Carney’s new knee leaving hospital

Retired BJ reporterJames Carney is leaving St. Thomas Hospital’s Crystal Clinic today after his left-knee replacement surgery.

Let Jim tell it:

“Going home after knee replacement soon. Feeling pretty great. Very swollen. Pain under control. Moving on a walker like a greyhound. Well, not like a greyhound but getting around. More like an old fart using a walker but getting around. Big thanks to Dr. Ian Gradisar and everybody at Crystal Clinic/St. Thomas Hospital for their amazing care and skills and for KT's patience and TLC.”

BJ reporter Katie Byard, his wife, will be there to take him home. Sharon Lorentzen and husband Paul cleared the snow away for a safe homecoming.

Dr. Raymond Acus did my right-knee replacement about  half-dozen years ago. It works great. As long as I don’t go more than 15 minutes without flexing it. But the pre-surgery pain is a distant memory now.

Jim and I belong to a not-so-exclusive club: 719,000 knee surgeries are done every year in America.