Re: Day Of surgery

[Guest guest]

I had an epidural for my TKR.I opted for the epidural because there is

less risk of embolism. During the surgery the nurse anest. kept asking

me if I was ok. She said that I could be as awake as I wanted to.In

other words she could have put me out at any time. I had the epidural in

for the first 48 hours. I did have a Foley without any problems.

Carol in Maine

Critrkrazy@... wrote:

> In a message dated 8/29/2006 9:32:50 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> ruby2zdy@... writes:

>

> *OK, I like this. It's going on my list. With a nerve block,

> were they able to use " light sedation " ? I had " light " for my

> partial meniscectomy. I realize a TKR is a whole nother animal,

> don't know if they can use light sedation even if you have a nerve

> block, but if anyone here knows, I'd like to know. The light

> sedation is less risky & you get less nausea.*

> **

> *Hmm -- just thought of something -- does a nerve block in the

> groin paralyze your bladder? I wouldn't want that. I'd do just

> about anything to avoid the dreaded Foley.*

> **

> *Ann*

>

> They had told me that I could have the nerve block and be almost

> awake during the surgery, but wouldn't do it because of my recent back

> surgery. I had the nerve block before though with another surgery on

> my knee and didn't have a problem peeing. It was the arthroscopy and

> I went home the same day.

>

[Guest guest]

yes you do need to learn to walk again...heel toe heel

toe no flat foot walking.

Sherry

Re: Re: Day Of surgery

I had the same thing happen with my knee. The first one I'm wondering the same thing. Why in the H*** did I do this to myself? But then you realize it's a different kind of pain. And if you keep with it, it will feel so much better. I am 6 months out of my second knee and I have to strengthen my hamstrings yet. I've been babying myself too much. I've fallen down because I think that I truly had to learn how to walk again. Instead of the waddle I can actually walk straight. It's been about 10 years since I did that. I'm getting much better at it. Have to learn to pick my feet up more.

[Guest guest]

Especially if you've had surgery in your stomach.

That is pure hell.

Sherry

Re: Day Of surgery

In a message dated 8/29/2006 9:27:55 P.M. Central Standard Time, ruby2zdyearthlink (DOT) net writes:

Also, they can put anti-nausea med in your IV. It worked pretty well for me after my last one. They didn't even offer it for the ones before, so it's probably a good idea to ask for it before the surgery.

Ann

Yep, I always tell them that I get sick if I don't get the anti-nausea stuff. Nothing worse than having surgery and barfing afterwards.

[Guest guest]

Tami,

is right, especially about the " Chomping at the bit " part.

I wrote down a list of things that I wanted to be able to do Post-

Op...Simple things, like learning to walk without a limp, or being

able to sit in a chair & put the ankle of my bad leg on top of the

knee of my good leg(I was 10 weeks Post-Op before I could do this but

I was so excited!!! It is still not a natural movement, but I've

included it in my daily excercises...

& now, 6 months Post-Op...Stairs are no problem at all...I have to

continue excercises & my knee is often 'stiff', but no more pain! I

am glad to have a stiffness that can be worked out than the pain that

would never go away!

Bob

>

>

> In a message dated 8/29/2006 6:25:08 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> tamimh@... writes:

>

>

> Wow it sounds like it was so easy for you

>

> I dont knoe what I am afraid of. its not like I dont have

horrible pain

> right now. I cant even go up steps it hurts so much. I guess its

just the

> waiting now

>

> Tami

>

>

> Yep, the waiting and waiting is very hard. I was very uptight

and scared

> too. I had waited so long for it though. I'm 46 now and they had

always

> told me I had to wait until I was 50. That was very discouraging

for me. I

> occupied most of that time by writing things down that I had to

do, and things

> that I wanted to bring. I had back surgery 7 months before, and I

packed

> enough to stay for a week! And books were just a waste of time.

I did want the

> newspaper but really couldn't concentrate on a book. It really

isn't that

> bad. Now if you asked about back surgery, that was horrible so

that's why I

> was so surprised about my knee. On the second knee I was chomping

on the bit

> to get er done as fast as I could! They had me up and walking so

soon, like

> 12 hours later. I didn't have a catheter and I wanted to get rid

of that

> bedpan. I think that my next meal was a real one. I really don't

remember,

> it's all over with so fast. It's just really cool when you think

about it, the

> things that can be done now.

>

[Guest guest]

Is the stiffness due to fluid? Or retraining (or stretching) unused muscles?

