Its been a while... back to work on May 2nd, effed up my knee May 7th at work in ICU. Stepped on a clear piece of plastic debris .. right leg shot out ahead (damn the hyperextension of my old knee replacement) and my left let collapsed underneath me. I was flopping for it seemed 4 or 5 seconds, as I tried to get my leg out from underneath me. Sharp searing pain along the lateral joint area.

xrays show a fracture beneath my lower portion of the prosthetic - an avulsion fracture. If I'm not on my pain meds, I know its there. low, burning pain in the medial area of my knee. I still have pain lateral behind the knee. dunno what thats all about.

All I know is that this has set me back at least a month. I'm back to work, workers comp paying my medical bills. Desk jockey for now, until they find out where I'm at..... and what my leg/knee will tolerate.

I am so unhappy with this.

it's been a while

and so thought I should check in .. My FMLA ran out beginning of this week and I'm supposed to be on Medical Leave. If they don't approve I could be out of my job. But I've not heard anything from anyone, altho I've sent email detailing my plans and expectations. We'll see. I'm no longer on a cane and can walk pretty well I suppose. I still weave *a little* and sometimes have my heel slip in and slide, instead of a good step, but I'm working on it. Therapy is going well and I'm exhausted by the time I'm done with it. I'll want to continue therapy after this first round is done - it will do me a lot of good. I'll be back to work May 2nd (week of) and the only thing I worry on is my endurance. Standing/walking for 10 hours a night is difficult. Once I get back into it tho, I think I'll be OK.

3 weeks postop.

It is monday morning - Mary has already been to the grocery and is now sleeping in the lazyboy across from me. We're waiting for the next door neighbor to come over and move the recumbant bike to a place where I can use it. I must say I'm looking forward to that for several reasons: primarily for the physical benefits - strength and flexibility, but also for butt relief. Anything I can sit on that is different from the lazyboy is a boon. My butt is getting so tired and I think the lazyboy could use a rest too.

I am finished with the Lovenox injections. YEAH BABY!! It was necessary, but man. I hate needles. I could do the injections myself if needed, but Mary stepped up to the plate and did the job for me. Thank you baby, much appreciated.

I worked my knee over the weekend, as not to backslide from the progress I've made. I was able to achieve 91* flex, and we'll see what I can do today. I am supposed to have my staples out. I don't know if a nurse will arrive to do this (nothing scheduled as yet: no phone calls). Or if my physical therapist will do it. Jeanie I think would do a good job, altho I don't htink she's done it before. Always a first time.

I've been in the back yard and pulled a few weeds (saturday). Yesterday I soaked my feet briefly and Mary washed them (I was afraid I'd slip into the space between the tub and toilet - it was close). I shaved my legs and feel more human. My hair grows longer and Mary says it looks good. I have no problem really with bed hair. Comes with having absolutely no body to my hair at all.

Back to knees :: Caroline (uncle Ed's sister) had her knee replaced Feb 9th. and is still having issues. Becky says she has swelling from her hip to her toes. The surgeon is one of those who say he has no post op complications - and they are not really looking to find an answer to the reason she's having swelling issues. Apparently she lives 1.5 hours or more away from medical site that could investigate, and apparently that is too much to drive. Dunno. I'm grateful I'm doing well.

thats all for now, dear journal/blog. have to get along and do some more stretches.

9 days post op

well..... they say the first week of PT is the worse. I believe. Mary came out to check on me a couple of times during the night. She said I was not in a happy, restful sleep. Rather, I was making sounds - whimpering. All I know is that when I woke up I was at a level 6-7 for pain, scrambling for my pain pills. Yesterday I did over do perhaps, with my therapy. I am motivated to improve on a daily basis. My degree of flex was pegged at 85*, while today I was only able to peg out at 84*, best effort. We dropped the massage table to the lowest setting, the best height for my PT. We'll (Mary and neighbors) will get the recumbant bike out sometime over the weekend so I'll be able to work on my flexibility (first) and strength (second). On the upside, I was able to lift my leg off the table - up and down - on my own. Jeanie first helped me, the second lift was minimal, and the 3 and more lifts on my own. On my own. Each day, a little more, a little better. Right now I have the cooling aircast appliance on and running. Knee isn't happy, but it is better than the pain I woke with. I called Target today to get a refill on my Percocet, it will be changed instead to Vicodin. The pharmacy cannot fill a percocet script without an original piece of paper from the doctor. Vicodin is different. I was able to refill my preop script, so ...........

each day a little better. a little more. a little better.

day 4 postop. friday

I came home yesterday.

They almost didn't do the surgery because of the uneven healing of the R breast tissue. I brought up the problem during my check-in/ IV start / 20 questions time. The nurse looked at the site, said she'd have to have the pre-op Lead RN look at it. They delayed my IV antibiotics until inspection was over. The Lead looked, prodded and pronounced things good. Big sigh of relief. As it turns out there are some more conservative surgeons that would have turfed my knee replacement until my so called open sore cleared up. If that had been the case, I would have lost my job for sure. How do you spell relief??

