This is the morning of the 6th day after surgery. I have had no significant pain as yet. Some discomfort, but no real pain, nothing to warrant a Percocet, or oxycodone, though I have a plentiful supply if there should be need. I think part of the reason may be that the nerve block has not completely worn off yet, but that's only my feeling, no basis for it.
I'm on my usual medications of HCTZ 12.5 mg, which I've taken daily for several years, though admittedly not as faithfully as ordered. I've taken a full-strength aspirin a day for several years, mainly for the arthritis which had been haunting my knees, and then just because it seemed like a good idea. Doctors approved. My Ortho instructions have doubled the aspirin dose; it is prescribed now as a blood thinner, to prevent clots. I also take Pepcid as needed, same as before. I am prescribed Celebrex, but the pharmacy was unable to fill it without contacting the doctor, somebody from the hospital who I've neither seen nor heard of. I was going to use Tylenol instead, but the visiting nurse said Celebrex is very effective for swelling, so bring it on if it works out that way. I have 80 Oxycodone (Percocet) tablets, of which I can take "1 or 2 every 4 hours if needed for pain." That seems like a very wide discretionary margin, but what do I know? No wonder people become addicted. But maybe that's not such a bad thing.
This time, there was no passive motion machine which moved your operated leg for you. I guess the results didn't compensate for its expense and inconvenience. I didn't mind using it; you got the sense that something helpful might be occurring even during your inactive time. The gizmos at the foot of the bed were still there, some type of inflatable cuff attached to the equipment and to the splint-like cuffs that were on your legs. They were infrequently applied and never explained in any way. They felt kind of good though, for the brief time they were available. As before, they applied before the surgery, those white compression stockings, which are to be worn for weeks I understand, but can be removed twice a day or overnight or whatever. They're difficult to put on if you take them off, and they can be even harder to take off. I hope they're effective, because they're dreadful. They say proper sizing is key, but what if the upper part of your legs is larger than the lower part; not everybody has pipe stem legs the same diameter on top as on bottom. Oh, well. I've dealt with it before and I can do it again.
Something new was a large, heavy, black leg brace that was applied right after surgery; I think I woke up wearing it. They called it an IMMOBILIZER, which sounded to me like an Arnold Schwartzenegger movie. And it was just as uncomfortable to wear as the movies were to watch. It was heavy, dug into your skin when you sat in a chair, and put pressure on the incision. Somebody must have come up with it as a good way to stabilize the knee post surgery, but the entire focus is on having you move your leg. It must be all about that delicate balance that eludes us not privileged to know, but I would bet it's not going to last, not in its present format anyway. so that's pretty much it for meds and equipment.
The pain-----for 2 nights I woke up with pain in the area at the top of my foot, kind of sharp and demanding of attention. I got up and I think once I took a Tylenol, but the pain didn't last either time. I think they put your foot in some kind of vise during the surgery. No one will tell you that; they say the heavy bruising is due to blood flow. Well, maybe.
I'm feeling right now what seems like sciatic pain in my left hip and down the outside of my leg. I know the epidural and nerve block are put in the hip, and suppose that's why the pain now. Maybe the nerve block is finally wearing off. The top of the thigh muscle is a little sore at times, when I stretch it or do a lot of walking, especially outside. Once in a while, the stitches seem to be pulling a little under the bandage, but only minimal discomfort. I'll take a Tylenol, and I'm pretty sure that will be enough. I'm saving the big stuff for major knee pain, but so far all quiet on that front.
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