Clutch Leg Repair

Congratulations on finally moving ahead, Robert.  This will be life-changing for you as it has been for several of my friends.

All the very best of luck with your procedures.

Gordon

Wow RObert all the best to you on that TKR surgery.  

A friend just had it done, he was an exercise guy before, so his recovery is amazingly quick. Hope all this goes well for you.

Robert M posted:

Two years ago I was diagnosed with moderate to sever bi-lateral osteoarthritis. The condition is work related as a result of my 23 years in law enforcement. Twenty-one years at the time of my diagnosis. That amount of time spent carrying an extra twenty-five to thirty pounds of gear around the hip, chest and back coupled with the constant entry and exit of a patrol car will accelerate the degradation of anyone's joints. I enjoyed several collateral duty assignments which were done in addition to our regular work schedule. I spent twenty years on the department's off-road vehicle team riding off-road motorcycles and snowmobiles through some pretty rough terrain with an untold number of crashes, spills, and falls. And lastly I spent sixteen years on the department's search and rescue team with a total of over 3,000 miles hiked with a forty plus pound pack, off trail, and sometimes boulder hopping while playing a deadly game of hide and seek. I have had a multitude of tears in the meniscus of both knees as well as prior knee surgeries.

It took our workers compensation provider more than one year to make the determination that my injury was work related and they have spent the past year and a half denying any of the treatment options recommended by the orthopedist. WC said no to ortho-visco supplemental injections and no to stem cell therapy. During that time I have continued working and my knees have continued to worsen.

That all changes tomorrow as about a month ago Workers Comp reversed their decision to deny surgery and agreed to replacement surgery. I will have a total knee replacement on my left knee on Tuesday December 3rd and in eight to ten weeks I should be having another TKR on my right knee. All of that will hasten my retirement which will come as soon as the doctor releases me from his care. The county's rules will prevent me from returning to work as a law enforcement officer with TKRs.

Chapter 2 begins next year, we'll see what is in store.

When I finished my residency, my attraction to malpractice law, product liability, and contract law lead me to apply to law school(went nights year 1 as I figured that my practice would slowly grow and I would have time).

Fortunately or unfortunately I became very busy in my office full time and was a bit fried after 12 years in school....but I LEARNED how NASTY Insurance Companies are and how workmans comp function and are in business to DENY claims, DENY coverage. I hate them and lent my expertise to anyone who wanted to fight them. They know that most lay folks do not have the funds, skills, or wherewithal to fight back....and folks are ruined by their bean counter mentality(fu*k them/pardon me) and I would guide patients to lawyers AND expert testimony to challenge bunko rulings.

They took years away from you by delaying/disguising appropriate cause/diagnosis/treatment to suit their bottom line.....it pisses me off and when insurance companies got appeal letters from me with 200 pages of research and standard of care affidavits from me...they paid and ran. I started class action fraud lawsuits that were quickly settled for breach of "informed consent" that approaches criminal negligence.

FOLKS....do NOT let a bunch of pencil pushing jackasses dictate the quality of your health and the appropriate treatment...if they are bean counters they will realize very often that tieing them up in court coupled with nasty publicity doesn't bode well for them.

ROBERT M sitting in front of a jury, describing his 20 plus years of physical work and skeletal abuse, garners big trouble for workmans comp(crap) and insurance companies. they see a guy limping to the witness stand with the insurance company"s lawyers wearing $1600 Brioni suits(LOL).

BE SAFE!

@ROBERT M   Do ALL of the post surgery required PT as required to the letter and get it back to the max flexibility asap. If it freezes up you'll have to get it  manipulated ( bend the sh*t out of it) and you'll have to restart PT from square one.  Best of luck for quick and full recoveries.

Robert M posted

That all changes tomorrow as about a month ago Workers Comp reversed their decision to deny surgery and agreed to replacement surgery. I will have a total knee replacement on my left knee on Tuesday December 3rd and in eight to ten weeks I should be having another TKR on my right knee. All of that will hasten my retirement which will come as soon as the doctor releases me from his care. The county's rules will prevent me from returning to work as a law enforcement officer with TKRs.

Chapter 2 begins next year, we'll see what is in store.

Good luck for a quick recovery, Robert. I've had a couple of buddies get that job done and the results have been fantastic. Quick recovery and no looks back. Best, Amigo. You earned it. 

Hoping you have a full and speedy recovery, Robert!

Robert M: We don't thank folks like you enough, so thanks for putting yourself out there so we all could be a bit safer.  Ditto with other wishers for your speedy recovery.

As David said, you've earned this, Robert.  Best of luck and here's to a quick recovery.

Robert:

Prayers for successful surgeries and Gods speed in your recovery and starting a new chapter in your life once all this is done.

My daughter is an RN and single mom (with 4 kids) who has been off work for more than 18 months on a work-comp claim.

She was beat up by a patient, which was bad. But the injury was aggravated into a disability by a work-comp bean counter practicing medicine without a license from some desk - who insisted on courses of treatment which nearly killed her (bad drug reaction).

I'm not a vindictive man, but I'd like to meet the idiot/criminal who maimed my daughter - not the incoherent patient who gave her the initial injury, but the insurance criminal who ruined her nervous system. I'd like to see him incarcerated. This state needs work comp reform in the worst possible way - it isn't working for small business, and it certainly isn't working for victims.

