All I want for Christmas is a new knee

[MikeG-2012]

Well, I have a pace maker, so I guess if I get a 2nd hip done, it might be appropriate. :-) As you can imagine, I'm getting pretty tired of it all.

YIKES!! Traveling with you must be an automatic "you'll have to come with me sir"...

Thanks for the encouragement VDub! I am looking forward to walking straight for a while. And incapacitated is what I am after a 4 mile day at work. Ice and pain killers get me moving for another day. One week from today is my last day of work for the year.

Oh, and Middlesista, I do plan on doing all the exercises! I am not even 50 yet, so I need to have full mobility to do my job. I'm too young to retire!

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

[vdub]

Under 50 and having all those problems, Mike. I really feel bad for you. Being old, like me, and having mobility issues is one thing, but when you are as young as you are, its really a shame. You are in the prime of your life. Good luck on getting some of that stuff fixed.

[MikeG-2012]

Under 50 and having all those problems, Mike. I really feel bad for you. Being old, like me, and having mobility issues is one thing, but when you are as young as you are, its really a shame. You are in the prime of your life. Good luck on getting some of that stuff fixed.

Thanks. Although my life is completely different than it was 5 1/2 years ago, I still feel like I am blessed to be able to do some of the things I love to do.

I have said often that if it were not for my faith, my spouse, my job and my sense of humor, I would be in a much worse off place. My faith is important for me to believe that there is a plan for me. My spouse of 26 years has been my rock and only constant throughout my journey with this awful disease. Her love and support means a great deal to me. She has endured me not being myself while on pred, watched me gain 90 pounds, lose 60, put up with my lessened activity at home and has always been positive and beautiful! My job, which I love to do, has been my sense of purpose since 2007. After diagnosis in 2012, this job has been the single greatest reason that I drag my sorry butt out of bed in the morning. Also, it provides me with insurance that has kept us from losing our house with all the medical costs. Without my sense of humor and good nature, I would be a really much bigger mess. People at work tell me all the time that they have no idea how I manage to stay positive. I tell them that if I ever lose my sense of humor, their job is to cheer me up and make me laugh. I tell them that I am pathetic when I am sad and crying, and they really don't want to see that. They laugh and tell me that they can do that, and they do--regularly.

Please do not feel bad for me, help me stay positive, by encouraging me like all of you do! I may be younger that some of you, and older than some as well, but there are folks younger than I that are a lot worse off than me. Lets all help encourage them, and tell them that they can endure--even after this stupid disease has re-routed our lives.