So I'm getting knee surgery tomorrow....

beelzelboss · #1 06-24-2010, 05:27 PM

And to admit, I'm a little scared. I haven't been up until now, it kind of just hit me as I was setting up my room downstairs. (I had to convert my mom's office into my room because its on the bottom floor of my house).

Its arthroscopic surgery, I have a legion of cartilage under my knee cap that needs to be cleaned up. The doctor is going to clean it up, then pick at the bone underneath it to make it bleed so it will coagulate, and then form a pseudo cartilage. I can't put any weight on the bottom of my foot for 6 weeks.

and no weight on the knee, and it can't bend, so it looks like I won't be picking up a bass for a while

Have any of you guys had knee surgery before? If you have good stories please do tell, but if you have a bad story, please don't tell me, I need to optimistic.... The fun starts tomorrow at 8! Woooo *note the sarcasm*

MJ5150 · #2 06-24-2010, 05:29 PM

I've had that same procedure on both knees. It's a piece of cake.

You'll hear this a million times....don't get behind the pain cycle or you'll never catch up. Good advice for the first couple post surgery days, it is.

-Mike

beelzelboss · #3 06-24-2010, 05:30 PM

Pain cycle? what is this?

i_got_a_mohawk · #4 06-24-2010, 05:32 PM

Never had it, but you can play bass lying down

Good luck! Hope you have a quick recovery!

MJ5150 · #5 06-24-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beelzelboss

Pain cycle? what is this?

You'll be in some pain after the procedure, so they prescribe you meds to help with the pain. The meds are spaced out to keep you pain free. If you skip a dose, you may start to have some pain that will be difficult to get rid of since you can't really double dose to "catch up".

-Mike

beelzelboss · #6 06-24-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

You'll be in some pain after the procedure, so they prescribe you meds to help with the pain. The meds are spaced out to keep you pain free. If you skip a dose, you may start to have some pain that will be difficult to get rid of since you can't really double dose to "catch up".

-Mike

Ahh, I figured that it was something like that. Nevertheless, I'm still nervous. Hopefully I can flirt with the nurse and get some morphine!

shadowtippy · #7 06-24-2010, 05:48 PM

I've never had knee surgery but I can understand the worry on your part. I hope it goes good and you have a quick recovery.

Jeff K · #8 06-24-2010, 10:19 PM

I've had 3 knee surgeries - all for torn cartilage. Don't worry about it. It's not bad.

Now if it was ligament damage, that's another story. But arthroscopic knee surgery for cartilage isn't bad.

I've had major surgery on both shoulders. Now THAT is some painful ####...

James Hart · #9 06-24-2010, 10:23 PM

My wife had knee surgery a bunch of years ago... they had to loosen a tendon or some such. She was up and bugging me to take her shopping within a couple days.

beelzelboss · #10 06-24-2010, 11:55 PM

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'm going to need all I can get. I'm wallowing in my self pity because I got stood up by a girl tonight.

**RedsFan75** · #11 06-25-2010, 05:18 AM

I've had both knees worked on. Not the procedure you described... I had a Chrondoplasty, where they shave the frayed cartilage off my knees then heat seal it to smooth it out. I had a co-worker who had the same process you're having.

The HARDEST part, is keeping yourself from going insane while you re-coup...

Stay on top of the pain, get you a bunch of movies, etc... I used the time to run through a DVD bass course...

Couse you're probably prepping for the procedure as I write this, but you'll do fine. Let us know how it goes.

beelzelboss · #12 06-26-2010, 12:16 PM

Day 2 of recoup, its not too bad. The amount of lortab I'm on makes me just want to sleep, and keeps me pretty stoned. The worst part of it though, I'm having major trouble peeing. I have to turn on my shower down here and that barely works.

What movies should I see?

Jeff K · #13 06-26-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beelzelboss

What movies should I see?

Well, I'd steer clear of "Misery"...

beelzelboss · #14 06-26-2010, 05:12 PM

Haha, i think that is an obvious one.

FL Knifemaker · #15 06-26-2010, 05:18 PM

I've had 5 knee surgeries. Most from skiing related injuries. I never had to wait to walk though. I actually felt better stepping off the recovery room bed. If you have to wait that long to put weight on it or exercise it, you will probably need some rehab.

basstotheface · #16 06-26-2010, 05:21 PM

I had surgery on my knees because of subluxation. I wish i could tell you a good story but I have (very reluctantly) had to quit all of my sports because all i did was run, track, soccer, cross country and it just would cause more surgeries. But i can play bass fine if that helps you.

beelzelboss · #17 06-26-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basstotheface

I had surgery on my knees because of subluxation. I wish i could tell you a good story but I have (very reluctantly) had to quit all of my sports because all i did was run, track, soccer, cross country and it just would cause more surgeries. But i can play bass fine if that helps you.

After what everyone has told me, I think I'm going to get away from running as my cardio and switch to biking. A little bit more expensive, but I think it will be worth it. Apparently I'm doing good for being on day one of my recovery. I'm getting up and out of bed to go to the restroom (on crutches of course), and an hour ago I went over to the kitchen to eat some real food.

Keep up the optimism guys!

basstotheface · #18 06-26-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beelzelboss

After what everyone has told me, I think I'm going to get away from running as my cardio and switch to biking. A little bit more expensive, but I think it will be worth it. Apparently I'm doing good for being on day one of my recovery. I'm getting up and out of bed to go to the restroom (on crutches of course), and an hour ago I went over to the kitchen to eat some real food.

Keep up the optimism guys!

Yea pretty smart idea, I could bike a lot faster (time wise) than i could even attempt to jog. I've heard there are some good trails in Nevada

**RedsFan75** · #19 06-26-2010, 08:16 PM

I had one Dr tell me never do another exercise unless it was in water... knees are just a small part of my problem. Loratab are part of my daily routine... So Recoup well, do what the Dr's tell you and you'll be fine.

Movies are more a personal thing, but to keep your spirits up, I'd go for comedies, stay away from the horror or heavy dramas.

Oh, and practice that bass.

doktorfeelgood · #20 06-26-2010, 08:35 PM

No knee surgeries but I've had both my hips replaced twice and I was told by my physician after the first pair of replacements that swimming was hands down the best all around non-invasive (his word) exercise anybody can do. I did walking in water waist deep for like 4 weeks to rehab my hips first time around. Didn't need to do it the second time. Second time was last year in May and it was a piece of cake rehabbing that time.
Best Of Luck getting back. Perhaps you wouldn't mind a little piece of advice...? DO NOT RUSH TO GET BACK Just go slow and safe and then you won't have any set-backs. )-(