Happy Valentines day!!
For me I'm celebrating T+3. On Tuesday February 11th, 2025 I had my left knee replaced.
There is a lot to unpack and I wish I had started this on Tuesday.
Surgery - Seeing as I was passed out I'll take my wife's word that the surgery went well. The spinal block was fast and effective. I remember being wheeled into the operating room and sliding onto the table and then nothing. Waking up went fine. I've done this enough I don't get sick any longer. Took me a little longer to recover than I would have liked. First time I tried to sit up my blood pressure dropped quite a bit and they made me lay back down. I didn't feel light headed or anything but I'm only a passenger at that point and I do what I'm told. I used the walker to get to the car and getting home went fine.
Home - I'm staying downstairs in the guest room to avoid climbing stairs just yet. Also, the cold water machine isn't all that quiet and Carolee needs her sleep too. The cocktail of drugs is interesting and not as intense as when Owen has his knee repaired. The big common drug is Oxycodone - 5mg every four hours. I'm not a fan of medicine .. at all. If I can avoid it I will. Day T+1 I went 12 hours with no meds and it turns out that is not a great idea. Take your meds. First couple of weeks you need to dull the pain so you can do your PT (or so I'm told - since I'm only at day 3). PT came day after surgery and couldn't understand why I had home care. So, I only got one of those. She gave me exercises to so that hurt like hell when I'm doing them. But, three times a day and 5 minutes on the stationary bike. Recovery is up to me to a certain extent.
Diet - haven't been too hungry honestly. Also, start with Smooth Move tea as soon as you get home. The Oxy binds you up.. don't ask me how I know. I am taking my multivitamins again which is good.
Pain - There are moments I'm sure just cutting off everything would feel better and other moments when I think to myself this is ok. They prescribed Tylenol as well as Oxy but I haven't taken any yet. The nerve block they administered before surgery for pain is supposed to wear off after 72 hours so I'm expecting today to be interesting. At my 8am medicine I think I'll add Tylenol, but I'll only do it twice a day. 4000mg is the absolute maximum you're supposed to take and frankly I'd like to not kill my liver and kidneys just yet - so 2000mg should be fine for daytime as I keep up with PT home schedule.
Exercise - Doctors should emphasize exercise more pre-surgery. I had been going to the gym but I started emphasizing legs and core more when the surgery got scheduled. Originally it was going to be mid March, but Feb 11th opened up. Leg and core strength are vital to balance and recovery.
Showering - I made my way upstairs and got everything I needed and successfully showered on my own T+2. Felt good to clean up. The knee is still so swollen that bending feels like it is as much a function of the level of pain as it is the swelling limiting range of motion. The PT sheet says "small knee bends", though so I'm trying not to be too concerned.
Doctor Weiss called me and asked how I was doing. I asked if he had the bone pieces still. Was curious what they looked like. He said they don't have any sterile cameras so there would be no pictures. Bummer. Also, they do not save the bone pieces for the patient.
Carolee, Liam, and Gabe have been great. I'm still trying to do as much as I can just because the movement makes me feel better. Laying in bed all day isn't fun.. although I do feel like sleeping quite a bit. I've taken Benji out and fed the cats so movement is possible outside. Fresh air smells great.
