Hazel and Brenda...Need Info!
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annie oakley
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- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
Hazel and Brenda...Need Info!
Hi Brenda and Hazel......You two are the only ones I know that have had surgery in last little while. Anyone else that has been thru it...I welcome any advice. I know know that I am going to have surgery(replacement on knees) but I am going to see the surgeon on the 20th and talk to him before anything is done. I have questions and wondered if you might be able to help, either or both of you. I value your opinions. Anyway....Was there much pain and did they install an automatic med disp. in the surgical site? My Rhuemy Doc siad recovery depends on your attitude, is this true? I always had a great attitude about any other surgeries I have ever had. My Dr said it's usually 6 weeks on a walker and 6 weeks on crutches...how long has it taken you to get around (if you are) and how are you doing? And do you have any special suggestions for me? I would be happy to know how your recoveries went and what you did to make it easier. Love Oma P.S. I want to take charge of all this and am trying to arm myself with Info.
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
Oma,
What my doctor ordered for me was an epidural for pain management. That stayed in for 2-3 days. I also had the pump with the button you push (not sure what it is called)! I was under anethesia for the surgery.
Woke up with a large piece of cotton wrapped around my leg from just above the ankle to about mid thigh. That was wrapped in an ace bandage looking thing (actually two or three), but not as tight as you would wrap an ace bandage. My Mother said I looked like I had a bale of cotton for a leg.
Both surgeries were done on Mondays but 4 months apart. They let me go home on Friday for the first one and Thursday for the second one. I later found out I had a fever with the first one. The second one no fever, but more swelling. Felt like a pin cushion because they tested my blood every 8 hours for infection.
I started therapy the day after surgery. My doctor doesn't believe in the machines that do your exercise for you. Walked with a walker and did exercises twice a day. The first one I could do the exercises, but the second one I couldn't until after the stitches came out. The stitches & staples came out 10 days and two weeks (had Christmas after the second one) respectively. I was using my cane by the time I had my stitches taken out for the first one. Used the walker about three weeks with the second one. Did only home therapy with the first one but did about 14 weeks with the second one as an out patient. My doctor told me he will let someone go back to work after six waeeks if they have a sedentary job, twelve if they don't. That is assuming everything is OK. Every situation is different. My PTA told me each surgery can be different.
Ask your doctor and/or nurse what they usually order for surgery as well as therapy afterwords. It may depend on your situation. My doctor ordered a home health nurse come check on me the weekend after the first surgery. Our house is built on a slab so it was no trouble getting in the house. The car was a different story. It was easier to get in and out of hubby's 4 wheel drive pickup truck with running boards!
Almost forgot, I self donated two pints of blood for each surgery. I didn't use them for the first surgery but did for the second one. Although the lab results said I didn't need the blood for the first one, I felt so run down for about two months afterward.
Used a shower chair after the stitches and staples came out. Used a toilet extender with the second one because it hard to bend my knee after the second surgery. Also hard to get back up! You can get an extender to help you pick up things that are low also if you need it. Some one will have to tie your shoes or better yet slides work well until you start walking good. Taking a bath and getting dressed is a chore but you will get stronger. When I could drive I went to my gym and started water exercise. That helped a lot.
I know this is terribly long - hope I didn't bore you.
Brenda
What my doctor ordered for me was an epidural for pain management. That stayed in for 2-3 days. I also had the pump with the button you push (not sure what it is called)! I was under anethesia for the surgery.
Woke up with a large piece of cotton wrapped around my leg from just above the ankle to about mid thigh. That was wrapped in an ace bandage looking thing (actually two or three), but not as tight as you would wrap an ace bandage. My Mother said I looked like I had a bale of cotton for a leg.
Both surgeries were done on Mondays but 4 months apart. They let me go home on Friday for the first one and Thursday for the second one. I later found out I had a fever with the first one. The second one no fever, but more swelling. Felt like a pin cushion because they tested my blood every 8 hours for infection.
I started therapy the day after surgery. My doctor doesn't believe in the machines that do your exercise for you. Walked with a walker and did exercises twice a day. The first one I could do the exercises, but the second one I couldn't until after the stitches came out. The stitches & staples came out 10 days and two weeks (had Christmas after the second one) respectively. I was using my cane by the time I had my stitches taken out for the first one. Used the walker about three weeks with the second one. Did only home therapy with the first one but did about 14 weeks with the second one as an out patient. My doctor told me he will let someone go back to work after six waeeks if they have a sedentary job, twelve if they don't. That is assuming everything is OK. Every situation is different. My PTA told me each surgery can be different.
Ask your doctor and/or nurse what they usually order for surgery as well as therapy afterwords. It may depend on your situation. My doctor ordered a home health nurse come check on me the weekend after the first surgery. Our house is built on a slab so it was no trouble getting in the house. The car was a different story. It was easier to get in and out of hubby's 4 wheel drive pickup truck with running boards!
