My Bionic Ankle today

I’ve been so lucky.

I fractured my ankle so badly in 1999 that I could see the bottom of my boot while my foot was still inside, and they even discussed amputation when first I got to the emergency room.

Somehow, the ortho-wizards of The Rothman Institute in Philadelphia put it all back together and – after months and months of physical therapy – I was pretty much back to normal.

In 2004 & 2005, I even managed to cover more than 200 combat missions in Iraq, most of which went something like: run, run, run, take a picture, run some more, and repeat.

Well, the party may be over. Out of the blue, I started to feel some old familiar pain for the last month or so, and went back to the experts today.

I was hoping for a magic bullet; maybe to learn that a screw just had to be tightened. Instead, I heard about arthritis and all the people who come back around ten years after these accidents.

I got some advice, a shot to help with the swelling, and a follow-up appointment. Maybe I should try to lose some weight too, but in any case I might have to admit that I am getting older.

I’m still not complaining about the deal; just groaning about the aches.

I remain a very luck guy.