Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Knowledge is Power

Did you see some of Zimmer's artificial knees are no longer being reccomended? Looks to be a design issue with a knee they can attach to your thigh bone with no cement or screws... I'm skeptical already. This comes from the conference of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' in New Orleans last week. I wonder what that convention crowd was like. Living down near the WTC and BCEC my new favorite hobby is guess what all these similar looking people do for a living. /blogress

Some day I will need one of these devices. For my own edification I follow the companies that make them. My three years in (kinda) Big Pharma was an eye opening experience. My opinion of Zimmer has never been high. One of those personal interactions that leaves a black mark for life. One of their local sales reps was in my Introduction to Biology class a couple years back. He was lazy and a loudmouth and barely made the effort to do the work. This wasn't even at the Ext. School mind you but at FSC. If he was indicative of corporate culture and the kind of person they hired then no thanks. One the last day of class he brought in some "reading material" for me. He had talked at me all semester about my knee and just in case I hadn't heard him he had literature for me. Classy.

If you haven't read this post by Sheryl about her tattoos, go right now and give it a read. I feel pretty much the same way about my scars. I know I have blogged about this before but most days I would rather deal with the stares, rude remarks and comments that came with being 345 pounds than the 20 questions, confusion, and pity that come with the scars on my left leg. Yes, I know how unrecognizable it is, and yes, it hurts worse than it looks. You read that right. I am never going to have the body I was meant to have. I often wonder what it would have looked like, moved like, worked like without all these years of abuse. Surgically I've been altered beyond repair, both good and bad, but I can't help but wish I could have done things differently.

So like she says, Live and learn, kids. Live. And learn.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear about your pain, both the physical and emotional. The latter no doubt you will continue to conquer. The former is a real bitch, especially if chronic or even frequent, and I wonder if your docs would approach your pain management more aggressively if you were a man.

Our culture seems to expect women to endure more pain, in general, or perhaps doesn't take pain as seriously in women. (Exception: during childbirth.)

Yes there are risks with more aggressive approaches to pain management. However, the physiological costs resulting from ongoing physical pain can be equally grave.

I apologize if I am overstepping here *steps off soapbox* or reading too much into your situation.

Take care.

--R

Unknown said...

Lots of things would be different if I were a man. Most Docs are jocks... I have no idea how to get them to take me seriously.

Anonymous said...

Please let us know how your knee appointment went.

I've finally resorted to taking my husband with me to my appointments when I need pain meds. It's sick and wrong, I know, but for some reason the doc takes my husband's description of my pain more seriously than my own. Grrr...

Can't wait to see your leg photos. Might have to start calling you Betty. LOL. As in Grable. Waaaaayy before my time, but if you google her you'll see her photos still hold up well in this day of airbrushed perfection.

--Robin