I wake up very early in the morning, around 4:30am. The numbness has now left my left leg entirely and has been replaced with a dull ache right in the bone. OK, it’s time to use some of those pain killers I promised I wouldn’t and that I replaced with tylenol last night on the recommendation of my cousin. She is a doctor who told me that the hydrocodone could become addictive and a reliance as well as a source of nausea. This time, however, I needed it. Was awake for a short period and then passed out.
Woke up for a brunch. Decided I should “shower” for the first time and that was a challenge. I decided to do an “almost shower” and washed my hair, stuck parts of my body into the shower and used the washcloth method for the rest. I did wrap a plastic bag around my leg where the sutures were and saran wrap seems to work pretty well. One of the most satisfying events in the past month was this soothing, hot shower. Mmmm..... felt so good to be so clean.
Still a bit achy although glad that the feeling in my leg has returned. Doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. Take a tylenol just for good measure. Get upstairs relatively easily although still a little shaky on the crutches and try to elevate my leg while eating. At this point I’m feeling the “blood rush” that goes to your leg when seated and it feels like your knee is falling down. The bulky knee brace doesn’t make this feel any better.
I do feel noticeably stronger and more mobile than yesterday. I can put some weight on my foot and walk like Jason mentioned. My CPM setting is up to 70 degrees, no problem. You are supposed to increase five degrees in the morning and an additional 5 degrees in the evening if you can (don’t do the entire 10 at once) and while I can probably do 75, I’m going conservative. In all candor I am feeling FAR better than I thought I would. Oddly enough I have only some aching but not so much pain, most of it goes away when I’m lying down and my leg in the CPM. You can feel the CPM providing short “vibrations” in your leg that are soothing. I thought I would be in horrible mind-wracking pain, virtually complete immobility and requiring significant ambulatory care. I could probably have taken care of myself Day One afterwards but staying at the folks was nice. Day Two is easy and a luxury, prefer the hospitality a great deal but still, not horrible. Let’s see how Day Three turns out. Still hungry every few hours and must watch my horrific diet of ice cream, pizza, steak, and candy platters from concerned and wonderful friends.
OK, place on calendar to call the ISK office to make a date to see Dr. Kelly to get my stitches/staples removed from my primary wound. Remember those crossed white strips I talked about? Those have to be removed roughly 10-15 days after surgery, another reason why you cannot and should not fly for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Note that if you see bleeding you should call the office. Incredibly, all my wounds look very tight. Had absolutely no bleeding after the initial packing with the gauze. It smells HORRIBLE and made my Dad get some new gauze and cotton wrap or else deal with the smell, LOL! I’ve decided to use the frozen blue Ace packages because they work so much better than the awkward DonJoy IceMan ice machine, which is tough to wrap and keep to your leg, especially when in the CPM.
I’m still somewhat afflicted with the “several hours of awake time before drowsiness sets in” syndrome. You’ll feel a bit sapped more than normal during days one and two after surgery. This time I try to nap a bit and it works. I awaken in the evening an hour and a half later and I’m feeling even better. I’m getting around a whole lot better… stay up late to watch some satellite TV, see the big NBA brawl started by the rambunctious, spoiled brat Ron Artest (sorry Ron, you are what you are right now), the big NCAA brawl in coach Lou Holtz’ last game, wonder whether I will be brawling (LOL) and then pass out shortly thereafter…
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