Good luck. Physical therapy will be tough but when you are finished it will all have been worth it. When I was recovering from my motorcycle accident the physical therapist would always say “don’t do it if it hurts”. HA!  It all hurts. When it comes to PT, no pain no gain. Just work through it. 

Shoot....  At MY age, I have my PT lady on "Speed Dial"!

Hi Robert,

I just had a total knee done on October 7th. Yes it hurts like heck and the first couple of days is brutal pain wise.

If you stay with it and do the exercises they tell  you and go to therapy, it gets better.

There is a strap out there called Stretch Out Strap, you can get it on Amazon. It will become your best friend.

It allows you to stretch your knee at home and really helps.

I'm 2 months out and almost back to full flexibility.

Good luck!

Tom Boney posted:

Hi Robert,

I just had a total knee done on October 7th. Yes it hurts like heck and the first couple of days is brutal pain wise.

If you stay with it and do the exercises they tell  you and go to therapy, it gets better.

There is a strap out there called Stretch Out Strap, you can get it on Amazon. It will become your best friend.

It allows you to stretch your knee at home and really helps.

I'm 2 months out and almost back to full flexibility.

Good luck!

I’ll look into that. 

I wish you a fast recovery. Kudos for planning this all during the rainy season. Get those legs repaired before it dries out. Lots of miles left to drive.

Hoping the best for you, Robert!

Clutch legs are almost as important as throttle legs.  

 

Robert...We will be hurting together. I'm getting my Rt. knee replaced on Dec 16 and my left ASAP after that !   It will be fun to compare notes.  I'm in so much pain right now I don't know if it will be any worse. I had to return from our home in Baja because of the pain and I ran out of Vicoden !  I was considering having both done at once but have been talked out of it.  Good Luck to you Robert !............Bruce

Is it possible that driving a Speedster has caused some knees to go out??!  I had my right knee replaced August 20 so I'm a little over 3 months out.  Good luck to you both, Robert and Bruce!   My knee is now perfect in every way---exactly like the original knee but without any pain at all.  Looking back on the process I wish I had known how it was going to go, especially that in about 3-4 weeks the pain would greatly subside and at 2-3 months it would be feeling great and I'd be walking completely normally.   At the one month mark I felt like I'd be limping, swollen, hurting, and on a cane forever  and it was hard to realize that my knee would be just great before very long.  

If I ever had to have my other knee replaced I'd feel a lot more confident knowing that yes, there is an end to the recovery.  I am hopeful though, that the amount of cartilage  in there will last as long as I need it.  

Here is to wishing you a speedy recovery.  (See what I did there?)

 

aircooled posted:

Robert...We will be hurting together. I'm getting my Rt. knee replaced on Dec 16 and my left ASAP after that !   It will be fun to compare notes.  I'm in so much pain right now I don't know if it will be any worse. I had to return from our home in Baja because of the pain and I ran out of Vicoden !  I was considering having both done at once but have been talked out of it.  Good Luck to you Robert !............Bruce

I asked to do both as well and my doctor said he won’t do it that way unless he absolutely has to. 
I’m at t-minus 2 hours until the saws come out. 

 

I asked to do both as well and my doctor said he won’t do it that way unless he absolutely has to. 
I’m at t-minus 2 hours until the saws come out. 

All the best!

STAN GALAT:  In 2018, I spent 2 months in the hospital.  I'm embarrassed to admit I did not know what a tough job nursing can be.  The pros (and they are in every sense of the word) that cared for me were amazing. They often have to deal with folks in pain, and others under some tough conditions.  I am probably 30 to 40 years senior to most of them, but their maturity and demeaner was something to see.

You and your daughter probably already know this, nurses often give patients more than just medical care.  Let her know for I'm a fan.  I hope things work out for her.

Nurses....   ALL Nurses, ROCK!

I hate to have to need them from time to time, but always very glad to have them there when I do and they're always terrific.
***************************************

Boy!  @Robert M says he's getting a new knee and then it seems like half the site has had theirs done, too.  Bunch'a Geriatrics!   

My biking friend, Pat, had both of his done early in 2019 about 5 weeks apart and his recovery sounds like all of you.  He was back on a bike trainer 3 weeks after the second one doing easy pedaling.   In April, he was back on the road, in May doing easy rides and back with the Sunday morning crowd in late July, keeping up on easy/moderate rides.  The guy's a trooper.

The surprise (for him and us other bikers when we first saw him again) was when he looked at himself in a full-length mirror after a while and suddenly noticed that he was no longer bow-legged for the first time in his life.

At 21/y I crashed ( T - boned) a BSA bike into a '64 Chevy at 70 mph. I spent 12 plus weeks in the hospital,  had it not been for a Nurse on the graveyard shift  to notice I had almost no pulse in my right leg, I would have surely lost it. Over the decades I have been in the hospital for three unrelated major health issues .  .........Nurses are Gods gift to mankind , truly Angels !

Just passed my 1 year after total knee. Was told wait another 6 months the pain should be gone. Was told wait for 6 months 6 months ago--hmmm sounds like the doc made it past the 1 year  time period. At 6 weeks they had to put me under to break up scar tissue since a PT that had never worked on me steps in and hyper-extends my leg and injures a tendon deep inside that nobody has attended to yet today. In fact 6 months ago a PT and doc thought it was my IT Band--guess that was not a good guess--WTF!!!! In 4 weeks I went from 95* on my way to healing to not being able to bend it 80*. This led to being knocked out again and having my leg basically shoved up my ass. Going in for a new opinion since I still have swelling daily, a hot spot near the knee cap, and daily/nightly pain from the tendon that my surgeon does not want to repair because he is afraid of infection. Yes---I am pissed!!!!  Yes, the healing is worse than what you had prior to surgery but it gets better--well most do--I am still waiting.

