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Came home yesterday and got set up at home in the spare bedroom. Sleeping on my back is going to cause some snoring issues and I don’t want my wife to suffer through that. Not a lot of sleep last night either. Every move sent stabbing pains through my leg. Got my best sleep this morning from 5:00 - 8:00am. Started PT this morning and I don’t feel like my leg moved much but I did it anyway. Wowza, that was painful. My left thigh feels like it got run over by a truck and most of the exercises are for the thigh to make it stronger. 

I’m cracking on though. 

Jethro posted:

Glad to hear you're on the mending side of the operation!

When I was recovering from shoulder surgery and taking a ton of pain meds... every 4-6 hours - I ate some peaches or pears with the meds.   Preemptive strike against constipation!   Plus, it helps nausea if you eat a little something with the pain meds.

Good to know. Thank you. 

IaM-Ray posted:

Maybe Robert M worked for that devision and he is holding out on us... Just kidding. 

I never worked narcotics but it seemed like 90% of the people I arrested were addicted to opioids. As a trainer now I was responsible for developing our agency’s Naloxone program. Basically every deputy carries an opioid overdose blocking agent on them. It was my job to train everyone in the recognition of an opioid overdose and administration of the blocking agent. 

Opioids scare me and I’ve avoided using them my entire career. I would have liked to have avoided them now but nothing else would have worked based on the pain I’ve been feeling. 

Sleep has gotten much better. I was able to fall asleep in three 3 hour blocks without waking up. That was a success in my book. Can’t wait to get driving again. 

Robert M posted:
IaM-Ray posted:

Maybe Robert M worked for that devision and he is holding out on us... Just kidding. 

I never worked narcotics but it seemed like 90% of the people I arrested were addicted to opioids. As a trainer now I was responsible for developing our agency’s Naloxone program. Basically every deputy carries an opioid overdose blocking agent on them. It was my job to train everyone in the recognition of an opioid overdose and administration of the blocking agent. 

Opioids scare me and I’ve avoided using them my entire career. I would have liked to have avoided them now but nothing else would have worked based on the pain I’ve been feeling. 

Sleep has gotten much better. I was able to fall asleep in three 3 hour blocks without waking up. That was a success in my book. Can’t wait to get driving again. 

Naloxone is being given out like candy right now and there are all sorts of constraints by the Health Protection Branches of all countries. The predominant source is the street source, yet more and more constraints are being placed into law which affect the regular patients who need opiods for pain meds and some are being left stranded for their pain relief requirements as the health care professionals are stopping to provide any and all support due to the complexity of the new legislations.   Knee jerk reactions from legislators leading to new laws are not helpful.  We even have patch exchange enforced by law for normal patients who are using for a true medical need. And it goes on.

I'm already taking opioids. The pain in both my knees is terrible right now ! My Doc said to not worry about it. They will cut me off as soon as they see fit. I really hope that the pain isn't any worse than it already is.  I was stupid to wait until I got this bad. After the 16th I'll still be limping around. One knee to get better and the other to get worse trying to help the one getting better.  When this is done and healed, spinal fusion is next.  2020 will be a painful year for me.  I'm sort of glad that Greg has delayed building my Spyder for now................Bruce

The first time I met with the orthopedic surgeon he suggested both Visco-supplemental injections and/or stem cell injections and workman’s comp denied both treatment options. Everyone I know that has opted for those treatments has had a decrease in pain. I was willing to try them but WC said no. That left me with surgery as my final option. The surgeon said he’d like me to be older before surgery because of the expected life span of the prosthesis. I told him I was tired of the pain and just wanted a normal life. If that meant I was in a hover round when I’m in my 80’s so be it. 

Robert M posted:

The first time I met with the orthopedic surgeon he suggested both Visco-supplemental injections and/or stem cell injections and workman’s comp denied both treatment options. Everyone I know that has opted for those treatments has had a decrease in pain. I was willing to try them but WC said no. That left me with surgery as my final option. The surgeon said he’d like me to be older before surgery because of the expected life span of the prosthesis. I told him I was tired of the pain and just wanted a normal life. If that meant I was in a hover round when I’m in my 80’s so be it. 

