StaceyJG1
member
@Josephine , I just read one of your posts so I believe you are the one to ask these questions. At my initial visit with the surgeon, he was much more informative. I really felt rushed through the pre-op appt. I called his triage nurse afterwards to try to get answers, and she was a little more helpful, but naturally, I still have questions. I like to be prepared for all situations.
1) At my pre-op appt with my surgeon, I asked him if I was going to have the anterior approach, and I was told that I was not a candidate for the approach, probably because of my weight. I'm 5'9" tall and weigh 239. So I asked if he was doing the posterior where he would have to cut through muscle, which would be a more difficult recovery. He stated that I was having a "superior" approach and something about posterior. I thought when he said superior he meant it was a more desirable, successful approach. I just saw a post in which you referred to a superior location. My question is what does that mean? Will it be as difficult as the general posterior?
2) My surgeon also told me that he would be able to give me my height back, since I used to be 5'11" before the OA started in my 20's. How exactly does this work? And will it make the recovery more difficult? How do they make sure the legs are the same length? Right now, I feel that one leg is a bit shorter, just because of the joints deteriorating at different rates. I read one patient liken it to having braces and getting the adjustments! I know there will be pain, but how bad will it be? I'm not opposed to pain meds, but I don't really like them, either. I had my Achille's Tendon operated on last year and they gave my Oxy. I hate the way it made me feel! The pain was gone, but I was so dopey, I felt like I wasn't present to appreciate the pain-free moments. I can live with that.
3) Am I correct to assume I will have the 90 degree restrictions? That scares me more than anything. We have a raised platform bed. I don't know how I will be able to get into it! Right now I have a step that I use to crawl up onto it, but obviously, I won't be able to do that after the surgery. My husband is going to raise the coach up in the living room so I don't violate the 90 degrees. We're also raising my recliner so I can sit there temporarily.
I have read all of the articles you shared with me. I greatly appreciate them! Very informative.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and any help you can give me. I'm sure I'll have more questions!!
1) At my pre-op appt with my surgeon, I asked him if I was going to have the anterior approach, and I was told that I was not a candidate for the approach, probably because of my weight. I'm 5'9" tall and weigh 239. So I asked if he was doing the posterior where he would have to cut through muscle, which would be a more difficult recovery. He stated that I was having a "superior" approach and something about posterior. I thought when he said superior he meant it was a more desirable, successful approach. I just saw a post in which you referred to a superior location. My question is what does that mean? Will it be as difficult as the general posterior?
2) My surgeon also told me that he would be able to give me my height back, since I used to be 5'11" before the OA started in my 20's. How exactly does this work? And will it make the recovery more difficult? How do they make sure the legs are the same length? Right now, I feel that one leg is a bit shorter, just because of the joints deteriorating at different rates. I read one patient liken it to having braces and getting the adjustments! I know there will be pain, but how bad will it be? I'm not opposed to pain meds, but I don't really like them, either. I had my Achille's Tendon operated on last year and they gave my Oxy. I hate the way it made me feel! The pain was gone, but I was so dopey, I felt like I wasn't present to appreciate the pain-free moments. I can live with that.
3) Am I correct to assume I will have the 90 degree restrictions? That scares me more than anything. We have a raised platform bed. I don't know how I will be able to get into it! Right now I have a step that I use to crawl up onto it, but obviously, I won't be able to do that after the surgery. My husband is going to raise the coach up in the living room so I don't violate the 90 degrees. We're also raising my recliner so I can sit there temporarily.
I have read all of the articles you shared with me. I greatly appreciate them! Very informative.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and any help you can give me. I'm sure I'll have more questions!!