Hi all. I had my Pre-Op Appointment today and CT scan of the left knee. My surgery is scheduled for Aug 30th. My first knee, done 11 years ago, I stayed 2 nights in the hospital. I was hoping to spend one night this time because coming home the same day scares me a bit. My BIL had his knee replaced a couple of years ago and he came home the same day. He said if he had it to do over again, he'd stay overnight in the hospital. At my pre-op today the PA said that because they are trying to reduce the amount of hospital stays, if I want to have my surgery on the 30th, they'd prefer me to go home the same day. I am the perfect candidate for it because I'm fairly young, healthy, active and mentally with-it. I'm very curious to hear from any of you who came home the same day, how did it go? Any advice?
Some differences between last surgery (11 years ago) and this one will be:
I will have a spinal and sedation, not general anesthesia
This will be done by a robot, so better accuracy, quicker recovery?
I will come home with a Peripheral Nerve Catheter for 5 days, last time there was none
They want me to start PT in 7-10 days, last time it was 3 weeks post-op (I was a bit dismayed when he mentioned how they want me to "hit it hard" right away )
I have an ice machine this time, last time just ice packs and ziplocks of ice
Compression hose are from under the knee down to the foot for 2 weeks, last time it was thigh-high hose for 2 weeks (which I hated) (under the knee.....how is that going to work over my incision?)
They will send me home well-drugged up so there will be time to get my prescriptions filled on the way home.
I'm especially concerned at how they're trying to scare me about adhesions and arthrofibrosis. Here is the paragraph:
Arthrofibrosis: Arthrofibrosis is mainly something we worry about in our total knee replacements. Arthrofibrosis is a buildup of scar tissue causing a stiff or nonmobile joint. We determine the range of motion, or ROM, of your replaced joint at our 2 and 6 week post-op appointments and at those times we will determine if you are recovering with adequate ROM or if we need to try and increase your PT in order to acquire the proper ROM. If at 6 weeks the ROM is not adequate, we will take you back to the operating room in order to perform a manipulation under anesthesia of said joint, with the possibility of an arthroscopic synovectomy.
I was told in no uncertain terms that I was the only one responsible for how well my ROM was by the work that I put in. It sounded vaguely threatening! I responded that if I overwork the joint it will swell up and then no ROM will be had anyway and that I wasn't going to overwork my knee!!!
Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback from those who did this surgery as an outpatient. Tips, advice, anything!
Some differences between last surgery (11 years ago) and this one will be:
I will have a spinal and sedation, not general anesthesia
This will be done by a robot, so better accuracy, quicker recovery?
I will come home with a Peripheral Nerve Catheter for 5 days, last time there was none
They want me to start PT in 7-10 days, last time it was 3 weeks post-op (I was a bit dismayed when he mentioned how they want me to "hit it hard" right away )
I have an ice machine this time, last time just ice packs and ziplocks of ice
Compression hose are from under the knee down to the foot for 2 weeks, last time it was thigh-high hose for 2 weeks (which I hated) (under the knee.....how is that going to work over my incision?)
They will send me home well-drugged up so there will be time to get my prescriptions filled on the way home.
I'm especially concerned at how they're trying to scare me about adhesions and arthrofibrosis. Here is the paragraph:
Arthrofibrosis: Arthrofibrosis is mainly something we worry about in our total knee replacements. Arthrofibrosis is a buildup of scar tissue causing a stiff or nonmobile joint. We determine the range of motion, or ROM, of your replaced joint at our 2 and 6 week post-op appointments and at those times we will determine if you are recovering with adequate ROM or if we need to try and increase your PT in order to acquire the proper ROM. If at 6 weeks the ROM is not adequate, we will take you back to the operating room in order to perform a manipulation under anesthesia of said joint, with the possibility of an arthroscopic synovectomy.
I was told in no uncertain terms that I was the only one responsible for how well my ROM was by the work that I put in. It sounded vaguely threatening! I responded that if I overwork the joint it will swell up and then no ROM will be had anyway and that I wasn't going to overwork my knee!!!
Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback from those who did this surgery as an outpatient. Tips, advice, anything!