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First week

First week over. After the first three days of rest and doing very little, I began to walk. Given I'm out of shape and walking usually causes too much aching, I started off slow. My target was 3000 steps a day. I was successful in achieving this and some days did more. I attempted to walk around the block in the morning, afternoon and evening. Luckily the weather cooperated with me. I took this week off of work which allowed me to do short periods of walking easier.

I have no pain in my ankle or right knee. Both my hips have some pain but no aches. I have woke up at night and realized I'm sleeping on my side. Previously it hurt to even roll over. For a long time my sleeping has been troublesome.  Sleeping on my sides caused my hips to hurt. Sleeping on my stomach hurts my back. Sleeping on my back required a pillow under my left lnee as I couldn't straighten out my leg without pain.

My left knee can bend further than it has for years. It doesn't ache. However, I feel and hear the clunking in the knee. At times it feels unstable if  the ground is not perfectly level. I'm wondering if some of the inflammation wasn't providing some stability for the knee. I recognize that the left knee had severe degeneration in all three compartments, a bakers cyst and the bone below the knee has also been damaged. I don't believe stem cell regeneration can fix this but - so far- it appears I will be able to delay a knee replacement and be able to do things without great pain. As well, with the right knee, ankle and hips in better shape, recovery from a knee replacement should be easier.  With time I will have a better understanding if this assumption is correct.

Next week, at the two week mark I begin my exercises.  Until then I will attempt to increase my walking steps to 6000 a day.

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