Operation Day - Time for a New Knee!
Introduction – Knee Replacement Surgery
If you read the previous posts about my knee replacement or arthroplasty preparation, you understand how I got here. The long-awaited day has arrived. No more medical clearances, the pain is about to disappear and I can begin a new life. So, I thought. With all the preparation, I was not as prepared as I thought. Do not get me wrong, the surgery was necessary. As you will see, I would not give up or replace any of the preparation I did. The results were just not what I expected even though the surgery went well.
In this health post, I will tell you about my surgery and post-surgery recovery experience.
Hi, I’m Paul. My mission is to share my personal health experiences aiming to review what I’ve been through with you. I hope you use the information and guidance I provide to make informed decisions about your situations and improve your life in a positive way. Learn more about me.
Pre-surgery Preparation Room
We last left off when I was in the pre-operation area of the hospital. I started my IV in this area and changed into a hospital gown. I had visits from my doctor, operating room nurses and anesthesiologist. When it was my turn, I followed one of the nurses into the operating room. I was able to walk because I had not received any anesthesia yet.
Operating Room
The first thing I noticed about the operating room was that it was cold. I still do not know why that was the case. The nurse had me climb onto the operating table, with their guidance. The table was narrow. Remember, I had mentioned that I am a big guy. Regardless, the table was narrow for almost anyone unless you are small.
Surgery Time
This article describes more about knee replacement or arthroplasty procedures in case you want more information. There were only a couple of people in the room. My anesthesiologist and a couple of nurses were there. They got me onto the table, I laid down and they started to work on the anesthesia. More and more people started to enter the room. I saw my doctor and his assistant. Everyone was professional and went right to their post. There were monitors around the walls that had
my information on them. The anesthesiologist started talking to me and the next thing I knew they were waking me up while still on the table. My doctor’s assistant was finishing the stitching of my lower leg. Afterwards, I discovered that this is where they placed one of the robotic arms. He gave me a brief wave and asked how I was doing. I could not feel a thing so I was doing fine.
Completion of Surgery
My doctor had already left the room to call my wife and get ready for his next arthroplasty procedure. Someone told me that everything went well and that my leg is straight. It was up to me to keep it that way. At the time, I did not quite understand what that meant but I soon would. The nurse practitioner finished his work and they took me into the recovery room. I was a little groggy but feeling rather good. My wife confirmed that my doctor told her everything went well. He said it’s up to me to do the therapy and exercises. I must do them so the leg stays straight and have a quick recovery.
Recovery Room
In recovery the nurse was very attentive to any needs I had. The nurse gave me some liquids like broth and ginger ale. I added crackers as time went on. For the longest time I felt no pain at all. During the arthroplasty procedure, I received a block that stopped all feeling in my legs. It was great not to have any pain but I also could not move my legs. They wanted me to stay in recovery until I could move my legs a little and the block wore off a certain amount. Since I knew I would stay overnight, I did not have to wait long for a room to become available. When the room and I were ready they moved me to the room.
My Knee Replacement Guidance
I would continue to recommend that you prepare as much as possible for your procedure. You cannot anticipate every potential outcome. Yet, you can cut the surprises or unexpected results. This is surgery so anything is possible. The best thing to do other than prepare physically is to make sure you have an experienced doctor. Perform the arthroplasty procedure in a facility equipped for all possible outcomes. I am grateful that everything went as explained to me. Now, the hard part comes. Stay tuned!
What’s Next for My Knee Replacement
Future arthroplasty posts will get into my hospital stay and the care I received while I was there. They will also cover the possible complications you might have and some I experienced. We will discuss pain, medication, and physical therapy, both at home and in outpatient settings. I will give you my advice and recommendations and tell you what worked best for me.
2 Responses
Hi Paul I read your post and appreciate you taking the time to write about your experience. Glad the surgery went well and I’m looking forward to reading your next post.
Thanks Joe. I appreciate your comment. New post is coming soon.