They took me back to the OR with a little Versed on board. I was awake/aware - and not very happy with that fact. They moved me to the table and prepped my back. I was given a spinal block and positioned on the table. And then... I was waking up. Absolutely no sensation from the waist down. Weird feeling, but NO PAIN. I could have jumped from joy, if I had been able to move. I was moved to my room (#6) and waited for the spinal to wear off. It was strange sensation as places woke up before other places, the feeling was (nothing there)(vague tingling as tho my leg were asleep, but the feeling was filtered through many layers of cotton)(L leg woke up before R leg did)(the medial aspect of my calf muscles woke up before the lateral portion, making for very interesting sensation)

When I did wake up - physically I mean - the pain was there. I had Dilaudid with a PCA pump and the mandatory O2. Wore that until I could get rid of the pump. Got rid of the pump when I felt more comfortable with the pain pills. The pain pump was supposed to be set at 10 minutes, but actually ran closer to 12 minutes, progressing to 16 minutes.. and seemingly more. Not reliable for a needer/clock watcher like myself. I progressed to pain pills with bolus of Dilaudid (Morphine is back ordered and short supply everywhere). Turns out I needed the bolus to hold the worse of the pain off until the pills kicked in.

I had a cold water sleeve on my leg pretty much 24/7. I had a foley - mixed blessing. I had extreme dry mouth because of the narcotics, so I drank a LOT of water. Peed off a lot of it..... When I lost the foley, I had to make my way to the bathroom. This is day 4 post op and I still have not had a bowel movement. I have been taking softeners and last night even took 4 ducolax (2 and then2 some 6 hours later). A glycerin suppository this morning (produced nothing but glycerine and a big gush of air/gas. I feel better but still, no bowel movement. I know narcotics stopper a person up, not to mention the fact I had a spinal with my anesthesia. I'll be happy camper when can (and do) go.

Physical therapy.. Day of surgery, just foot pumps, and later that evening, up to the side of the bed - and then back to bed. Day 2 I actually got up and walked. Met Dr Banerjee. Nice guy. Glad to have him as my intensivest. My eyes are crossing and I'm having trouble spelling, so I'll log off here, for now.

tomorrow's the day

Went to Cabela's today. got a lot of Atomic Fireballs. I love cinnamon jawbreakers. It will help pass some of the time, and if the fireballs are indeed hot, may take my mind off my knee for a little while...

Again, I am calm. Margo called yesterday, will have her angles all around me.... Lots of well wishes from family and friends. I am touched...

I have my bag packed. Clothing, a magazine, meds and toiletries. Wish I had more to write about, but I just don't have the anxiety that would produce bunches and bunches of words..

More when I get home from hospital.

drs office called

the bag supplied is from the company which makes the joint going into my L knee. They have no instructions for me, this is brand new from the company. Just bring the bag with me to the hospital.

The hospital called ~ I gave a list of my meds and previous surgeries, etc. I will have to bring my daily medications with me, and the walker from my previous surgery. I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

Just not looking forward to surgery. I am looking forward to finally finding an end (sometime..) to the knee pain. It will get worse, before it gets better.

resigned to the fact.

follow-up from the dr office

Dr's assistant returned my call/query ~ this is a new thing from the company that manufactures the joint going in my L knee. They have no information on it, just bring it to the hospital with me.

less than a week

Today I picked up a bag from the doctors office ~ I've been supposed to use this for the last 2 weeks, but they just got the bags in today. got home, opened it up and there is an electrical unit for muscle stimulation/TENS and the like. The person at the doc's office said if I had any questions there was a number inside to call.......... there are no instructions for this unit on where I'm supposed to place the pads... called the number and they told me my clinician was supposed to show me where they go. Another call to the doctors office tomorrow. Hope not another trip. There is also a wrap for the knee that will circulate ice water from a cooler. No instructions, I'm guessing I will need this after surgery. The bag and everything in it will go with me to the hospital.

this whole thing looks good. just wish I had better instruction.

9 days away

well... I was supposed to work tonight, and am unable. When I was at work last night, I wondered how I would ever have been able to finish out. And if Dr Khanna had needed to put in lines, I would have certainly suffered more. I am supposed to work 3 more nights and wonder if I can do it. I will see the boss - my director - on Monday before I work. I need to address my FMLA and the possibility of Leave of Absence when the FMLA runs out.

Currently my leg is throbbing. I had to get out of bed because my hips hurt so bad. Probably from the limping and favoring from last night at work.

I am looking forward to having a good knee post op, but at the same time, dread the aftermath of surgery. When I had my R knee replaced 10 years ago I had such pain issues - I was over medicated and woke to find too many people in my room. (looks like a code - what am I doing in bed??) And the pain with therapy. Making the joint bend, the leg bend. The therapist pressing and bending to see the angle of the bend in my knee.

No, I do not look forward to it. But I can't wait for it to be done.