PFR-Knee pain-Who has had this?

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Milly the back lighting so the keyboard lights up is a fantastic idea.  At work we have motion sensors, and my desk is not near one, so I have to get up and walk around so I can have light to type.  (Yes if someone comes in that does not happen).  When my door is closed and I am busy working I forget about the motion detector and have to get up and move about.  (If I do not close my door then people are constantly coming in and calling).  People always comment on my phone ringing, e-mail binging, cell phone going off, and the amount of people in my office during one day.  I always joke and say if I had a dime for every interruption I would be a millionaire.

There are many ways to sync with an iPad.  Like other Apple products once you sync to a certain type of computer you can not sync to another (iPad to Mac or iPad to PC).  I have a Mac at home and a PC at work.  I synced the iPad to the Mac and now I need to find away to sync it to the PC.  If you drive a lot you can use the iPad as a GPS, use Pandora music, and anything else you need while traveling.  I am looking into educational uses, movie and music services, presentation software, etc.

As for my knee it is somewhat better today.  At least I can walk without yelling.  I did 5 loads of laundry.  I was going to drive to Office Depot to get a VGA SVGA LCD Monitor Extension Video Cable.  I decided not to go since I did not want to take a chance and hurt myself (cold, raining, and icy outside).  I will see if we have an extra one at work.

After spending most of the weekend on the sofa I am hoping that tomorrow is a better day at work.  Meetings in the morning, around noon, and after work.  Let the fun begin.  I need to bring a set of ear buds and play some good music to get me through some of these.

Take care.
Mr.F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Started the desktop conversions today.  Lots of excitement!  Hopefully now that we have the hang of it, things will roll faster tomorrow.

Wish I had and iPad to fool with to see if it would be of benefit at work, but at 500-600 each, they are still as much as a basic laptop.  So not sure if it would be worth the swtich yet or not.   Funny we had a user wanting to sync her iPod to her work, home PC and home Mac computer too.  Never did figure this out.

I work with task lights only at work so I tape off my motion sensor so the big bright lights don't come on and blind me.  LOL  I prefer less light, as I am more that a bit photosensetive.  Know how all the bells and buzzes can get to some people. just part of my job.  It all fades into the background for me.

Once I get the conversion at work done, will likely play catch up on the other stuff that I could not get to.  I also think I will have to work on converting all our Access databases from 2000 to 2010.  There are so many!  Well it will keep me busy.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Milly sounds like you will be kept busy for some time. I do not know if you can sync an iPad to a Mac and a PC.  If the person has a WiFi connection only he/she can teather a cellphone to e iPad and it will be able to connect to the Internet anywhere there is cell phone coverage.  Now that is cool (no you do not need an iPhone).  You need a smartphone or an android. 

Yesterday my boss gave me a new charge that seemed somewhat impossible.  The databases we are using were created by a company that has no idea how we work.  Some output is in PDFs (when I next excel sheets... using it with FileMaker ), excels when I need pds, and if you can figure out how it is programmed you can create custom databases.

As for me I am surviving daily.  My knee is allowing me to make it through the day and home.  I spend most of the night on the sofa.

I have a meeting after work that could lead to something interesting later on this year.  Also I am training a friend at  work on new technology.  It feels good to assist others and welcome them into the 21st century.

I got to mess around more with the iPad.  I presented a PowerPoint, used the iheart radio app, incorporated 2 other apps, pictures, and misc other functions into my presentations.  And yes I heard "so are you trying to show off" coming from people in the audience.  Was exciting to be the first to use this technology in a presentation.

Other than this nothing exciting and new....

Take care,
Mr.F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Exhaused!  Got a few stragglers on the conversion and a couple of apps that need tweaking with new profiles and settings.  All in all not too bad.  A lot of where do I find???  But not terrible, most hate the new e-mail etc.  I will give them a few weeks and once the changes sink in most of the complaints should die down.  Much smoother that I planned so I am pleased.  Still some mopping up to do.

