My second opinion appointment with Dr. Michael Slimack went quite well. After explaining my situation, reviewing my history and looking at me, he said there wouldn’t be any problem with me having the surgery and he’d be glad to do it. We were shown a mock-up of the three knee parts attached to a fake leg to get an idea of how it works. It’s two metal pieces–one attached to the upper leg and one attached to the lower leg. The lower-leg piece is a baseplate for the plastic middle layer. It all makes sense and works great as a model.

By the end of the appointment I was scheduled for the surgery. It’s going to be next Wednesday, September 5th. It’s outpatient surgery, performed in right at the doctor’s clinic. I go home a few hours later with a new knee. The physical therapist I had been going to to rehab my bad knee said she’s never known of anyone having this surgery as an outpatient. It should be interesting.

Yes, it’s very soon too, so I’ve been scrambling ever since the appointment to get everything arranged and all the paperwork and red tape completed in these two weeks. Yesterday I had to go to my regular doctor and get a physical, EKG, blood tests, etc., to get cleared for the surgery, and I have an appointment tomorrow (Wednesday 8/29) with an in-home medical supply company that Dr. Slimack ordered to make sure I have everything I need for after-surgery care. Then, next Tuesday, the day before the surgery, I have an in-home therapist coming to go over everything we’ll be doing for the post-surgery therapy. She’ll be coming to my home regularly after that for my physical therapy up until my follow-up doctor’s appointment two weeks after the surgery.