In case anyone finds this sort of stuff interesting:
Surgery done, new speed record!
My knee replacement began at 7:50 am, and I was walking in the recovery room at 10:15 am! Grabbed McDonalds on the way, and home by 12:15. The real test begins tonight, when the main nerve block wears off and the pain pills begin...
And of course, the problem secondary to the pain pills is constipation. I started those meds two days ago, so we shall see.
They cut you open, push all the garbage (ligaments, muscle, etc.) out of the way. Grind all the stalactites and stalagmites (bone spurs -- mine were big boys) off the tibia, fibula, knee cap, polish all three. Drill holes in all the bones, insert and cement into the holes the rods holding everything together, button up with three layers of sutures, apply a waterproof bandage good for a week. And do all that in 45 minutes! Simple, right?
These people are really good.
And now, for a few days, I get highly personal service at home, and can eat all the desserts I want.
With gory details:
I had a problem with their antiseptic cleaning wipes at home -- I must have an allergy, 'cuz after wiping my entire body except for my head, I had nasty itching all over the torso for an hour, which made it impossible to get to sleep right away.
I was first in this morning -- got to the private surgery center at 6:25, scheduled for 7:30. Nancy wasn't allowed past the waiting room (COVID). A slight hitch in the schedule due to Dr.V dealing with an emergency, but I went in to pre-op at 7:50. They put the IV port in my hand (that was the only tiny bit of pain in the entire morning), pumped me full of goodies. The anesthesiologist gave me the run-down of his procedure, and then did the main nerve block above the knee. I not only didn't feel a thing,I didn't even know he had done it until the nurse told me it was done!
Then into the operating room about 8:30. They asked me the usual questions while they knocked me out. Dr.V called Nancy at 9:16 to tell her it had gone very well. I woke up in the recovery room about 9:45, completely comfortable. No pain, no nausea. They gave me snacks and drinks, then got me up at 10:15 to walk with my walker, and use the men's room to pee. I could already put my full weight on the right leg. The block works for ~ 24 hrs, so all this was painless -- actually felt better than it was before today. They called Nancy to come get me at 10:44.
When she arrived, they gave us the post-op instructions. We were out of there before noon. I already had almost 90 degrees of bend in the knee, so I was able to get into the front seat of the Ford no sweat. We stopped at the McD drive-through for lunch, and were home by 12:15.
First PT is day after tomorrow -- they don't dawdle! Apparently the bigger challenge for many people is getting the knee absolutely straight. Continued resting at a slight bend is not a good thing, I'm advised.
Surgery done, new speed record!
My knee replacement began at 7:50 am, and I was walking in the recovery room at 10:15 am! Grabbed McDonalds on the way, and home by 12:15. The real test begins tonight, when the main nerve block wears off and the pain pills begin...
And of course, the problem secondary to the pain pills is constipation. I started those meds two days ago, so we shall see.
They cut you open, push all the garbage (ligaments, muscle, etc.) out of the way. Grind all the stalactites and stalagmites (bone spurs -- mine were big boys) off the tibia, fibula, knee cap, polish all three. Drill holes in all the bones, insert and cement into the holes the rods holding everything together, button up with three layers of sutures, apply a waterproof bandage good for a week. And do all that in 45 minutes! Simple, right?
These people are really good.
And now, for a few days, I get highly personal service at home, and can eat all the desserts I want.
With gory details:
I had a problem with their antiseptic cleaning wipes at home -- I must have an allergy, 'cuz after wiping my entire body except for my head, I had nasty itching all over the torso for an hour, which made it impossible to get to sleep right away.
I was first in this morning -- got to the private surgery center at 6:25, scheduled for 7:30. Nancy wasn't allowed past the waiting room (COVID). A slight hitch in the schedule due to Dr.V dealing with an emergency, but I went in to pre-op at 7:50. They put the IV port in my hand (that was the only tiny bit of pain in the entire morning), pumped me full of goodies. The anesthesiologist gave me the run-down of his procedure, and then did the main nerve block above the knee. I not only didn't feel a thing,I didn't even know he had done it until the nurse told me it was done!
Then into the operating room about 8:30. They asked me the usual questions while they knocked me out. Dr.V called Nancy at 9:16 to tell her it had gone very well. I woke up in the recovery room about 9:45, completely comfortable. No pain, no nausea. They gave me snacks and drinks, then got me up at 10:15 to walk with my walker, and use the men's room to pee. I could already put my full weight on the right leg. The block works for ~ 24 hrs, so all this was painless -- actually felt better than it was before today. They called Nancy to come get me at 10:44.
When she arrived, they gave us the post-op instructions. We were out of there before noon. I already had almost 90 degrees of bend in the knee, so I was able to get into the front seat of the Ford no sweat. We stopped at the McD drive-through for lunch, and were home by 12:15.
First PT is day after tomorrow -- they don't dawdle! Apparently the bigger challenge for many people is getting the knee absolutely straight. Continued resting at a slight bend is not a good thing, I'm advised.
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glad to hear everything went well, hope you have a speedy full recovery!
