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HI HO< HI HO< It's off to the operating room I go
Not sure if this is the right place for this post....but I am feeling sooo stressed about my upcoming surgery and how it will affect my abilities to be an EMT.
5wks from now I will be undergoing a cartilage transplant in my left knee. My ortho says I will be unable to walk on it for 6wks and will be facing months of physio and almost a full yr to recover and no gaurantee that it will work. I was told that if I was older I would be facing a total knee replament. But I am only 40, so a TKR is yrs away for me.
I am hoping maybe someone on this board can shed some light on this subject. Maybe some of you have it or a similar procedure done.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Cranford on
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I haven't had this done or heard of it being done, but stay strong and possitive and i'm sure everything will work out for you! Let us know how things go! Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Laura G on
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Awww, you're a sweetie! Thank you...:-)
I was actually just sitting here filling out the paperwork that has go to the hospital for admitting. Something about actually filling out the forms and signing the cosent is leaving my tummy in knots...lol...makes it all more "real"
Pre op appt is scheduled for the 20th, then all the lab work and ECG...at least I have all my Christmas shopping and holiday get togethors to keep me busy between now and surgery. Otherwise I would be going batty worrying all the time.
4 wks to go. -
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Well, got a call from surgeon's office and my surgery date has been changed from Jan 3rd to Jan 17th...sigh....more time to stress and worry...or is it more time to rethink this whole thing and chicken out...lol
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You will be fine, like we all have told you! I think this is a good thing that it has been pushed ahead it gives you more time to be stronger than before. By the time it comes around again you will be more than ready for it! Think positive and be strong! You can do it!
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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Work your upper body now. I was talking to someone who had that surgery back in April. He's real happy with it so far BUT, the 3 months he spent on crutches screwed up his elbows. Take it easy and don't just think you can do a marathon on crutches.
Jay -
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I have heard that. It's going to be hard on the upper body getting around like that. I do expect I will get physically tired from it...depending on how far I decided to venture once I"m up and around.
I have been doing a weight circuit every other day trying to build some upper body strength...hopefully it will pay off.
thanks -
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Permalink Reply by Phoenix on
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Laura,
As much as it may hurt, work on building Quad strength in the leg that you are having surgery. I didn't add that in my 1st post to you. Sorry. You can't do any more damage to the knee than has already been done and building up that Quad muscle in that leg will help with your PT. Also forearm strength. That's what you should be using when on crutches. Don't have them jammed up under your arms, they should rest against your ribs just below the arm pit. If you walk around with them jammed up underneath your arm pit, you risk nerve damage.
Good Luck and remember we are all with you. -
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Thanks Phoenix. My surgeon actually told me to work on my quad and build the strength up in it. So I have been working on that. Rather limited as to the exercises I can do for it. He doesn't want me to doing squats, weighted or not...and nothing that bends the knee beyond about 45 degrees. I am trying to find a personal trainer with a kinesiology degree that I can work with.
Haven't done alot for the forearms yet...need to get on that, couple weeks to go before surgery , so any strengthening I can do in the next 3 wks will be better then doing none. I do expect I am going to tire quite quickly on the crutches. So, wont' be venturing too far. I've heard your sides get really tired and sore too. -
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Well, my pre op physical was done today and blood work and ECG done. Consent forms signed and faxed to admitting at the hospital.
Now all thats left to do is count the days and work on building up some quad and upper body strength. Hubby has booked his time off from playing detective to be my nurse for awhile...lol -
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Matschke on
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Laura, You are so right when you say that the option that will give the best results is not offered! I'm 41, and am getting ready for knee surgeries 9 and 10, and shoulder surgery #3 after the holidays. I've had "blown" knees for 20+ years due to gymnastics, competitive weight lifting, snow and water skiing, barrel racing with horses trained to knee commands instead of bit and reins, and FF and EMS. My insurance won't pay for the bilateral replacements as long as there is ANY viable cartilage in my knees, but they will pay around $200,000 per year for xrays, braces, MRI's, meds, Doc visits, PT, surgery, etc. It's idiotic in the extreme and one of the reasons healthcare costs are so outrageous. When I had my first knee surgery, I was working full time as a Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor and FF/EMT. My "quickie" leg workout was flexion, extension and leg press. I was leg pressing 420lbs with ease, with two rotten knees, a couple days before surgery. After my surgery, I was in an ass to ankle brace for 12 weeks, weight bearing, but no bending greater than 5 degrees. My quads, hammies, and lower leg definition used to be pretty amazing due to my obsession with working out and my jobs. Now, I do more than I'm supposed to, and it still doesn't come close to before. Don't be surprised at the alarming rate of atrophy after surgery. It's gonna happen whether you want it to or not, and if you try to do "your" rehab over the "PT"'s rehab, you'll end up doing more damage. I'll be hoping for a quick as can be, and successful recovery for you. It sucks, been there done that, but it will help with pain & ROM hopefully! Good luck with the surgery and take advantage of any "pampering" offered to you by friends and family, you're going to enjoy it after this! Best of luck!
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He keeps giving you cortisone injections???? Get the hell away from that quack ASAP! Uh maybe someone slept thru the part of Ortho specialist when they tell them that more than 3 injections into a joint IN A LIFETIME is the maximum! The only thing being accomplished by repeated shots is to ruin healthy, viable tissue more quickly. My shots in my knees during my teens are probably the biggest contributor to the constant surgery and pain I deal with now. I'd report the moron to the AMA, because he's either incompetent, greedy, stupid, or a combination of the 3. Cortisone hasn't been "the wonder drug" for joints for 20 years when they started seeing the damage persistent injections cause!
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