Not trying to be risque now that I am home again.
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
Midland, Michigan
June 6, 2019 7:46pm CST
I thought I'd be staying an extra night but the insurance only okayed one night as they treated it as an outpatient surgery with one day recovery. It sounds like that's common these days. Had I had issues they may have been able to put in an appeal for an additional day. Only problem there is if you don't meet the criteria you pay the bill for that extra day and you don't find out whether your cleared until after the fact.
I did so well that there was no reason to hold me. I left around four pm. I don't seem to be doing as well currently but I only took the full dose of the pain pills this morning and I think I should have kept it up longer.
I found out before leaving that the surgeon put a numbing agent into the wound as he closed it and I found out that agent should begin wearing off today into tomorrow.
And then it was very hard getting my knees into my husband's Pacifica two years ago. I think that was due to his door not opening all the way. I was concerned about it and was working on waiting to leave until my sister was free so I could try her car instead if I had problems again. But the physical therapist told me I was doing so well that shouldn't be an issue. I think that had I gotten some ice on the wound after PT that possibly it would have been okay. But I was sore from working out and then thawing out that it was fun, fun, fun getting into that car. Getting out was easier though once I removed my slipper first. (Lol, my phone out stripper there maybe it's wondering what happened to risque).
I tried using the new recliner but it's too hard getting out of it so I'm in bed instead. I have the Iceman ice pack on but it seems to be broken.
I will have to switch to either bagged ice or my pliable ice pack which is in the freezer. I should have got it close to the front before surgery.
~~~~~~~~
I've been taking pics and have many ideas to share from before surgery but I will wait a bit until I've caught up on notifications from both discussions.
I used the title since I'm an older lady showing a bit of leg. Sorry about that.
Thanks for reading, as Valerie says. I thought this would be short- winded.
11 people like this
11 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
7 Jun 19
can nobody fetch that ice pack fer ya? not sure'f the protocol fer post-op knees these days, but do's ya need with yer rehab, take yer pain meds's needed (aka: don't wait 'til such's severe) 'n jest breathe. sendin' healin' hugs ~
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
8 Jun 19
@MarshaMusselman great 'bout the ice pack, 
'bout the other.
'bout the other.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Jun 19
@crazyhorseladycx it ended up that one didn't work either. We may be able to get it exchanged tomorrow since the Dr is near where I go for PT.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
7 Jun 19
My husband found a different ice pack I'd forgotten about. He was home yesterday and today but gets very little exercise so he's more tired helping out than I thought he'd be.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 19
Ouch, I just had cortisone shots in both knees and i am feeling great I think I have years till I need surgery!! I hope it gets better really quickly!!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Jun 19
@MarshaMusselman I've had no cartilage for 20 years but this is the first thing other than glucosamine I've done . Sin vast will be next
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Jun 19
@BelleStarr what you may want to do is find out the waiting list for surgeries. A lot depends on how well today can get around without any intervention like the shots.
When I finally decided to go ahead with surgery is was a four month wait for an appointment and then an additional four months until surgery and as we get older more things can go wrong in other areas. Like for me getting the wound last year which pushed the second knee off schedule.
There's a customer at work used to come in with her husband and use an amego cart.When she was finally ready her blood pressure was too high and they wouldn't do it anymore. She quit getting out because of the pain. She was a bit older than you or I, but I've seen that type of thing before for those that wait too long.
For me it affected my back.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Jun 19
Just don't wait as long as possible. At least you're already doing the cortisone. It seems the insurance won't pay for surgeries and procedures until we've all jumped through a few hoops. It's you get your jumping done long before your joints get worse then hopefully when your ready the insurance will agree.
I think I could have gotten my surgeries several years ago but I would have had to start the process several years earlier than I did. The first few cortisone shots did the trick for me too. Eventually nothing much helped.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Jun 19
I do enjoy reading if I behind doing that more again I won't get as many other projects done. I don't expect to get bored.
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@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
8 Jun 19
When I first read this I had to go the the post before to find out what you did... I am lucky to be a Canadian because my knees didn't cost me anything. I found the hospital to noisy and I left the second day because I needed to sleep... I found a therapy in the next town and saw them once a week for about 8 weeks. By then I was walking normal and the exercises given to me to do at home was great. My husband did a lot of things to help me with my exercises... I saw my surgeon last week and he was happy with my knee and said to call him if I need to see him and if not come back in 3 to 4 years for a check up... good luck to you, its important to exercise and you will find you are back to normal soon.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Jun 19
I had my first knee done two years ago and other than bit having much pain this one is doing much better. We have pt here three times per week it's covered by insurance. Last time I got played for additional weeks because my knee was so bad before surgery.
I've been exercising twice weekly before the current surgery and I think I'm doing much better this time around. I'm thinking I may be able to cancel some of the weeks of therapy but I will know more after tomorrow's evaluation.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Jun 19
Thanks Dianne. I'm sure recovery won't be completely pain free since I need to work muscles, tendons and ligaments that are still healing. But it's better to do that now before they get stuck in their ways limiting my movements later on.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Jun 19
My knee is looking a bit bruised but that may be due to me not icing it as much because it's less swollen than the first one was. I did get I've on it earlier today and it looks better now. ( I didn't think to look)
I'm currently trying to sit at a chair more normally and trying to bring my leg in closer to the chair periodically. It aches when I do that but it aches time I change my movements so I shouldn't be surprised.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
12 Jun 19
@just4him I have off from work for three months but I should be walking more normally at least the month before if not sooner.
At present I'm having difficulty putting weight on the leg until I'm standing for a few minutes. Once I'm up on it it's not so bad but initially sometimes it's slower than other times.
I may be doing more this time than before because both my limbs and feet were quite swollen with the first knee where only the knee is swollen now.
I would think each week I should see major progress. I can walk into the bathroom now without the walker but I keep it at close reach too.
Today I've begun using my canes once I'm up and stable. It enables me to walk around easier and pay attention to having a more normal heal to toe walk. I use the walker when I initially get up and then use one or two canes to strengthen my walking about.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Jun 19
@MarshaMusselman I hope it will be healed soon. How long are they estimating?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86615)
• United States
7 Jun 19
Hope you get to feeling better quickly.
It's interesting how they kick you out of the hospital so quickly nowadays. Well, not just "nowadays," 24 years ago I had an ovarian tumor removed and was discharged before I'd even had solid food.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
7 Jun 19
Certain procedures or surgeries changed years ago, yes. Like giving birth. I think in my mom's decade they stayed about a week. When I had the C-section I think it was three days now it may be even less.
I'm guessing that the beginning joint surgeries didn't have them exercising almost immediately after surgery and therefore it took a bit of time before patients could walk. Even when my mom had hers done fifteen or so years ago I think her stay was much longer. Even two years ago it was more common for two nights. I heard that some people leave the same day, nowadays and that may be due to them not having much insurance.
Two ladies were hoping to stay longer. One was okayed already the other wasn't as definite although they may have had their answer after the got back to the room.
One of the gals from joint camp lives near me and we may walk together once we can walk distances safely.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Jun 19
For the first knee I took them the first month. I may not need them as long this time but I want to make sure I can do therapy before changing it up.
@RasmaSandra (97957)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Jun 19
I sure hope that all goes well and that you heal quickly.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
7 Jun 19
Thanks it is doing better than it was when I first came home. I will keep everyone posted with updates I'm sure.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
7 Jun 19
So far it's been even better than I'd hoped. Once the discomfort/pain subsides I should be more able and willing to continue with the proper exercises along with getting up and walking around.
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