It's a hot topic...
 It
was a year ago, in February 2022, that Lesley Pearson Simmonds had a complete
knee replacement. She concedes that it probably should have been done it before,
but she didn't want to miss out on any of her agility competitions. But would
she do it again?
My knee problem started almost 50 years ago.
I tore my left knee cartilage in half and had surgery to remove it.
Over the years, I
continued to do the sports I loved - eventing, playing squash and then agility.
I was very lucky never to have had pain in my knee but, as the knee joint wore
away, I began to suffer severe pain in my ankle due to the misalignment of my
leg.
Knee replacement
My physio, Joe Dowling, kept me going for years, but it got to the point
where I was really hopping round courses. Off I went to see a consultant who
said 'new knee.'
I had an epidural. One
hour after I returned to the ward, I walked unaided to the toilet much to the
horror of the nurse.
I was discharged the
next day and had the staples taken out after two weeks.
Setback
However, I was unlucky and got an infection in my leg which my
recovery. It took me six months
instead of six weeks!
My physio has been fantastic. Doing the exercises which he
gave me to do daily put me back in the ring competing with my large super fast
collie and my small fast dog. Both dogs are now having to relearn my handling
ways from being behind all the time to being with. I can run. It might not be as
fast as when I was in my thirties but I can run. My knee does not prevent
me at all, and I can enjoy walking my dogs as well.
Thank-you to Emily Brown
for running Toby whilst I was out of action and getting him into G6 in just two
shows.
My advice to you
If you are offered a
replacement knee, then grab the opportunity with both hands. It has made my life
so much better, and the dogs are able to go on those extra long walks and enjoy
their agility.
Just
done the Frittenden show for two days, and my step count has been an average of
22,000 steps per day. Relaxing with glass of wine now.
See you around the shows.
About the author...
 Lesley
Pearson Simmonds started her agility career in about 1995 when she got her
first dog, a GSD that she rescued. That dog played at agility training but
decided she was not that enthusiastic. Lesley went on to breed several litters
from her and competed with her daughters.
As she got the bug more
and more, Lesley decided that she needed to get a collie if she was to be
competitive, so she rescued Polly and Meg.
Meg was a short-legged,
heavy-coated girl who never got the chance to run the lower height and passed
away suddenly. Polly, however, stayed Large and went on to G6 where she and
Lesley had fun. Polly is now retired but is still full of beans.
Lesley's next rescue dog
was Toby, a true farm collie, bred to round up sheep. He is super fast and
thinks he knows it all which he does if the right person is running him. He is
now seven years years old G6 and mad as a hatter.
Daisy is Lesley's little
dog. She is also a rescue and is seven years old. She was about two years old
when Lesley for her and she won her first competition in May 2019 and is now G6.
Lesley says that Daisy is her little super star.
First published 30th July 2023
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