Four ACL Knee Buddies

[joval]

Hi All,

Back in early March, Karen penned us, Knee Buddies.  Rachel, Karen & me and another  Jo! were all to get new ACLs within a few weeks of each other. Rachel went first and this week Karen and today me.  We have a lot of geography between us, too bad, we would be a sight getting together with our braces, crutches, walkers and pain meds.

Today went well.  Arrived at the hospital at 5:30am.  At 7:15 I was in the OR (theater)  Awake by 11:00.  First word, PAIN!   I had a nerve block before the surgery.  I don't think it had fully taken by the time I woke.  My knee was screaming. It only lasted minutes. They quickly gave me something pretty strong.  When that eased off hours later the discomfort was more realistic.  I was in my own bed by 2:30 in the afternoon.

I can see why some stay a day or two in the hospital.  I wish I could have.  Learning to use the crutches, CPM, cold machine and braces while in pain, nauseous and on drugs is tough.  I have a great husband.  I could not do this without him.  After my CPM we had trouble making the brace right again.  He put it on himself rather than continuing to move my leg about.  Once he did that he was able to put it back on me.

I have a post-op appointment tomorrow afternoon.  I'll learn when I start PT.  Let the healing begin!

Take care.
Jo

[emergRN]

Glad to see you are on this side of it!  In a few days from now, you will be a pro with the crutches...and less stoned!  Keep up with the ice and the pain meds, and you will do fine.  Try to time your pain meds so that you will be well covered for your trip to the doc tomorrow!

Hang in there Jo!

W

[joval]

Hi W,
I see what you mean about staying ahead of your meds.  My order is for every 6 hours.  I have been doing every 4.  Even that is difficult.  Was lt you that mentioned setting an alarm during the night?  I wish I had listened.  I slept through hour 4 and was into hour 5.  It wasn't  pretty.

I see the OS today and will discus how often I can take them.  3 1/2 hours would be great.  Thanks for the tips on timing.  I'm learning how important it is.

Take care.
Jo

[emergRN]

EEk!  What are you taking?  You should follow the instructions.  Mine were ordered every 4 hours.  Yes, do ask your doc!  He might put you on something else.  My cooling machine has a temperature control, and I could leave it on all night.  It had a motor on it.  Is yours like that??  Did you use it overnight?  That really, really helps!

I doubt if they are going to let you take anything Q3.5h.  A lot of the meds they give you have acetaminophen in them.  You have to watch your liver!  Jo, you won't be ever "painfree".  It is just to getting to a point where it is tolerable, and you can get relatively comfortable.

Yup..that was me that said to set the alarm clock!  There is nothing worse than waking up with nothing on board, and in crazy pain!

What was your graft source again??  My worst pain both times was from where they harvested my graft.

W

[JintsLady]

Jo,
Good to hear you made it through.  Sorry to hear you're in pain.  It's great to have not only one but two other friends going through the same thing.  I'm going in two weeks.  I will be watching and reading about all of your progess.  It's my second acl surgery (L in 2005) so I know what to expect, although I don't know if that's good or bad 

[tomsutton]

Hope your doing well, I know what your going through. The first 2 weeks are definitely the worst. Just try and keep on top of the pain. Just stick with it and you will get through it

Good Luck

[joval]

Hello W , Jintslady & Tomsutton,
Back from my OS visit.  What a relief having all the bandages removed.  I also had a compression stocking.  He said I could leave that off as well.  Freedom!
I asked about my meds.  He said he wrote every 4 hours.  I told him it said six.  We were both right.  His instruction sheet read 4 and the pill bottle read 4.  I was using my instruction sheet.  He also said I can do every 3 1/2 hours.  The only problem with that is Florida has gotten very strict with pain meds.  The state monitors what doctors write.  He said it shouldn't be a problem but be aware.
He also said my surgery went well BUT.  They had trouble with screwing the new ACL into my bones.  My bones are very soft.  He ended up using staples. He assured me it will be fine.  So, he spent more time playing around in there.  I have been fighting osteo drugs for a few years.  I look at the side effects and they scare me.  Doc said get on them soon.  He saw first and the need for them.
I start PT Monday!
You are welcome to join our little group Jintlady.  Having been through this already you know more than us!, me at laeast!  
Right now, 45 minute mark of second CPM session of the day!  After that my ice machine.  W, my husband said no temp control but there is a flow control.  Yes, motorized.  
Take care.
Jo

[emergRN]

The flow control is what controls the temp!  I always put something under the cuff, or it can get too cold!  Glad that you have your frequency worked out!  I am sure tonight won't be so bad!  It does calm down quickly after the first couple of days!  Sometimes the compression can cause increased pain if you have had a lot of swelling as well.  I almost went insane for a short while after my first ACLr.  I was crutching around the house in agony.  I couldn't stay still!  My friend who is an ortho nurse, loosened my ace bandage...ahhhhh.  It was instant relief!!

I should have known that, but I was on drugs...lol!

W

[JintsLady]

Hi Jo,
Thank you so much.  If the others don't mind i'll check in now and then.  I remember the relief when they took the bandages off, it was wonderful.  Last time I didn't have a CPM but i'm told I will this time.  I've also gotten a cold therapy unit, I remember never having enough ice. 

I hope you're staying on top of those meds, I don't care what they say they are a blessing in the beginning. 

That's great that you'll be in PT right away, it's important.  Make sure you do all they say! 

Keep me posted on your progress, i'm counting down the days until my day!

PS- i'm a Jo too, lol

Jo

[DennisKnee]

Hello! Hello Musketeers & Co.

