This has been my view for a part of the day. It’s been a pretty good day. Pain remains pretty much under control. I’ve been much more mobile. Sciatic nerve pain has not subsided enough. I did get some needed work done on my computer (the monthly postcard mailing for the Sons of Utah Pioneers). Was able to get some quality time doing my exercises and on the continuous passive motion machine.
So, a mixed-results day. Good beginning to the 2nd week of Knew Knees!!
Ta ta for now.
I’m hurting in places that shouldn’t know anything about pain. It’s definitely a struggle to get into a pain-free position … and then the physical therapist shows up and introduces additional torture methodologies. I thought it’d be about my knees and the area associated with the knee surgery. So,why does my right heel have the sensation of walking through fire? My sciatic nerve on my right leg is complaining with a very loud voice. According to the therapist that pain can only be managed through exercise.
The calves on both feet are very painful and they’re both a bit swollen. The cure? Exercise followed by ice and lots of it. The therapist came yesterday morning at 8 am and again today at about 1:30 pm. It doesn’t really stand to reason, but doing some of the exercises did indeed help the pain. there’s probably some kind of a life lesson in all of this … but it hurts too much at the moment to try and reason it out. Nina’s gone to the drug store for a replenishment of what they do best: good drugs. She’s been quite the trooper!
It’s pretty hard to type one handed with all this stuff connected to me. Surgery went very well. The nurses are phenomenal. Some pain, but less than before the surgery. I’m writing this from my iPad and haven’t figured how to insert a picture.
The whole procedure went better than I had hoped. I don’t remember a thing after getting into the operating room. Next recollection was as they wheeled me into the recovery room at 3:25 pm. I was in my room by 4:25. All body parts seem to be in the right place and with the right orientation. Dr. Altenburg rocks!
Ta ta for now!
The front lawn is mowed and the edges trimmed. My legs are complaining. Just for the record, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is not nearly as effective a knee pain reliever as aspirin. I’m not allowed aspirin since last Tuesday because the surgeon doesn’t want me bleeding too much on the operating table. Consequently, I’ve been hitting the Costco’s big bottle of acetaminophen pretty heavily. Maybe the generic stuff doesn’t have as much punch?
I got a hair cut (I have so few hairs I get a discount at Great Clips) this morning. The stylist is from Bancroft. She’s graduated from Idaho State University … and the job she could find is cutting hair. So, she’s not on the unemployed list, but she’s also rather underemployed. We had a fun conversation and she was pretty clear about her political choices in November. Didn’t exactly match up with the stylist working next to her. Lots of discussion going on as I left the shop. At any rate, I’m now sheared for the next six weeks. Why does ear hair grow faster than hair on my head?
As I was coming home from Arbon Valley the other day, the wagon in the picture pulled out in front of me. I wondered where they were going! Wherever it was, they weren’t going to get there in any kind of a hurry.
I had my pre-operation consultation with the surgeon and his PA this morning. First, though, was one last x-ray showing both legs from the hip joints down to the toes. I’m a bit knock-kneed! The doc says that’s one of the reasons I’m needing this surgery and that my legs will be straight once he’s done. For some reason, men usually get to bone-on-bone on the inside and women usually get to bone-on-bone on the outside of the knee.
“Which knee hurts the most?” asked Dr. Altenburg, the surgeon who will be wielding the knife.
“The left knee,” was my immediate emphatic (and painfully correct) answer.
“That’s the one we’ll do first, then,” he said, “so if something happens that we need to stop  after the first knee, at least the worst one will be finished.”
His nurse came in, pulled out a huge black marker, and put “AJA” on the left knee. Then she handed me 5 packets of special disinfectant soap. I’m to use two packets on Sunday as I shower, two more (head to toe) on Monday, and the last one on Tuesday morning on my knees before coming to the hospital. “Don’t worry if you scrub off the marking,” she said. “We’ll just mark it again when you get to the hospital.”
So, I’m now branded with Aaron J. Altenburg’s initials that’ll probably wash off so it can be re-applied next Tuesday.
Nina drove over to Boise and back today to visit with her cousin. Our texting conversation as she was coming home:
Nina (3:05pm): Heading home. On the road again.
Roland (4:21pm):Â You may get home about the same time as me!
Nina (5:18pm): Stopped at Mac Donald’s for dinner  Back to freeway. Eating as I go.
Roland (5:25pm):Â Leaving the office. Will nuke something when I get home.
Roland (6:21pm): Home!!
Nina (6:34pm): Can I just say I am so so so so so tired. Had to make a stop headed to freeway again.
Roland (6:34pm):Â Shall I send out the Saint Bernards?
Nina (6:35pm): With whiskey ? Lol
Roland (6:35pm):Â Geritol.
Nina (6:35): Much better.
That’s what passes for humor around here.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012 is K-Day … also known as slice and dice day. Both knees replaced. At the same time.
After having seen the pain and strain that Nina went through, I made up my mind I would only do this once. I’ll probably complain (and loudly at times), but hopefully I’ll remember I only have to do this once.
Tomorrow is the last appointment with the surgeon. They’ll take a bunch of “before” x-rays that’ll helpfully guide them to having a good “after” set of images. By good, I mean both legs the same length, feet on the right leg, feet pointing in the right direction, and all that stuff.