This
blog is basically about my total right knee replacement, or in medical terms,
total right knee arthroplasty. I am
writing about this in case there is anyone that is considering this procedure
or is even scheduled for it. Why write
about it? Because I have a blog and it
seemed like a good idea!
When
I was getting wheeled in to the operating room I was getting very anxious and
hyper-ventilating; quite frankly, I was feeling terrified. I think there was something significant
missing from this whole ordeal, and that was my own lack of educating myself
more on the subject. I appreciate that
this procedure is somewhat routine, however to the recipient it is a
potentially life changing event; and it is also a journey through unchartered
waters for me, so my mistake was in my lack of due diligence. Big mistake!
Let
me pass along some advice in your quest of educating yourself; don’t go on You
Tube and watch the surgical procedure the night before you are getting it
done. This was a foolish move on my part
and probably was the root cause for my distressed state when getting wheeled in
to surgery on the gurney. I had been so
busy trying to complete a work project and I had never given myself any time to
find out more about what was about to happen; hence my curiosity on the eve of
my surgery when I finally had time to focus on it. In hindsight, as previously mentioned but
well worth re-iterating, I should have taken the time to learn more. I believe in this day and age it is incumbent
on the individual to get educated, and I really, really, really dropped the
ball on that score.
The
reason I had this done was simple enough; pain and lack of mobility. My years of playing soccer and other sports
had paid its toll on my knee. This
surgery was my ninth, and hopefully last, operation on my right knee, so I
wasn’t going in totally naïve; I was, however, ill prepared mentally and I only
have myself to blame. Between ACL
reconstructions and cartilage tears and ligament damage, this surgery was
inevitable. My right leg was distorted
and my knee didn’t look like a knee. I
was bone on bone and the osteoarthritis was painful. I couldn’t do anything physical, such as a
round of golf, without factoring in my current condition. I knew I would need pain meds and ice and that
I would not be as mobile after golf as I was before I played; at least not for
a couple of days, and then things would return to their previous ‘natural
state’ prior to golfing.
The
surgery was on the Monday afternoon and I was discharged on the Wednesday
morning. I felt that was too soon, but I
was also glad to get back home. My wife
wheeled me down to the main level of the hospital and dropped off the
prescription for the pain killers and blood-thinner shots at the pharmacy. I was parked in my wheelchair while Jane took
my belongings to the car and then pulled up outside the main entrance and
returned for me and the meds. This took
about 20 minutes; by which time the pain was invading me and becoming all consuming. By the time I got in to the car I was getting
distressed again because of the pain and my sense of vulnerability. I immediately took pain meds and we left the
hospital. We stopped to call in to our
old friends and neighbours where we used to live when we were in London,
Ontario. Jane had been staying there
while I was in the hospital in London. I
made my way in to Marcy’s home and had a coffee and rested for a while. The pain meds started to lose their effect
after about one hour! I waited a while
and then took some more before we set off on the hour-long journey home to
Sarnia. By the time we arrived in Sarnia
we made a smart play. Jane pulled over
and gave me more meds. By the time we
got home I was able to get in to our home and sit down. My daughter, Alex took the photo of my knee
that accompanies this blog; 2 days post-op.
My
first night at home was a tougher one for Jane than me, I think. My lovely bride was up a lot and administered
ice-packs and meds and changed my pyjamas and the bedding three times due to my
sweating from the pain. I actually felt
rested from having some ‘quality’ sleep; something that eluded me for the two
nights in hospital. The events of the
night were nothing but a vague dream for me, even though it was reality.
When
I woke up it was now Thursday; 3 days post-op.
Thursday was a good day, but Friday was a bad day. I had my first visit from the physiotherapist
on the Saturday. It went well and I was
encouraged to make it back down the stairs to the main floor. The stairs were scary, which is why I had
remained upstairs in my bedroom since I had got home on Wednesday. But it felt good to be on the main floor with
all the family.
As
I write this it is Sunday; 2 weeks post-op.
I am now getting around quite well with just one crutch and some
weight-bearing. The key to progressing
so well is one word; physiotherapy. You
have to do the exercises and work through the pain. You absolutely have to bend and straighten
your leg. You have to work the muscle
groups in your leg, which was very hard in the beginning. You make ice your new best friend. You have to take your pain meds if you are
doing your physio as aggressively as I was; I am self-employed and do not have
the luxury of taking a lot of time away from work. But the good news is I can do a lot of work
from home if I am not travelling and conducting training.
There
is an incredible amount of bruising that runs from my ankle all the way up to my
groin almost. I was told by Jane that
it’s a good thing because it is healing.
My
staples come out Monday, that should be easy, and I have my first physio
outpatient appointment on Tuesday. The
visiting physiotherapist is pleased with my progress. But holy shit; those first few days post-op
were a killer and I will be eternally grateful for pain-killers. I wish I had been prescribed a few more, but
that is really my only gripe; had the pain management been handled a bit better
it would have all been much less of an issue.
As for ice; I have used enough ice to sink the Titanic, but it helps
immensely.
I
am pleased with my range of movement; 96 degree bend, but not so good for
extension. I was told it would take a
while before I can get my leg straight.
My strength is pretty good and I’m okay with some weight-bearing but after
a while I have to stop that!
The
knee feels weird; sort of numb in places on and around the knee-cap. As I understand it, that will come back with
time.
To
sum it up, my “doos & don’ts” would be as follows;
Do your due diligence beforehand so you are well informed because this is your responsibility to yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ask for pain meds.
Do use lots and lots of ice because it helps a great deal.
Do your exercises as soon as possible.
Don’t despair when you try to work the quad muscles in your leg and nothing happens, because it takes a bit of practice to get them fired up again, but they will work.
Total
knee arthroplasty is a painful procedure but I am feeling really good after
just two weeks. If I was given the
choice I would not change a thing and I am glad I had it done. Mind you; I would have told you a completely
different story a week ago!
