New Knee for Christmas

Since the 2nd of December, a great deal has happened and I am breaking my new half knee in with exercises and walking. If feels great.

We saw the surgeon on Dec. 3rd and he agreed that I was a candidate for a half knee. We left feeling very reassured and ready for 4 months of preparation prior to the operation. Later that same day, his assistant called offering us a cancellation for the 14th of December. What wonderful good fortune!

Just 11 days to prepare changed the tone considerably. My daughter and son-in-law magnificently cancelled their planned Christmas trip to visit his parents in Arizona. That settled the care situation. Then it was all the pre surgical meetings and training along with the home preparations. The occupational therapist assessed us as having prepared adequately and were not in need of a stay at the rehabilitation home.

The operation took place at 2:30 on Monday, Dec. 14th and took only 72 minutes. Together with a pre-operation relaxation pill and an epidural, I could hear what was happening but a convenient curtain prevented me from watching. At the last minute I copped out as I had intended to observe. I felt no pain though I could hear the banging of the replacement into position and could feel the shock through my body but only as a vibration.

I was in the hospital until Wednesday, Dec. 16th when I was released at 4:00 p.m. The knee felt very strong and I was able to put full weight on it almost from the beginning without significant pain. In fact, I experienced no real pain whatsoever. The self administered pain doses through the intravenous kept everything under control. Both doctor and nurses advised that there was no reason to experience pain and to give myself the dose when I started to feel uncomfortable. I followed orders and as it was very quick to take effect, didn't really have any problems. The closest I came was when a kink materialized in the intravenous insert. I gave myself about four shots and there was no effect. I thought the discomfort was just a sign of the epidural wearing off but the nurse fixed the kink and with a big shot of the injection, I felt nothing for several hours.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the effect of the epidural. The ability to urinate stopped. The next day the nurse inserted a cathater to drain the urine. Later on Tuesday it was removed and the natural process started over night. The freezing also stopped bowel movements which I hadn't understood would happen. The nursing staff kept asking if I had passed wind. When I was finally able to report success, there was a resounding cheer. First time this accomplished farter has been cheered for his efforts! Bowel movements didn't start until Thursday and even with the stool softener are still difficult. The secondary effects not related to the knee really had more immediate cause for disruption than the surgical procedure itself.

Other than the first day in the hospital, I really didn't need the walker. The knee was stiff and I preferred to stand for a few seconds before starting out in order to get everything settled into working order, but then it felt strong and I could walk close to normally. I used the walker for the first day home but since then have reverted to the use of a cane.

The only complaint I have with hospital staff who were extremely helpful and attentive, was the advice that I should not see the physiotherapist until after I had been to the surgeon for removal of the staples on January 7th. All the literature insists (which was supported by friends who had knee operations) that the first few days of exercise are the most important. I had decided to use a private physiotherapist because they were much closer to our house and they had helped us prepare prior to the surgery. Perhaps the hospital staff felt we were not respecting their expertise. I called the surgeon's office and was advised that we should start physiotherapy right away. I have had three appointments and the support has been magnificent.

The knee is regaining flexibility. I'm up to 113 degrees of bend and can straighten the knee to a -13 degrees of straight. Both are marked improvements from the first session and very close to regaining the degrees of bend that I had prior to the surgery.

Everything has progressed so well that we decided to travel from Ottawa to Kingston for Christmas at my daughter and son-in-law's place. The 2-hour trip was very easy. We stopped twice to stand and stretch but otherwise, there were no real effects that I noticed. I continue to do the exercises three times a day and ice my knee at least once per day to keep the swelling under control. I will post a picture of my knees shortly.