Re: Scared...Can anyone help?

[Guest guest]

Hello Dodge

I had arthroscopic surgery on both knees a few years ago - and it wasn't too

bad, honest!

I had to go into the hospital first thing in the morning and sit around for ages

- trying not to stess out too much. I am a bit of a wimp!

They made a cut approx half an inch long on both sides of each knee and (having

had a quick look at the scars) there was only one stitch on each cut. It did

hurt when I came round but they gave me something for pain relief straightaway.

I was kept in until the afternoon; they wouldn't let me go home until I'd had

something to eat.

Once I stood up, I realised that I couldn't bend either knee - don't know if

this was because they'd swollen or due to vast amounts of bandaging - so I had

to go with crutches for a few days. Should be easier for you to get about as

they are only attacking one knee!

Hope this is helpful; if there's anything else you want to ask just drop me an

email.

Good luck,

Elaine in the UK

[ ] Scared...Can anyone help?

Ok, so I'm a paramedic. I'm used to arterial bleeds, gunshot wounds and even

corpses, but I can't handle a simple surgery without freaking out.

I went to the orthopod today for my left knee. Now, the last time I hurt this

knee, as you may have read, I was whisked away for emergency surgery and didn't

even think or realize what was happenening. This time's different.

On February 16th, my ortho is going to perform arthroscopic surgery on my knee

to see what there is to see, cut a ligament, correct what he can and hopefully

avoid a major, " bone rearrangement " , as he so happily called it.

Since the surgery isn't next week or tomorrow, I have lots of time to dwell on

this and ya know what? It scares me silly.

Has anyone been through this before? What is the procedure like? I hope I'll

be given adequate pain control since I'm opioid tolerant. Is it an outpatient

thing? All I know is I'll be under general anesthesia and not to eat or drink

after midnight the day before. Nice, huh?

I have half a mind to just all the whole thing off, but then I won't know if

it could have helped or not and my left knee is really annoying me some.

Anyone been down this road before?

--

Dodge

Read my blog at:

http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

http://www./groups/a_different_reality

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8:53 AM

[Guest guest]

Hi Dodge:

I have had that procedure done 2x on my right knee.

It is a short stay in the hosp. until you are awake from the anesthesia,

and can eat and hold the food down. Then they send you home.

I was a wreck, worrying about the surgery, etc., and I worried for

nothing. They gave me plenty of anesthesia, plus lots of pain meds. I

felt pretty good after the surgery.

I did have large bandages on my knee, and did go home on crutches. My

dr. gave me an RX for pain meds, which I took every 4 hours, which kept

my pain level low. I did go right to sleep when I got home.

I found this an easy surgery to recover from. I am a very good healer,

which was wonderful for me. I had the stitches out when they told me

too, and my incision healed great. It never got infected, nor did it

ever bleed.

I then started PT, and was still on crutches. In no time at all, I was

using my knee to full capacity, and finished with my PT.

Everyone gets over surgery and PT at their own pace.

You will be glad you have this done. It will buy you time before you

need a full knee repalcement.

Don't be afraid or scared. I was for nothing. Believe me...... it is

not a bad surgery to have. People had scared me, but I am a strong

woman, and have a very high level for pain tolerance. If your pain

meds. don't hold you and you have awful pain, tell your dr. right away.

He will change the pain meds, and find what works best for you. That is

why they have so many different pain meds. to choose from.

I hope this information helps to reassure you. I had it done twice to

my right knee.

Wishing you pain free days, and God Bless you Dodge.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Hugs,

Barbara

>

> Ok, so I'm a paramedic. I'm used to arterial bleeds, gunshot wounds

and even corpses, but I can't handle a simple surgery without freaking

out.

>

> I went to the orthopod today for my left knee. Now, the last time I

hurt this knee, as you may have read, I was whisked away for emergency

surgery and didn't even think or realize what was happenening. This

time's different.

>

> On February 16th, my ortho is going to perform arthroscopic surgery on

my knee to see what there is to see, cut a ligament, correct what he can

and hopefully avoid a major, " bone rearrangement " , as he so happily

called it.

