LucyBelle
junior member
United StatesWell, last Monday, the 8th, I had my right tkr. It was not a moment too soon.
I was doing really well with therapy on the left knee, but after a few weeks it became very discouraging because of the difference in the two leg lengths. Then about mid September, or three weeks before the second surgery, I began having hip and back pain. Again I think it was due to the leg difference. No matter how much I fiddled with heel lifts for the shorter leg, I could never get things just right. The last week before my second surgery was pretty painful and I had trouble sleeping at night due to the hip/back pain as well as pain in the bad leg. Plus, I took a plane trip and that was not much fun. I think the plane terminals at Salt Lake were about five miles apart. It was a long walk with only 50 minutes between flights. I was a mess. *sigh*
So.....I was not at all afraid of the surgery and went in that morning with a smile on my face and a skip in my soul. LOL
It all worked out wonderfully. I can't even begin to say how happy I was the first time I stood up post op and my legs were straight and the same length. It was magical.
This time the harpist stayed quite a bit longer, which was a treat. I believe at the time there were only ten patients in the hospital, so she probably had more time.
The staff at the hospital were wonderful both times, and I have no complaints. Except for one...
I did have the chance to meet Nurse Ratched (from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest),
or at least her very close cousin. I never would have guessed that such a soulless medical professional would have been hiding at this wonderful hospital, but there she was in the flesh. My husband and I both noticed that when her shift started the energy in the room changed completely. She was one of the people who I think would just rather that their patients were unconscious so they could do their job their way and not be annoyed by pesky sick people.
Thank goodness about 4 hours before the scheduled end of her shift she was replaced by a lovely, caring nurse. I think they may have shoved her into a cooler or something. I know I wanted to.
Hubby and I both shared our thoughts about her with the higher ups and hopefully Nurse Ratched will be singing a different tune from now on. Everyone else at the hospital, from doctors, to admittance people, to the cook and housekeeper were beyond wonderful.
If you ever have a problem with a nurse or other staff person, be sure to let the bosses know. Changes cannot be make if the problems are not brought to their attention.
I stayed three days again. I have been home since Thursday and am doing really well. The one thing that I think has made a huge difference this time is that I was given a prescription for Celebrex. For some reason last time I did not have that, and my leg felt like a big wienie swelling up over a bonfire, ready to pop at any second. At three weeks I was starting to feel relatively normal.
This time I have felt pretty darned good. Not having that stiffness has made a world of difference.
I am taking the celebrex (2xday) as well as some oxycodone several times a day. It won't be long before I stop that. Last time I was off everything by three weeks, apart from an occasional Aleve before therapy. I can tell it won't be that long.
One other little glitch at the hospital was that the day after surgery the nurse set my noon pain pills on the tray and I totally forgot to take them. They were discovered over two hours later and I was already in a significant amount of pain. It took me probably until the next morning to get back to where I felt, pain wise, the previous morning. I was amazed at how much it affected me being two and a half hours late with the pills. So if you need pain meds, be sure to take them regularly if you want to stay on top of the pain.
I only have two more days of shots in my belly. Yay!
Today I was able to take some short tentative (10-15 foot) walks around the house without my walker. I am being careful, though. There is no doubt that I feel a bit more stable with it than without.
I am excited to get the bandage off next Monday. The scar on the first knee doesn't look half bad. There is even a one inch section that I would say doesn't look like it was ever cut. I told the surgeon to do to my right knee whatever it was he did to that one inch section on the left. We will see in a few days. lol
Well, I'll report back if anything eventful happens. Good luck to everyone with their surgeries.
I hope that everyone's surgeries can be as positively life-changing as this has been for me.
Good luck to all.
I was doing really well with therapy on the left knee, but after a few weeks it became very discouraging because of the difference in the two leg lengths. Then about mid September, or three weeks before the second surgery, I began having hip and back pain. Again I think it was due to the leg difference. No matter how much I fiddled with heel lifts for the shorter leg, I could never get things just right. The last week before my second surgery was pretty painful and I had trouble sleeping at night due to the hip/back pain as well as pain in the bad leg. Plus, I took a plane trip and that was not much fun. I think the plane terminals at Salt Lake were about five miles apart. It was a long walk with only 50 minutes between flights. I was a mess. *sigh*
So.....I was not at all afraid of the surgery and went in that morning with a smile on my face and a skip in my soul. LOL
It all worked out wonderfully. I can't even begin to say how happy I was the first time I stood up post op and my legs were straight and the same length. It was magical.
This time the harpist stayed quite a bit longer, which was a treat. I believe at the time there were only ten patients in the hospital, so she probably had more time.
The staff at the hospital were wonderful both times, and I have no complaints. Except for one...
I did have the chance to meet Nurse Ratched (from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest),
or at least her very close cousin. I never would have guessed that such a soulless medical professional would have been hiding at this wonderful hospital, but there she was in the flesh. My husband and I both noticed that when her shift started the energy in the room changed completely. She was one of the people who I think would just rather that their patients were unconscious so they could do their job their way and not be annoyed by pesky sick people. Thank goodness about 4 hours before the scheduled end of her shift she was replaced by a lovely, caring nurse. I think they may have shoved her into a cooler or something. I know I wanted to.
Hubby and I both shared our thoughts about her with the higher ups and hopefully Nurse Ratched will be singing a different tune from now on. Everyone else at the hospital, from doctors, to admittance people, to the cook and housekeeper were beyond wonderful.
If you ever have a problem with a nurse or other staff person, be sure to let the bosses know. Changes cannot be make if the problems are not brought to their attention.
I stayed three days again. I have been home since Thursday and am doing really well. The one thing that I think has made a huge difference this time is that I was given a prescription for Celebrex. For some reason last time I did not have that, and my leg felt like a big wienie swelling up over a bonfire, ready to pop at any second. At three weeks I was starting to feel relatively normal.
This time I have felt pretty darned good. Not having that stiffness has made a world of difference.
I am taking the celebrex (2xday) as well as some oxycodone several times a day. It won't be long before I stop that. Last time I was off everything by three weeks, apart from an occasional Aleve before therapy. I can tell it won't be that long.
One other little glitch at the hospital was that the day after surgery the nurse set my noon pain pills on the tray and I totally forgot to take them. They were discovered over two hours later and I was already in a significant amount of pain. It took me probably until the next morning to get back to where I felt, pain wise, the previous morning. I was amazed at how much it affected me being two and a half hours late with the pills. So if you need pain meds, be sure to take them regularly if you want to stay on top of the pain.
I only have two more days of shots in my belly. Yay!
Today I was able to take some short tentative (10-15 foot) walks around the house without my walker. I am being careful, though. There is no doubt that I feel a bit more stable with it than without.
I am excited to get the bandage off next Monday. The scar on the first knee doesn't look half bad. There is even a one inch section that I would say doesn't look like it was ever cut. I told the surgeon to do to my right knee whatever it was he did to that one inch section on the left. We will see in a few days. lol
Well, I'll report back if anything eventful happens. Good luck to everyone with their surgeries.
I hope that everyone's surgeries can be as positively life-changing as this has been for me.
Good luck to all.
She's pretty funny. 
