Many thanks for the get well cards, texts, and emails from my cherished community of BFFs since my knee replacement surgery Feb 5. I’m doing well (although it doesn’t feel like it at 2 a.m.) and my P.T. says I’m hitting the right rehab milestones at the right times.
Apparently knee replacements are basically having two opposing articulating bones amputated and capped off with a new metal hinge. You have to teach the violated (and irritable) bones to tolerate the stiff, unyielding alien mechanism and be patient while the hinge figures out how to do its job without clicking with every single step (ARRGGHHH!). I feel like that ticking alligator that swallowed the alarm clock in the old movie, Hook. My knee announces my arrival before I enter a room.
I’ve learned the following rehab truths so far:
- It’s very likely going to hurt worse before it feels better.
- It doesn’t help to complain. They make you do it anyway.
- Don’t believe the therapist when he says patients are not allowed to sit in the chairs.
- All food tastes like sand for three days following anesthesia.
- Whatever you write in your new book while you’re on pain meds makes absolutely no sense and will have to be rewritten.
Hey, additional thanks to all who have provided meals (especially on behalf of poor overworked, longsuffering Spouse) – all the meals are GREATLY appreciated and I want a special shout-out to go to longtime friends Peggy and Bob K, who drove over an hour to deliver us a surprise “Too Blessed to be Stressed Dinner,” with all recipes coming from my Too Blessed to be Stressed Cookbook. What a cool idea! And Peggy even included a batch of my fave dessert, “Chocolate Brickle” (which I affectionally call Chocolate Crack because you can’t stop eating it!) as a love gift for Valentine’s Day! I was sooooo touched! You know it’s true: Chocolate makes everything feel better.
It totally melts my heart when BFFs old and new reach out in love to meet our needs (or knee-ds in this case) and uplift us when we’re down. I thank Papa God for you and I pray that I can do the same for you one day when you need a little extra lovin’.
Oh, I do apologize for the issues we’ve been having with my weekly blog posts getting bottlenecked and not going out on time; my web guru is hoping to have the kinks ironed out by next week. Please forgive!
And please take a few moments to share your own experiences with surgery and rehab – throw some hope my way, girlfriend!
I somehow managed to miss detail of why you weren’t feeling well, Deborah. Praying and will check with you to see what else I can do.
I’m doing okay, Sylvia – just a little too impatient for my own peace of mind. I spend half my day looking for where I left my cane!
Well dang how did I miss this! Probably because we have been living our lives around doctors appts also. Prayers for a perfectly speedy recovery! Love ya
Thanks, Bonnie! I surely get THAT about life revolving around MD appointments! Your prayers are precious to me.
Debora,
Praying that you will be much better real soon. Hang in there! Blessings
Thanks, Barbara. I truly appreciate your prayers! They say that two weeks is usually a turning point with knees, so I’m counting on it!
Deb, I too missed that you were undergoing knee surgery. My prayers are with you for easy rehab and a return to pain-free living and a life of mobility.
I’ve been waiting for some time here in Portugal for hip replacement in the national health system, but they recently contacted me so I should be scheduled now within a couple of months. Tortoise Time, but it’s free, with excellent surgeons and care, so I am not complaining.
And especially not complaining because I know that knee surgery is a more complicated operation (as you well described!)
All the best always, and a huge hug to you.
Free is GOOD, Tricia! So sorry your hip is ailing – putting you on my prayer list, girlfriend! Keep me posted on when it is scheduled. Hugs!
Such loving and caring friends! And of course the best hubby!
Agreed, little Duck!
I didn’t know about this either! But I’m really glad to know that you are doing better, getting stronger every day! Keep on keeping on!??
My hubby is having his knee replacement surgery in March, so we’ll be in the same boat!
Thanks for the update!
Oh, Lou, you and your hubs have my utmost empathy! They really have come a long way in the past ten years with knee replacements, so pain/rehab is not nearly as bad as it once was. Just this morning my P.T. said, “if this 2014 instead of 2024, you might still be in the hospital non-weight bearing.” True! I will pray for your husband’s surgery to go smoothly and for you to have patience with him (I thank Papa God for my extraordinarily patient Spouse every single day!).