Knee Surgery

[canuckfan77]

I've had an ACL reconstruction and (I think) miniscus repair on Tuesday April 2nd.

The surgeon said that the surgery went well however the swelling went down my leg and my calf severely swelled and was painful to the point were I went into the ER Saturday and was actually admitted into the hospital over the weekend with a suspected blood clot. It has been confirmed that there is no clot but the calf is still very swollen and sore.
The night I went in my foot was also so swollen that it barely fit in my running shoe.

So I guess I'm asking for anybody who has had experience good or bad with knee surgery and any tips you might like to pass along.

:toast:

 

[bleedingpurple]

Did they send you home some discharge instructions? I have never had lower extremity surgery but have cared for many who have, but those were knee replacements.

For the swelling, you want to keep the leg elevated when lying down, and keep mobile yet not over doing it, your instructions should tell you your mobility limits. They should of given you a set of exercises to perform and if it hurts, take pain meds about 30 minutes before.

 

[canuckfan77]

Yes they did, the swelling and pain was so bad before I went into the ER that the only thing I could do was recline in my lazyboy chair with ice and drugs, other than to use the bathroom.

I'm able to get around a bit more, so will look into the exercises. :toast:

 

[bleedingpurple]

Yes they did, the swelling and pain was so bad before I went into the ER that the only thing I could do was recline in my lazyboy chair with ice and drugs, other than to use the bathroom.

I'm able to get around a bit more, so will look into the exercises. :toast:

yeah If you are sitting and not moving it, it's going to
swell up and be more painful.

Also not moving it will increase your odds of a clot big time, I bet they put a heating pad on it over the weekend until they ruled out the clot

 

[bleedingpurple]

Not to harp on you lol but a significant factor to health care and costs are NON COMPLIANCE, that goes for every thing, people refusing to take their blood pressure meds, or not following stricter diets for obesity and or diabetes, or not following their post op instructions.

Back in the day when a person had a knee surgery they stayed over night, so the nurse can watch over them, assess the extremity, and help get the post op process started with pain medication and mobility. Not anymore, they send ya home and you are pretty much on your own. What should the medical community expect when they send the patient home in pain and low motivation to follow the instructions?

 

[Mr. Poon]

I've had two ACL reconstructions on the same knee. The first one there was quite a bit more swelling due to the fact that they used the patella tendon for the new ligament, so essentially the leg was healing from a donor site as well. Second time the ligament was used from a cadaver so there wasn't as much swelling.

As far as tips, if they didn't give you one, look into getting a Polar Care therapy unit. That thing really helped.

During your rehab they will show you exercises to do at home in between your sessions. DO THEM REGULARLY! That is the best advice I can give. It is tedious and it can wear you out early on but its the only way to get better, no shortcuts. On my first one the rehab place wanted me to come in 3 days a week to the facility to get work done. Due to crappy insurance I had at the time (was in college), I was paying for most of it out of pocket so I told him I couldn't do it and I would do 1 day a week and do the exercises twice a day every other day. Got in a pretty heated argument with the guy as I remember but when it was all said in done he was amazed that I worked as hard on my own as I said and it showed at the end. He said many people who don't do the prescribed 'homework' are the ones with lingering issues from the surgery.

Aslo I had essentially all my meniscus cut off as it was torn on the first surgery, I take glucosomine pills now and it helps for the activities I still do.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[canuckfan77]

yeah If you are sitting and not moving it, it's going to
swell up and be more painful.

Also not moving it will increase your odds of a clot big time, I bet they put a heating pad on it over the weekend until they ruled out the clot

No heat, lots of ice

 

[nickmdet]

good luck

 

[bleedingpurple]

No heat, lots of ice

Yeah they must of iced it after the clot was ruled out to lower the swelling

 

[arrow]

good luck

good luck

sorry to hear about this! my dad had knee and hip replacements but no acls. Lots of my friends have been through them and most have come back 100% in time. If you tend to gain weight when inactive, this would be a good time to eat healthy, i gained 60 darn pounds when i broke my foot in basketball when i was 36. Took me till this year at 52 to shed the weight,lol Keep your head up, stay positive and when all else is in doubt, drink JAGER!

good luck my friend,

ARROW:toast:

 

[canuckfan77]

No, they iced it all weekend and put me on blood thinners before the clot was ruled out yesterday.

I'm still trying to locate post op instructions, all I can find right now is after effects of anesthesia.

The note from the surgeon said that everything went well and to use crutches and partially weight bear.

The pain from the swelling in my calf is far greater than my knee pain. So far today I've been doing walking laps with crutches through my kitchen and living room. 2, and I'm done. :facepalm:

The calf seems to be loosening a bit so far.

 

[Jaxx]

No, they iced it all weekend and put me on blood thinners before the clot was ruled out yesterday.

I'm still trying to locate post op instructions, all I can find right now is after effects of anesthesia.

The note from the surgeon said that everything went well and to use crutches and partially weight bear.

The pain from the swelling in my calf is far greater than my knee pain. So far today I've been doing walking laps with crutches through my kitchen and living room. 2, and I'm done. :facepalm:

The calf seems to be loosening a bit so far.

I had that surgery on my left knee. I thought it was going to be a piece of cake getting back to work and being active. Boy was I wrong. I like you got sick a day after the surgery and could keep nothing down. The pain was a bitch. So dont feel alone. I actually think they had the physical therapy exercises to soon after surgery and it prolonged the agony. But hey the knee is great now and was done 7 years ago. Funny thing is I hurt my right knee last weekend golfing and its all swollen up and I am limping around like a cripple. Hope the hell it does not require more surgery. Did not have any complications with the calf after the surgery.
Good luck

:0008

 

[SixFive]

I have seen the calf and foot "swell up" terribly and cause more pain than the knee after surgery. My thought would be to defer to your physical therapist as long as your surgeon has medically cleared you (which I'm assuming he did in the hospital).

Serious question... Is your surgeon a hack?

 

[canuckfan77]

Not a hack. Everyone I've talked to says he's good.

 

[canuckfan77]

Definitely more mobility today, and less pain in the calf.

And last night was the first time in over a week i've been able to sleep in my bed :00hour

 

[canuckfan77]

Thank you all. Swelling and pain is way down, mobility and strength is way up. My goal is to go back to work next Monday, 1 week ahead of schedule.

:toast:

 

[vinnie]

Thank you all. Swelling and pain is way down, mobility and strength is way up. My goal is to go back to work next Monday, 1 week ahead of schedule.

:toast:

:toast:

 

[The Joker]

Canuck - I'm just gonna put this here.........