My reaction to the "permanent partial impairment" of my leg from the fall has been surprising. It's actually been almost comforting - and it finally dawned on me WHY. As most of you know who have been following my various adventures since joining the forum 6 years ago I tend to always want to push my limits. PART of that is due to the fact that I literally don't get sore like most people seem to that I've observed. It HAS happened, but extremely rarely - not even once a year. No matter how hard/often/intensity level/etc., it just doesn't matter - I don't get muscle soreness. I do get fatigued, but that isn't quite the same thing. So traditionally when I feel something it's actual pain and it's too late. Of course now I've so many arthritic bits and broken parts I get pain - but that isn't the same thing either. At least now my body has found a way to get my attention

My recovery period from the knee surgery has been frustrating because there has been that little internal voice that I'm just being too easy on myself, not pushing hard enough, giving in, etc. The official notification that I've a permanent partial disability has actually served to shut up that internal voice for the most part and "given me permission" in a way to look at different options to stay active. It was also a surprise to read the actual DX for the impairment on the workman's comp settlement papers:

"Right knee pateltofemoral condyle tearing. Medial femoral condyle tearing of the articular surface"

Youch, no wonder I still can't walk quite right - though the arthroscopy and lateral release DID improve things, fortunately. I think that perhaps I am lucky that it isn't worse, not combined with patellofemoral arthritis.

So I am grateful it isn't worse - and the impairment would be far worse if the surgery hadn't helped as much as it did. So the point here is to listen to your body...