Mule

I went in for the surgery on 12/22. According to the doctor it went as the textbook said it should. He also said that if I had any doubts as to if I did the right thing to dismiss them. The old knee had given all it could and further delay would have caused complications.

I can't complain about the care I got at the hospital both medical and personal. They were all over me. Of course, the census was low. Not many people elect to have surgery over the holidays.

The only thing out of the ordinary was the "catheter incident." I had a catheter in during the surgery, but it was taken out before I left recovery.

One of the first things I needed to do when I woke up was to go to the bathroom. I couldn't. To make a long story short, they decided to put another catheter in. Three techs and 4 kits later, they still could not get it in. I not only exhaused the use of every obscene word in the English Language, but was by this point inventing new ones.

They were talking about calling in the urologist on call and sending me back to the OR. From the back of the room, a 60-year-old nurse (Mrs. Mule) spoke up, "Stand him up!" Everyone got quiet and looked at her. She repeated, "Stand him up." They looked at me and I nodded.

So they sat me up in the bed and put a walker in front of me. I pulled myself up on it and made my way, followed by three techs and a pletora of machinery to which I was teathered, to the bathroom. Never had peeing felt so good.

You have to listen to those old nurses. They know what's what.

They told me that they want all their surgical patients up on their feet soon after the surgery. But I was less than 5 hours post-op. From then on, they said if I can do it, they'll help me get to the bathroom: a task I held them to almost every hour on the hour for at least the first day.

I was released on Christmas day. I've been receiving phyiscal therapy once a day with a tech, and twice a day on my own.

The joint is 100% weight bearing and I can walk without the walker (but I don't - I push it along just in case I come to someplace tricky where I have to maneouver) and I can go up and down steps with no problems.

About the only thing I lack at the moment is complete range of motion. Prior to the operation, I was able to bend my knee back and touch my buttocks with my heel (OK - I need to be wearing sneakers with a heel for this). Now I can barely do 90 degrees. The physical therapist says that the the goal is 110 degrees. I'll keep at it until I can regain full mobility.

I get the staples out this morning. I hope that helps with some of the flexibility.

My words of advice to anyone considering knee surgery or any other kind of surgery. Find out what the PT exercises are beforehand and practice them. Strenghten those muscles. Prepare the house. In my case I built a "gym" in my bedroom that consists of a chair (with arms) some cushions, some rolled up towels and a bed. The kitchen counter completes the gym for my standing exercises.

Mrs. Mule is a community nurse for one of the local churches. I was able to borrow all the equipment I needed (over the commode seat, walker, shower seat) from their pool rather than have it charged to insurance.

Also think about stool softeners. Start a day or two before the operation. Deficating as a very positional thing for me. I really have to be squatting down to get the muscles to work in the right direction. The commode seat has me almost standing up. This is nice for getting up and down, but doesn't work for the act itself. So I needed a "footrest." :)

Also keep ahead of the pain. I am an anti-druggie. I would rather suffer in pain than to take a pill. However, without the pills, I can't do the exercises. Have your caretaker get the prescriptions and have them filled before you are released. This was really big in my case since I was being released on a holiday. Besides who wants to stop off at the drug store on the way back from the hospital.

My recovery is well ahead of schedule for the average patient for this kind of operation. The main reason is that I went into it healthy and in good muscular condition.

Now that I am home, Mrs. Mule is doting on me as if she didn't pamper me enough when I am not ill. She turns on the domme side and yells at me when I try to do too much too soon. :) I just say, "Yes, ma'am," and do as she says.