Well I am back at home now following my knee surgery. The physio said I was much more mobile than people normally are following it which is good because I need to be here with no help. I am in a lot of pain. Way more than I expected to be in so I have spent most of the day huddled in my bed with my dog and my laptop playing dvds for me to sleep too.
The surgery was quite an experience. Because they gave me a spinal they didn't put me completely to sleep. I did eventually say I wanted to be less aware of what was going on because while I found it interesting what they were doing I also found the swarm of people with big metal tools going at my body a bit overwhelming.
The post op unit was very organized and I have become a bit of a pro at dealing with hospital stays so I just plugged myself into the tv and tried to block everything out other than the nurses, therapists and food. That worked quite well.
I am pretty unsure of how I will manage now though.
I wish you a speedy recovery, Gareeth. The knee is the largest joint, and many people find a knee replacement much more painful and the recovery more difficult than recovery from a hip replacement. That was not the case for me with this last round of surgeries. Like you, I did not like hearing what was going on in the OR. I thought they would administer versed so that there was no memory of the surgery, but that did not seem to be the case. It does not seem like you had versed either.
It also does not seem like you were in the hospital for very long.
My advice, for what it is worth, after 4 tkrs, do the exercises faithfully, use painkillers before the pain gets too bad, and use ice regularly once you are able to tolerate it.
Don't have any lose mats or anything around that can cause you to trip. Have phones and things that you need nearby so that you don't have to rush anywhere.
glad you checked in with us. Glad you are back home. you take care and rest up as needed. I hope you have a quick healing will be praying for that for you.
> Well I am back at home now following my knee surgery. The physio said I > was much more mobile than people normally are following it which is good > because I need to be here with no help. I am in a lot of pain. Way more > than I expected to be in so I have spent most of the day huddled in my bed > with my dog and my laptop playing dvds for me to sleep too.
> The surgery was quite an experience. Because they gave me a spinal they > didn't put me completely to sleep. I did eventually say I wanted to be > less aware of what was going on because while I found it interesting what > they were doing I also found the swarm of people with big metal tools > going at my body a bit overwhelming.
> The post op unit was very organized and I have become a bit of a pro at > dealing with hospital stays so I just plugged myself into the tv and tried > to block everything out other than the nurses, therapists and food. That > worked quite well.
> I am pretty unsure of how I will manage now though.
> Well I am back at home now following my knee surgery. The physio said I > was much more mobile than people normally are following it which is good > because I need to be here with no help. I am in a lot of pain. Way more > than I expected to be in so I have spent most of the day huddled in my bed > with my dog and my laptop playing dvds for me to sleep too.
> The surgery was quite an experience. Because they gave me a spinal they > didn't put me completely to sleep. I did eventually say I wanted to be > less aware of what was going on because while I found it interesting what > they were doing I also found the swarm of people with big metal tools > going at my body a bit overwhelming.
> The post op unit was very organized and I have become a bit of a pro at > dealing with hospital stays so I just plugged myself into the tv and tried > to block everything out other than the nurses, therapists and food. That > worked quite well.
> I am pretty unsure of how I will manage now though.
> Gareeth
From the way your words read,,,, better than most of us would of done.... In my prayers, please try to take it as easy as you can. Getting better is going to take time but I am sure you are going to be glad it is done. Harv
Sorry you're in a lot of pain but how wonderful that it all went well. Hopefully the paiin will ease up soon and you'll be able to manage all that you need to do alone. Hang in there with the PT so you can eventually enjoy that new knee!
-- Nann remove the Gator cheer to email me You can see a lot by just looking --- Yogi Berra
Gareeth, I'm glad you checked in. Was wondering how it went. I'm worried that you're home alone! Is there anyone who can bring you food and at least check in on you from time to time?
When I had my ankle/foot surgery, they gave me an epidural and supposedly they gave me sedation, but not enough! I hated hearing what was going on and was shaking uncontrollably. I kept asking for more sedation but I never got enough for my taste. Sorry you had that experience too.
Be careful and take care of yourself. Let us know how you're doing.
I remember my TKR last year and if I remember correctly, the first week or so after the surgery was very painful, but if I did everything they told me to, and worked my way over and under the pain, it soon abated and I could work with my knee. The doctor said at three weeks, I was where most people are at six weeks. I saw a lot of them babying themselves too much at PT (I went to a nursing home with a rehab department for two weeks and it was well) and the technicians said they would have trouble for quite a while. If you can push through those first two to three weeks, it gets better fast. Good luck and think about how well you are going to walk eventually.
-- Navy Take out the FISH to email me.
"Gareeth" <Gareethn...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> Well I am back at home now following my knee surgery. The physio said I > was much more mobile than people normally are following it which is good > because I need to be here with no help. I am in a lot of pain. Way more > than I expected to be in so I have spent most of the day huddled in my bed > with my dog and my laptop playing dvds for me to sleep too.
> The surgery was quite an experience. Because they gave me a spinal they > didn't put me completely to sleep. I did eventually say I wanted to be > less aware of what was going on because while I found it interesting what > they were doing I also found the swarm of people with big metal tools > going at my body a bit overwhelming.
> The post op unit was very organized and I have become a bit of a pro at > dealing with hospital stays so I just plugged myself into the tv and tried > to block everything out other than the nurses, therapists and food. That > worked quite well.
> I am pretty unsure of how I will manage now though.
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