Latest on Recovery

Art Model, OutDrBeauty, © 2010 Terrell Neasley 

I'm getting there!

Everything is still on hold for a little bit longer, but the knee is getting better. I still have to use crutches for a few more weeks, but I'm able to balance and put weight on my left leg more than usual. I'm not having to keep it suspended off the ground as I walk. It still sucks that I haven't been able to get back to shooting. I think a good nude project is the first thing I want to do when I can hold a camera and move around a subject again. I want to go model hunting right now, but I can't say as to when I can actually do the shoot. I've had to change my Model Mayhem page twice to reflect a longer recovery time than anticipated. But that's okay, I'll manage.

Art Model, OutDrBeauty, © 2010 Terrell Neasley 

Its been the microfracture procedure that has taken so long with the recovery. Microfracture alone takes a while, but instead of the 3 to 5 holes the surgeon had planned on, it ended up being TWENTY! (Yeah, that's what I said too.) I didn't know he had done that much off-shore style drilling in my knee until a few weeks afterwards during my post-op appointment. He told me there was more damage than what had showed up in the MRI and X-rays. So that led to more clean-up, more holes, and more recovery time. To give you an idea, this is the same surgery Greg Odom, once number 1 overall draft pick of the Portland Trailblazers had multiple times on both knees. Granted it hadn't been so successful on him. However Jason Kidd and John Stockton have also had this surgery done and you see the longevity they've enjoyed in basketball. Overall, I'm looking at about 4 to 6 months for recovery. I've yet to begin my 6-8 week rehab time.

On Microfracture surgery recovery:

The harder part is the restrictions that are placed on the patient during the post-operative recovery period. This can be a major challenge for many patients. For optimal re-growth of joint surface, the patients need to be very patient and also extremely cooperative. They usually need to be on crutches for four to six weeks (sometimes longer).  - Wikipedia

I'll just be glad to get back out on the trails again and I need to get back to shooting. I'm not making any money hanging around my house all day everyday. I thought I'd be spending all this time reading and doing tutorials, but that hasn't been so easy. Its tougher to read in my house, I think. And even moreso when all you think about is getting outside. I miss hiking. The days have been beautiful. I can see the mountains from my back patio. Yet, I am stuck inside my apartment. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not totally fixed in here, but I only go someplace when I absolutely have to. If there isn't any place I NEED to be, then I pretty much stay home. Its been exasperating. Patience has never been in my quiver of virtues. I've at least been Tweeting more than I usually do. Mostly about travel and entrepreneurship.

Art Model, OutDrBeauty,
© 2010 Terrell Neasley 

Wednesday was my first time trying to leave the house without my crutches. Overall, I did fairly well, but its different from just walking around the house like that. I got to meet up with good friend Karl Sutphin (his new website!), who was in for the week from San Fran. We hung out at my place and then got some dinner at Famous Dave's. We had just stepped into the place when I stumbled and let slip and expletive, because of the pain. It was fairly embarrassing in that it occurred right next to a couple who were enjoying their dinner. I had to grab onto the back of their booth to regain my balance. I think my face was even more contorted trying NOT to wince from the pain, than had I not been trying to control it. I took a second (or maybe a minute) to regain my composure and was led to the booth where our hostess seated us. After that, it was a good evening. I had been to Famous Dave's often but had never had their burgers. It was pretty darn good.

Art Model, OutDrBeauty, © 2010 Terrell Neasley 

I'm due to start rehab sometime at the end of the month or first week in April. I think I'll stick to that schedule instead of trying to be too quick as I had recently planned. I'll heed the doctor's advice and wait. I guess it will make it all the more sweeter if I wait. I think my ex-wife said the same thing before we were married. Not so sure how sweet it was. I think that's when I'm most prone to re-injure after having waited so friggin' long!

Another Surgery plus 2010 Interview of Me by Karl

"My body could stand the crutches but my mind couldn't stand the sideline."

~ Michael Jordan

Wow. This has been an interesting month so far. I wish I could tell you about all the wonderful shoots I've been on, but alas, such is not the case. Knee surgery has been the theme of the month so far. Weeks of trying to prep for it and now just recovering from it. My daughter and son in law decided to take vacation time to come and assist me for the first week. I didn't think I needed it, really. I was wrong. Pain meds haven't been helping and the doc sees no reason to give me anything stronger, so I've just stopped taking anything all together. This isn't the first time I've had to deal with the VA no understanding the problem. I can't say why I don't respond like they think I should to medication. I wish I was more of a typical case for them, but I'm not.

