Question
Not kickin just yet.....
I had a procedure done on my left knee that is called a UNI knee. Essentially 1/3 of the knee was cut away and replaced with metal. It is a rather new procedure and the prosthesis reps were actually in the OR with us. I thought that was pretty cool.
I was awake thru the whole thing as I insisted upon spinal anesthesia vs. general anesthesia. Now, they could have given me a little IV Valium so I would be more relaxed but I opted not to do that either. My significant other says it's my way of remaining in control I wish I would have taken just a little.
You do feel them working on you, you hear the drills, saws and hammering. And you feel it all going on but the pain is blocked. Still, it is quite unsettling, especially the saws and hammering.
I had every intention of coming home the day of surgery, but my Dr. begged me not to do that. I had pulled it off when he did the reconstruction 3 years ago, but this was a whole different ball game and I am SOOOOO glad I listened to him.
The pain was pretty intense the first two days and I have a pretty high pain tolerance level. Even with IV pain meds I was not able to sleep very long before the pain broke thru.
I came home 48 hours after surgery using a walker to get around. I can bend the knee pretty good and I can straighten it almost all the way out now. I am supposed to exercise it to bend and straighten at least 3 times a day. This is easiest to do after pain pills have just taken effect.
I am doing well, but have had a bit of difficulty adjusting to the fact that I am NOT going to just bounce back up on my feet like I did after the reconstruction surgery.
Nope, this recovery is going to take some time and some work, so I have decided to be a good girl, do what I'm told (for ONCE!) and take it easy this time.
If any of you are in a position where Drs. are considering a total knee replacement, ask them to give this procedure some thought. According to my orthopedist, this surgery should last 15 to 20 years unless something different goes bad in my knee.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
Visit us at Visit us at
Answer
I was wondering how your surgery and its aftermath has ent and is going.
Glad to hear that you are up and around and basically doing OK. Just take it easy and do what the Doc's and PT's tell you to do and you will get back a lot faster. (In other words take the advice you would give any one of us in the same boat).
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.
Answer
I am already at the pain levels that I was BEFORE surgery. (This is a good thing) So I am not taking any pain meds other than regular Tylenol on occaission.
I put the walker away after a week. I'm feeling pretty strong. I already have more motion on the knee that I have for a very long time.
The Dr. said I was doing sooo good that I don't even have to do PT!!! See I was a good girl and did my exercises like I was told to.
I still have a rainbow thing going on at the surgical site and the staples were pulled a week ago.
I cannot beleive how fast the recovery is for this!!!! I am back to work part time and have been for a week. I did try a full day last Friday and found I am not quite ready for that just yet. But I'm getting there.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
Visit us at Visit us at