>

> Since the surgery isn't next week or tomorrow, I have lots of time to

dwell on this and ya know what? It scares me silly.

>

> Has anyone been through this before? What is the procedure like? I

hope I'll be given adequate pain control since I'm opioid tolerant. Is

it an outpatient thing? All I know is I'll be under general anesthesia

and not to eat or drink after midnight the day before. Nice, huh?

>

> I have half a mind to just all the whole thing off, but then I won't

know if it could have helped or not and my left knee is really annoying

me some.

>

>

> Anyone been down this road before?

>

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Read my blog at:

> http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

>

> http://www./groups/a_different_reality

>

[Guest guest]

Dodge, it will be OK. It sounds much like surgery that I have had on

both knees. Both times it was outpatient and they put me out under

general anesthesia. I ended up having the tendons/ligaments that hold

my kneecaps in place cut half off and flipped over to move my caps

into proper position. I was on crutches for 2 weeks with the first

knee and 2 days with the second.

I ended up with 4 small 1/2inch long incisions, each with one staple

holding them shut and for the kneecap moving I have what my kids call

a zipper. That is a 3.5 inch long incision on the outside of my

knees. I am also very afraid of surgery but these 2 were a simple

thing. You've been through much worse.

Oh, don't eat anything until you get home and then make it a broth or

non-milk liquid. My first post-surgery meal came back up 30 minutes

later.

Try to relax when your mind starts racing over this. Pray, meditate,

practice biorythym breathing, anything that relaxes you. You'll be

fine!

Dalanne

Central Illinois

--- In , Dodge Porter <medicdodge@...>

wrote:

>

> On February 16th, my ortho is going to perform arthroscopic surgery

on my knee to see what there is to see, cut a ligament, correct what

he can and hopefully avoid a major, " bone rearrangement " , as he so

happily called it.

>

> Has anyone been through this before? What is the procedure like?

I hope I'll be given adequate pain control since I'm opioid

tolerant. Is it an outpatient thing? All I know is I'll be under

general anesthesia and not to eat or drink after midnight the day

before. Nice, huh?

>

> I have half a mind to just all the whole thing off, but then I

won't know if it could have helped or not and my left knee is really

annoying me some.

>

>

> Anyone been down this road before?

>

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Read my blog at:

> http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

>

> http://www./groups/a_different_reality

>

[Guest guest]

Dalanne:

That's part of what my problem is, my kneecap is tilted so he's going to cut

that ligament to see if it will move back in the groove where it belongs.

Hey, at least I get to have my service dog with me in the recovery room

--

Dodge

Read my blog at:

http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

http://www./groups/a_different_reality

---- Dalanne <tombstone1968@...> wrote:

=============

Dodge, it will be OK. It sounds much like surgery that I have had on

both knees. Both times it was outpatient and they put me out under

general anesthesia. I ended up having the tendons/ligaments that hold

my kneecaps in place cut half off and flipped over to move my caps

into proper position. I was on crutches for 2 weeks with the first

knee and 2 days with the second.

I ended up with 4 small 1/2inch long incisions, each with one staple

holding them shut and for the kneecap moving I have what my kids call

a zipper. That is a 3.5 inch long incision on the outside of my

knees. I am also very afraid of surgery but these 2 were a simple

thing. You've been through much worse.

Oh, don't eat anything until you get home and then make it a broth or

non-milk liquid. My first post-surgery meal came back up 30 minutes

later.

Try to relax when your mind starts racing over this. Pray, meditate,

practice biorythym breathing, anything that relaxes you. You'll be

fine!

Dalanne

Central Illinois

--- In , Dodge Porter <medicdodge@...>

wrote:

>

> On February 16th, my ortho is going to perform arthroscopic surgery

on my knee to see what there is to see, cut a ligament, correct what

he can and hopefully avoid a major, " bone rearrangement " , as he so

happily called it.

>

> Has anyone been through this before? What is the procedure like?

