It's the end of the first week, and already the pain meds aren't required any longer. I took 2 yesterday, and as of today at 8 PM all I've taken is an aspirin. Again, modern medicine is amazing to me. They were able to tell exactly how long I'd need them and give out just enough to last that long. The body is working much smoother now without all that opium, and the only remaining issue is fatigue, which I would attribute to a lot of energy being spent on repairing the knee.
The exercises are continuing and getting easier already, which is also crazy. Things are moving pretty quickly, but at the same time there's still no walking and a lot of soreness. It's hard to remember that this is a 24 week process, and there's still 23 weeks to go. Patience is already getting difficult to maintain.
There are 2 rehab appointments this week, one tomorrow and one Friday, and then a check-in with the surgeon next Tuesday. Then the weekend after that is the English convention- I'm aiming for that to be when I can move back home. Here's hoping. The head is still down and I'm plugging right along.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Day 4: Miniature Milestones
After any sort of major procedure like this, it's always funny which things are used as markers for progress. Simply bending my leg a few degrees at this point is a major achievement. Going number 2 for the first time is also a big one (trust me). And I was able to achieve another minor milestone today: finally taking a shower. It had been 3 1/2 days since I last bathed, so I was very much looking forward to it. Since the incisions on the knee are covered with gauze pads and wrapped up, you have to keep them dry- no water should get anywhere near the incisions at this early stage. So what you do is take off the brace, polar treatment bag, and ace bandage, then put a trash bag over the gauze and such and tape that baby down on each side so no water can get underneath it. It worked very well, and my parents have a handy little stool to sit on in the shower which was very very knee-friendly.
After that was over with, it was time to change the dressing directly on the incisions, which meant getting a look at the actual knee for the first time since the operation. Here's what it looked like:
Pay no attention to my ramblings. Considering the ordeal that knee has been through in the last 72 hours, that's pretty amazing. There are 3 incisions on the top where the arthroscope, drill, and various other surgical tools were inserted. There's also another incision somewhere on the back of my leg where they took the sections of hamstring to make the new ligament, but they were so unnoticeable that I couldn't see where they were. At every step along this process modern medicine has really surprised me (not to mention made me glad to be born when I was).
At this point I guess my next minor milestone is being able to bear any sort of weight at all on the injured knee. I'm continuing with the light rehab exercises I've been given, and hopefully within 1-2 weeks I can walk on my own again. I think updates on here will be a little sparser as things proceed, mostly because the monotony of these first few days just doesn't provide very compelling images or descriptions. I can't wait to be better, but this is definitely an interesting experience to go through.
After that was over with, it was time to change the dressing directly on the incisions, which meant getting a look at the actual knee for the first time since the operation. Here's what it looked like:
At this point I guess my next minor milestone is being able to bear any sort of weight at all on the injured knee. I'm continuing with the light rehab exercises I've been given, and hopefully within 1-2 weeks I can walk on my own again. I think updates on here will be a little sparser as things proceed, mostly because the monotony of these first few days just doesn't provide very compelling images or descriptions. I can't wait to be better, but this is definitely an interesting experience to go through.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Day 3: HOOOOOOO boy
Remember the nerve block I told you about? I sure do. I'm remembering it and pining for it like nothing I've ever wanted in my life. Its job was to numb the top of the leg down to the kneecap, since that's where the incisions were made and the drill was used on the bone. It must have finally worn off last night because kabloom. Today is really really bad. So painful that I can hardly sit up. I kept up with the medication throughout the night, but I'm thinking I under-did it. Today is the first of many rehab appointments, and I have no clue what I'll be able to do. I can barely walk on crutches! I can also hardly string sentences together thanks to the combo of an early morning and a lot of pain pills. I'll check back in after the morning appointment.
Update: Physical therapy was a big win. He showed me how the brace works, and told me that I can finally take it off from time to time. I'd been really worried about over-extending or doing something to screw up the surgery, but he assured me that you really can't do too much damage. As long as the pain is tolerable, then keep up the exercises. That's all I needed to hear, away I went. He showed me a few basic stretches and leg lifts to do for now, just a few times a day to start restoring range of motion. It was like magic- the knee felt 200x better on the ride home from the session. The journey to walking on my own has already begun in earnest.
I'm becoming much less a fan of painkillers. They sure do work, but they affect your personality in weird ways. Lethargy is common, obviously, which is annoying but to be expected. However they also make you (well, me at least) REALLY irritable when put into situations with any amount of stress or conflict. They make impulse and emotion control much more difficult. I'll be glad to be done with them, the sooner the better.