I don't expect the kiddos had that great of a time trying to accommodate me over the last week. I know I was being a bear. I didn't want to stay seated or immobilized and the thought of having to use the word "can't" for routine tasks tasted bitter in my mouth. It wasn't until reading about my procedure online that the truth sort of sunk in to where I understood it. The docs told me I'd be looking at 6 to 8 weeks. In my mind, that adds up to half that time for me. I'm strong. I recover quicker than most. And I can handle it. 6 to 8 weeks is the general "play it safe" recovery time for the average guy. I couldn't have been more wrong. I had so many other people tell me a simple scope of the knee is an in and out 2 to 3 week thing. Even my primary care doc told me I'd be on my feet in 3 weeks top. So why was the othopedic surgeon saying 6 to 8? Well, what he knew that the others didn't was that he was also performing a Microfracture procedure on my knee, whereby you drill small holes into the larger pot-hole that's already at the end of my femur. This is supposed to encourage bone/cartilage growth to fill in the hole naturally. THAT's the part that takes so long. Weight-bearing activities such as "walking", can prohibit the bone growth. So 6 to 8 weeks ON CRUTCHES is what's prescribed.

I simply had no clue and didn't understand that I'd be on crutches this long. SIX to EIGHT weeks! Wow. I simply cannot get that out of my mind. That possibly puts me all the way out to mid-March! I've already had to postpone two projects to the end of March. I don't know if you realize it, but that also means postponing getting paid til the end of March. Which simply means I gotta slow down spending big time. Personal projects have also been postponed. My continued work with Panda is having to be delayed as well. And I have a couple other models whom I thought I'd be working with around the first week of Feb, that I've had to simple cancel til further notice.


The good thing is that I just have to get through this doing the right things. Its believed that I get another 10 to 15 years of "good knee" time, instead of what I've been dealing with over the last decade. Two months for 10 years. Not a bad trade. To my understanding, this 2 months doesn't include rehabilitation time. I won't find that out til next week. I had 10 weeks rehab for my hand last year. I read in one place where full recovery might not be expected for 6 months! So this'll be interesting.

Karl of "Looking About" blog has reposted an interview he did of me a few years ago. After a look back on that time period, I sort of wonder what my answers might be today and if any of them have changed. Not much would be different, I presume. I think I'd answer the same in about 27 of them at least. Its a good reflection because I was definitely in two different places in 2010 vs today. I was coming out of some pretty hard months in oh-10 and even the 3 years before then. In fact, I think it may even be time for another "Interview of Self" like what I did a long time ago in 2008.

1. What is your favorite word? Altruism
2. What is your least favorite word? Normal
3. What turns you on? A naked woman
4. What turns you off? Clothes!....kidding...People who don't take responsibility for themselves and pass the blame.
5. What sound or noise do you love? Bacon sizzling in the morning would be the least crass answer
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Its a tie between a high-pitched nagging voice and an alarm clock
7. What is your favorite curse word? Fuck
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Probably acting, but I used to dream about playing football
9. What profession would you not like to do? There are plenty but I'm going with Nursing. I've got much respect for them, but its not my gift.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Come on....Get your butt on in here!
11. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Traveling the world with boundless resources and a model that I photograph everywhere, all the time
12. What is your greatest fear? I honestly can't say I have one. I mean, I certainly don't want to be eaten by an alligator or fall from the empire state building but they are not fears of mine that I think about all the time. 
13. Which historical figure do you most identify with? Galileo Galilei, just because he's the only person I can think of who was also misunderstood.
14. Which living person do you most admire? Other than family....Billy Graham, Chris St. James, and Bill Cosby (How can you stick with just one?)
15. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Procrastination
16. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lack of integrity
17. What is your greatest extravagance? I spent $400 on comic books once, but I've since sold my collection and not bought another since 1994, I think.
18. On what occasion do you lie? When I have to take into account someone else's feelings and the truth is not worth the heartache or when I need to be polite because I need the business.
19. What do you dislike most about your appearance? I'm actually cool with myself. If I had to say any one thing its that I look mean when I am not smiling.
20. When and where were you happiest? Christmas at Mama Carrie's as a kid
21. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I'd be kinder to people and more understanding
22. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? Me. That's all I have control over.
23. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Jeremy and Cassie
24. If you died and came back as a person or thing what do you think it would be? As a person: A white female, just so I could experience the opposite of my current self. As far as a thing, I'd want to be a star just for the billions of years galactic experience 
25. What is your most treasured possession? My faith
26. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? A disapproval of yourself because of someone else's opinion
27. Who are your heroes in real life? My Mother
28. What is it that you most dislike? A coward
29. How would you like to die? Old age preferably, but if not, then on my feet in a way that makes it count
30. What is your motto? Stay alert, Stay alive! Hooooah!