Dad got a new hip when he was about your age, Robert. At the time (mid 90s) the expected life of a replica hip joint was about 10 years, and he was told that 2 was the limit. He waited about 3 extra years until a better, next gen joint came out, then jumped on it.

It was (by far) the best thing that could've happened to him. He was like a new man afterward. Pre-op he was inactive, overweight, and on a gentle coast to old age. Post-op, he was the old man that could work kids into the ground. He built 2 houses and 2 giant barns, pretty much by himself, and remodeled countless bathrooms, kitchens, and did room additions on a bunch of places. He rode his bike 500+ mi/summer with my kids and me, and was as tough as anybody I know until cancer took him at 77. 

He still had the original hip. You made the right call. 

Stan Galat posted:
Robert M posted:

The first time I met with the orthopedic surgeon he suggested both Visco-supplemental injections and/or stem cell injections and workman’s comp denied both treatment options. Everyone I know that has opted for those treatments has had a decrease in pain. I was willing to try them but WC said no. That left me with surgery as my final option. The surgeon said he’d like me to be older before surgery because of the expected life span of the prosthesis. I told him I was tired of the pain and just wanted a normal life. If that meant I was in a hover round when I’m in my 80’s so be it. 

Dad got a new hip when he was about your age, Robert. At the time (mid 90s) the expected life of a replica hip joint was about 10 years, and he was told that 2 was the limit. He waited about 3 extra years until a better, next gen joint came out, then jumped on it.

It was (by far) the best thing that could've happened to him. He was like a new man afterward. Pre-op he was inactive, overweight, and on a gentle coast to old age. Post-op, he was the old man that could work kids into the ground. He built 2 houses and 2 giant barns, pretty much by himself, and remodeled countless bathrooms, kitchens, and did room additions on a bunch of places. He rode his bike 500+ mi/summer with my kids and me, and was as tough as anybody I know until cancer took him at 77. 

He still had the original hip. You made the right call. 

Thank you Stan. I feel I did too but that helps confirm it.  As well as all of the other comments from people about how much better they felt post-op. 

Took the wrap off last night and took a shower. That felt great. You should never underestimate the healing properties of a nice warm/hot shower. I also switched to the cane this morning instead of the walker. I watched a video to make sure I used it correctly and it’s surprising how quick you can get around. It’s nice to have an extra hand while walking. The recovery continues. 


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arajani posted:

@TRP — Interesting comment! You’re obviously not in healthcare...

Me?! Nope. I'm an Executive Director for a technology company. The only gore I see is some of the solutions from our competitors.

It's not the leg so much as it is the though of the Dr and his crew sawing, hammering, and screwing things into his bones. Maybe I've seen too many episodes of ER?

Get well soon, Robert!

Last edited by TRP
IaM-Ray posted:

Hey, you can see all the lines drawn to get the jig ready to do the work and make sure everything is all lined up.  I see the foot is pointing forward.... All good    

I hope you don't mind me kibbitzing about the surgery... 

Not at all. As much as I dish out I sure better be able to take a little rubbing.

I’m hoping if he erred on lining it up that he made me a little taller. He’ll have to make sure he gets the right side level with the left. 

A couple things I’ve learned that will make the next knee easier and might make things easier for anyone who has this coming up, @aircooled Bruce, is this:

Make sure your bed is low enough for you to sit down onto. You don’t want to have to use a step stool to get into bed. 

Use a sleeping wedge instead of a pillow. It’ll give more support and you won’t be rolling over anyway.

See if you can get the equipment delivered in advance. Stuff like a shower chair, commode chair if you need one (I haven’t), a walker, and a cane. 

Order some nice gel paks from Amazon or somewhere and have them ready. Much better than cubed ice in a zip lock. And a couple pillow cases to put the gel pak in to keep it from damaging your skin. 

Several firm pillows for propping up your leg to keep blood from pooling in your ankle etc. while you’re in a good recliner. 

I’ve followed a lot of the advice here and it’s been helpful. Everyone’s life experience is beneficial for everyone. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N..._api_i_Avu6DbAHKY7CT

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.c...BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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