My wife has RA, there is a specific Stryker brand replacement knee for that, they put the wrong one in, three years later still has pain from it. 

Wishing you the best, Robert.

After listing all the errors and problems that does not sound good or encouraging

 

Hope all is well! 

So far so good. Surgery was at about 12:30 and it lasted almost two hours. The doctor described my femur and tibia as dinosaur bones because they were so large. Took a little longer than anticipated but it turned out well. The pain is just as you guys described. My tolerance is pretty good but this is beyond that. The first Percocet I took didn’t make much of a dent in the pain. Just got my second dose and they doubled it. I was up and walking by 10:00 pm yesterday. Made it all the away around the whole floor. I’ve walked three laps this morning. A lot of foot traffic in the room today with everyone checking on me. Doing lots of ankle pumps, quad sets, short arc quad sets, isometric hamstring sets, and heel slides. Hard not to want to put a slight bend in the knee but that is a big no no.

Going home later today, I just don’t know what time yet. 

Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers. 

Great news!!!!!

Good to hear, Robert.  Do as the veterans here said and follow the PT instructions.

Excellent news!

I'll join the chorus and say do your PT! A little later in your healing, if you're a high-tolerance-high-work guy, ask your PT person if it will help to do more. Many of the exercise limits are set for normal folks and sometimes a little more is a good thing. BUT sometimes it's not, so ask first before you dive into extra reps. You sound like a more athletic person used to working through pain for his gain, so you might be capable of more than the usual joint replacement candidate. It''l help to know if going the extra mile will help or hinder.  Go get 'em, Robert!

PS.

I've had different recon knee surgery and as soon as they found out I could do more reps, they had me pushing it. It led to a remarkably fast recovery, but everybody and every issue is different. Have faith and press on.

 

Good to hear you're past the worst, Robert.

At least you get to eat all the ice cream you want.

No wait, that's for tonsils, right?

OK, at least you get to take all the feelgood drugs you want. Better living through chemistry!

 

I seem to be part of the lucky 2% that Percocet makes violently ill.  Found that out when they re-bushed my shoulder.  Oh, well.  

Your early progress is amazing.  Keep walking, keep the back of your johnny closed and enjoy being back home.  

Come to think of it, you must be doing pretty well to be posting from your hospital bed!

Either that or boredom overtook you and you just had to do something.   

 

Make sure that the knee replace has a grease fitting!!!! Both of mine have been replaced about 15 years ago and they left off these necessary fitting. Guarantee they will need a grease job later. 💩 

I imagine after the anesthesia wears off and he ups his pain meds, we might not hear from him for a couple days.

I know I was out of it.

Like I said the first couple of days are the hardest and then the pain starts easing up.

Hang in there Robert, it's going to get better.

The pain pump is nice to have but very sedating  

Who did your knee(s), Tom? Did you get it done at Midwest Orthopedic at Rush?

Illinois bone and joint

Tom Boney posted:

Illinois bone and joint

Sounds like a rendering plant...  

IaM-Ray posted:

The pain pump is nice to have but very sedating  

I didn’t get a pain pump.  

Just a rotation of narcos. 

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. 

After I shattered my elbow the lazy boy half reclined was the only way to get some form of shuteye. 

I found the combo of Tylenol 650mg and 400mg of ibuprofen 3-4 times daily was the best pain reliever for my surgery.  I stopped Dilaudid, and others and never looked back, but if you have kidney issue or high BP that could be a problem with too much Ibu. 

Good to know you are on the mend Robert. Take care.

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.

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. 

I had some injury pain issues,,,Doc gave me some Vikes and Oxycods 5s....pain long gone..not everyone turns into a narc.

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

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. 

For nausea, I eat some raw ginger.  Learned this,  sailboat racing on SF bay and  outside the gate.

Oh boy, remember my first few days on my ship leaving Phillipines heading to Nam,it was rocking and rolling...never puked but felt like it,at night in the rack there were 2 vertical rods so U didnt get ejected onto the deck..U get use to it...those were the days

Wow.... Three hour blocks of sleep at this stage is pretty good.  

After the bad experience I had with Percocet I, too, stayed away from other heavier stuff for my shoulder, but ended up sleeping in a recliner for over a week.   Ya do what'cha gotta do.

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.

There are non-opiod alternatives for pain relief to be sure once your over the first 72 hours.

Art posted:

For nausea, I eat some raw ginger.  Learned this,  sailboat racing on SF bay and  outside the gate.

My wife uses ginger before every trip we take. She swears by it too. 

IaM-Ray posted:

There are non-opiod alternatives for pain relief to be sure once your over the first 72 hours.

Tequila works for me

Brandy was my mom's favourite.  

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

Did they try injecting "joint lube"   normally called synvisc?    

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. 

 

GOOD LORD! Put that thing away.

I threw up in my mouth a little bit.  

Hope you are feeling better soon.

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

Excellent, Robert! Go get 'em.

Good for you! Pulling for you.

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!

a diccios calzone will fix u right up

barncobob posted:

a diccios calzone will fix u right up

I think you’re right. Mmmmm

Robert...It looks way better than I imagined it would this early in post-op.....Bruce

A calzone...yes.  But from Mama Mia’s!  A true original.

