I would have to say that Friday night was one of the most painful periods of my existence, as it was my first night home after my knee replacement. A few other injuries/post-op adventures have been as bad. But I have a flair for the dramatic and it was my fault for pushing to get home from the hospital too soon. They would have kept me another night, but I wanted to go home. Little did I know that the nerve block I had been enjoying blocked so much pain. But I survived!
Now everyone in our house has a scar on their left knee! Of the three of us, I would say I was the biggest sissy of the family. Teddy was up and walking the day after her knee surgery. Tommy had two done at once. I had my partial done on Thursday and I am just now getting around on my own a little bit at a time with a cane.
The surgery was a little more involved than I thought it would be. Rather than go in through the side, my orthopedist cut me right down the front, the way it is done for a full replacement. He explained that sometimes he ends up doing a full once he gets in, and that to adapt a side cut to a front one makes a huge scar, so he always goes down the front.
I learned a few things afterwards. First, I am knocked-knee so I have to work on that. Secondly, I have really small bones and am lucky that the smallest size implant made fit me. My necrosis wasn't actually all that bad. No one would or could explain to me why necrosis in the side of my knee was causing so much pain in the middle. That was the worst part. The middle of my knee hurt almost constantly. It turns out I had been walking around on a fracture that neither the x-ray nor MRI picked up. So, that part of the femur is gone too.
My goal was to be back to work in two weeks and I hope I can do that. I start PT on Tuesday. I do plan to work part time for a few weeks. At this point, I am in bed a lot, but spending time sitting up, doing light walking and moving around. I can say that it is not easy and this is not something I ever want to do again!
Oh I hope you get well soon! Mom had her two knees done (both full knee replacements) at once and she had enormous pain for the first few days. PT and home exercises help a ton. Good luck with your recovery.
ReplyDeleteTBG did both at once. I commend your mom. I think it makes sense as trying to face this twice is scary! I am hoping that the first few days are really the worst. Thanks for that!
DeleteHoly Frankenfemur! That is one serious looking scar. I've never had any kind of surgery that involved bones so I cannot imagine the pain you must be in. I can only hope that it goes away more with each passing day and that you'll be back on your feet again soon. You are very brave!
ReplyDeleteNow that is an expression worth using again. I feel like Frankenstein. But I walk more like Quasimodo. TBG is helping me a lot. Not just by waiting on me hand and foot, but guiding me through things from his experience. The getting back on your feet thing is the painful part but if I push now, it will be behind me that much quicker. I guess it looks like I have a steampunk knee!
DeleteThis is very painful surgery so don't beat yourself up. Also the fact that you are knock kneed makes it much worse. If you have both knees done you will actually be taller. Good luck with the recovery and do your therapy it will help.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words! I am doing my therapy and am seeing how much it helps. It hurts like crazy but I know I have to do it! I am making an effort to wear sneakers with orthotics when I am on my feet on account of my knees. I hope I only ever have to have this one done!
DeleteI'm so sorry for your pain. Hope you heal quickly. It looks ghastly.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeanie, those staples really freak me out. I'm getting less paranoid I will pop one out when I am bending the knee. But they suck!
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