Some of you know I had a knee scope that went ‘bad” a couple of years ago and we (my new doctor – Dr. Joe Todd and myself) tried everything but alas nothing worked so I had total knee replacement on my right knee on April 26, 2010. I celebrated six months with my new knee last week and I wanted to share my personal experiences with you in the next few days.
Let me start by saying I would not recommend total knee replacement unless it is absolutely necessary but you or someone you know is in constant pain and dependent on walkers, canes or wheelchair for mobility and safety – then go for it. I found myself unable to sleet 2-3 hours before waking up with chronic pain & thinking anything would be better than this.
Once I decided I was ready for surgery, it was time to talk to Dr. Todd about what to expect. He said the surgery would probably be scheduled on a Monday and I would be able to leave the hospital on Friday. He then dropped a bombshell saying I wouldn’t be able to drive for six weeks following surgery.
Six weeks for a person that goes in high gear most of the time, operating three business ventures and highly involved in family, church and several organizations seemed like an eternity. How would I get to outpatient therapy several times a week? I have found in the years of caring for older adults that losing the independence of driving is a very hard pill to swallow and now I was facing that loss and I began to truly understand how difficult that feels.
I learned many valuable “life” lessons in this journey…
Life Lesson #1 – I am a caregiver; it didn’t feel right asking for help.
Life Lesson #2 –When someone really wants to help, let them help. I realized to refuse help is to deny the other person involved the blessing of “helping”. So I swallowed my pride and starting asking for help. I was and am so blessed to have a huge support system, family and friends were there to do whatever I needed. Surprisingly, I didn’t have a fear of having the surgery. I knew I had a great doctor, physical therapist, a very supportive network of family and friends. I knew from the get go, I was going to have to work very hard to get my knee rehabilitated so I could return to my independent lifestyle and be free of the chronic pain I was experiencing.
Life Lesson #3 – I have helped many folks through the years that I knew were in great pain most of the time but until you experience chronic pain yourself, you cannot imagine what it feels like or how it can effect your entire body.
I admit I was surprised when I was told at the hospital that next to heart surgery, knee replacement was the second most invasive surgery you can have with hip replacement coming in third.
The surgery was scheduled for Monday, April 26, 2010 after lunch. I had already done all the pre-op routine so it didn’t seem very long until they came to prep me for surgery.
Everyone was so nice and very complimentary about me having the “best” doctor which made me feel even more confident. When Dr. Todd came to check on me in the surgical waiting area, I told him I had a small request. Laughing, I told him I never could dance so I wondered if he could put a little rock ‘n roll in the right knee and a little rhythm ‘n blues in the other. He said if he could do the rhythm thing, he would probably have a line of golfers out the door. I had requested an epidural so I wouldn’t have to overcome the effects of having a general anesthesia so I was somewhat awake until right before the surgery. I woke up in recovery in no pain and went from recovery to my room. The first pain I felt was at about 3:00 am the next morning. I can’t take strong pain medication so I was limited to taking a medication a little stronger than a Tylenol which was given at four hour intervals.
Sometime Tuesday, I met my physical therapist and he instructed me on what to expect and told me with the help of a walker and him, I would start walking very soon. That first step on Tuesday was one of the hardest things I have ever done but I did it because I knew I had too. I told him I needed to learn how to navigate steps because I had steps at home and would need to learn how to use them when I returned to my home environment. By Wednesday, I had learned to go up and down 2 to 4 steps and by Thursday, I surprised us both by going up and down an entire stairwell at the hospital. After that little marathon, my therapist laughingly told me he was going to quit helping me because I was just showing out. I have always been a hard worker and this was one time when hard work paid off. I received lots of visitors visiting me at the hospital – all wishing me well – it was gratifying to know I had so many friends that cared so much for me. Barbara, my good friend and co-worker came to see me on Tuesday following my surgery on Monday and said she was amazed. She stated that even with no make-up on and hair that left a lot to be desired; I looked better and younger than I had looked in several months. We concluded that the knee pain I had been having for such a long period of time must have taken a toll on me. I left the hospital on Friday & was on schedule to start out patient therapy on Monday. I remember thinking on the way home, “This might not be as bad as I thought it would be because I was already walking small distances with the help of a walker and could, with help, navigate steps”. Was I ever wrong!
I had great help when I got home – all my sisters took turns being with me the first couple of weeks which was wonderful because I knew someone would be there in case I needed anything.
I went to my out patient evaluation on the Monday following surgery and there I met, once again, my real therapist “Misty”. I knew Misty to be very knowledgeable because she had helped me move from a wheelchair to a walker and cane following my unfortunate experience with a less than successful knee scope – enter Life Lesson #4 – most strangers treat you differently if you are in a wheelchair, walker or use a cane. In most instances, they do not look you in the eye as if they are afraid to make contact with you. I think they simply do not know what to do so it works better for them to avoid the situation completely. Many times, I wanted to say, “Look at me, not through me, I am a fairly bright person with an outgoing personality who loves people. I’m just experiencing a problem with mobility right now because of a “bum” knee.” This perceived behavior has changed the way I react & respond to individuals that use wheelchairs, walkers and canes.
She began by performing an extensive work-up on my knee and informed me quickly that the rehab following knee replacement would be nothing like the rehab for the knee scope. Misty said I would need to take pain medication about one hour before my sessions in order to be able to work through the pain. Boy was she right!! The first session of rehab was more than uncomfortable and I’m ashamed to admit but 1 exercise which appeared to very simple was so painful, tears rolled down my face for an entire two minutes and I just couldn’t seem to help it. By the next session, I had named this exercise “Bad Boy” and it continued to be called that until I completed my therapy sessions. I’m very strong willed and I made a conscious choice not to let the rehab get the best of me. In other words, I would get it, it would not get me. The rehab did continue to hurt but again I did it because I knew I had to re-condition that knee in order to achieve the best possible results. Misty lined out the exercises I was to do at home and I am proud to say, I did not miss a day doing my exercise routine. Even when it was late or I was tired or in pain, I did the exercise routines and I think that made all the difference in my recovery. I still have a little inflammation in the right side of my knee it is also a little tender when I go up and especially down stairs but again the more I do it, the less pain I experience. Dr. Todd says when the scar is no longer pink, the knee will be completely healed and this should occur in 12 to 14 months.
I am so thankful to have a new knee and to have been given my life back.