Tomorrow is the first shower, another in a series of mini milestones in the first week. Really looking forward to that, haven't been able to shower since Tuesday night (!).
Update: Physical therapy was a big win. He showed me how the brace works, and told me that I can finally take it off from time to time. I'd been really worried about over-extending or doing something to screw up the surgery, but he assured me that you really can't do too much damage. As long as the pain is tolerable, then keep up the exercises. That's all I needed to hear, away I went. He showed me a few basic stretches and leg lifts to do for now, just a few times a day to start restoring range of motion. It was like magic- the knee felt 200x better on the ride home from the session. The journey to walking on my own has already begun in earnest.
I'm becoming much less a fan of painkillers. They sure do work, but they affect your personality in weird ways. Lethargy is common, obviously, which is annoying but to be expected. However they also make you (well, me at least) REALLY irritable when put into situations with any amount of stress or conflict. They make impulse and emotion control much more difficult. I'll be glad to be done with them, the sooner the better.
Tomorrow is the first shower, another in a series of mini milestones in the first week. Really looking forward to that, haven't been able to shower since Tuesday night (!).
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Day 2: drugs drugs drugs
and more drugs.
That'll be the view for the next week or so, interrupted only for trips to the bathroom. Of which there are mannny. Turns out drugs come out in your urine, and they don't like to hang around. They come out often. The little blue hose running off to the right is hooked up to a machine with ice and cold water which constantly circulates around the knee to keep swelling down. It must be disconnected and shut off for each bathroom trip.
I see why some people like painkillers so much- my sleep last night was interrupted every 4 hours or so because I needed to take more pills, yet I feel great today. The drugs seemed to affect sleep quality for the better. Also, normally in the morning I have sore shoulders and my neck doesn't feel great, but today the only issue is slight pain in the knee. Nothing else seems to feel like anything, which is real nice. That said, the tradeoffs (dizziness while walking, frequent trips to the bathroom, general grogginess) are such that I'll be glad when I don't have to take them anymore. Every 4 hours I take 2 vicodin, then 2 hours later it's a pill for "adjunct pain", an aspirin every morning, and a laxative (good times) 3 times a day. Also they threw in oxycontin just for the fun of it. I'm pretty much a walking pharmacy.
Injuries which make one immobile are not great for people with low self-esteem, because you're completely reliant on other people to do almost everything for you. I'm not a fan of having to ask people for things, which makes it tough when now I have to ask someone for EVERYTHING. It feels like I'm 5 or 6 again. I'm not entirely sure what I'd do without my family, I'd be reliant on FRIENDS! I think I would feel so terrible that I would just fold up into a little ball and not ask for anything. Everyone has been super great though, it's a real blessing to have a family and so many brothers and sisters who check to see how you're doing.
But enough sappy garbage. Today is all sitting around, then tomorrow is the first therapy check-in. According to my little cheat sheet, the milestone for phase 1 (0-3 weeks) is walking normally without crutches. I look forward to meeting that. The final milestone is return to full activity after 6 months or so. It's a long road but I'm pretty determined to make it all the way back and then some.
I see why some people like painkillers so much- my sleep last night was interrupted every 4 hours or so because I needed to take more pills, yet I feel great today. The drugs seemed to affect sleep quality for the better. Also, normally in the morning I have sore shoulders and my neck doesn't feel great, but today the only issue is slight pain in the knee. Nothing else seems to feel like anything, which is real nice. That said, the tradeoffs (dizziness while walking, frequent trips to the bathroom, general grogginess) are such that I'll be glad when I don't have to take them anymore. Every 4 hours I take 2 vicodin, then 2 hours later it's a pill for "adjunct pain", an aspirin every morning, and a laxative (good times) 3 times a day. Also they threw in oxycontin just for the fun of it. I'm pretty much a walking pharmacy.
Injuries which make one immobile are not great for people with low self-esteem, because you're completely reliant on other people to do almost everything for you. I'm not a fan of having to ask people for things, which makes it tough when now I have to ask someone for EVERYTHING. It feels like I'm 5 or 6 again. I'm not entirely sure what I'd do without my family, I'd be reliant on FRIENDS! I think I would feel so terrible that I would just fold up into a little ball and not ask for anything. Everyone has been super great though, it's a real blessing to have a family and so many brothers and sisters who check to see how you're doing.
