Made it to the pre-op area, where they told me to strip down and gave me packets containing six big soft wipes. More antibacterial stuff. I had to use one wipe for each arm and each leg, and one for my front and my back. Then I was told to write the word "yes" above the knee in question. Nurse had to start my IV in my hand, as my arm veins were closed for repairs, apparently.
Anesthesiologist started my nerve block.I was given some mellow meds through the IV, and a nice lady washed my knee. The OS stopped by and marked the knee as well. Then it was off to the races. I was aware of what was going on a lot more than I thought I would be. They did not have to insert anything in my throat to keep me breathing well - instead the anesthesiologist would just tell me to breathe deeply from time to time. I felt the vibrations from them moving my leg around, and some tiny jackhammer action. No pain whatsoever. When the deed was done (about two hours later) they rolled me into recovery and were super responsive to my increasing pain. It never got too bad, as they hit me with a couple of rounds of dilaudid, followed by some Robaxin, which is a muscle relaxer. They put me in a cpm machine (max bend 60 degrees) while an electric cryo cuff keeping things chill. That did the trick until they got me up to my room.
My poor roommate had rods put in her legs - they just wheeled her up from recovery, and from the sounds of it, she is at about a pain level 9. Her nurse is busily finding the right med cocktail for her, but I feel so sorry for her.
In my room, I was given 2 percoset and 1 Vistiril. They took my order for dinner (it was 5pm by this time), and for breakfast. I ordered liquid foods, including a cup of coffee, as I drink so much coffee I sometimes get a headache if I don't take it. The nurse wrote on a dry erase board that my next meds were available at 7:30pm. I set the alarm on my watch and asked for them at 7:15. The nurse then made the med dispense required rather than requested, and I made sure she knew to wake me up for the 3:30am dose. I will set my clock to be sure.
After I ate (zero nausea, btw - thank you God) I slept great for a while until the pain woke me. It really wasn't too bad, just when the CPM machine hit the fully extended point it hurt the back of my knee a bit, gradually getting worse. The nerve block doesn't reach the back of the knee. I got the percoset and Vistiril again, and will get Robaxin in my IV with my next dose at 11:30. No PT today. Will start tomorrow. I hope that won't be until after I get the Foley catheter out. Love that catheter. So far, really good.