Christian, who was ever-present last season, says:
"It will be about three months before I am back; it is one of those things that you can do nothing about.
"It swelled up in the first minute of the Reading game but I played on; after the game, though, it was like a balloon.
"It is one of these strange ones, and it is disappointing, but I am just looking forward to getting back in the squad.
"There are a lot of games coming up that I will miss but the one thing you do need is a squad.
"Perhaps it will be a case of returning fresh when one or two of the others are tired and that could help."
Just a couple of days after his operation, Christian made the long journey to Crewe to gee up his team mates - and especially Anton Ferdinand, who switched to his favoured position of centre half in the absence of Christian and Andy Melville at Gresty Road.
"When you come to a place like West Ham you grow to love it and I just want to win every game.
"It is important that as many of the experienced boys as possible support those who are playing; we are all trying to pull in the same direction.
"I said to Anton before the Crewe game that he has to aim to keep me out of the side when I am back."
Ironically, Anton is now on the short term injured list but, looking at the longer view, Christian predicts great things for him.
"Concentration is difficult when you are young but with his physical attributes, if he allies that to keeping his focus, the game should not be a problem for him," he says.
The Crewe game followed on from the departure of Michael Carrick, and Christian feels the players made an important statement of intent that day.
"At Crewe a few of the boys wanted to show we are going to do our best not to miss him and Adam Nowland and Nigel Reo-Coker dominated the midfield.
"I don't know how they managed to score two goals because we were dominant.
"They staked a claim but at this level if you slacken off you end up with nothing, as we have seen - if we are going to win the number of games we want you have to have everyone bang on it every week."
Michael has gone with Christian's best wishes, and he says:
"I think Mick went about his business with a lot of dignity; some clubs have said things about Michael that were a load of rubbish - some pretty pathetic things that shouldn't be allowed.
"He has been very gentlemanly to the other clubs - and to the lads here."