I am hungry… man am I hungry! The nurses are laughing with me (I’m joking around with half coherence) and I am offered graham crackers and Canada Dry ginger ale. Tasted better than any other I have had in a long, long time. Man… did I say that I was thirsty? Well, the nurses are surprised that I’m doing so well just 2 hours after surgery (mine was at around 1pm) that I am ready to be released by 3:45 or so. Before then I believe Dr. Kelly came by to see how I was doing briefly and I’m doing far, far better than I ever would have anticipated.

It’s closing in on quarter of 4. The staff are ready to dump me out of the recovery/waiting room and do so right into a wheelchair. I need a little assistance but not much. Before you are released you have to get dressed and I haven’t forgotten that I must return to that frigid room and get rid of the robe and frilly gown. I came in with my “snappy pants”—tearaway pants with snaps on the side, similar to those you see worn by basketball players during warmups. It is a great invention and a worthwhile investment and in my state am thrilled that my pants don’t have to be pulled on one leg at a time. I’m told that I need to go to the physical therapy area of the hospital before release where I’ll be fitted with my knee brace, given crutches and taught how to use them.

After I’m assisted with dressing (actually, I think I did this myself although it’s difficult to remember) I am wheeled to the PT area and I get brought this ridiculously bulky knee brace, the Breg knee brace. I’m told later that you can cut the excess padding if it is too long, and I am fitted right into the brace. I can extend my knee straight (extension) and my bending limit (flexion) is 60 degrees. I’m told that I need to use it whenever I am “ambulatory” aka walking. Not a big deal going to the bathroom but still should wear it whenever possible.

I’m fitted with crutches and taught to use them. Intuitive—step forward with your bad leg and brace hourself using the crutches moving forward. Going up stairs, good leg first which pulls you up the stairs. Going down it’s crutches first, bad leg second, good leg third. Simple to remember—“Up with the Good, Down with the Bad.” I mastered it immediately and we were ready to go and beat traffic out of Manhattan. We got into the car at roughly 4:20—not bad after getting out of surgery only 2 hours ago!

I am nauseous, very much so. And hungry. We get out of Manhattan and pick up pizza and a vanilla milkshake while we wait for my meds to be filled at the pharmacy. I’m to get hydrocodone 500mg (take two every 4-6 hours) to fight the pain and 100mg of Celebrex (twice a day) to reduce swelling… Man, I love milkshakes, just the essence of life along with chocolate milk, sushi, superb pizza, and perhaps add in a sublimely prepared orange sherbert or frozen yogurt with chocolate sprinkles. Man, my diet is a mess but the cold milkshake really takes care of the nausea. End up getting home shortly thereafter, watching the movie “Intolerable Cruelty” with the folks to pizza and ice cream and then take the hydrocodone just to make sure I don’t wake up screaming along with the Celebrex.

OK, I’ve been in and out of drowsiness and I’m ready to pass out. I don’t feel anything in my leg since it is still so numb. I want to elevate it but the instructions say to put pillows under my ankle. It’s uncomfortable and I feel like my knee is hyperextending a bit. I put the pillows under my calf and others tell me that this is fine. I ice the knee on the wound (the top of the knee just below your patella on the inside) but don’t unwrap the gauze (which smells like rot) or the ace bandage on top of it. Can’t feel the cold anyways because I’m so numb. I eventually get rid of the ice and totally pass out.

I notice that I sleep in 4 hour intervals, roughly the time the pain meds last. I get on the PC and jump to Bob’s Knee Board for a while, check my web site TheLaw.com and then feel myself getting drowsy again. Not in pain at all, don’t take meds. Fall asleep for another 4 hours. Get ready for this symptom to repeat for 2-3 days…