@Robert M I have an old axe handle, with time you can master the clutch pedal!  All BS aside, I’m glad to hear you are well, and wish you a Speedy recovery! (See what I did there?)

Robert M: Like AIRCOOLED, I think your leg looks pretty good considering the work that was done on it.  Looks like it's going to heal nicely.  Keep on keeping on.  As you already know, be mindful using meds, but don't John Wayne the pain.  Fingers & toes crossed your knee comes out aces.

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... 

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

at least the DR worked on the correct leg..

barncobob posted:

at least the DR worked on the correct leg..

My wife and I joked about that as well. We thought that even if he makes a mistake it’s okay because I’m coming back for the other one anyway. 

And if you suddenly run out of gel packs, a bag of frozen peas works just nicely.

I have both of my natural knees but have had a bunch of sinus surgeries.  The last one was to open up a passage on the left side that had grown shut due to previous scar tissue gone wild.  My ENT guy was also the surgeon, a car guy and had a great sense of humor so before I went under, pre-surgery, I had one of the pre-op nurses write the following on my left cheek:

”THIS SIDE”

They told me he laughed like hell when he saw it.

Thank you Robert. Next Mon. is my knee r

aircooled posted:

Thank you Robert. Next Mon. is my knee r

Good luck with the procedure Bruce. 

aircooled posted:

Thank you Robert. Next Mon. is my knee r

This is where I say take a knee.... 

This is what my daughter sent me:

Good morning, Robert. Hope everything is going as well as can be expected. And good to see you still have your sense of humor...  Al

ALB posted:

Good morning, Robert. Hope everything is going as well as can be expected. And good to see you still have your sense of humor...  Al

Thank you Al. Everyday is an improvement over the last. Sleeping very well now. Last night I slept from 11-2 and from 2-7 this morning. I’m sleeping on my side with a pillow between my knees. Dreams are much stranger though. Probably the pain meds. Lol 

ROBERT M: Cautious use of pain meds, plenty of sleep, and a sense of humor will get you healed.  I know after my stint with the medical types, I had even more fun driving & wrenching on my funny little clown cars.

Yeah man, watch out for those pain meds.  

 

I've been reading about all the knee replacements out there, so I thought I'd up the ante a little and show you my brand new bionic titanium "ass-backwards" shoulder. I put Speedie in her storage locker Oct. 1st, poured in some STA-BIL, covered her up and kissed her goodbye until next Feb. This year's hibernation wasn't because of the usual winter weather; it's because there's no way I'll be turning the wheel (left hand) while shifting (right hand) for at least 16 weeks. Check out the left shoulder x-ray on 10/14/19 and compare it to the x-ray taken 10/16/19. You Mechanical Engineers out there might notice why the procedure is called a Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement : See how the "ball" head of the humerus was sawed off, replaced with a titanium "cup" driven 6" into the arm bone, ...and a new titanium ball was screwed into the scapula with THREE friggin' 2" titanium screws - This is why I'm enjoying R&R for such a long time. I had my left hip replaced 5 years ago @ 70, this now at 75, and I've got a tentative appt. scheduled next July for the total replacement of my left knee. Me and Arthur Ritis are on a first-name basis! Let me know if any of you knuckleheads want an autographed 8X10 glossy @ two for the price of one! 

Paul....Your shoulder looks very much like what the showed for a hip joint replacement in the class I attended today for knee and hip replacements.  They talked about that they usually enter from the rear and cut thru some muscles in the process but now are slowly changing and going thru the front and don't cut any of the muscles.  Any of this is invasive as hell but the results are usually pretty good.  I guess I'll find out next week.

Bruce

Holy crap, Paul and Robert!!! Do these things come with performance urethane bushings?  

Asking for a friend.

  OH Crap !!......Not the Red Ones !

aircooled posted:

They talked about that they usually enter from the rear and cut thru some muscles in the process but now are slowly changing and going thru the front and don't cut any of the muscles.

Bruce

Seems to be faster recovery from what I have read.

aircooled posted:

Paul....Your shoulder looks very much like what the showed for a hip joint replacement in the class I attended today for knee and hip replacements.  They talked about that they usually enter from the rear and cut thru some muscles in the process but now are slowly changing and going thru the front and don't cut any of the muscles.  Any of this is invasive as hell but the results are usually pretty good.  I guess I'll find out next week.

Bruce

The Anterior (front) Hip Arthroplasty has become the "norm" for several years. Mine was done in 2014 by an orthopedist in Napa, CA, (John Diana, MD) who really specializes in ONLY knees and hips, and he's actually done thousands of them. You're absolutely right in that this procedure is, by far, the way to go. With the minimal damage to muscles and the prosthetics so precisely fitted, I was home in 3 days and pretty much fully recovered in 6 to 8 weeks. That said, I'd take the hip replacement over the friggin' shoulder FOR SURE! As for the knee, my surgeon is a co-founder of the St. Helena Coon Joint Replacement Institute, where they do minimally invasive robotic assisted replacements. This procedure has the patient WALKING OUT and going home the day after surgery, and full recovery within a month.  Good luck with YOUR replacement, Bruce! 

 

Wow, those recovery times are amazing.  I had a shoulder cleaned up (nothing artificial added) and the recovery was over 3 months of a lot of PT and the associated pain and limited usefulness along with it (Does this hurt?)

OTOH, friends have had knees and hips replaced (full and partial) and walk out of the hospital in a day or so with very short recovery times.  Amazing.