I hope I'll be given adequate pain control since I'm opioid

tolerant. Is it an outpatient thing? All I know is I'll be under

general anesthesia and not to eat or drink after midnight the day

before. Nice, huh?

>

> I have half a mind to just all the whole thing off, but then I

won't know if it could have helped or not and my left knee is really

annoying me some.

>

>

> Anyone been down this road before?

>

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Read my blog at:

> http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

>

> http://www./groups/a_different_reality

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Stranger! Since it seems you have plenty of time before your

surgery is scheduled, perhaps you should call your ortho's patient

coordinator. He/she should be able to answer all of your questions.

I've not had your kind of surgery, but I have been faced with major

decisions before in my lifetime. The one thing that has really helped

is to make a list of all of the pros and cons of the procedure. When

you are able to physically see all of that on paper, it helps to make

a decision so you know where to go from here.

Hang in there. Keep us posted. BTW - how is parenthood going? We

haven't heard from you in forever!!!............Doreen

>

> Ok, so I'm a paramedic. I'm used to arterial bleeds, gunshot

> wounds and even corpses, but I can't handle a simple surgery

> without freaking out.

>

> I went to the orthopod today for my left knee. Now, the last time I

> hurt this knee, as you may have read, I was whisked away for

> emergency surgery and didn't even think or realize what was

> happenening. This time's different.

>

> On February 16th, my ortho is going to perform arthroscopic surgery

> on my knee to see what there is to see, cut a ligament, correct

> what he can and hopefully avoid a major, " bone rearrangement " , as

> he so happily called it.

>

> Since the surgery isn't next week or tomorrow, I have lots of time

> to dwell on this and ya know what? It scares me silly.

>

> Has anyone been through this before? What is the procedure like?

> I hope I'll be given adequate pain control since I'm opioid

> tolerant. Is it an outpatient thing? All I know is I'll be under

> general anesthesia and not to eat or drink after midnight the day

> before. Nice, huh?

>

> I have half a mind to just all the whole thing off, but then I

> won't know if it could have helped or not and my left knee is

> really annoying me some.

>

> Anyone been down this road before?

> --

> Dodge

[Guest guest]

Dodge and group;

Dodge I had nothing like that done. I had a few surgeries. Sorry to

hear you got to go through a knee surgery. I pray for the best out

come ever for ya.

I just wanted to say try to put it on the back burner (so to speak) .

Worrying just doesnt occomplish anything. I know it's easier said

than done. You have been through so much. Since it's surgery you

will most likely have good pain control afterward. I would demand it

gently. One thing I have notised is doctors may not give pain meds

easy but they do with surgery. You will be fine.

So, please put it in the back of your mind and not worry. Technology

has went so far in the last decade. So you should get something good

for pain. I would say send some pain meds this way haaaaaaa. But

thats illegal. Take care and don't worry. God bless

gentle hugs

Clora

**************************************************************

>

> Ok, so I'm a paramedic. I'm used to arterial bleeds, gunshot

wounds and even corpses, but I can't handle a simple surgery without

freaking out.

>

> I went to the orthopod today for my left knee. Now, the last time

I hurt this knee, as you may have read, I was whisked away for

emergency surgery and didn't even think or realize what was

happenening. This time's different.

>

> On February 16th, my ortho is going to perform arthroscopic surgery

on my knee to see what there is to see, cut a ligament, correct what

he can and hopefully avoid a major, " bone rearrangement " , as he so

happily called it.

>

> Since the surgery isn't next week or tomorrow, I have lots of time

to dwell on this and ya know what? It scares me silly.

>

> Has anyone been through this before? What is the procedure like?

I hope I'll be given adequate pain control since I'm opioid

tolerant. Is it an outpatient thing? All I know is I'll be under

general anesthesia and not to eat or drink after midnight the day

before. Nice, huh?

>

> I have half a mind to just all the whole thing off, but then I

won't know if it could have helped or not and my left knee is really

annoying me some.

>

>

> Anyone been down this road before?

>

>

> --

> Dodge

>

> Read my blog at:

> http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

>

> http://www./groups/a_different_reality

>