Ann

Re: Day Of surgery

Tami, is right, especially about the "Chomping at the bit" part.I wrote down a list of things that I wanted to be able to do Post-Op...Simple things, like learning to walk without a limp, or being able to sit in a chair & put the ankle of my bad leg on top of the knee of my good leg(I was 10 weeks Post-Op before I could do this but I was so excited!!! It is still not a natural movement, but I've included it in my daily excercises... & now, 6 months Post-Op...Stairs are no problem at all...I have to continue excercises & my knee is often 'stiff', but no more pain! I am glad to have a stiffness that can be worked out than the pain that would never go away!Bob>> > In a message dated 8/29/2006 6:25:08 P.M. Central Standard Time, > tamimh@... writes:> > > Wow it sounds like it was so easy for you> > I dont knoe what I am afraid of. its not like I dont have horrible pain > right now. I cant even go up steps it hurts so much. I guess its just the > waiting now> > Tami> > > Yep, the waiting and waiting is very hard. I was very uptight and scared > too. I had waited so long for it though. I'm 46 now and they had always > told me I had to wait until I was 50. That was very discouraging for me. I > occupied most of that time by writing things down that I had to do, and things > that I wanted to bring. I had back surgery 7 months before, and I packed > enough to stay for a week! And books were just a waste of time. I did want the > newspaper but really couldn't concentrate on a book. It really isn't that > bad. Now if you asked about back surgery, that was horrible so that's why I > was so surprised about my knee. On the second knee I was chomping on the bit > to get er done as fast as I could! They had me up and walking so soon, like > 12 hours later. I didn't have a catheter and I wanted to get rid of that > bedpan. I think that my next meal was a real one. I really don't remember, > it's all over with so fast. It's just really cool when you think about it, the > things that can be done now. >

[Guest guest]

Ann,

It's due to retraining....As long as I'm moving, it's fine & doesn't

restrict me in anything....But if I sit for a while & then stand up,

it takes a coupla of steps to loosen up,,,And usually, in the

morning, my first trip downstairs is slow....And recovery is an on-

going process...The only time that I'm completely pain & stiffness

free is when I'm riding a stationary bike...I can ride that sucker

for hours with the seat so low, to allow maximum ROM for my knee that

after an hour, I then have to get off & stretch my legs out straight

for a bit to prevent cramping...The fun just never ends...:-)

Bob

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 8/29/2006 6:25:08 P.M. Central Standard

Time,

> > tamimh@ writes:

> >

> >

> > Wow it sounds like it was so easy for you

> >

> > I dont knoe what I am afraid of. its not like I dont have

> horrible pain

> > right now. I cant even go up steps it hurts so much. I guess

its

> just the

> > waiting now

> >

> > Tami

> >

> >

> > Yep, the waiting and waiting is very hard. I was very uptight

> and scared

> > too. I had waited so long for it though. I'm 46 now and they

had

> always

> > told me I had to wait until I was 50. That was very

discouraging

> for me. I

> > occupied most of that time by writing things down that I had to

> do, and things

> > that I wanted to bring. I had back surgery 7 months before, and

I

> packed

> > enough to stay for a week! And books were just a waste of time.

> I did want the

> > newspaper but really couldn't concentrate on a book. It really

> isn't that

> > bad. Now if you asked about back surgery, that was horrible so

> that's why I

> > was so surprised about my knee. On the second knee I was

chomping

> on the bit

> > to get er done as fast as I could! They had me up and walking

so

> soon, like

> > 12 hours later. I didn't have a catheter and I wanted to get

rid

> of that

> > bedpan. I think that my next meal was a real one. I really

don't

> remember,

> > it's all over with so fast. It's just really cool when you

think

> about it, the

> > things that can be done now.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Re: Day Of surgery

Ann,It's due to retraining....As long as I'm moving, it's fine & doesn't restrict me in anything....But if I sit for a while & then stand up, it takes a coupla of steps to loosen up,,,

I think that could be fluid buildup.

And usually, in the morning, my first trip downstairs is slow....

My first trip downstairs is slow & I havent' had surgery yet. After I've been up a while, I can run down the stairs. So I'm thinking it's fluids accumulating during the night. In fact, after I wake up I feel like the Pillbury Man for an hour & my brain doesn't function either. Like everything's gone stagnant while I'm asleep, and moving around gets it moving. Or even just sitting at my computer doing e-mail. Use of something -- anything -- brain, fingers -- seems to get whatever's sluggish going.

