Hi everyone!
I’m home, trying to sleep (been up since 3:00am but you all know how that goes).
My poor hubby who is supp to be caring for me got super sick with flu like symptoms!!! Yikes! So that’s been tough. Got home last night at dinner time.
Surgeon left in the patellar component from the last surgery, and took out both the medial and lateral sides (obviously) said it went perfectly.
My BP in the pre-op area was 165/95 and resting pulse was 110. Ummm... you think I was nervous? They gave me something for my anxiety. Next thing you know I was in the OR. I remember getting the spinal, then nothing else till I woke up in the PACU to the anesthesiologist inserting the femoral block and the Q ball. Never felt it.
The first 3 hrs were fine; no pain but I was surprised (and bummed!!) how quickly the block wore off!! I was up and out of bed that afternoon... doing ok despite both knees being worked on.
To my shock he stated my left knee looked excellent except for some scar tissue and a plica that was caught in the joint which he removed and said was probably causing my pain and my knee cap to get “caught”. I do have some arthritis under the knee cap but it’s only in a small area. He did no scraping under there as he said he wouldn’t. I am shocked at how little discomfort I have/had in the left after the scope. Thank God because I have to use it as my “good leg” The scope I had on the right, 3 years ago was beyond brutal, and after that, was when everything went down hill and I never walked again.
So... according to OS, no more surgeries for a very long time!! (Maybe never if I’m that lucky!) He said TKR on right should last 30 years!
Everyone in the hospital insisted I keep my knee hyper extended while in bed. Went to “joint camp” where they talked about the RICE method, importance of keeping swelling under control, getting up every hour for 5 min, and keeping knee hyper-extended. Ouch... does that hurt!! They were SO insistent on it. One nurse told me if I didn’t comply, I would be back in a few weeks for a manipulation??!!! Geez.... it hadn’t even been 24 hrs?
So I have 2 ice units, both with compression and besides getting up to use bathroom, brush teeth, walk around apt for 5-10 min, etc... I’ve been in bed with the ice on. I’m taking 10 mg of oxy every 4 hrs and 1,000 mg of Tylenol every 8 hrs.
Does that sound right? It’s still hurting pretty badly but I don’t expect it to feel good. I think I’m going to take a Tramadol in between and see if that helps.
I'm just glad it’s over and now we just wait and see what the outcome is!
PT will come see me either later this week or next (can’t remember). By week 3, I’ll be in out patient PT.
Oh... and some blood is coming through my dressing. Is this any concern?
Thanks for reading and for all the support. I’ll be back frequently to post and follow everyone else’s journeys!
Hugs to all