I like to play with the tech first myself. That's one reason I went into IT after all.  Knee is holding out ok.  The right one that is, a bit peeved at night but not too bad. The left with the partial is not having any trouble being run around.  So glad of that too.

I don't think you can sync the iPad to two machines of any flavor, you could not with the iPod.  You must diable one machine for it to work on the other machine.  We had that when my daughter got a new laptop and we moved her iPod from the family computer to the laptop.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Milly glad to hear the knee is holding up through all the work you are doing.  Sounds like a major undertaking (both on your knees and for the company you work for). 

I made it through my week of h@ll and preparing for another one.  Work, meetings, trainings, prepping  power points for others, embedding video, making sure that the slide transition seamlessly so it looks like a move, starting and stopping the video to show important points, adding music (and the person presenting had no idea what she wante...about an hour to pick one song), and conducting surveys.  That is how my week ended and I have a similar beginning this week.  Fun, fun, fun.

On top of all of this my left knee is killing me.  (I had trouble sleeping last night).  I am just glad it is the weekend and I am not running around for 9-11 hours at work.

Today I went with my wife to a yarn shop.  She is knitting several projects and needed more yarn.  It was nice to spend some time together.  (I passed out on the way home do to knee pain).  I am trying not to take pain meds because the limited time I did, I was getting use to it (only at night). 

I have several weeks until I have my OS appointment.  I am hoping the new doctor will be able to help me.

Take care and enjoy your weekend...
Mr. F

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Well in the middle of laundry....laundry...and more laundry (working on my fifth load).  Watching college basketball.  Some great games today (SEC and ACC games). 

Started off the moning going out to breakfast with my family.  Then it was off to BJs.  Wait we had to go to Target.  We were not done.  Next we went to a loca supermarket.  I thought finally we will be heading home so I can start laundry.  No such luck.  Coffee was calling to my wife, so we had to stop and get a cup.  What started out as a simple family breakfast became a day of running around.

After experiencing winter warnings, freezing mornings, and possible snow Friday night I was able to go out and toss a football with my son.  (And I am in shorts).  I am looking forward to this week's weather.  Warming up significantly warmer.

Well the laundry is calling me, so have a great night.

Take care,
Mr.F

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Well were do I start.  OK.  Yesterday I am at work talking with some people.  We are finishing up our conversation.  I get up to through something out.  I take a step by to check my phone.  At the same time a person in the room in walking backward (not facing me) finishing the conversation.  He spins around and , I need a Batman BAM, he slams into my right knee and leg.  At the moment it happened I was in very little pain.

After work I had a workshop.  Which was very informative.  I get home to a call from my sister.  Some family issues.  My family put the fun in dysfunctional.  At this point I guess the pain has not totally sunk in.  Several hours later I take my meds and go to sleep.

This morning was a totally different situation.  I could not put much pressure on the leg.  I went to work today and made it though the day.  (And yes I did get paperwork for work men's compensation).  I feel I will need to see one of the OSs on this plan.  What is amazing, and still holds true, no matter what my knees do not swell.  I am in so much pain.  Yet my knee looks like it did what I had no problems.  (If a doctor looks at my knee he/she is going to think I am making this problem up).  I just hope I do not need another operation.

So much for having fun this weekend.  I was looking forward to making a water rocket with my son.  We are planning on how to make the rocket and a launcher.  If the pain is not so bad we might be able to make these.

Well that is all for now....in extreme pain but still trying to smile.

Take care,

Mr.F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

I don't usually swell up either so quite often I am not believed either.  So I know how you feel there.  Hope whatever happen to the knee settles down for you.  Yeah the "shop" doc is not alway helpful especially since the knee already has quite a history.   Hope the weekend turns out ok for you.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,
Milly, it is always great to hear from you.  I hope all is well with the new server, e-mail, and apps are all well.  Well enough so you are not running around.