And recovery is an on-going process...The only time that I'm completely pain & stiffness free is when I'm riding a stationary bike...I can ride that sucker for hours with the seat so low, to allow maximum ROM for my knee that after an hour, I then have to get off & stretch my legs out straight for a bit to prevent cramping...The fun just never ends...:-)

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

Ann

Bob> >> > > > In a message dated 8/29/2006 6:25:08 P.M. Central Standard Time, > > tamimh@ writes:> > > > > > Wow it sounds like it was so easy for you> > > > I dont knoe what I am afraid of. its not like I dont have > horrible pain > > right now. I cant even go up steps it hurts so much. I guess its > just the > > waiting now> > > > Tami> > > > > > Yep, the waiting and waiting is very hard. I was very uptight > and scared > > too. I had waited so long for it though. I'm 46 now and they had > always > > told me I had to wait until I was 50. That was very discouraging > for me. I > > occupied most of that time by writing things down that I had to > do, and things > > that I wanted to bring. I had back surgery 7 months before, and I > packed > > enough to stay for a week! And books were just a waste of time. > I did want the > > newspaper but really couldn't concentrate on a book. It really > isn't that > > bad. Now if you asked about back surgery, that was horrible so > that's why I > > was so surprised about my knee. On the second knee I was chomping > on the bit > > to get er done as fast as I could! They had me up and walking so > soon, like > > 12 hours later. I didn't have a catheter and I wanted to get rid > of that > > bedpan. I think that my next meal was a real one. I really don't > remember, > > it's all over with so fast. It's just really cool when you think > about it, the > > things that can be done now. > >>

[Guest guest]

I'm not quite 4 weeks out of a total hip replacement. I started outpatient PT

this past

Monday. I literally can't walk at all without my walker or cane. I have had 3

sessions of PT

and today was wondering if I will ever be able to walk normal again. I know it's

early in the

process, but even my PT said that mine is the worst he has ever seen. My muscles

are all

atrophied. He put warming packs on me today but it didn't help. I was able to

ride the bike

for 4 minutes after a grueling hour of manipulation. I am so sore tonight and

can barely

walk even with my cane. Has anyone here been that bad? I do my excercises at

home

faithfully and won't cry 'uncle' at PT no matter how much it hurts. I don't want

to get

discouraged but I just wonder.

My other hip is gone so that isn't helping. I will be having that one done in

January.

Perhaps things will go more smoothly after that hip is done?

Arianne

>

> yes you do need to learn to walk again...heel toe heel

> toe no flat foot walking.

>

> Sherry

> Re: Re: Day Of surgery

>

>

>

> I had the same thing happen with my knee. The first one I'm wondering the

same

thing. Why in the H*** did I do this to myself? But then you realize it's a

different kind of

pain. And if you keep with it, it will feel so much better. I am 6 months out

of my second

knee and I have to strengthen my hamstrings yet. I've been babying myself too

much. I've

fallen down because I think that I truly had to learn how to walk again.

Instead of the

waddle I can actually walk straight. It's been about 10 years since I did that.

I'm getting

much better at it. Have to learn to pick my feet up more.

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/2006 7:43:38 A.M. Central Standard Time, blueopal@... writes:

Especially if you've had surgery in your stomach.

That is pure hell.

Sherry

Yep, I had 2 c-sections. It hurt to laugh.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/2006 7:44:03 A.M. Central Standard Time, blueopal@... writes:

yes you do need to learn to walk again...heel toe heel

toe no flat foot walking.

Sherry

I'm working on that and I still haven't gotten it right yet. I know that if I could my feet and back wouldn't hurt so much.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/2006 7:58:59 A.M. Central Standard Time, know_jack@... writes:

Tami, is right, especially about the "Chomping at the bit" part.I wrote down a list of things that I wanted to be able to do Post-Op...Simple things, like learning to walk without a limp, or being able to sit in a chair & put the ankle of my bad leg on top of the knee of my good leg(I was 10 weeks Post-Op before I could do this but I was so excited!!! It is still not a natural movement, but I've included it in my daily excercises... & now, 6 months Post-Op...Stairs are no problem at all...I have to continue excercises & my knee is often 'stiff', but no more pain! I am glad to have a stiffness that can be worked out than the pain that would never go away!Bob

Yep, I have to remember to keep exercising. I still have problems putting socks on sometimes because I can't get my ankle up to my knee without pulling it up. I guess that still means I need to exercise. Like you said though, not near the pain. I did have this pesky muscle in the outside of my leg on my last one that hurt like crazy. It is getting better though.

