sissy46
post-grad
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2012
- Messages
- 1,345
- Age
- 77
- Gender
- Female
I'm on the other side, hallelujah!
I had a right TKR on October 25. My surgeon did a minimally invasive (no quadriceps cut, medial incision) procedure, using the MAKO Robotic Arm. I had general anesthesia as I was not a candidate for a spinal. Along with the general, I had two blocks, one that was given by the anesthesiologist in pre-op; the other by the surgeon after I was under anesthesia. They gave me IV meds pre-op to prevent nausea, and thankfully, I haven't had any nausea at all, just not much appetite yet.
Although I live alone I was able to go home the same day as my sweet sister came to be with me. She just left today. My condo is on the 2nd floor, so the physical therapist at the hospital took me to the stairwell before discharge and made sure I could go up and down 15 steps with no problem---one step at a time, like a toddler, but it works, remembering "bad goes down, good goes up." I went downstairs yesterday and today for a short walk.
Didn't need anything for pain until about 24 hours post-op when the blocks started to wear off. I should have taken it at the first twinge, but I waited till it got bad, so I was pretty uncomfortable for a few hours until the meds caught up (hydrocodone/tylenol 5/325). When someone says "stay ahead of the pain" believe it. I knew better.
My knee is bruised, swollen, and stiff, but I'm taking one pain pill about every 6 hours now, and I'm not uncomfortable. I don't need the walker to get around my condo, but I will take it for longer walks.
And did I ever get lucky with PT! I was ready to stand up for myself and insist on the Bonesmart gentle approach, but my therapist beat me to it, saying he will never force anything and he's not there to inflict pain. He said my range of motion will improve as the swelling goes down; he gave me 3 simple exercises to do, instructed me to continue elevating and icing.
It's early days yet, I know, in the healing process, but I'm very happy with how it's going so far.
I had a right TKR on October 25. My surgeon did a minimally invasive (no quadriceps cut, medial incision) procedure, using the MAKO Robotic Arm. I had general anesthesia as I was not a candidate for a spinal. Along with the general, I had two blocks, one that was given by the anesthesiologist in pre-op; the other by the surgeon after I was under anesthesia. They gave me IV meds pre-op to prevent nausea, and thankfully, I haven't had any nausea at all, just not much appetite yet.
Although I live alone I was able to go home the same day as my sweet sister came to be with me. She just left today. My condo is on the 2nd floor, so the physical therapist at the hospital took me to the stairwell before discharge and made sure I could go up and down 15 steps with no problem---one step at a time, like a toddler, but it works, remembering "bad goes down, good goes up." I went downstairs yesterday and today for a short walk.
Didn't need anything for pain until about 24 hours post-op when the blocks started to wear off. I should have taken it at the first twinge, but I waited till it got bad, so I was pretty uncomfortable for a few hours until the meds caught up (hydrocodone/tylenol 5/325). When someone says "stay ahead of the pain" believe it. I knew better.
My knee is bruised, swollen, and stiff, but I'm taking one pain pill about every 6 hours now, and I'm not uncomfortable. I don't need the walker to get around my condo, but I will take it for longer walks.
And did I ever get lucky with PT! I was ready to stand up for myself and insist on the Bonesmart gentle approach, but my therapist beat me to it, saying he will never force anything and he's not there to inflict pain. He said my range of motion will improve as the swelling goes down; he gave me 3 simple exercises to do, instructed me to continue elevating and icing.
It's early days yet, I know, in the healing process, but I'm very happy with how it's going so far.