Depends on what your "surgery" was. Sounds like yours was just a scope. For those of us who have arthroscopy, TTT/TTO/Fulkerson plus MPFL believe me we need every kind of pain management/support we can get. These are far more extensive and serious procedures than a simple scope.

I have found the Femoral Block is excellent if it is effective.  Problem is IF they put you out before giving you the block, NO ONE is sure if the block was effective or if he got the nerve.  If he got the nerve, it is fantastic....your leg will be numb for up to 3 days.  Great pain relief plus you can then have oral or I.V. pain relief also.  But make sure they do the nerve block while you are awake.  If he gets the nerve, your leg will be dead...no feeling....can't lift it....completely numb.  If not...he missed.

NOTHING WORSE than waking up in recovery with anesthesia they think is enough for someone whose leg is supposed to be numb.  In that case, it is worse because they are under medicating you.  But if it does work, and then they put you under.....great treatment.

Also, I have been getting these deal....they are round like christmas ornaments.  Called ON-Q or ON-QUE and are filled with anesthetic medicine and the catheter goes right into your knee (wound) and they last about 3-4 days.  I get refills and get an additional 3-6 days of relief. 

I have a HIGH tolerance to anesthesia, so I take anything I can get.  The nerve block and On-Q do not affect your brain or stomach (nausea and dizzy) and do not affect your respirations so you can have it PLUS pain medication.  Take it all.  Don't be brave and make sure you have everything lined up with your OS the week BEFORE your surgery.  The anesthesia doctor feels none of your pain and is going to give you the absolute MINIMUM he can so you don't have problems. 

Russ

Hi Russ,
Are the On-Q are new addition to your arsenal of pain relief?  When you say you get relief it makes me really glad, because you have had a lot to deal with.  For my PKRs the did a great mix of things- they put me under briefly to put in the femoral block, woke me up to check it was working, then I went into surgery.  Seems like a no brainer to me.

Elle, I'm looking forward to you next post saying that you are recovering in an ordinary, boring way with a really great PT pushing you to get back to normal even quicker.

Linda

Hey Lisa & Linda,

Yes...Lisa I got your email.  I am going to see him before Christmas.  Pain keeps growing as the bone (heterotropic ossification) grows in my knee.

My OS moved to TN in the middle of the night....had two clinics open....I went for my appt. and people standing outside.  He just emailed some of my records and Kiani's records today.  I am thinking about flying to TN and punching him....but I am too cute to go to a TN jail...might ruin my innocence!!!!

Linda...the On-Q deal was another idea my last OS had.  It was not a total relief.....but I have such a tolerance to opoids...it helped...didn't make me goofy.

I tried to get them to use ultrasound to find the nerve....with my surgeries...every time...shoulder...knee (brachial or femoral) blocks the anesthesiologist just keep stabbing me with a needle until he found it.  The moment he thought he got it...he injects the nerve and puts me out....I try to get them to wait until 15 minutes after....verify the leg is numb.

So...now looking for a new OS.  Of course....I have seen three and all three walked me to the door telling me to go back to whomever made me this way. 

Also looking for a new pain doctor.  He said he took Blue Cross....treated me for 13 months and then sent me a bill.  I got Blue Cross to pay him partially, but I can't see him again unless I change my plan ($200 a month more) so I am looking for another.  My infusion pump is on recall (needs to be replaced) and I think the catheter is broke.  He won't scan me cuz he ain't getting paid.

I am looking forward to Christmas....hoping Santa will bring me one of those Ossur bionic prosthetic knee!!  Getting all A's and one B in my classes this semester...but man is my brain fried!

Keep up the faith my brothers and sisters.....If you got a good doc....hug him or her....If you don't..............................................

Russ

Linda,

Where???  Where??  What country??  I have my telescope plugged into the Internet but can't see anyone!!!!

Actually, I have a scientific method of picking my next OS....my black lab is making the choice.  She just picked my new Pain Specialist...I think she is on a roll!!  I have these little G.I. Joe type figures that I write the choices on each....whichever doctor she eats first is my first try.

I say that because I have tried the arrogant arse who operated an Shaquille O'Neal's knees....told me he had done 6000 TKR's with only 20 infections....I was so lucky he was taking my case....only did it because his nurse was a friend of my families.....He told me my knee was infected, despite the fact that multiple cultures, tissue samples, and six (6) 18 guage needles shoved in from the top, sides, and back of my knee to draw fluid samples...all the time while I was screaming my fool head off....anyway...he told me he could tell an infected knee just by looking at it....promised if I let him take out the TKR joint, take cultures from inside my leg bones....in 2 weeks he would know exactly what the infection was, would exactly what the infection was, would attack it with a specific antibiotic....and six weeks later he would open me back up...take out the antibiotic spacer and put in a new TKR joint and I would live happily ever after.  Well, that was October 2010....still have not talked to him.....his nurse finally told me I should seek help elsewhere.  He was scared he took out a healthy, non infected joint as none of the cultures were positive...left me on vancomycin for 14 wks....8 more than the recommended maximum...ruined my immune system...now if I stop taking three (3) oral antibiotics for more than three days, I immediately get sick....last August was pneumonia.

No, I am not bitter....but OS #3 who took over for the horse's arse OS #2 just moved two months ago in the middle of the night from St Pete Florida to Sieverville TN...wherever that is.  DO NOT go to Dr. Gordon Niel Holen, D.O.  He just shut the doors on two clinics and I received my records in the mail yesterday after two months of requests.

Taking a deep breath....my mutt is looking at me funny as she does when my face gets red and I type really fast.  Amazing....I think she understands more about what I am feeling than all three of my last OS's combined!


I actually did meet a great OS in Michigan.  He is unfortunately 13 months out for surgery and my daughter is first up.  When she is better I am going to take a crack at having him fix me.

My luck he will get run over or retire by my turn.  I am going to fly up and see him hopefully this month.  It is hard...replace the wife's broken wedding band...or fly to Michigan for another doctor's appointment.  Hmmmm....after 22 years of marriage...probably going to be a Christmas ring.

Russ