I'm due for a tablet soon so I thought I'd get a few lines in before I'm off with the fairies again. Make sure you get that alarm set, Jo! I'm doing pretty well and it's really just my exercises that aggravate Dennis (my left knee) so thanks again for that hot tip, W.

No graft harvest site for me to heal so I'm thankful for that. The car trip home was a little rough despite having a double dose of Endone before leaving the hospital. Apart from that, nothing too bad.

Time for a tablet and a snooze. I've been sleeping so much the past 24 hours. It's been nice - much better than in the hospital.

x Karen

[Calamityrach]

Hi Jo !!!

You sound like your doing great !!

Try and keep your leg elevated as much as possible and the ice it helps when doing your exercises as the knee's not so swollen !!

Gosh I'm racking my brains to think what else to advise you !!

I have to say the pain from from Hamstring where they took the graft is painful and the only pain I have at the moment, unfortunately my Physio said this can last up to 12 months until it heals, I find putting a cushion under the top part of my leg helps.

I'm slightly stressing myself as on Sunday I have to go to a family lunch which is a good 2 hours away and I'm not looking forward to the car journey, also sitting on a dining chair hurts !!!

Hey one thing Jo and everyone my lower leg is numb a pins and needles feeling, the Physio said that a nerve may have been nipped anyone else have this??

Jo keep me posted and I'm here if you need anything all be it 4500 miles away !!!

Loads of luck

Rachel
xx

[joval]

Good morning friends!

My husband set the alarm to go off every 4 hours last night.  This morning was much better than yesterday. I immediately went on the CPM when I woke.  Leg was so stiff from being in place all night.  I have my CPM on my bed.  I hoped to use it from the couch but it didn't sit well there.   
Jo, you will still need ice for the cooling unit.  My husband is out buying another bag right now.  It is a blessing! He just told me ours holds 10 lbs.  It seems to last 24 hours. 

 I'll go on that right ice after my CPM   My DR suggested 2 hours 3 times a day.  How about the rest of you?

I'm a little concerned about the doctor telling me they had to use staples instead of screws because my bones are so soft.. I haven't been able to find anything online about that.  A few years go my bone density test showed I was close to osteoporosis.  I just have not felt good about starting to take the drug for it. The commercials on TV are like a comedy skit when they list of side effects.  Right now I'm just hoping staples hold as well as screws.

Rachel, mine is allograft so I don't have the secondary site.  I have heard that is somewhat more difficult.  I can understand why.

Karen, I plan everything around my little pills!  My son emailed wanting to know what would be a good time to call.  I gave him the second half hour after my dose. Edge is off the pain and Mom doesn't sound too loopy.


Hope you all have a good rest of the day as mine just starts.  It's so good to be able to say how I really feel.  I feel I need to be at my best for family.  Here, you understand what I mean.  That helps so much!

Jo are you Joanne, Josephine, Jo-Ann or something else?  Joanne here.  wHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

That's it froM Sunny Florida! 

Take care.
Jo

[JintsLady]

Hi Jo and All,
I'm JoAnn and i'm in New York, although I do have family in Florida, Boynton Beach. 

I am definitely going to set that alarm to take my pills after my surgery.  I never thought of that!  I remember waking up in pain and really having a hard time catching up to it last time.

I'll be having hamstring autograft again.  Same as the L knee.  I will say, it's been 7 years since my L knee was done and I'm pretty happy with the results.  I have some very minor stiffness and I do still feel the difference in the hamstring but nothing that prevents me from doing anything I want and now they'll feel equal!  LOL

It's T-11 days to surgery.  I just want it done!

Jo, what about some of those supplements for bone health?  Could you take those?  I don't know too much about staples, I had screws put in my L knee and will have same with R knee. 

Keep positive thoughts!  Hope you all are doing well! 

Keep me posted on your progess!!

Good Luck,
Jo

[joval]

Hi Jo,
I can't take credit for the alarm at night.  That comes from our NFLD friend emergRN.  I started my day much better today than yesterday, thanks to that tip.
How did you tear your ACL, twice?  Are you near NYC?  When we lived in MA we did a few speed runs a year.  As the saying goes, I Love NY!
I'm just north of Ft Lauderdale now.
I'm going to have to study my osteoporosis options.  My dentist doesn't like the drugs at all.  I do take vitamin D and calcium.  In the past few years I've cracked ribs coughing and on a roller coaster ride. Besides the tear  I also had numerous micro fractures from my fall.  Time to admit my body is aging. 
Feel free to ask questions.  The people on here have been wonderful.  I learned so much in my preparation.  I was misdiagnosed after I fell.  Even though I had an MRI that showed a possible complete tear the first OS told me I bruised my knee.  I got encouragement here to get a second opinion and also advice on questions to ask.  I was such a novice. 
Chat later.
Jo

[DennisKnee]

Hey All,

Rough day and had to take an extra tablet. I think the waterproof dressing is too tight over my kneecap and it pulls when I'm in my CPM. A little frustrating but that's the worst of it. The incision/stitches are getting itchy, especially the one on the kneecap and it looks like there's a little redness. Perhaps the itch is a sign of healing? I'll have my dressings changed and get my GP to peep everything on Monday.

The spasms in my quads have started and there's nothing like a muscle contraction to send a sharp pain through the knee! Wakes me up in a hurry, that's for sure.

Ah, it's all in the name of recovery  Let the games begin!

Jo - bless your husband for taking such good care of you.

Well, I've got a few exercises to get done before bedtime......

Take care

x Karen