I now have to deal with a torn meniscus
Mine flipped. I could not open my leg completely, nor could I close my leg completely. It was extremely uncomfortable, some of the worst pain I've felt in my life - but not the absolute worst.
When you come out of surgery and they make you stand up, be careful. It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt like the dickens.
Still, not the worst pain I've had in my life.
I'm going with 'open heart surgery' being the worst pain in my life - except I've yet to deal with that. There's like nothing you can do that doesn't involve moving your torso. In fact, when I was a martial arts student, we were taught to watch the torso because it literally telegraphs anything you're going to do.
I don't want to turn it into a peeing contest, so I won't go into the worst pain I've felt in my life.
Instead, I'll have sympathy for your pain. Man, that has to hurt like a son of a biscuit. I'm truly not sure if I'd let them do open-heart surgery. I might just respectfully decline and accept my limited lifespan because of it. I have severe tachycardia that they can't pinpoint (which is why I keep going back to the doctor). I've already told them that surgery is not an option.
I just can't... Man, let me have a sudden bout of pain for 30 seconds and end it or let me go quietly in my sleep.
My hat's off to you. Good luck with your recovery and give thanks for the poppy plant.
Topping it off with a knee surgery (likely orthoscopic, so 'not bad') is a bit much. Still, it's great to see you coming out the other side. Again, my hat's off to you.
Also, I have my meniscus surgery on VHS. I show it to people and make monster noises 'cause it has no sound track. The tools they use are demonic looking. There's one tool that's like monster teeth that spins inside of a capsule and they use it to eat away at the miniscus. Mine was beyond repair, so they removed it entirely. In some cases, they can stitch it back together. I don't know which one is worse.
Again, having the berries to stand up and take an open-heart surgery, where they crack your ribs open like they're eating a lobster, just stands out to me. That's just not on my list of things I want to do. I'm all about the quality of life vs the longevity. That just sounds like a not so good, very bad experience. That you did so is impressive (at least to me).
Finally, welcome back.