Looks like I chose the wrong body part to screw up way back when!

Upper extremities joint issues are really dibilitating, and seem to provide a lot more agony it seems.

Worker’s Comp has finally gotten their head on straight.  In home physical therapy starts on Thursday. Tuesday afternoon I took off the Aquacel Bandage and found I was “stitched” together with 27 staples. Looked like someone went crazy with a Swingline. Hard to tell if the bruising is lessening or just shifting around. Not feeling too much pain but when I stand or walk around I feel pressure in the leg especially around the new joint. That pressure is the only thing interfering with my flexibility. I’ll see how PT goes tomorrow and we’ll talk about the pain again. Lol

I'll bring the beer...

Do you have to worry about rust now, Robert?

Lane Anderson posted:

Do you have to worry about rust now, Robert?

Going to the body shop on Monday. I’ll have the doc check. Pretty sure they’re stainless. Lol

Or I can coat it with POR 15. Is that the stuff?

I think your getting fitted for one of these on the follow up visit if you want extended warranty. 

IaM-Ray posted:

I think your getting fitted for one of these on the follow up visit if you want extended warranty. 

And if he doesn't keep up with the maintenance schedule he will have a knee-zerk reaction. 

To me, this is one of the most messed up, gruesome, informative, inspiring and hilarious threads ever.  Judging from the effects, the whole world would benefit from some gas and a few pain meds.  

When ALB gets his he will demand that they drill some lightening holes in the hardware.

Panhandle Bob posted:

When ALB gets his he will demand that they drill some lightening holes in the hardware.

Titanium is light but it can always be lighter  

Instead of holes, how about fluting?  A la rifle barrels.  An increase in the surface area to increase heat dissipation can’t possibly be a bad thing!

ALB will get one made of  Swiss Cheese !  That way it will be pre-drilled for lightness and also have a built-in cushioning effect. It's also lubricated for life with Grey Poupon !

Bruce

Oh....It's also permanently installed with some of those "Brass Thingies".............Bruce

aircooled posted:

ALB will get one made of  Swiss Cheese !  That way it will be pre-drilled for lightness and also have a built-in cushioning effect. It's also lubricated for life with Grey Poupon !

Bruce

Yes, and it definetely tastes better  

Robert M posted:

Panhandle Bob posted:

When ALB gets his he will demand that they drill some lightening holes in the hardware.

Titanium is light but it can always be lighter  

I like the idea of titanium, but the idea of drilling holes will only come up if we're doing both sides. What I will also ask about is if they can make me taller...

Napa Paul posted:

I've been reading about all the knee replacements out there, so I thought I'd up the ante a little and show you my brand new bionic titanium "ass-backwards" shoulder. I put Speedie in her storage locker Oct. 1st, poured in some STA-BIL, covered her up and kissed her goodbye until next Feb. This year's hibernation wasn't because of the usual winter weather; it's because there's no way I'll be turning the wheel (left hand) while shifting (right hand) for at least 16 weeks. Check out the left shoulder x-ray on 10/14/19 and compare it to the x-ray taken 10/16/19. You Mechanical Engineers out there might notice why the procedure is called a Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement : See how the "ball" head of the humerus was sawed off, replaced with a titanium "cup" driven 6" into the arm bone, ...and a new titanium ball was screwed into the scapula with THREE friggin' 2" titanium screws - This is why I'm enjoying R&R for such a long time. I had my left hip replaced 5 years ago @ 70, this now at 75, and I've got a tentative appt. scheduled next July for the total replacement of my left knee. Me and Arthur Ritis are on a first-name basis! Let me know if any of you knuckleheads want an autographed 8X10 glossy @ two for the price of one! 

Wow, I just had an MRI done for  a fully torn rotator cuff so If the doc can repair it that's one thing, if he cannot, it means a full shoulder replacement like yours. Monday I will find out what direction he will take after he views the MRI. Wishing you all the best and a fast recovery from this shoulder replacement!

Dutch posted:

Napa Paul posted:

I've been reading about all the knee replacements out there, so I thought I'd up the ante a little and show you my brand new bionic titanium "ass-backwards" shoulder. I put Speedie in her storage locker Oct. 1st, poured in some STA-BIL, covered her up and kissed her goodbye until next Feb. This year's hibernation wasn't because of the usual winter weather; it's because there's no way I'll be turning the wheel (left hand) while shifting (right hand) for at least 16 weeks. Check out the left shoulder x-ray on 10/14/19 and compare it to the x-ray taken 10/16/19. You Mechanical Engineers out there might notice why the procedure is called a Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement : See how the "ball" head of the humerus was sawed off, replaced with a titanium "cup" driven 6" into the arm bone, ...and a new titanium ball was screwed into the scapula with THREE friggin' 2" titanium screws - This is why I'm enjoying R&R for such a long time. I had my left hip replaced 5 years ago @ 70, this now at 75, and I've got a tentative appt. scheduled next July for the total replacement of my left knee. Me and Arthur Ritis are on a first-name basis! Let me know if any of you knuckleheads want an autographed 8X10 glossy @ two for the price of one! 

Wow, I just had an MRI done for  a fully torn rotator cuff so If the doc can repair it that's one thing, if he cannot, it means a full shoulder replacement like yours. Monday I will find out what direction he will take after he views the MRI. Wishing you all the best and a fast recovery from this shoulder replacement!

