Attitude Shift

Here I am. One week post op. Yesterday was my worst day since this whole elective surgery thing began. I resemble all those patients who come to therapy post op week 1 or 2 complaining of increased pain and swelling, less motion, increased weakness, etc. As a PT I would ask, "Well, what have you been doing?” The patient always responds, “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

I can tell you right now -- that’s a lie. Because after about a week we (the patients) are tired of asking for help, tired of sitting on our butts, and tired of feeling gorked out on pain meds. So we stand a little (or a lot) longer, walk a little (or a lot) farther, and try to spread out our pain meds over a little (or a lot) more time. The result is more swelling, more pain, and less motion.

So today is the beginning of a new me. Less exercise, less impatience, more ice and elevation, and more positivity. Things I have learned about physical therapy from the patient side:

1. I like cold hands, 
2. I would rather bend my own knee versus having someone else do it, 
3. EStim feels great regardless of whether it’s helpful, and 
4. it’s really hard to relax a painful joint even when someone tells you repeatedly that “they’ve got it”.

My March Madness

My new BFF

I swear it is completely coincidental that I am home recuperating during the biggest basketball event of the year, March Madness, and I am oh so happy for it! Eating and drinking while sitting on the couch watching all the action (and brackets fall apart) is what everyone seems to be doing right now, so I fit right in. And what I realized today is that a total knee replacement isn’t your run of the mill knee surgery. I know. I'm a little slow. Or delusional. Or the drugs were just that good.

After 4 prior surgeries, I was planning on a few days of “terrible” followed by a quick progressive recovery. Um, yeah. Not so much. Each day does get a little better, but only just a little. Like 5% better. I’m bending my knee to 95 (vs 86) degrees, walking with a cane for short distances, and I can stand for about 10 minutes without significant swelling and pain. I look and feel about the same as 3 days ago. Well, maybe 5% better, if I put on some mascara. This reality is my nightmare. I. AM. BORED! I am just used to being on the go, go, go. There is a reason my favorite barista calls me Zoom Zoom!

Today was Day 2 of therapy and I made myself prone hang because most my patients dread it. The photo on the right is after about 3 minutes of “hanging” and you can see how much lower my foot is. There is some method to our madness. And yes, it hurt like H-E-double-hockey-sticks. I also started the recumbent bike and I was able to complete a revolution with some serious hip hiking (a.k.a., cheating). I am no super star. I am having a boring, uncomplicated, recovery that I am trying hard to embrace. That being said, I may want to reconsider that 5K I planned on doing next month. Sigh.

Early Post-Op Musings

Centipede or TKR incision?

Here I am, Day 2 post-op, and I am home fading in and out of consciousness as I write this. My hospital stay was uneventful, and I was discharged about 24 hours after I had surgery. My lovely scar is a little different than most total knee replacement (TKR, for short) scars as my surgeon followed my old ACL incision to ensure good healing. Remarkably (according to friends and family), I have been a compliant patient. I wake myself every 4 hours to take pain medication and, as a result, I have slept well and feel pretty good.

Today was my first day of physical therapy and my favorite part was Corey’s cold hands. Seriously! The cold felt great on my knee and leg. My motion was -4 to 86 degrees, and my leg is quite swollen and very heavy (I am unable to lift it). Soreness around my lower thigh where the tourniquet was is the most bothersome and I take muscle relaxers to alleviate this pain.

Overall I am pleasantly surprised with my first few days. Now I just need to find a job that I can safely perform under the influence of Percocet. Any suggestions?