But enough sappy garbage. Today is all sitting around, then tomorrow is the first therapy check-in. According to my little cheat sheet, the milestone for phase 1 (0-3 weeks) is walking normally without crutches. I look forward to meeting that. The final milestone is return to full activity after 6 months or so. It's a long road but I'm pretty determined to make it all the way back and then some.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Day 1: Recovery
I walk in at 7 AM, hospital registration, pre-payment, waiting, answering questions, getting an IV, putting on the hospital gown that more resembled something an astronaut would wear than something you'd find on a patient, getting nice warm air pumped into said gown because "the surgeons like you to be warm (.....?), waiting, talking to 1 of 3 anesthesiologists I would meet today, getting my knee shaved (that section of the leg now looks like it belongs to a 2 year old, or maybe a newborn infant), figuring out the TV, waiting. Blood pressure. Waiting. For the first of 3 or 4 times I am asked my name, birthdate, and type of surgery. I feel assured that they will not bring me to the wrong place and/or operate on the wrong thing.
Finally, into a wheelchair and off to the recovery room for a nerve block. This is where they pump some sort of medication in your femoral artery to numb the top of your leg down to your knee. Since the arthroscopic incisions are on the top of the knee, this helps with the post-op pain- at least in theory (I can report, sitting here a few hours after the procedure, that while it helps, it also makes your leg feel like it's asleep. A rather unpleasant side effect, but I guess it's worth it). The nurses are great, one is training in and I can tell she's shy. She lets the other one take the lead, but speaks up from time to time. I engage them in some conversation about their job, they hook up heart monitors and o2 sat level detectors along with oxygen in my nose. Again they ask my Name, birthdate, and type of surgery. I am fairly sure that the correct procedure will be taking place. Prior to the nerve block they give me verced, which is a medicine given for anti anxiety. I can report that it does its job. My pulse is below 70 and I feel gooooooood. Blood pressure. Wait. The aforementioned anesthesiologist enters and injects the nerve block. It's not comfortable. I am asked again my name, birthdate, and type of surgery. I am almost entirely convinced that the correct part will be operated on by the right person.
A nurse appears and whisks me away to the OR. I've never been wheeled around this much in my life. A 2nd anesthesiologist appears over me as I roll and says he'll be in the room with me. Seems like a nice guy and, more importantly, like he knows what he's talking about. The OR is really cold. I'm moved from the recovery bed to the table as wires and cables are hooked in in many places. Things seem to be being done by people who know what they're doing. Over my face goes a mask, oxygen they say. Breathe deep. For a final time I'm asked my name, birthdate, and the type of surgery that will be performed. Both my name and surgery type are written on a markerboard on the wall, but I pretend I haven't seen this. 1000% sure I'm in the right place at this point. I wait....
I wake up what feels like seconds later back in the recovery room, only this time I feel as though I drank 20 beers and headed to bed without brushing teeth or drinking water. Mouth is dry and has a horrible taste, head is groggy. It's difficult to see and OH DEAR LORD MY KNEE OWWWWWWWWWWWWW OWW OWWW OWWWWWWWWW. The pain is not cool. It feels as though my leg has both fallen asleep and been rooted around in with a hand mixer. I bring this to the attention of my nurse standing by the bed. She pushes a painkiller of some sort through the IV and in so doing becomes the love of my life. The pain sticks around and then slips off into the night, leaving me feeling nice but still lucid enough to converse with the nurse and make her laugh a couple times. Win. She informs me the surgery took 3 hours and that it's almost 1 PM. It literally feels as though it was 9:30 just 10 minutes earlier from my perspective. A few more pushes through the IV and my knee suddenly feels like it's not even there. Uncomfortable to move, but not in seething pain.
Off we go (being rolled yet again) to an individual room. En route I see my mom for the first time, a really welcome sight. She drove up from Fergus to take me home. Suddenly I see an advantage to marriage- were I married, she wouldn't have to worry about it. Touché, marriage. Touché. I'm asked again for my name and date of birth, which seems odd given that I am laying there with my knee in what resembles a cast. If I'm lying, I sure got away with it. I prove my lucidity by expertly answering these impossible questions and the nurse seems satisfied. More waiting. Food. Wonderful, delightful, amazing food. It's only toast and chicken noodle soup, but I haven't eaten in 18 hours so I may as well be at a Ruth's Criss. The nurse details my drugs: 3 for pain, one for poopin, and 1 aspirin. Seems odd that they prescribe aspirin, but I'm no doctor so what do I know?
Off to the pharmacy to get those scripts filled. I'm really thankful I remembered my pharmacy insurance card. The Pharmacist is my age and super cute. That helped. Suddenly we are out the door, just 6 hours after I arrive I'm sitting in my passenger seat being driven home by mom. This is a surgery that ended Gayle Sayers' career 50 years ago, but I'm in and out of the hospital in 6 hours. Thanks for having me during the time of modern medicine, parents!