So today I was supervising several items at work today.  Lots and lots of time on my feet.  So I am sitting on the sofa with ice bags on my knees.  Freeze the pain away.  I feel it starting to kick in.  Five minutes with the ice.  Later tonight pain meds.  I an see the weekend...ice, sofa, chicken, and college basketball.

I am going to say good-bye for now.  In pain and having difficulty thinking.

Have a fantastic night...take care,
Mr. F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Yeah things are slowing down and folks have found their "stuff", just some bits of clean up.  I think tomorrow I can even relax a bit at work.  Not much because of course 4 laptops went down during the transfer.  2-3 need reformatting (joy!).  Ah well keeps me in a paycheck and most days I really like it.

Hope the knees are better this weekend.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello all,

Milly have fun with the formatting.  Glad to hear most all the technology is up and running.

The knees are still hanging in there.  I had a meeting after work today.  I forgot my cane at home.  So all day people were commenting, looks like you are feeling better...no cane.  Just because you are walking does not mean you are not in pain.  Also I am smiling.  I know sounds strange that you are in epic pain yet you are smiling and have a sense of humor.

I am glad to be at home and out of my dress shoes. Yes I have a sort of custom pair of dress shoes.  So I am looking forward to the weekend and college basketball.  Maybe, yes maybe we will get to build the water rocket.

If not I know my son will be on my iPad playing Gardens in Time, Angry Birds, and 3 other games.

Take care and have fun this weekend,

Mr. F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

I found that if I don't keep trying to keep up the sense of humor and smile as much as I can, it all starts to get overwhealming.  Of course I am walking because I have to, cane or not..so maybe I don't feel better.

Know how that goes.  Hope the weekend is good and you can build the rocket finally.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Well my son and I are preparing to build our water rocket.  We researched the parts for a launcher today.  We are planning to build tomorrow.  Overcast weather, so we need to work outside and did not want to get rained on.

I wanted a family day, so we all went out to breakfast.  From here we went to a seaquarium.  We had a great day.  Weather was slightly overcast, and no rain.  The overcast weather made it comfortable when walking around.  We had fun.

From here we went to Ikea.  Wife and son needed some items so they got to shop.  I waited in the cafeteria area.  Knees were starting to hurt.  By the time we got home I was in some discomfort. 

Now it is laundry time...5 loads.  On top of this my son and I are playing several different games on the iPad.  Yes he is an Apple fanatic, like his father.  Every time I pick up the iPad he asks can we check to see if there is an app for ....  It gets annoying after the fifth time in a day.  (He does ask for some interesting items).

Well that is all for now.  Most likely icing the knees later.

Enjoy your weekend and watch lots of college basketball...I have been.  Take care,

Mr. F

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

T minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, wait a minute.  So today we had fantastic weather.  Little man and I decided today was the day to build the water rocket.  So we start our journey at Walmart.  We get our valve stems, electrical ties, and bicycle pump.  We pay and head out to Home Depot.  Along the way I realize we forgot the two 2 liter bottles and a funnel.  So we stop at a local supermarket and get the missing items.

No off to Home Depot.  Now for the imortang items.  We find some help and get down to the major items: a ten foot PVC pipe (we get it cut 4 times...5 parts), 2 end caps, a 2 inch section on a bigger PVC pipe, a clamp, PVC cement, duct tape, teflone tape, and a t juction.  The guys helping us were really into this.  So we need to go back and explain our success or failure.

From here we went out and got something to eat.  By the time we got home it was around 2 pm.  So we get our tools we need and some plastic bags to contain our mess and get to work.  One end cap and one section glued together.  Well that was easy.  Next the t junction.  We glue one end in and we are looking for another peice, small section, of PVC.  Wait it does not fit.  I look in and one part is threaded.  We need unthreaded.

So off we go to a local Ace Hardware.  We find the correct t junction, a saw, and some sandpaper.  We pay and head home.  I cut off the part the is not needed.  We glue the t in place and we are on our way.  Next we need to add the end cap with the valve stem in it.  I open the pack of valve stems.  Take one out and try to pull it through.  Now way...the valve stem does not fit.  (I checked it and it should fit).

