The Absent Uncle: Countdown to ... replacement!

You may remember that I was scheduled to have my right knee replaced a couple of weeks ago and the surgery was canceled by the passing of Hurricane Beryl through our area. In retrospect, I am extremely happy that the surgery had not been in the previous week or performed on the scheduled day, as doing my rehab during a power outage would have proven to be very difficult, practically and logistically.

So the countdown begins again. As I write this, I am five days away from the surgery.   

As some of you are well aware (those that have experienced any joint replacement or provided care to another person going through the process), there is a regimentation to the steps prior to the surgery to enhance the recovery and make sure the body is ready for the stress of surgery.

I decided for this column and my personal journal to record/summarize the steps and feelings experienced leading up to the surgery. After the earlier cancellation I realized how different it was to be the patient rather than be ready to assist the patient as I had earlier done for friends and relatives.

So, five days out. Intake of daily prescriptions and vitamins/supplements have been adjusted per the doctor’s instruction; began the drinking of a nutrient packed prescription supplement designed to help in the recovery process (Interesting note: it tastes good! Not a normal experience – usually anything prescribed has to taste bad or like medicine.)

We have rearranged the house furniture to provide clearance, taken up throw rugs (trip hazards), and added some bathroom items for safety (toilet rails, handheld shower head).

We have a system for cold compresses established and in place. It’s a new-fangled, ice-cold water circulation pump with a backup of a couple of bags of frozen peas.

A couple of times I have gotten the jitters; questioned was the pain really that intense to justify knee replacement? (A couple of hours on my feet at the food bank last week answered that question!)

Keep exercising. Keep riding the bike.  

Surgery morning, arrival at 5:45. Check in, change into surgical garb, get hooked up to IV, sign a number of forms with real small print, and suddenly you are being wheeled into a very white, very sterile room with equipment that is very unfamiliar. Then ... lights out!

I woke up in a totally different room, was asked to wiggle my toes and try to lift my non operative leg and couldn’t. It will take some time I was reassured. When I met the requirements, I was handed over to a physical therapist who showed me the brace I would be wearing for a couple of days; shown how to use a walker properly, and asked to demonstrate my ability to walk with the walker – on my own!

All in all, I was discharged from the hospital at 2 p.m. and in my home recliner by 2:30 with a new right knee.

Now the real work starts.