How’s it going?

Hi Steve
Thanks for asking. It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride as the pain management was not what it should have been, and my cognitive function is still spotty, but much better now that I'm on more effective pain killers.

I am walking very well with a walker, and my ROM is good. I have almost no swelling. Tomorrow the staples come out of the wound and Mr Pique will hopefully be able to return to work and not have to babysit me 24 hrs a day. The pain crises--there were several--were very hard on him. He's a natural caregiver but we have months to go before I'm fully independent again.

Since you've just gone through a spousal hip replacement recovery (and how is the Mrs doing?) any suggestions for me on how to show my appreciation to Mr Pique?

The cognitive function issue is a semi-common side effect of going under general anaesthesia. It correlates with how long you were under, and, um, age.

We're all doomed.

piqué I am glad to hear you’re improving, but so sorry that it’s been so hard, esp the pain crises. I hope those are past you!

I have so little cognitive function now. One can only marvel at what post anesthesia fog will do for me when my time comes. Too bad circuses have eliminated their side shows.

Actually I did not have general anesthesia. I had a spinal. I've had general many times and the brain fog goes on for months. Compared to that experience, my head is crystal clear. The cognitive dysfunction I've had is due to being on opioids. As soon as I got off the dilaudid, I could think again. I'll never undergo general again unless it's a matter of life and death.

I'd say Mrs. Miller is 95% recovered and getting better every day. She's been having some back issues that may or may not be related.

Glad you are on the upslope. Have not heard a story of such poor pain management.Hope that is not common.

All this talk about general anesthesia worries me. I'm unable to have spinals because my vertebrae have long been too compressed to allow even the finest bore needle entry.

Very glad your pain crises are over, pique. Knee surgery is unfun! You were lucky and wise to obtain that cooling apparatus to help with the healing and pain!

quote:

Originally posted by Amanda:
All this talk about general anesthesia worries me. I'm unable to have spinals because my vertebrae have long been too compressed to allow even the finest bore needle entry.

Very glad your pain crises are over, pique. Knee surgery is unfun! You were lucky and wise to obtain that cooling apparatus to help with the healing and pain!

General anesthesia isn't any less safe than a spinal, so far as I know. I just find not being able to think clearly is, for me, a horrible experience. Not to mention it absolutely prevents me from working. If fuzzy brain is no more than an annoyance to you, then I wouldn't worry about getting general anesthesia.

Got my staples out today. The incision is over 6" long! The surgeon is pleased with my ROM, my lack of swelling (ice machine, hurrah!), my mobility, and the appearance of the wound. He says I'm right where I should be.

I am wiped out from the long car trip to Missoula and back. It is scary sometimes how little I can do. I read this week that the extreme exhaustion is due to the body commandeering all availble resources for healing, and there isn'ti much of anything left over. Even though I am walking and the knee is strong, taking a shower or making a cup of tea can precipitate an energy collapse.

If you are looking ahead to a knee or hip replacement, you should read the articles and forums at Bonesmart.org. they have a lot of info. It's PianoWorld for orthopedic patients.

Why did you go to Missoula and back?

It is fascinating to realize how unique is our response to surgery, anesthesia, PT...

MrsTuner and our youngest are redheads - so what? They tend to have a 'different' response to anesthesia... MrsTuner needs very little, while our youngest has woken up during two different surgeries!

My body has taken very well to surgeries, one Dr said I have a 'super healer' response - sounds great, but can cause a number of problems such as the healing going into overdrive and calcifying inside muscles...

It makes it so hard to predict how an individual will respond based on the experience of others!

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:
Why did you go to Missoula and back?

That's where I had the surgery. Everyone I know goes to this surgeon, including other surgeons and physicians from all over the state. If your surgeon screws up your knee replacement, he sends you to my surgeon. Also St Pat's in Missoula is rated #1 in the state for avoiding infection.

quote:

so hard to predict how an individual will respond based on the experience of others!

So true! No two people--or knees--are alike. When I was pleading for morphine post-op the doc said what he gave me is "better" than morphine. Better for who?

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:
Why did you go to Missoula and back?

That's where I had the surgery. Everyone I know goes to this surgeon, including other surgeons and physicians from all over the state. If your surgeon screws up your knee replacement, he sends you to my surgeon. Also St Pat's in Missoula is rated #1 in the state for avoiding infection.

Makes sense.

We’re you able to lie down for the trip home?