Panda, Get Used to Seeing Her

New Muse, Panda © 2011 Terrell Neasley

"There is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness." ~ Po

Panda © 2011 Terrell Neasley

First post of the new year! Hope you all have been safe and have reasonable New Year's Resolutions. Me? I've got big expectations for 2012. Lots of traveling, for one. A lot more shoots, for two. I'm not sure yet, but I think I photographed less than 6 models for all of last year. That's unsat...can't happen again. WON'T happen again. But I did do some great models. In fact, I'll be showcasing them in a new book coming up that I think will be an annual thing for me from here on out. "A Year in Review of the Nude: 2011". Yeah, I think that's catchy. Look for my posts announcing it within the week.

Panda © 2011 Terrell Neasley

On of the last models of the year that I worked with is Panda. I photographed her pretty much all of December. We did about seven shoots and more than 200 edited shots. I don't think I've edited so much work of any other model I've worked with. Lorilei had the record for the most hours shot in a day. That was broken, with Panda. Viki had the record for the most shoots in a relative short period of time. Panda took that record too. I've had some pretty awesome shoots with several models and she ranks up there with some of my all time best. The girl's just got a talent for posing and she's one of those that will not hesitate to get in the cold water. AND SWIM AROUND IN IT! I'm not taking put putting the feet in the water or standing knee-deep in it. This girl was in the Colorado River in December, just because she felt like it would make for some cool shots.

Panda © 2011 Terrell Neasley

Panda © 2011 Terrell Neasley

It was very fortuitous for me to meet her, because I actually met her at Trixie's going away party. I arrived late and Trix had introduced me to everyone as her personal photographer. Of course after discussing some of the work we've done over the years, it piqued some interests. One of those interested was Panda. I wasn't so sure she was serious, just because she was slightly inebriated at the time. So I wasn't so sure of what to think. But of course as it turns out, she was absolutely 100% serious and committed. And she came along at the best of times, because right at that particular moment she was exactly what I needed and as long as I don't disrespect the hubby, its all good. He's been cool to hang out with. I just have to be a little smarter and make sure I stretch before racing him down hotel corridors again. I'm sure he didn't know the old man could get up and go like that, but 43-year old quads that haven't been stretched don't like that kind of stuff so much and my right one let me know. After 3 weeks, I'm still putting heat on it.

I think one of Panda's biggest assets is her portrait. Those eyes are killer and her expressions can grab attention quicker than Jackie Chan snatching a fly out of the air with chopsticks. The good thing is that she's just moved here and will be here for a while. We have a bet on who's going to get tired of who first. Its hopeless. She doesn't really know me. I can shoot all day every day and wake up every morning looking forward to the day. The girl doesn't stand a chance. But I'm more than willing to put it up to a challenge and see. I suspect I'll be announcing my victory sometime well before the new year is out. But she's definitely been a blessing. She was a big help with my shoot with Mercy and for being so young, she's very mature for her age. And for being a student of anthropology, damn she's highly intelligent. There's no downside to the girl.

New Muse, Panda © 2011 Terrell Neasley

"There is no charge for awesomeness... 

or attractiveness." - Po

On another note, I finally got to meet Karl, famed blogger from Looking About. It appears he'll be spending time here in Vegas on and off and was here for a week last week, so we got to hang out a little. He's cool (and tall!). We got to do some lunch at the Shish Kabob House over off of West Flamingo. It was great meeting him and his Mrs. Conversing with him over a myriad of topics was excellent. Its awesome to share new ideas and perspectives in this line of work. The dude's got a fascinating job. I think we talked about everything except for politics and the school system here in Nevada. Time went by so fast, I was almost late for my next gig, even though I thought I had allotted myself plenty of time. We also both shared our mutual admiration for Carla, the most talented writer/blogger/model in the business who runs "What We Saw Today". Maybe you recall her as Unbearable Lightness. We have both been influenced and mentored by Carla over the years, but yet neither of us have ever met or worked together. I came close to going to visit her in the late Summer of 2010, but we had schedule conflicts and the trip didn't happen. I think before 2012 expires, I'll have Carla in my portfolio. Its just got to happen. Its a tragedy that it hasn't already happened. I can't let another year go by. I actually had a dream of a shoot with Carla that I still have worked out in my head. This will be a reality.

Okay, dang. I just clicked over to Karl's blog so I could link to it for this post. There's a huge pic of me and a reprint of the interview we did a year or so ago. I don't look too bad! Think I'll use it for a new Facebook profile shot. Thanks, Karl!