Almost forgot, I self donated two pints of blood for each surgery. I didn't use them for the first surgery but did for the second one. Although the lab results said I didn't need the blood for the first one, I felt so run down for about two months afterward.
Used a shower chair after the stitches and staples came out. Used a toilet extender with the second one because it hard to bend my knee after the second surgery. Also hard to get back up! You can get an extender to help you pick up things that are low also if you need it. Some one will have to tie your shoes or better yet slides work well until you start walking good. Taking a bath and getting dressed is a chore but you will get stronger. When I could drive I went to my gym and started water exercise. That helped a lot.
I know this is terribly long - hope I didn't bore you.
Brenda
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annie oakley
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- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
Hi Oma,
Let's see, I had the surgery on Wednesday, Sept 1st so this is 12 days. I am walking with a cane, only used the walker for a few days, and walking is much better now than it was for the last several years. I do have pain but take 1 vicidin (sp?) every 4 hours and that seems to keep it to a tolerable level. I took 2 every 4 hours for the first week, but that seemed to upset my stomach.
I go upstairs and downstairs several times a day (potty on 2nd floor--borrowed porta potty for first floor for quick trips!)
When I woke up my leg (both legs in fact) were in long white elastic stockings which I still wear during the day. I had been given a "block" after surgery, which is a shot that numbs the leg for a while. I had pain medicine but didn't have the kind you regulate yourself. The nurses just brought it when I rang the bell. I had surgery on Wed. and went home on Friday.
Hmm, what else? I have exercises to do and I walk up and down the street two or three times a day. Oh, I don't have staples or stitches, my incision is closed with super glue! I do have 2 little stitched up places on my shin where the dr. put some little chips or something that helped the computer align my leg properly. They will come out Friday when I go for my first dr. visit.
All in all, this has been a much better experience than I expected. My nurse comes to the house twice a week to take blood (I am taking coumadin to prevent blood clots) and my physical therapist comes three times a week. We are loaded with food from friends but I don't have much appetite.
The best part was that my kids came up from Atlanta and stayed for 5 days when I first came home, so I was pretty distracted by my grandaughter at the time I was most miserable. I am still kind of weak but am getting stronger every day.
As Brenda said, each surgery is different. Different doctors have different ideas on how to do it. My doctor said it is 50% him and 50% me, meaning it is my job now to get the most out of it by doing my rehab.
I think the biggest thing at first is pain management--finding the balance between being reasonably comfortable and being zoned out on drugs. Oh, another important thing is icing. It really helps with swelling, also comfort. It feels good while it's cool and then it feels good when you take the cool off.
Good luck to you! Keep us posted on what your plans are. Sorry, I got even longer-winded than Brenda! haha
Let's see, I had the surgery on Wednesday, Sept 1st so this is 12 days. I am walking with a cane, only used the walker for a few days, and walking is much better now than it was for the last several years. I do have pain but take 1 vicidin (sp?) every 4 hours and that seems to keep it to a tolerable level. I took 2 every 4 hours for the first week, but that seemed to upset my stomach.
I go upstairs and downstairs several times a day (potty on 2nd floor--borrowed porta potty for first floor for quick trips!)
When I woke up my leg (both legs in fact) were in long white elastic stockings which I still wear during the day. I had been given a "block" after surgery, which is a shot that numbs the leg for a while. I had pain medicine but didn't have the kind you regulate yourself. The nurses just brought it when I rang the bell. I had surgery on Wed. and went home on Friday.
Hmm, what else? I have exercises to do and I walk up and down the street two or three times a day. Oh, I don't have staples or stitches, my incision is closed with super glue! I do have 2 little stitched up places on my shin where the dr. put some little chips or something that helped the computer align my leg properly. They will come out Friday when I go for my first dr. visit.
All in all, this has been a much better experience than I expected. My nurse comes to the house twice a week to take blood (I am taking coumadin to prevent blood clots) and my physical therapist comes three times a week. We are loaded with food from friends but I don't have much appetite.
The best part was that my kids came up from Atlanta and stayed for 5 days when I first came home, so I was pretty distracted by my grandaughter at the time I was most miserable. I am still kind of weak but am getting stronger every day.
As Brenda said, each surgery is different. Different doctors have different ideas on how to do it. My doctor said it is 50% him and 50% me, meaning it is my job now to get the most out of it by doing my rehab.
I think the biggest thing at first is pain management--finding the balance between being reasonably comfortable and being zoned out on drugs. Oh, another important thing is icing. It really helps with swelling, also comfort. It feels good while it's cool and then it feels good when you take the cool off.
Good luck to you! Keep us posted on what your plans are. Sorry, I got even longer-winded than Brenda! haha
kathy
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annie oakley
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
Niether of you were long winded....I appreciate all the info you gave me. You both gave me alot and It it very helpful. At least I don't feel as If I am in the dark closet without a way out. Than you sooo very much both of you. Love Oma
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance