Knee Replacement -Things they lie to you about.

Things they lie to you about? Well, maybe they are half truths. They tell you there will be alot of pain. However, they are not specific. The knee hurts. Of course it hurts, they cut your leg off... twice... and then mend you all back together again. It has to hurt. But that first week they drug you up quite a bit and you hardly notice it unless you are walking or they are trying to make you do some insane thing for a minute or two. The pain comes from other sources. Do you have, or have you ever had sciatic in the same leg? That may cause you some trouble. I have tips below. Pain meds. Sounds lovely, right? Well, you may be allergic or they may make you sick. I have tips below. Then there is the hospital and skilled nursing facility and how they operate. I have tips below. Talk to anyone and everyone who has had a knee replacement BUT remember your experience will not be the same as theirs, but it could give you some ideas about how to handle a situation that could arise. So listen carefully. Regarding my hospital experience - perfection. They all functioned like a well-oiled machine. It was a beautiful ballet. I loved the people, the doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, everyone. I felt safe. I sensed that they did this so much that it was old hat, but they had perfected their craft and I had nothing to worry about. They explained everything to me and when I had a need or question it was answered immediately. It was a university hospital in Portland Oregon and I cannot say enough wonderful things about them. Then I was sent to a five star skilled nursing facility. More about that later. Just a few things to consider: Regarding sciatic pain. At the first sign of it being aggravated by the surgery, have the nurse tell the doctor. There are specific nerve block meds ( that is not a medical term - I'm not a doctor) that will help you a lot. Why they don't offer these to you when you are suffering for seven years with sciatic pain, I'll never know? They started me on gabapentin. The lowest dose is 300 mg. It didn't work. I was in the skilled nursing facility when I finally demanded help for the pain. It took a couple of days to get the house doctor to order it and longer to have the house pharmacy to prescribe it and get it to my floor. The following day I went to my two week visit with the surgeon's office. The doctor I saw told me I was not on a high enough dose. He said "You just had a knee replacement, not a skinned knee." I also told them the day before I wanted to stop taking Delaudid as it made me so very sick. I was taking two anti-nausea meds to combat the sickness. I had the same problem with delay at the nursing home getting that changed. They put me on Vicodin 5/500 one tab as needed. Well, I NEEDED PAIN RELIEF!!!! This wasn't doing the job. My surgeon wrote a note recommending doubling the amount. Then there was the bed. It was old and worn, not on the outside of the plastic - ahem - but inside it was a huge hole. As I sat down on it to get into bed I sank into it. When I lay down I slid into it. Even after getting a new bed, it was uncomfortable and I lay awake at night not being comfortable. On my seventeenth day, I advised the nurse that I was going home. Lots of staff tried to talk me out of it, though they were very kind and were only doing their duty. I don't think I'm the typical patient that they deal with. I made the decision after physical therapy that morning. My sweet physical therapist did an amazing job with me considering I had a bunch of extenuating circumstances. But that morning she put the stim on my back along with a heating pad (only the contractor physical therapy department had them, not the nursing facility itself) and I walked the halls with her. My surgeon told me the day before that I needed to be up walking, doing things, strengthening my legs. I knew I'd be better at home. There's only so much one can do in a hospital setting. So in summary, know if you are allergic to any meds if possible. Be prepared having done strengthening exercizes, choose wisely your skilled nursing facility or one that will come to your home when you get home. Have a great surgeon. Your relationship with that office should be perfect and easy. You can get more done through them than any house doctor can do. Do your homework. Listen to anyone who will talk to you about having this done. Your experience will not be the same, but you will learn and be prepared. I send you my best. I would do it all over again. Not having that nagging pain that pierces you to your core when your knee is bad is a relief. Now I love to walk. And I want you to be prepared so that you are ready to advocate for yourself when you do this. Get out there and get ready.

Knee Replacement - Get busy if you are planning one!

Today I am 17 days post knee replacement surgery. And it has been miraculous, tedious, a full time job, and painful. At this time, this blog will be dedicated to telling you everything that will help you have a successful knee surgery. Today I can say that for the first time in nearly a decade, I don't mind walking across the room. Oh, it still hurts and I'm still on pain meds, but the pain that clung to me sitting or standing over the past many years is gone. Right now, the more I walk, the better I feel. Mind-blown!!! There is so much I want to tell you, so much I want to prepare you for, so much I want you to prepare yourself for. Yes. Let's start there. You know how much that knee hurts? Oil it. Motion is lotion as my physical therapist tells me. Before your surgery and after. You do not have to run a marathon to prepare, or run ever. You don't have to sweat, although if you've been stationary most of the time, you will sweat doing the easiest of these smooth exercises. Disclaimer: Talk to a professional before you begin any exercise program. A doctor or a real physical therapist, not just the dude or dudette that runs all the time. It is important to do these exercises properly even though they seem like a no brainer. Please BE INFORMED. The quadriceps are a group of four muscles found in the front of the thigh and over the knee. Their primary role is to straighten the leg. Well, this baby needs to be strong. If you are planning a knee replacement "sometime" in the future. Begin now and do not quit strengthening these muscles. If you have scheduled surgery and it is a month away, you have intensive work to do every, single day until the surgery. Or postpone it for two or three months out. For intense pain, you can get a cortisone shot if you doctor says you haven't had too many, or for some other reason you cannot. It will last for three months to give you some time. You cannot have knee replacement for three months after a cortisone shot. Use that three months well to strengthen the muscles around your knee. You will be happy if you do this. You will be miserable if you don't do it. One exercise is so easy you can do it in bed. Do not underestimate this exercise. I know you want to climb Mount Everest, but it is not necessary. Lie down on your bed - unless it is a useless pile of mushy stuff that you sink into and wonder how you will ever get out of. Then find a couch that is firm or the floor if you are a smarty pants and can get up and down off the floor. Breathe! A LOT, and don't breathe too fast, breathe those cleansing breaths slowly, in through the nose and out through the mouth. It will help you now and begin a perfect habit for after surgery. Now tighten the muscles in your knee and above your knee. There, that wasn't too hard was it? Do this in groups of ten and do thirty. Do this morning noon and night. You may also do it more, but don't cheat and not do them. What Do the Hamstrings Do? 1) Flex (bend) and rotate the knee 2) Help stabilise the knee by protecting the collateral and cruciate ligaments, especially when the knee twists 3) Lift the leg off the ground when walking 4) Provides the strength for propulsion e.g. running and jumping. What you need are strong hamstrings, mostly for being able to lift your leg off the bed to the floor and off the floor to the bed. I promise, if they are strong you have overcome a great difficulty after surgery and A LOT OF PAIN after surgery. Now go. And do it! Walk. I know it hurts. Remember, motion is lotion. Get some ibuprofen in you or whatever works for you and walk. Everyday. Short walks are fine. But do enough of them to constitute some great increase of strength. Strengthing. Are you sick of that word yet? Get used to it. http://www.knee-pain-explained.com/knee-strengthening-exercises.html Use this site or any other that will show you ways to strengthen your leg muscles above the knee and they will do it better than I can, my friend. Read, study, and do these knee strengthening exercises to improve your rehabilitation. Go there now and get busy. I haven't said anything about your core. Maybe next time. Well, my job here has just begun. But this is enough for now. Approach this with peace, and love for yourself, and determination. I'd love to hear how you are doing. This is a big step towards a successful knee replacement.