Surgery report

[deborahjross]

Day of surgery: Up and ready, very efficient freestanding surgery center, nurses with wicked senses of humor. Talked for a long time with the anesthesiologist re: general vs spinal and, while trying hard not to be a hard-ass, announced my druthers, being NO sedation, spinal, I'll do my yoga breathing but ok to administer the minimal amount of sedation if my BP goes up. I really need to thank my yoga teacher because I managed both anxiety and BP just fine, and stayed clear headed, which I strongly prefer. Got to watch on the scope and talk to my surgeon as we went.

Yep, that's the tear, also a little wear/roughening of other cartilages. Cleared up tear, preserving most of the meniscus, tidied up other stuff. Left long-acting anesthetic in the joint. I rested, still doing my breathing, in Recovery, then friend drove me home. Pretty much no pain, but was dutiful about keeping weight OFF knee, keeping ice ON knee, keeping knee elevated. Some yuckies post-spinal. mira_fastfire sat with me during the afternoon . So day 1 was pretty comfortable, if spacey.

Day 2: Everyone who has had this surgery warned me what would happen when the anesthetic in the joint wore off. THEY WERE NOT KIDDING. I have never in my whole life needed this much pain medication. Maximum dosage Norco all day (like Vicodin but less acetaminophen so it's easier on your liver) and still aching something fierce. Not about to walk anywhere, crutches to bathroom, then back in bed to zone out. Wonderful friends to help change ice packs and bring me crackers to settle my narcotic-touchy tummy.

Day 3: The amazing miracle cure! By midmorning, I was on ibuprofen and acetaminophen only, able to sit up a little. Knee still ouchy when I ask any movement, but getting better practically hourly.

Today (day 4): The amazing... continued. Off crutches by midmorning, ice on and off instead of continuous, 90 degrees + range of motion, comfortable off all meds. Doc called, said I can drive when I feel up to it, definitely to follow-up visit on thursday. I gave myself another lazy day, although my back did not want to stay in bed, so I moved about the house, watched 2 1/2 HARRY POTTER movies, got the mail. Cooked dinner. Did initial rehab exercises - quad sets and straight leg raises. Will try piano and writing tomorrow if this continues!

Comments

[christymarx.livejournal.com]

Great to hear such excellent results!

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!! May the healing proceed apace.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

Hot dog! That's wonderful. It worked like it is supposed to.

I'll tell you, though. Me personally I would rather take the general over the spinal anyday. otoh, my two knee procedures I had an ace anaesthesiologist and had no reaction to the anaesthesia afterward that I know of.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I very much wanted to watch, though. I realize it isn't to everyone's taste -- frex, Dave is not interested in any of the details -- but how many times would I get to see the inside of my knee? It was way cool, too, and I have pictures.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay. That's the kind of thing my spouse would do.

Me, I'm more like Dave.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

I have to remember that not everyone is fascinated with the inner workings of the human body. When I took human dissection, I used to open dinner table conversation with, "Guess what we found today?" Not just the stuff in the anatomy books! The bodies were unclaimed cadavers from the city morgue so (a) they had been frozen for a year before being embalmed in formalin; (b) in life, they had not received the best medical care, nutrition, etc. The one my group worked on had tumors in bone (sometimes so bad the bone was eggshell thin and would fracture at a touch) and vital organs. I had to learn NOT to discuss it over dinner when we had guests.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

I think that's different. I'm talking about my tolerance for watching someone working on me when I'm already anxious.

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear you're starting to feel better... :-)