Let's hope you've got the torn rotator because 90% of the time THAT can be repaired...and even better, it probably would be done with arthroscopic surgery. That is, MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY   consisting of one 1/2" incision and, most likely, in & out in one day. Yeah, you will have 30-45 days of PT rehab....BUT that's the "only way to fly" compared to a total replacement. I had that done about 25 years ago and everything worked and felt fine until about a yr. ago. An MRI showed the OA (osteoarthritis) had grown worse and worse and over the 25 yrs. had abraded all the muscle tissue, the rotator cuff, and everything else that makes the shoulder operate from the topside. A "normal" replacement of the ball and socket would not have lasted any time at all....so I had to go with the Reverse Procedure (MUCH MORE complicated and should be done ONLY by ortho specialists who have done 100's of them). So-o-o, I'll keep my fingers crossed that your MRI shows the rotator to be fixable and there's no further damage to muscle tissue. BTW: I had to have another MRI yesterday (Wed. the 11th) on my RIGHT shoulder. I've been experiencing some pain in that rotator - my specialist took an x-ray and told me the joint looked pretty good ...so he said the MRI would show if all I "might" need is another arthroscopy - Damn! I hope so! I should know the results by Monday, the 16th. That Arthur Ritis sure is one sumbitch!  

ALB posted:

Robert M posted:

Panhandle Bob posted:

When ALB gets his he will demand that they drill some lightening holes in the hardware.

Titanium is light but it can always be lighter  

I like the idea of titanium, but the idea of drilling holes will only come up if we're doing both sides. What I will also ask about is if they can make me taller...

It feels as though my left leg is slightly longer. Hopefully when they do the right knee in a month or so they get it all lined up. Lol

So I’m sleeping all night in a variety of positions, off the pain meds, walking without the cane, and doing a lot of walking. I can even put my socks and shoes on by myself like a big kid should. The physical therapist cane to the house yesterday for an assessment and some exercises. He said I was well ahead of where he expected me to be so he had me do some additional exercises besides what the hospital gave me. He had me doing squats and some quad flexors. While I was seated he bent my leg for me to just past 90 degrees. I was afraid of opening the incision but everything held together fine. 

Nancy and I went to her staff Christmas party and I drove. Climbing up into my truck was easy enough and getting out wasn’t an issue either. The only thing I had to do was put the seat all the way back before I got in or out. 

My wife did both knees in less than a year apart. It has been a life changing event for her after years of putting it off. She is even nice to me now. I hope they had the right length cable for the clutch. That can be a problem on these little babies of ours on occasion. Perhaps the replacement will mellow you out a bit, not a chance of that. I love you regardless. 

 

Even though my wife has no problems with them, maybe I should encourage her to get her knees done.

Michael McKelvey posted:

Even though my wife has no problems with them, maybe I should encourage her to get her knees done.

Robert M:  Thanks for starting this one, I dig following it.  I hope you heal up enough to enjoy the holidays, and get in some serious seat time in 2020.

Ewatub posted:

Robert M:  Thanks for starting this one, I dig following it.  I hope you heal up enough to enjoy the holidays, and get in some serious seat time in 2020.

I plan to. My wife and I have attended a couple holiday parties already and we have about 4 more before Christmas and a couple for the new year.

On Tuesday December 16th I had all 27 staples removed so now I now I can get a little more serious with my movements and rehab. The incision has healed very well and it is very flat and from what I can tell the scar will be minimal. The resident that is working with my surgeon is a very young man who has a lot of innovative ideas. Not that my surgeon isn't young, he's probably my age, and hips and knees are all he does. But the PA was saying how he likes to use a combo of glue and staples to speed the closing process but that it also speeds the incision closing time as opposed to having to lay down the stitch work. It closes the incision flatter and with a lot more support. 

I'm in and out of my truck without problems and I'm driving myself everywhere I need to go. I can sit in a chair and let my foot bend to almost 90 degrees and I can almost straighten it all the way out. I still walk with a bit of a limp because the natural bend of the leg doesn't happen unless I make the leg bend which doesn't happen fast enough when I'm out walking. Still icing the knee about 5 times per day to help reduce swelling and taking an aspirin to thin the blood to improve flow and reduce the chance of clots.

I now know why my thigh muscle felt like I was run over by a truck, it was from the tourniquet they use during surgery. As a law enforcement instructor, especially in combat self-care, I have self-applied tourniquets to my own leg and clamped them down pretty tight but this was varsity level clamping for sure. They completely cut off blood flow to the lower extremity during the surgery. I completely understand now but hadn't thought of that before the surgery.

I see the doctor again in four weeks and I'll be scheduling my right knee TKR and I'll start this process over again. I'll be completely ready by spring but in the mean time as soon as I can shift I'll be in the car before my throttle leg repair begins.

Wow, GREAT recovery going on, Bob!  I am truly amazed at the speed of your recovery.

Have a terrific Holiday season - you've earned it!

Great to hear that the healing process is going well.  Have wonderful Christmas! 

It's gratifying to read your good news, Robert. Good on ya!

Hi Robert. You were getting your staples out on the same day I was getting them put in on my right knee today I got to go out into the hallway and walk with a walker. I go home tomorrow. PT 3 three times a week for 3 weeks. Things went well I’m getting 114 degrees of bending already but the most pain is in the straight position. Off the morphine pump today and on Percocet pills every 4 hrs for a while. If this one goes good I’ll get the left done in 2 months. Spinal fusion on S1 to L5

Robert,

I’m glad you are on the up and up. You did good work getting mobile and setting yourself up for recovery. Sounds like you are on top of the mental game. I’m no stranger to major surgeries and stitch and glue work. Given your experience with the current knee (surgery/PT/recovery), I’m willing to bet that the recovery time will be less eventful and quicker when you get the other TKR done. 

