Arthroscopy 5 - It's All Online

I lie in the spare room at my sister's home, resting. Sleep eludes me due to leg pain, so I decide to distract myself. I log onto Youtube and watch some videos of arthroscopic surgery. Yuck. I feel the pain shoot through me as the online surgeon shaves down someone's medial meniscus and snips and sutures a tear, all on film. That's enough for me, good night.

Next day it seems prudent to get a second opinion on my prognosis for recovery. A quick google search of "recovery after arthroscopy" leads me to a wealth of information about recovery times, suggestions and personal experiences. Being at my sister's home, I don’t have the opportunity to arrange to see a physiotherapist as recommended by the hospital. No problem! Suggested post surgical exercises with diagrams and explanations appear in abundance. I set myself an exercise regime accordingly, pleased to have saved the time and effort of going out to find a physiotherapist.

I must admit that I am quite proud of myself. With laptop in hand, I have my whole office with me. Voicemail to my home phone is forwarded to my email, online VOIP software serves as my telephone. My apartment, it seems, will not be missed.

But then things get out of hand. Well wishing friends begin calling by the dozen. I am bombarded with wishes for a speedy recovery from friends via cellphone, sms, email, Skype, google-talk and more. Oh, yeh, and they manage to get hold of my sister's home phone number too. Don't get me wrong: I appreciate the messages and feel lucky to have such wonderful and supportive friends. Friends call to offer to bring cooked food, to do my shopping, to drive me places, to water my plants, collect my mail, to run errands of all sorts…I almost feel guilty denying them the opportunity by being not being at home. 

I ponder the technological revolution and decide to make a little experiment. Signing into Facebook, a program I hold in some disdain for its ability to stop people talking to each other due to their efforts to connect, I do something I almost never do: I post a status update.

Alan Meerkin has been released from hospital and is recovering after having been assaulted. The procedure was successful. He is with family and being well looked after. Friends are welcome to email, but please, no more sms's.

The response is astounding. Numerous people respond with fear that I have been attacked by thugs. But things get out of hand when my sister in law, who is not aware of my surgery, calls from the Himalayas to find out what was going on. I allay her fears, but on ending the call the phone rings again. Friends from Australia have all been on alert since my message, not sure whether to call me or my mother for fear of the worst. The experiment has run its course. I again sign into Facebook and post a response:

Thanks for all your wishes - I am fine. I just had long awaited knee surgery. When I said I was assaulted I meant by the surgeons. Any pain I am suffering is my own doing - having consented to the procedure.