[Guest guest]

Ann,

Thanks for responding....Fluid, eh?....I guess it's possible! I had a

really bad experience with an incompetent OS 25 years ago & I may

have just blocked the 'fluid potential' from my memory...I'm seeing

my OS soon for a follow up visit & will pursue the fluid avenue

because I've identified the muscle pain, but wonder about

the 'stiffness'....

Thanks for the heads up!

Bob

> > >

> > >

> > > In a message dated 8/29/2006 6:25:08 P.M. Central Standard

> Time,

> > > tamimh@ writes:

> > >

> > >

> > > Wow it sounds like it was so easy for you

> > >

> > > I dont knoe what I am afraid of. its not like I dont have

> > horrible pain

> > > right now. I cant even go up steps it hurts so much. I guess

> its

> > just the

> > > waiting now

> > >

> > > Tami

> > >

> > >

> > > Yep, the waiting and waiting is very hard. I was very uptight

> > and scared

> > > too. I had waited so long for it though. I'm 46 now and they

> had

> > always

> > > told me I had to wait until I was 50. That was very

> discouraging

> > for me. I

> > > occupied most of that time by writing things down that I had

to

> > do, and things

> > > that I wanted to bring. I had back surgery 7 months before,

and

> I

> > packed

> > > enough to stay for a week! And books were just a waste of

time.

> > I did want the

> > > newspaper but really couldn't concentrate on a book. It

really

> > isn't that

> > > bad. Now if you asked about back surgery, that was horrible

so

> > that's why I

> > > was so surprised about my knee. On the second knee I was

> chomping

> > on the bit

> > > to get er done as fast as I could! They had me up and walking

> so

> > soon, like

> > > 12 hours later. I didn't have a catheter and I wanted to get

> rid

> > of that

> > > bedpan. I think that my next meal was a real one. I really

> don't

> > remember,

> > > it's all over with so fast. It's just really cool when you

> think

> > about it, the

> > > things that can be done now.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I had a strange experience months after I had a partial meniscectomy. Like 9 months. I hadn't had any fluid buildup (this is sounding like a commercial) after I got rid of the post-op fluid, and then I went house hunting. Lots of stopping and going. The car was an automatic, but moving my foot from the accelerator to the brake a lot over a period of maybe 3 hrs caused my knee to swell up hugely. Took a couple of weeks to go back to normal size.

Ann

Re: Day Of surgery

Ann,Thanks for responding....Fluid, eh?....I guess it's possible! I had a really bad experience with an incompetent OS 25 years ago & I may have just blocked the 'fluid potential' from my memory...I'm seeing my OS soon for a follow up visit & will pursue the fluid avenue because I've identified the muscle pain, but wonder about the 'stiffness'....Thanks for the heads up!Bob> > >> > > > > > In a message dated 8/29/2006 6:25:08 P.M. Central Standard > Time, > > > tamimh@ writes:> > > > > > > > > Wow it sounds like it was so easy for you> > > > > > I dont knoe what I am afraid of. its not like I dont have > > horrible pain > > > right now. I cant even go up steps it hurts so much. I guess > its > > just the > > > waiting now> > > > > > Tami> > > > > > > > > Yep, the waiting and waiting is very hard. I was very uptight > > and scared > > > too. I had waited so long for it though. I'm 46 now and they > had > > always > > > told me I had to wait until I was 50. That was very > discouraging > > for me. I > > > occupied most of that time by writing things down that I had to > > do, and things > > > that I wanted to bring. I had back surgery 7 months before, and > I > > packed > > > enough to stay for a week! And books were just a waste of time. > > I did want the > > > newspaper but really couldn't concentrate on a book. It really > > isn't that > > > bad. Now if you asked about back surgery, that was horrible so > > that's why I > > > was so surprised about my knee. On the second knee I was > chomping > > on the bit > > > to get er done as fast as I could! They had me up and walking > so > > soon, like > > > 12 hours later. I didn't have a catheter and I wanted to get > rid > > of that > > > bedpan. I think that my next meal was a real one. I really > don't > > remember, > > > it's all over with so fast. It's just really cool when you > think > > about it, the > > > things that can be done now. > > >> >>