TKR New Left Knee . . . Check!!
- Thread starter editor98
- Start date
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OP
OP
editor98
senior
Happy Heart Day, Everyone! Once again, off to see the wizard......
Will check in later.
Will check in later.
carousel66
graduate
You are in my thoughts Niki!
I'm sure the wizard will work his magic!
I'm sure the wizard will work his magic!
carousel66
graduate
Niki I'm thinking about you, I hope you are home and doing okay.
OP
OP
editor98
senior
Hey Friends! I am back home and all is well. Got home about 30 minutes ago--from start to finish, door to door, it all took about 5 1/2 hours. I'm going to give you the blow-by-blow description while it is fresh in my (slightly drugged) mind so that anyone in the future facing an MUA might have a little better idea what to expect.
Arrived 2 hours prior to the procedure and did all of the normal pre-op stuff that you do when you get to the hospital. My blood pressure was up there--not surprising cause I know I was nervous. Once my IV was in, it was pretty much lie there and wait. The doc came in to see me about an hour after we got there. I had a couple of questions for him--the main one asking if he was going to take xrays in the OR after the procedure. He said he could if it looked like there might be something to warrant that. I just said I would feel better if he did just so that I know all of my bones are still intact. :biggrin: So he said yes he would do xrays. Next I asked him about doing PT tomorrow morning at 9:30, which is when I have an appointment. He said yes definitely. A while after the doc, the anesthesiologist came in. He said he was not going to do the normal intubation because the procedure would be so short and because I also still have that herniated disc going on in my neck--so he didn't want to have to position my head back that far. He said he would use some little rubber thingy that holds open the airway but still allows you to breathe on your own. After that, we waited another 30 minutes or so and then they came to get me.
They gave me some kind of drugs right before we left the pre-op room and by the time they wheeled me down a couple of hallways to the OR I was feeling pretty good! Transferred to the OR table, got my arms positioned, and the heart monitor things attached. That was about all I remember. Next thing I knew I was in recovery waking up. From the time I got to the OR to the time I woke up in recovery was exactly 45 minutes.
The nurse asked if I was in pain and I said no, not really. It just felt a little bit sore. Got some ice chips and was pretty much just chilling. It took about 25 minutes (there was a huge clock right in front of me) for me to realize that I was definitely feeling some pain. Told the nurse that I was hurting at that point--about a 5 out of 10. So she said she would get some morphine. Well, she had to call the pharmacy and apparently they were having trouble coming up with the goods. After about 10 minutes she called them again to see what was going on. By this time my pain was about a 7/8 or so. It took another 10 minutes for the drugs to get there (have no idea why it would take 20 minutes to get morphine to a surgical hospital's recovery room). Anyway, I hate to have to admit that I was shedding some tears by that point. But I finally got the drugs and after a few minutes was feeling much better.
I talked to the doc right after getting to recovery and he said that everything went well. He bent my knee to about 140 degrees, and he took xrays--all bones in one piece!
Of course I tried bending my knee as soon as I was awake--and truly I could barely tell a difference from what I was able to do before the MUA. The doc said that is because he injected a steroid directly into the joint and also some fluid of some sort to keep everything lubricated now that he had broken up the scar tissue. I thought I would be able to really bend it as soon as I woke up, but I guess I have to wait for it to recover a bit and absorb that fluid. Right now it really does not look like there is any more swelling than usual, but that may take a little bit to show up, I don' know.
I am able to walk on it without any problems and I walked the three steps into my house with no problem. Tomorrow I am going to have to do those 15 steps we have a couple of times. My husband leaves for 10 days in the a.m. and our dog sleeps upstairs in his office--so I will have to go up and get her in the morning and then go up again to put her to bed at night, but I think unless I'm feeling a lot worse tomorrow, it shouldn't be a problem.
I took two 7.5 mg hydrocodone when I got home and plan on taking another two when I go to bed tonight. Tomorrow morning I will take something before I go to PT and then see how I feel the rest of the day. Narcotics really do a number on stopping up my "plumbing" and it doesn't take long for that effect to hit--so I'm just going to see how it goes with the pain and take something if I need it. (I am taking precautionary stool softeners and Metamucil already!
)
So all in all, an MUA is not at all difficult--and truly nothing to be worried about. Except for those 20 minutes in recovery waiting on the morphine, I have been comfortable. I'll let you know how I feel tomorrow after PT. The results of the MUA have not been evident right away for me, so I will have to wait to see how it goes. For those who've had an MUA--was it unrealistic for me to think that I would see the results right away?? I'm not really sure why I thought that, but I kind of did. I'll check back in tomorrow after PT as I'm sure he will measure me just to see where we're at. I think I need a nap....