So now we have to find a store that has valve stems.  So I go online and look up loca auto parts stores.  I find one less than a mile away.  I pull out my cell phone and make the call.  The signal fails.  Not once, twice, but three times.  I move around the front yard.  No bars and no connection.  What is going on.  I open my cell phone connections to see the network has been turned off.  How did this happen?  I have no idea.  I got my reception back. 

The first place I called was a general automotive store.  Good they should have the part we need.  I get a person on the phone.  He had no idea if the store has a valve stem.  He checks...do we have valve stem covers.  I say...not the cover, but the actual valve stem.  He checks again.  Nobody in the store has any if they carry valve stems.

I find a store within four miles.  This time they have valve stems.  We head out again.  Our frustration level is at an all time high.  We get to the store.  I show them the end cap and explain what we are building.  One gentleman gets a valve stem and it fits perfectly.  We go to pay and they say it's on the house.  We thanked them and headed home.  Our luck is changing.

We get home and start our work again.  This time things are going much better.  The parts are going on and fitting with no problems.  We are done glueing everything.  So now we have to work on the launch release device.  We need to make some slight modifications and it looks like everything is going well.  At this point I look down and see that the PVC cement has spilled everywhere (it was contained to the plastic bags).  Final attachments and taping and we are ready.

Little man and I filled up a 2 liter bottle with some water.  We take it outside.  We place the bottle on the end of the launcher, stand it up, and attached the bicycle pump.  Little man pumps up the pressure and nothing.  Wow all of this for nothing.  I disconnect the pump.  Rest everything and try it.  After some pumps I hear the pressure building up and with the pull of a string....pop...the bottle takes flight.  Water spraying a path along the cars and grass.  It's a success.

We grabbed several bottles and filled them with water , our launcher, pump, and bottles.  We headed out to the local elementary school (big open field).  We had three successful launches.  We discussed them and we came up with some slight modifications.  Overall a fun day.

We are planning more launches this coming weekend.

I hope you had a fun and exciting weekend...take care,
Mr. F

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

So here I sit on the sofa with a confused heart.  I need advise.  (Let me set the stage so you can provide feedback).  Today I had an appointment with a new OS.  I was looking forward to this appointment.  I was told how great he is, how he fixes what others mess up, and how he helps others.

So I went to the appointment.  I get there early to fill out paperwork.  Not much was needed this time.  I get sent back pretty quick.  After about 7-10 minutes the nurse comes in and asks questions.  She was very attentive, taking notes, and (in my opinion) was one of the most professional person I delt with.  She leaves the room and I wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait.

The doctor comes in and appoligizes for the wait.  He looks through my chart and old x-rays.  He asks questions about my past 2-3 surgeries.  He asks about medications.  And then he examines both legs and knees.  As we talk he is saying what he feels.  He goes on to tell me that he would not operate on me.  He says that what the surgery may provide (limited relief of pain) does not out weigh the long term affects.  He mentions the very slim possibility of infection and problems in my implant.  He goes on to mention the Hippocratic Oath, and that there could be harm so he can not operate.  (Have you every heard of a doctor saying this?).   

We talked some more.  He mentioned pain management, acupuncture, or alternative medicine.  He said that I will be dealing with this the rest of my life.  I asked about knee brace, at what point does he recommend operating, or anything else to deal with the pain.  No suggestion on a brace, no way would he give a situation when he would operate, and he differed to the three items mentioned previously.

What amazes me is that these doctors say I am not handicapped, yet they tell me I will have knee issues, problems, difficulties the rest of my life.

So my question is what would you recommend that I do next?  I am thinking about calling my health insurance and see if there is a nurse I can talk to, find a research hospital and see what they can do, contact a pain management company, and talking to me friend who is a nurse.

Well that was my exciting day...take care,
Mr. F