And here we go, therapy starts in 2 days and until then I lay here with an ice machine pumping cold water around my knee. I have my alarm set for every 4 hours to take more drugs and it's time to start getting better. It's been a year since I could run full speed or play sports unhindered, I'm ready to be done with that. Time to attack this rehab with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
Finally, into a wheelchair and off to the recovery room for a nerve block. This is where they pump some sort of medication in your femoral artery to numb the top of your leg down to your knee. Since the arthroscopic incisions are on the top of the knee, this helps with the post-op pain- at least in theory (I can report, sitting here a few hours after the procedure, that while it helps, it also makes your leg feel like it's asleep. A rather unpleasant side effect, but I guess it's worth it). The nurses are great, one is training in and I can tell she's shy. She lets the other one take the lead, but speaks up from time to time. I engage them in some conversation about their job, they hook up heart monitors and o2 sat level detectors along with oxygen in my nose. Again they ask my Name, birthdate, and type of surgery. I am fairly sure that the correct procedure will be taking place. Prior to the nerve block they give me verced, which is a medicine given for anti anxiety. I can report that it does its job. My pulse is below 70 and I feel gooooooood. Blood pressure. Wait. The aforementioned anesthesiologist enters and injects the nerve block. It's not comfortable. I am asked again my name, birthdate, and type of surgery. I am almost entirely convinced that the correct part will be operated on by the right person.
A nurse appears and whisks me away to the OR. I've never been wheeled around this much in my life. A 2nd anesthesiologist appears over me as I roll and says he'll be in the room with me. Seems like a nice guy and, more importantly, like he knows what he's talking about. The OR is really cold. I'm moved from the recovery bed to the table as wires and cables are hooked in in many places. Things seem to be being done by people who know what they're doing. Over my face goes a mask, oxygen they say. Breathe deep. For a final time I'm asked my name, birthdate, and the type of surgery that will be performed. Both my name and surgery type are written on a markerboard on the wall, but I pretend I haven't seen this. 1000% sure I'm in the right place at this point. I wait....
I wake up what feels like seconds later back in the recovery room, only this time I feel as though I drank 20 beers and headed to bed without brushing teeth or drinking water. Mouth is dry and has a horrible taste, head is groggy. It's difficult to see and OH DEAR LORD MY KNEE OWWWWWWWWWWWWW OWW OWWW OWWWWWWWWW. The pain is not cool. It feels as though my leg has both fallen asleep and been rooted around in with a hand mixer. I bring this to the attention of my nurse standing by the bed. She pushes a painkiller of some sort through the IV and in so doing becomes the love of my life. The pain sticks around and then slips off into the night, leaving me feeling nice but still lucid enough to converse with the nurse and make her laugh a couple times. Win. She informs me the surgery took 3 hours and that it's almost 1 PM. It literally feels as though it was 9:30 just 10 minutes earlier from my perspective. A few more pushes through the IV and my knee suddenly feels like it's not even there. Uncomfortable to move, but not in seething pain.
Off we go (being rolled yet again) to an individual room. En route I see my mom for the first time, a really welcome sight. She drove up from Fergus to take me home. Suddenly I see an advantage to marriage- were I married, she wouldn't have to worry about it. Touché, marriage. Touché. I'm asked again for my name and date of birth, which seems odd given that I am laying there with my knee in what resembles a cast. If I'm lying, I sure got away with it. I prove my lucidity by expertly answering these impossible questions and the nurse seems satisfied. More waiting. Food. Wonderful, delightful, amazing food. It's only toast and chicken noodle soup, but I haven't eaten in 18 hours so I may as well be at a Ruth's Criss. The nurse details my drugs: 3 for pain, one for poopin, and 1 aspirin. Seems odd that they prescribe aspirin, but I'm no doctor so what do I know?
Off to the pharmacy to get those scripts filled. I'm really thankful I remembered my pharmacy insurance card. The Pharmacist is my age and super cute. That helped. Suddenly we are out the door, just 6 hours after I arrive I'm sitting in my passenger seat being driven home by mom. This is a surgery that ended Gayle Sayers' career 50 years ago, but I'm in and out of the hospital in 6 hours. Thanks for having me during the time of modern medicine, parents!
And here we go, therapy starts in 2 days and until then I lay here with an ice machine pumping cold water around my knee. I have my alarm set for every 4 hours to take more drugs and it's time to start getting better. It's been a year since I could run full speed or play sports unhindered, I'm ready to be done with that. Time to attack this rehab with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)