Niki
Arrived 2 hours prior to the procedure and did all of the normal pre-op stuff that you do when you get to the hospital. My blood pressure was up there--not surprising cause I know I was nervous. Once my IV was in, it was pretty much lie there and wait. The doc came in to see me about an hour after we got there. I had a couple of questions for him--the main one asking if he was going to take xrays in the OR after the procedure. He said he could if it looked like there might be something to warrant that. I just said I would feel better if he did just so that I know all of my bones are still intact. :biggrin: So he said yes he would do xrays. Next I asked him about doing PT tomorrow morning at 9:30, which is when I have an appointment. He said yes definitely. A while after the doc, the anesthesiologist came in. He said he was not going to do the normal intubation because the procedure would be so short and because I also still have that herniated disc going on in my neck--so he didn't want to have to position my head back that far. He said he would use some little rubber thingy that holds open the airway but still allows you to breathe on your own. After that, we waited another 30 minutes or so and then they came to get me.
They gave me some kind of drugs right before we left the pre-op room and by the time they wheeled me down a couple of hallways to the OR I was feeling pretty good! Transferred to the OR table, got my arms positioned, and the heart monitor things attached. That was about all I remember. Next thing I knew I was in recovery waking up. From the time I got to the OR to the time I woke up in recovery was exactly 45 minutes.
The nurse asked if I was in pain and I said no, not really. It just felt a little bit sore. Got some ice chips and was pretty much just chilling. It took about 25 minutes (there was a huge clock right in front of me) for me to realize that I was definitely feeling some pain. Told the nurse that I was hurting at that point--about a 5 out of 10. So she said she would get some morphine. Well, she had to call the pharmacy and apparently they were having trouble coming up with the goods. After about 10 minutes she called them again to see what was going on. By this time my pain was about a 7/8 or so. It took another 10 minutes for the drugs to get there (have no idea why it would take 20 minutes to get morphine to a surgical hospital's recovery room). Anyway, I hate to have to admit that I was shedding some tears by that point. But I finally got the drugs and after a few minutes was feeling much better.
I talked to the doc right after getting to recovery and he said that everything went well. He bent my knee to about 140 degrees, and he took xrays--all bones in one piece!
Of course I tried bending my knee as soon as I was awake--and truly I could barely tell a difference from what I was able to do before the MUA. The doc said that is because he injected a steroid directly into the joint and also some fluid of some sort to keep everything lubricated now that he had broken up the scar tissue. I thought I would be able to really bend it as soon as I woke up, but I guess I have to wait for it to recover a bit and absorb that fluid. Right now it really does not look like there is any more swelling than usual, but that may take a little bit to show up, I don' know.I am able to walk on it without any problems and I walked the three steps into my house with no problem. Tomorrow I am going to have to do those 15 steps we have a couple of times. My husband leaves for 10 days in the a.m. and our dog sleeps upstairs in his office--so I will have to go up and get her in the morning and then go up again to put her to bed at night, but I think unless I'm feeling a lot worse tomorrow, it shouldn't be a problem.
I took two 7.5 mg hydrocodone when I got home and plan on taking another two when I go to bed tonight. Tomorrow morning I will take something before I go to PT and then see how I feel the rest of the day. Narcotics really do a number on stopping up my "plumbing" and it doesn't take long for that effect to hit--so I'm just going to see how it goes with the pain and take something if I need it. (I am taking precautionary stool softeners and Metamucil already!
)So all in all, an MUA is not at all difficult--and truly nothing to be worried about. Except for those 20 minutes in recovery waiting on the morphine, I have been comfortable. I'll let you know how I feel tomorrow after PT. The results of the MUA have not been evident right away for me, so I will have to wait to see how it goes. For those who've had an MUA--was it unrealistic for me to think that I would see the results right away?? I'm not really sure why I thought that, but I kind of did. I'll check back in tomorrow after PT as I'm sure he will measure me just to see where we're at. I think I need a nap....
Niki
tyncam
member
Great update - good to hear that you're walking around - best of luck with pt and your recovery ...
carousel66
graduate
glad to hear the update and that you are home safe and sound
karmigirl
post-grad
Niki,
So glad to hear every thing went so well. Please let us know how you are doing tomorrow after PT.
So glad to hear every thing went so well. Please let us know how you are doing tomorrow after PT.
Diney
member
It's over! He bent your knee to 140. The only way is up! Good luck with the PT, be patient for the next few days and hopefully you will see the benefits soon. Well done Niki!
KathyH
post-grad
Aah, so glad to hear you are back and well, Niki. You are so brave
Kathy
x
Kathy
x
Dhare63
post-grad
HI Niki, such a good report, glad you posted while it was fresh in your mind. It sounds like the mua was needed, and getting to 140 degrees is amazing. Now, to manage your expectations. If the OS injected the knee with a fluid, then it will feel tight, just like swelling. THat will abate, so don't fret too much. As for noticing the results right away, you may not get to see them until the fluid is absorbed and the swelling that is happening in the joint goes down. But having the scar tissue broken up will allow the movement of the knee as these other issues subside. For me, extension was the main problem. Because I could not stand flat footed, which is natural, after the mua with adhesions broken up, I stood flat footed the next day or day after, can't remember.
Just stick with it, don't get discouraged. You will see the difference, just give it a few days.
I hope you feel well enough to climb the stairs and handle the dog issue. Just be careful, take it slow.
