Knee Replacement Surgery

This has been an interesting week, to say the least. Beginning with my admittance to the hospital on Monday afternoon until my release on Sunday at around noon, it has been an incredible learning experience.

Monday evening was filled with the preliminaries of any major surgery – the masses of paperwork, sorting out of drugs, meeting the first of a multitude of new nurses, bathing with surgical soap, and that ever present “smell” of cleanliness. Sleep comes sparingly with – mind racing with all the possibilities that come with having some of my bones cut out of my body and being replaced with space age plastic. The myriad of pain possibilities kept relentlessly popping my head of the pillows. Of course there was also the nightmares of having to wear white stockings for a month after surgery…

Tuesday morning came bright and early with more surgical showering, the shaving of my leg with batteries quickly running out, and then that final drug-induced gurney ride to the operating theater. My wife and the nurse apparently have some comical stories and pictures that go along with those final minutes of my semi-comatose state. Not sure I really want to see the pictures….

They probably go hand in hand with my post-op recovery state. That is never one of those “People Magazine” photo opportunities. I vaguely recall glimpses and the voice of my bride from time to time but couldn’t possibly tell you what day it was. By Tuesday evening I was safely tucked away in a front corner of the “high care” unit (something like the ICU). I was joined there by a nightmare induced man who kept screaming at the nurses to clean his toes, give him pain meds, or feed him a hamburger. Then there was the woman who was clearly “off her rocker” in the far back corner who let out shrieks reminiscent of any of the recent horror flicks put out by Hollywood. I was sure the men in white coats would come bursting through the doors at any moment. It was a good thing I had my noise canceling headphones and my iTouch with me. That drowned out most of the other distractions that surrounded me and allowed me a good, restful evening – that and great drugs.

By Wednesday morning I was wondering when I was going to begin feeling the terrible pain that many other knee replacement patients had informed me about. Turns out that because of the epidural that I was given before the surgery my pain would be almost nothing, throughout the first week at least. If I had known this would be the case this surgery might have happened a couple of years ago! But then came the physical therapist time. I knew that my leg would soon be contorted into positions that might be natural for a twenty year old knee but ones that I was quite sure I didn’t want to be trying with one that was just surgically set in place less than 48 hours earlier. I knew there was going to be a “pain clause” that I didn’t read about somewhere.  At least I was moved out of high care and into my semi-private room today.

So, along comes Thursday and Cathy informing me that she will also be in the hospital for the next three days. With all of her neck/shoulder problems it was decided that she undergo some neck traction for three days, and since I was already admitted it just made sense for her to be here as well. Turns out God made it possible for us to be in the same room together, which was amazing. So, over the next three days we each watch the other undergoing physical therapy, meeting the others’ doctors, and learning how to care for each other in the weeks that follow.

Finally today, Sunday, is our day of release. If I wasn’t ordered to stay on my crutches of a solid month I think I would glide out of here. The type of surgery that was done on my knee – without using any glue – requires that my up-front recovery time is greater and more monitored, but the benefits for the long term are much more encouraging. The doctor tells me that within three months I should be walking fine and can begin a more normal exercising regime.

All in all it’s been quite a week but I’m certainly glad it’s behind me. Now for the rehab time…..