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TKR Here she comes just a walkin' down the street

Hi! Just wanted to say...I am heavy too...and have had no problems with surgery or recovery that I feel are weight related! So glad you found a surgeon willing to help relieve your pain!!

Kim
 
So, 90 minutes of sleep last night, which was 90 minutes more than expected. But I slept surprisingly well the night before. Popped out if bed early to do my special soap shower. This hotel shower is unbelievably slippery, but at least there is a grab bar. I hung on for dear life, terrified of a last minute injury. Am clean and waiting in the hotel lobby. At this point, I'm so terrified, I'm calm, if that makes sense. I'll just watch myself go through the motions until I wake up. See you then, all you dear hearts and gentle people!
 
Just checking in to wish you good thoughts and prayers!


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum
 
I have a new knee! They did a spinal and I was awake and aware for the operation. Going in, that was the last thing I wanted, but now I'm happy about it. It was interesting. Then recovery room for a short time, I was able to wiggle toes and do heel slides right away. Am now in my single room on the joint camp floor. Ordered a meal, to get in a last good meal before the spinal wears off. I feel as alert as you can be with so little sleep the night before. We will see how the whole pain thing goes shortly. I tried lifting my leg and coupl do it, but for the first time, felt a foreboding of pain to come.
By the way, they attached my ice machine already in recovery, but will not permit elevation, so I get one of two. I have my foam cushion in the hotel, so,will elevate to my hearts content in a couple days.
 
Wow, you were aware of your surgery? Omg I could not have handled that at all. So good to see you here and doing well. May your healing journey go as well as it has begun. Feel good.
 
@greatlakes, you are too young to know that song!! I'm with Diane, I would have freaked out if I had been awake! You are a very strong person! I hope your recovery is a smooth one.
 
I felt the same way though, going in, told a lot of people my only direction was I didn't want to know ANYTHING during the op. I think they gave me just enough drugs of some sort that it took away the fear and anxiety and left me calm. The upside was, I felt great after and talked all the way through to the nurse.
I got to my room around 1:30. The nurse cones every hour on the hour to check vitals, and I can call her for urgent needs. The pt showed up at. 2:30. I had just taken two norcos, and he got me up and walking a short way down the hall. That was enough, started to feel lightheaded. We sat me in my recliner, did 10 butt clenches, 10 quad clenches, and ankle movement. The ankle movement is to be done as often as I can, to prevent blood clots. The others 10 times an hour, which I might or might not do depending on pain. He never tried to touch me.
Then he retooled up the ice machine and ELEVATED the footrest. So they don't want the leg elevated in the hospital bed, but yes for the recliner. I'm to stay on the chair as long as I can. Since I have a catheter for day one, I'm quite happy here.
Tomorrow I go to the group pt with all the others here in "joint camp." I will let you know what we do there. I will try exercises and stretches, but will firmly tell them hands off if they try to push my leg.
If I'm too young for my title song, I'll go back even further in time. This is the tune that no longer will define me!

My Walking Stick
Without my walking stick, I'd go insane
I can't look my best I feel undressed without my cane.
Must have my walking stick 'cause it may rain
When it pours can't be outdoors without my cane.

If I ever left my house without my walking stick
Well it would be something I could never explain
Oh the thing that makes me click, on lovers lane
Would go for naught if I were caught without my cane.
 
Congratulations ! You sound great. So glad you're on this side of it. Woot!


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016
 
Congrats greatlakes. You've come through swimmingly. You got back to your room at 1:30 and pt came at 2:30? It's all unbelievable. Also being awake thru your operation! My ex-hubby was also awake but didn't realize the sounds he heard were him having surgery...he thought he was waiting for his turn. So far all is well and they're taking good care of you.
 
Congrats on the new knee! I was awake as well, and found it quite interesting! It was the same for me in the hospital as far as elevating...then on the second day when they elevated, it caused awful pain. The glute and quad squeezes felt good to me early on, though 10x an hour seems a lot. Make sure they stay on top of meds as the pain sets in...there is usually more they can give you if you need it!

Rest up!
Kim
 
Yep, be sure to ask for meds before you actually need them. I'd always remind my nurses that I'd need meds at a certain time. I loved that they wrote the last time I had pain meds on the white board because I'd get sleepy and groggy, so it helped me keep track of time.
 
Wow! You are really alert which is amazing. I sure hope they continue to take such good care of you.
 
@greatlakes Wishing you well, sounds like your off to a great start. I'll be watching your postings for how you do in the days and weeks to come. One thing I think I was bad at in the beginning was I felt pretty good, not a lot of pain and could get around pretty well, so I believe I over did it in the beginning, not icing and not elevating at a height that did me good, I used the recliner, but didn't have my toes above my nose and so I didn't get the benefits as well. I was antsy and pushed to do things instead of working more on my icing and elevating. So I believe I set myself back, just recently I learned from here to do a better job of icing and elevating and it's made a world of difference as a swollen joint doesn't move. So even tho you may feel really good, do the icing and elevating and enjoy as much as you can your down time.
 
Day two so far. Woke up groggy and slightly cranky but I think it's just lack of sleep. 90 minutes the night before surgery, because of anxiety. Then last night I could've slept, I was almost pain-free when sitting or lying down, but so much goes on at the hospital that I got a total of about five hours. That was in three separate broken up shifts. So today is a sleepy one!
I know now why it's been so pain-free so far, when sitting or lying down. The Doctor came in at about 7 doing his morning rounds. He told me mine was one of the worst knees he seen in a long time. Absolutely no cartilage, bone spurs all over, and spurs coming out of the kneecap. He said it was really needing to be replaced. But he put in a pain block, which he said would wear off probably late today. Asked me if I could tell that the leg with straighter already, and I gave him an emphatic yes. I'm starting to look forward to life after this operation.
Although I'd be stretching it to say my pain was above a one when I'm sitting or lying down, now that I have warning of what's to come, I'm being extra diligent about keeping on top of the pain pills. It's Norco, two pills every four hours. The care they take of you here has been wonderful so far. Fast responses to everything, extremely friendly helpful nursing, I do have to ask to have the ice in my machine checked but as soon as I ask it's taken care of.
Occupational therapy already stopped by for an assessment. I go to my group pt shortly. The quad and butt clinches feel fine and I waggle my ankles all the time. To keep it from getting boring, instead of doing circles all the time, I do a trick from an arthritis exercise class. I do the alphabet with my ankles, and you could do it different ways, capital letters, small letters, the normal way to do letters, and then backwards. So four different combinations.
Had a nice sponge bath this morning. They gave me a stool softener this morning as well. No bm yesterday or yet today, but not yet uncomfortable, so hoping this works before it becomes a problem. so that's it for now. I'll post later today about how pt goes.
 
You amaze me. I don't think I even knew my name when I was in the hospital. I don't remember being given any meds. Everything is a blur. You are sure on top of everything - even with your ankle pumps ala the alphabet! Wow! I hope your pain stays well controlled when the block wears off. I had the block two and think I got meds via IV. Who knows. Not me!
 
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