I look forward to your continued posts and updates.
Best, Dawn
Just stick with it, don't get discouraged. You will see the difference, just give it a few days.
I hope you feel well enough to climb the stairs and handle the dog issue. Just be careful, take it slow.
I look forward to your continued posts and updates.
Best, Dawn
OP
OP
editor98
senior
Quick update before I go get ready for PT. First, thank you all, once again, for your good wishes. Like I keep saying--I appreciate you more than words can say.
Now for the update. After I posted yesterday, I took about a 2-hour little nap. When I woke up and stood up to walk, I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW GOOD MY KNEE FELT!! All traces of tightness and stiffness were COMPLETELY GONE--truly! I just kept raving to my husband about how it was the first time in 5 months that my knee has felt normal--just like my other knee. I'm thinking this has probably come from the steroid injection more than anything else--so I realize it will probably not last, but WOW, I still can't get over the difference in how it feels! Dawn, you were so right that I would be amazed at how good I feel! It's going to be hard to try to take it easy--and to not let my PT push me too hard.
Second, I can definitely see that my flexion is much improved this morning. I did some heel slides and besides not feeling that I am fighting through cement to get my knee to bend, my heel slid in at least 6 or 8 inches farther than it could before the MUA. This morning I was able to sit up in bed, bend my knees, and wrap my arms around them--would have been impossible yesterday.
Third, I now have some new clunking and clicking when I walk that I didn't have before. I'm taking this as a good sign (??) that things that were stuck to each other before are no longer stuck. That is totally unscientific, but it sounds feasible to me! :th_heehee:
Fourth, I am not in any pain at all this morning, but I will still take some hydrocodone before PT.
Fifth, I AM FEELING GOOD THIS MORNING!!
Will check back in after PT and let y'all know how that went. Thanks so much for sticking with me through this whole ordeal! Niki
Now for the update. After I posted yesterday, I took about a 2-hour little nap. When I woke up and stood up to walk, I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW GOOD MY KNEE FELT!! All traces of tightness and stiffness were COMPLETELY GONE--truly! I just kept raving to my husband about how it was the first time in 5 months that my knee has felt normal--just like my other knee. I'm thinking this has probably come from the steroid injection more than anything else--so I realize it will probably not last, but WOW, I still can't get over the difference in how it feels! Dawn, you were so right that I would be amazed at how good I feel! It's going to be hard to try to take it easy--and to not let my PT push me too hard.
Second, I can definitely see that my flexion is much improved this morning. I did some heel slides and besides not feeling that I am fighting through cement to get my knee to bend, my heel slid in at least 6 or 8 inches farther than it could before the MUA. This morning I was able to sit up in bed, bend my knees, and wrap my arms around them--would have been impossible yesterday.
Third, I now have some new clunking and clicking when I walk that I didn't have before. I'm taking this as a good sign (??) that things that were stuck to each other before are no longer stuck. That is totally unscientific, but it sounds feasible to me! :th_heehee:
Fourth, I am not in any pain at all this morning, but I will still take some hydrocodone before PT.
Fifth, I AM FEELING GOOD THIS MORNING!!
Will check back in after PT and let y'all know how that went. Thanks so much for sticking with me through this whole ordeal! Niki
Hi Niki
I have been out of the loop for a few days and have just been catching up with your MUA. It sounds like it all went really well and you have an excellent result already. We are all rooting for you Well done for writing such a brilliant report on your MUA after just a few hours - I take my hat off to you! Take care and let us know how you are doing after your pt.
I have been out of the loop for a few days and have just been catching up with your MUA. It sounds like it all went really well and you have an excellent result already. We are all rooting for you
Well done for writing such a brilliant report on your MUA after just a few hours - I take my hat off to you! Take care and let us know how you are doing after your pt.
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Wonderful progress!
carousel66
graduate
Niki I'm SO HAPPY for you!!!!
I know you have had a challenging recovery, I can't tell you how glad I am to hear you speak of your new knee as a blessing!!!
HUGE hugs to you!!!!
I know you have had a challenging recovery, I can't tell you how glad I am to hear you speak of your new knee as a blessing!!!
HUGE hugs to you!!!!
Dhare63
post-grad
Niki, awesome news! I am so happy for you!!
Let us know how pt went. Keep us posted and agin, congrats on the positive outcome!
Cheers,
Dawn
Let us know how pt went. Keep us posted and agin, congrats on the positive outcome!
Cheers,
Dawn
karmigirl
post-grad
Niki,
Great news. The only way now is up. Hope all is going well at PT, just don't let them push you to hard.
Your post today sounded so upbeat I am soo happy for you.
PS News on my swelling issues the Dr. suggested it might be angioedema, swelling and fluid retention is caused by cold. Icing is not good for me.
Great news. The only way now is up. Hope all is going well at PT, just don't let them push you to hard.
Your post today sounded so upbeat I am soo happy for you.
PS News on my swelling issues the Dr. suggested it might be angioedema, swelling and fluid retention is caused by cold. Icing is not good for me.
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