Robert,

I hope I never have to do what you're doing, but if I do I hope I do it as well as you!  Do a little holiday jig knowing that by spring you'll be able to do the Snoopy dance after number 2 is finished!!!

 

aircooled posted:

Hi Robert. You were getting your staples out on the same day I was getting them put in on my right knee today I got to go out into the hallway and walk with a walker. I go home tomorrow. PT 3 three times a week for 3 weeks. Things went well I’m getting 114 degrees of bending already but the most pain is in the straight position. Off the morphine pump today and on Percocet pills every 4 hrs for a while. If this one goes good I’ll get the left done in 2 months. Spinal fusion on S1 to L5

I was just thinking about you today Bruce. I knew you’re day had passed but hadn’t heard from you. Glad to hear it went well. I still have some swelling in the knee which is impeding my ability to flex the knee. PT guy pushed it past 90 degrees yesterday so I know I can do it. 

Glad to hear you old farts are recovering quickly...

That’s good Robert. They had me going up and down stairs in my last PT session today before I go home this afternoon. The keep telling me that the range of motion is the most important.

You got that right Al.....Thank you

Yup. Do your ice. Do your stretches. Do what PT says, and let them stretch(hurt) you as much as you can manage. Cheers boys, and happy clutching!

aircooled posted:

That’s good Robert. They had me going up and down stairs in my last PT session today before I go home this afternoon. The keep telling me that the range of motion is the most important.

I find I have to repeat the mantra, "Up with the good, down with the bad." whenever I approach the steps/stairs. If you get it wrong your leg will remind you.

ABSOLUTELY ! IT WILL REMIND YOU

Here’s what the leg/knee looks like now:

The Six Million Dollar (police) Man - "We have the technology!"

Or, if you prefer: FrankenRobert 

Robert...Do you know who manufactured your knee appliance ?.........Bruce

I believe that the titanium clutch leg knee joint is available from Rock Auto and is manufactured by Dorman. 

Bruce:

You going to add a knee replacement to your list of products? ALB will want his with lightening holes.

Don't think so Bob.  Al's would look sort of "cheesy" with all the holes drilled in it. When I think about it though,  Those holes may promote new bone growth and end up with a stronger attachment than just using screws and glue !

The one I had installed is made by Conformis. It looks as though they are custom made for my bones. Not "select a size" from a choice of three.

Since I'm sort of a tool nut, I asked if they would give me the throwaway tools and jig fixtures they used to install my new knee. They declined to do so saying it's a sanitation issue.  Too bad !   If they were made of titanium, I could have had an exciting New Years fire again this year !...............Bruce

aircooled posted:

Robert...Do you know who manufactured your knee appliance ?.........Bruce

Stryker is the manufacturer of my prosthesis.
 

So ALB would have "Swiss Cheese Knees".

Lamborghini is getting into advanced tech prosthetic devices, too.  

https://www.medicaldesignandou...-better-prosthetics/

Robert....I'm just totally amazed that they glued my joint in and then glued the incision shut !  It would be Hell to pay if they spilled some of the glue in there and locked up everything !  I can actually feel it slightly slapping around in there as I walk ! They said that would go away a with time and use.  A "break-in period" ??   Amazing !.......Bruce

aircooled posted:

Robert....I'm just totally amazed that they glued my joint in and then glued the incision shut !  It would be Hell to pay if they spilled some of the glue in there and locked up everything !  I can actually feel it slightly slapping around in there as I walk ! They said that would go away a with time and use.  A "break-in period" ??   Amazing !.......Bruce

My prosthesis is also glued in. It looked as though he used glue and staples on my incision. A few years back I split a surgical incision on my back a month after surgery and that was a huge pain in the a$$ to get it closed after that. 

Just be careful with the incision Bruce. Keeping it closed is very important and be very careful about any post surgical infections. A good friend got his infected and that prolonged his recovery significantly. Hibi-cleanse soap is pretty good stuff to use around the incision and also once you are allowed to get the incision wet. 

I ding myself a lot in my line of work, and have been super-gluing myself back together for years. My preferred method is to cauterize the bleeding with the glue, then use a second application to bring the skin together. It works best if you can use a good sticky tape (duct tape works well) to anchor the skin flaps in position (just don't leave it on for more than a day, or the skin dies under the tape)..

I had a ladder kick out on me in the summer of '16. I rode it down 20 ft or so and landed on my back. My right elbow split from the impact. Once I collected myself and determined nothing was broken (probably), I drove home to have Jeanie glue me back together. When I got there, she was less than proud of my performance-- but having been married to me for more than 30 years, she was used to it and still took care of me. I was pretty sore-- but aside from the elbow, none the worse for the wear.

Anyhow, a few days later the elbow had gotten angry red, as happens one time in 20 or so. I went to the prompt care, where they looked at me like I had 2 heads. After convincing them I was not taking an ambulance ride, I drove to the ER and checked myself in. It was a busy night in Peoria, and I was branded a "special case" by the nurses, and put in the back room while they attended to less stupid patients.

