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Diane's Knee Quest finally the real deal

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No Diane Exparel is a local anesthetic that is injected into your incision area before they close you up. It is supposed to provide pain relief for up to 72 hours, but from others who've had it I don't think it lasts that long, probably wears off the second day.
 
I truly don't think that he was cooking, cleaning, shopping and all the other activities that need to be done. Plus you don't know if he had a break between each client. If all that was the case I could have gone to work then too.
 
I had a drain, they took it out the morning after surgery, I didn't even know it was there under all the bandages, it didn't hurt when it was removed!!!
 
He lives alone, so I guess he feeds himself somehow and ya could have breaks between, but even so, I think he is on the easier side of recovery, some just are I guess
 
I think it's the luck of the draw sometimes. I had a horrible recovery first time (never fully did) and a great recovery the second time. It averages out to be right in the middle! As long as you don't try to rush your recovery I'm sure you will do fine.
 
I didn't have a drain at all.

Some people do have quick recoveries, who knows why they do. There's one guy on this forum who went back to work at two weeks. I was just able to handle my *husband* going back to work at two weeks :)!

I'm thinking about working from home part time in a few weeks. I'm not gonna lie, I'm enjoying a break. I don't want to rush it, tho, because then the push will be on to get back in the office.

As for the hospital, I wore the hospital gown all night and that was fine. I realllllllly wanted to put a sports bra on, but the IV made that impossible. I changed into my pjs in the morning—a very comfy pant and top set. That worked well for that day before going home (I was in one night). I brought slippers, but didn't use them because I wore those lovely socks with the rubber pads.

I packed some of the body bath wipes that I used the next morning and that felt GREAT. I also took some neutrogena make-up remover wipes for my face and that helpful.
 
I guess going over my last bunch of surgeries, I recovered relatively ok. Then the hip came along and now im freaked out about all surgeries. But I've had 2 surgeries since the hip and it was not bad. But this one is really major and messing with my head. I have another friend, 10 years older than me, also very ovrrweight, had both knees done 6 weeks apart, and had no trouble , breezed thru pt, and is happy she did it.
 
I never had a drain with either of my 2 TKR's. Guess it depends on surgeon.
 
It might also depend on the surgeon's technique, how much he does in the knee, and how much bleeding there was during surgery. Or maybe it just is his routine.
 
I have to be at the hospital at 7 a.m., surgery at 9. I guess that means I'm second on the list, depending on what time he starts his first case.
 
Early is so much better! I was the first and I loved it!
 
Im first, and I have to be there at 5am ughhh for 7:30am surgery. I would prefer just a tad later, but ya get what ya get. I hope my OS has his coffee and is awake enough. At least its not the end of the day when he is tired..
 
Yes, it is.

I started going to mindful meditation last year, after seeing a 60 minutes program about it. I was intrigued. I was also a nervous wreck obsessing about my upcoming knee surgery and my need to control all the aspects of it and having no idea how to. I was in quite a state. Obsessing over and over, about my blood thinner, having a stroke in surgery, having AFIB, blah, blah, who to go to, where to have the surgery, who will take care of me post op, will my kids help. It was awful. So I went to this meditation group weekly, with a friend, and I noticed after many many weeks that I was calmer, and that some of the issues fell into place. I was able to plan, decide, and not be freaked out all the time. And I managed to survive the surgery.

So, yes, meditation tapes can't hurt!
 
Exparel is bupivicaine. My OS and basically Swedish Orthopedic Institue docs use the peripheral nerve catheter delivery system. It is a closed system, catheter inserted mid thigh in the tissue, not vein, up to the nerves around the knee. You don't feel it. They put it in with ultrasound. I remember the insertion but was still numb. A bag is at the other end delivering a controlled dose for 5-7 days. I remember being so excited hearing about it, but I feel it did squat! My pain was in the nerve on the side of my knee and leg, but didn't know it for 4 weeks. Still needed mega pain meds so what was the point, I wonder.
 
Exparel contains bupivicane but it is an entirely different delivery system - not given as a nerve block. It is encapsulated to deliver the anesthetic over a long period of time and it is injected into the wound in your knee before closure. Therefore no catheter is required. It is supposed to last up to 3 days. I think Diane was asking because she thought that Exparel might be given by catheter and her doctor uses Exparel. I guess I should have been more clear with my answer above.
 
I didn't have a drain either. I prefer first thing in morning surgeries and have asked for them. They moved one, and I told them oh no, I specifically asked for first thing and I was guaranteed first thing, so move it back. I had made the appointment 6 months in advance, and it was not an emergency on anyone's part. Found out surgeon had made a dental appointment for himself! Not my problem! You knew you were doing surgery that morning. And I was most likely the only one. Course, people involved then treated me a lot differently and got me out fast, without even letting me use bathroom first, and acted like i was in their way.
 
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