Diary of My Second Knee Replacement

   Yep. I just had my right knee replaced. Eighteen months or so ago, I replaced my left knee (and six years I replaced my right hip). In case you are wondering I am planning on giving Lee Majors and Lyndsay Wagner a run for their money. Not that you would know that to look at me. However, I digress. Back to my knee. My First Knee is currently very happy and doing her job, this new knee is not so sure.

Cute isn't it...

I am now on Day 10 of my recovery. I am going to try to give you the run-down to date of what has been happening thus far. Warning: this could definitely boring for those of you who do not have or are not contemplating the addition of artificial joints to your life. So feel free to move on whenever you can't take it anymore!

Some things to keep in mind as you read this:  I was definitely not overconfident going into this knee surgery; in fact, truth be told, I was dreading it and had waited as long as possible to schedule it before year end, but I believed  I was emotionally prepared to handle the recovery process. I was not. In fact, this knee replacement has thrown me for a loop! Why, you ask? The pain. The pain. The Pain. Are you getting my drift?  This knee replacement is totally different from what I experienced before. Sadly, my recovery thus far has seemingly been defined by said pain. I don't want to scare anyone off, I am just trying to be truthful. Stay with me, because I am confident that the picture will change and the pain will no longer dominate my life. I am on that pivot point. I can feel it.

Pre-Op
   My surgery group, Southern Joint Replacement Institute, is the best in the Southeast. They are amazing and have a tried and true protocol both for surgery and for the rehab that is phenomenal. I know. I've benefited from it three times. Before I had my first hip surgery and then again before my first knee surgery,  I investigated all of the local doctors that conduct these respective surgeries, and I could not find anyone else who offered the comprehensive level of services that SJRI does.
    After you meet with your surgeon and determine that the joint replacement surgery is a go, several things happen. You meet with the Surgery Scheduler (Susie Ashley, in my case) and she gives you a date for your surgery (you won't be given the time because that is set the week before with Susie and the Dr.); Susie also gives you a time to come to a Joint Replacement Class, an appointment for a blood draw, an appointment with a hospitalist for a physical check-up, and a time for an evaluation by a physical therapist You feel a little like you are going back to school. You are.
    At your joint class, you will be given a notebook. Then you know that this was not an illusion, you really are going back to school. Definitely take the time to read it cover to cover. But do not obsess over the contents. There are no tests. You will just need to be aware of the fact that for the six weeks after your surgery, your life will not be your own. It will almost totally be controlled by that lovely metal and plastic artificial joint that your surgeon has implanted in your knee. It is calling the shots. Trust me on this!
    Six weeks. Get a calendar and mark it off. Make sure that you do not plan anything of any consequence (for example: Thanksgiving or Christmas-- two holidays that fell during my recovery period.) or you will regret it. I will tell you when I get through this, if my timing was as bad an idea as I think it was and is. But I am not there yet. I am in the middle of it!
   I'll be back at some point with info on the hospital stay. Headed off for a required (in my book) afternoon nap!

My Diary: Insomnia and More

A Diary of Somewhat Random Ruminations:
Day 10 After Total Knee Replacement -- Insomnia....not a good companion for a TKR. I am finding it increasingly difficult to sleep in my knee immobilizer. In fact, we have declared war on one another. I am required by the physical therapist to be in the immobilizer at least 6-8 hours. Last night at 3:45 am, I freed myself from the aforesaid strait jacket and threw it against the wall. I am not kidding. During my wakeful periods last night I counted sheep. I recited Bible verses. I prayed. I wrote blog posts in my brain. I planned out my week: therapy, more therapy and even more therapy. I drank water. I got up to make multiple trips to the loo. And I watched the clock: 11:40 pm, 12:20 am, 2:05 am, 3:45 (immobilizer thrown across the room), 4:10, 4:40, 5:35, 6:30, and finally, 7:20. I don't think I hit any REM sleep last night. Oh well, there's always tomorrow night.

Day 11 -- Exhaustion. It's not as though I am really doing anything to be so tired (except not sleeping at night). My housework is limited to loading and unloading the dishwasher, doing a load of laundry here and there, folding, vacuuming when the fancy strikes me, wiping down counters and making up our bed. Nothing too taxing. I also spend what seems to be an inordinate amount of time icing my knee. I go to therapy three times per week. Once there, I spend a good 1 hour and 45 minutes working out or being worked on. Then on my off days, I try to work on my exercises at home. I don't miss any meals (!)  I take naps every day. EVERY DAY. I am ready to have a little energy to do something else, but "tired" seems to be my middle name. The Husband laughs that after I shower and wash my hair, I have to recover with a one hour nap. Sadly, I think he's right. Yawn. Yawn.

Day 14 -- Pain FREE. I am stiff. I am sore. But I am pretty much pain free when in a resting position. The constant, annoying and sometimes debilitating pain in my leg is gone. GONE. Wow. It's been a long time coming. I get up now to walk and it feels as though I have had surgery. I can handle that. I say that my knee "grumbles" when I move around too much. But it really does not hurt. Thankful. Can I scream THANKFUL? I am. I really and truly am so very glad. Thank you, Jesus.

Day 15 -- Maybe I spoke too soon. I had a stomach virus and fell last night on my knee in a bent position. I could not get up. I had to call The Husband to come and help. Thank goodness he got there fairly quickly. The knee feels like a brick landed on it. It did. I am hoping that all is well. I have therapy tomorrow. See post on Calamity Jane.

Day 17 -- The knee is fine. I saw the x-rays. The implant is lovely and shows up prominently. It is reminiscent of an alien object. I wonder at the marvels of modern medicine that afford me the opportunity to even have a new joint. I am amazed on the one hand that my body does not reject this foreign object, but I digress. It seems as though I strained the surrounding muscles including the hamstring during my fall, but I have been icing religiously and doing my hamstring stretches. Everything feels as though it is settling back down. I hope so.

Day 18 -- Cabin fever is really bad. Shirley, my new friend at therapy, and I are sharing stories as we watch one another's progress. She is a day behind me, but our therapy is advancing differently. That's one thing I like about Southern Joint's Therapy Department. They see so many joint replacements (basically seems to be 90% of what they do) that they can tailor your therapy to meet your individual need, yet remain within the recommended protocol. In short, they know what they are doing.

Day 20 -- Pain flare up following Physical Therapy. We added 1 pound weights to the knee today and the top of my knee began to have some serious muscle spasms. It almost felt as though it wanted to lock up on me. Not scary, but just painful. Even the drive home was rough. I am alternating ice and heat today. I will try to massage later to see if I can get the cramps to ease up. I have been fortunate not to have much, if any, pain except immediately following therapy, but this seems to be sticking around. Ugh.
You never realize how "tired" you get with pain. I am developing great empathy for people who daily deal with severe chronic pain. I have a couple of friends who struggle with this. I am going to start praying for them more consistently. It's the least I can do.