When I got to see the attending MD after a few hours, he was great. He was the first party involved to be impressed by the resourcefulness, and told me where I could get the yellow Vietnam powder to sprinkle in before I glued. He said he'd probably just do the same thing I was doing, but would chase it with a course of antibiotics. We discussed where I might obtain antibiotics without a prescription (my idea was the animal husbandry section of Farm and Fleet, he liked gray-market drugs from India better). The nurses were all slack-jawed with the interchange, but my approach was vindicated (at least in my eyes).

Your mileage may vary.

Stan:

Shade Tree Medicine, the rough equivalent of shade tree mechanics.

Stan Galat posted:

I ding myself a lot in my line of work, and have been super-gluing myself back together for years. My preferred method is to cauterize the bleeding with the glue, then use a second application to bring the skin together. It works best if you can use a good sticky tape (duct tape works well) to anchor the skin flaps in position (just don't leave it on for more than a day, or the skin dies under the tape)..

I had a ladder kick out on me in the summer of '16. I rode it down 20 ft or so and landed...

Ok, Stan, having had a couple falls over the years, ridden a ladder down 22 or 25 feet  as it was blown sideways on a warehouse (learning how to roll, even on pavement, is such a great skill! It was 30? years ago and I don't think I'd want to attempt that 1 now) and taped fingers back together with masking tape (remember, as a painter, bleeding on the work is a real no no!) more than a couple of times, I can fully appreciate your post! Discussing with the emergency doc where to pick up anti-biotics without a prescription takes the cake.

You do what you have to do to get the job done and finish the day...

Friend Randy who runs a machine shop an walking advocate for Hoof Heal from Tractor Supply stores. He had a deep 4" gash on  his forearm, applied the Hoof stuff and tape , four days later it looked like two weeks into the healing stage.   Me, while I putting a new shingle roof on Mom's place , it started to sprinkle so I put the 15 lb rolled felt paper on as quickly as possible that's when I stared to slide backwards  on the wet paper, my last attempt to save my ass,  I dug the claw of the hammer into the plywood, out of my hand it went, gravity declared itself the instant winner. Off the roof for only about 8 feet into large Yew bushes that's what really hurt like hell .

In the never ending battle between Stupidity and Gravity.....

Gravity always wins.

Stan Galat posted:

I ding myself a lot in my line of work, and have been super-gluing myself back together for years. My preferred method is to cauterize the bleeding with the glue, then use a second application to bring the skin together. It works best if you can use a good sticky tape (duct tape works well) to anchor the skin flaps in position (just don't leave it on for more than a day, or the skin dies under the tape)..

I had a ladder kick out on me in the summer of '16. I rode it down 20 ft or so and landed on my back. My right elbow split from the impact. Once I collected myself and determined nothing was broken (probably), I drove home to have Jeanie glue me back together. When I got there, she was less than proud of my performance-- but having been married to me for more than 30 years, she was used to it and still took care of me. I was pretty sore-- but aside from the elbow, none the worse for the wear.

Anyhow, a few days later the elbow had gotten angry red, as happens one time in 20 or so. I went to the prompt care, where they looked at me like I had 2 heads. After convincing them I was not taking an ambulance ride, I drove to the ER and checked myself in. It was a busy night in Peoria, and I was branded a "special case" by the nurses, and put in the back room while they attended to less stupid patients.

When I got to see the attending MD after a few hours, he was great. He was the first party involved to be impressed by the resourcefulness, and told me where I could get the yellow Vietnam powder to sprinkle in before I glued. He said he'd probably just do the same thing I was doing, but would chase it with a course of antibiotics. We discussed where I might obtain antibiotics without a prescription (my idea was the animal husbandry section of Farm and Fleet, he liked gray-market drugs from India better). The nurses were all slack-jawed with the interchange, but my approach was vindicated (at least in my eyes).

Your mileage may vary.

Crazy glue and iodine tincture is my favourite and I make sure not to cover it up.

Iodine is an old treatment but it goes through the skin something that a lot of topical antibiotics cannot do.

Is that like “Mercurochrome”?  We used that a lot when I was a kid, but I haven’t seen it in years.

Quite frankly, I am astounded that Super Glue doesn’t cause some sort of adverse reaction with your skin.

But now that I know it doesn’t, I have found a bunch of new uses for it.  Not that I’m gonna run out to the shop and maim myself, yah know?  But next time I’ll be more prepared.

Once again, Stan takes the lead, this time in SOC Health Care!  And I can’t wait til we get back to Sunday morning bike rides so I can find out which are the really GOOD horse antibiotics from our Vet school student rider.

THIS SITE REALLY ROCKS!

Yes but they stopped making Mercurochrome at about the same time as Kodachrome...

Just kidding, mercury never leaves your body as a heavy metal but is a great antibiotic agent.  They used to also use it in an eye ointment for styes, that too is gone. 

South of the 49th you guys have Neosporin which is skin penetrating antibiotic that is available over the counter and could be used over a cut after you wash it with peroxide or alcohol to clean it then glue it and then cover it with the neosporin.  Just saying.  webmd neosporin. this pretty much covers everything for 1st aid, use. 

Gordon Nichols posted:

I can’t wait til we get back to Sunday morning bike rides so I can find out which are the really GOOD horse antibiotics from our Vet school student rider.

I'm still convinced that the Bovine section at Farm and Fleet is the best bet for me.

I am glad you did not say the porcine unit as you might have been disgruntled.... Yours is an Interesting comment but I have to end this post with a familiar ending...

Your always entitled to your opinion but not to your data