it go for 10 months thinking it would heel on it's own.  Well, it didn't and Dr. after surgery said it was amazing you could even walk on it with it being just a flap of muscle hanging on inside that he had to cut out.  Pretty neat he took pics inside my knee before and after.  You could see the flap just dangling on the before pic.  Surgery took 15 minutes is all but took 3 months to get back on the Valkyrie which sucked missed almost all summer of riding at ONLY age 40.  Plus, Dr. said he saw that I am getting arthritis in my knee joints but that is about right to start getting arthritis he said around age 40 or so.  Sucks getting older.

[FLAVALK]

You can't count those Bama boys out...hang in there son, you'll be back in the saddle before you know it 

[old2soon]

Glad and happy to see yer back. Sometimes and once in awhile but not always the Drs might know what's right for ya. Get yourself healed up. :cooldude:You'll know when the time is right. As you'll also know whether you be on 2 or 3 wheels. RIDE SAFE.

[Jeff K]

Knee transplant? I have never heard of them transplanting knees.

[FLAVALK]

Knee transplant? I have never heard of them transplanting knees.

Actually, there's a knee farm just outside Orlando. It was started to offset the decline in citrus production 

[santa]

Rode past your house today coming from Lynchburg with a couple of other Valks not sure what house is yours but you did say it was on the road.
Santa

[Jeff K]

Knee transplant? I have never heard of them transplanting knees.

Actually, there's a knee farm just outside Orlando. It was started to offset the decline in citrus production 

I hope they observe watering restrictions! 

[Chiefy]

Welcome back Red, was wondering how it was going.  You're the second person I've heard of that got staph infection after that kind of knee work.  Glad you're on the upside of it.

Trikes are fun, and Zook is a good guy.  You may want to consider buying a Valk already triked.  It may well cost the same or less when it's all said and done then having yours triked.  And it would save a Dragon from getting cut up.

Best wishes for the rest of your recovery.

[Crazyhorse]

Good to have you back .

[The Anvil]

Welcome back Red, was wondering how it was going.  You're the second person I've heard of that got staff infection after that kind of knee work.  Glad you're on the upside of it.

I've heard of at least one pro athlete who had it too.

[Bama Red]

Free advice and worth every penny you pay for it:

Avoid staph infections like the plague. During the three months I had the antibiotic spacer implanted, I could not bear any weight on the knee, could not bend the knee and could only sleep flat on my back. That may not be the Biblical definition of Hell, but it was close enough for me.

Santa - I actually live on Old Mulberry Road, which parallels Hwy. 50 (the road between Fayetteville and Lynchburg) and just a couple hundred yards to the west of Hwy. 50. I could have heard y'all, but due to terrain features and summer foliage, I can't see 50 from the house. Next time you're headed that way, give me a call and stop by for a visit (256) seven-eight-three-1413.