In mid-April I went thru my first knee replacement. Rehab has been good once getting past the first 3-4days. I've had help from my wonderful neighbor across the street absorbing the yard mowing, he would take a weedwhacker getting around trees and along the fence line. Mowing is easy for him with my lawn tractor or his. Super Dave who is also another across the street neighbor & longtime friend took on the task of installing my new Minnkota bow mount to my boat. On Mother's Day I decided to break out my backpack leaf blower to clean off the patio. I then proceeded to my BBQ area for cleanup there. I would lean fwd to sweep area but as I went to straighten up the weight of the leaf blower carried the momentum of me going backwards landing on my back on top of the machine. That part didn't hurt at all and I was blessed my new knee didn't even get a scratch, but when my rear end made contact with the ground, I knew something went wrong. I laid on ground in agonizing pain with blower at full power. I then managed to shut down blower and was able to get upright. Now in a painful situation my wife took me up to the ER Hospital which was a couple of blocks away. X-Ray reveals wedge compression fracture of L4 vertebra. No surgery required, just pain meds and referral to rehab. To this day its still very painful walking & bending. I was on track to sneak a day of fishing in before next knee surgery until I broke my back. It will be another 6mo before fishing becomes a thought again.  I will be selling my backpack leaf blower; wife told me I won't be using it anymore.

(05-29-2025, 01:50 AM)brookie Wrote: I agree this really sucks. We talked on the ramp at Jordanelle (you were changing a tire on your boat trailer) anticipating the surgery. You were hoping to get back quick. Sorry for the setback.

Nod your head up and down and say "Yes!".  

Ok Bob, I don’t have the right shoe size to follow your trail 

Thanks Mark, I'm exactly 2wks away from left knee service.   To have both knees replaced is a long-term healing process, my back ads to the woes. I even have a new bow mount installed ready to ops check but it will have to wait.

Recovering is not bad, can’t run with the big dogs so staying on the porch is option. In this case I get plenty nap time with my dogs