Yesterday Kari drove me to my first post-op visit with the Orthopedic Surgeon, in which he (Harold Jackson, MD) assured me that I'm doing very well. He removed the staples (about 25 of them) and said that I could get the incision wet this afternoon. I have so much experience in Orthopedic Surgery, but not much from this side of the knife! Having worked in surgery for many years, I know lots about the procedures themselves; but not much, if any at all, about the recovery process. And, much of the recovery experience is subjective - different for everybody - so it's not necessarily advantageous to compare notes with others who've had this surgery; however, I think everybody does compare, at least a little.
The home health nurse, Cindy, who has been visiting me here at Kari's, is, herself, a Total Knee Replacement 'survivor.' She had the surgery about two years ago and likes to compare notes with me. Yesterday, she rolled up her pants leg to show me her scar, which is really not bad at all. My incision line looks rather yucky at this time; I know it will fade and become less angry looking.
The 'hole' near my shorts is from the drain that was placed during surgery - and removed before I left the hospital.
Dr. Jackson took out his trusty instrument for measuring the degrees of flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) of my knee. Those torture exercise sessions I've been having a couple or three times each day are really beginning to pay off. Before surgery, my right knee had developed quite a deformity, where I could not with bend or extend my knee through very many degrees. When I stood with both legs as straight as I could make them, my right knee jutted out almost two inches in front of my left. Now, as I stand and look down, both knees are in the same alignment. Yippee!
More difficult is flexion (bending); Dr. Jackson had me sit in a chair and draw my right knee as far back towards the chair as I could. He measured the degree of flexion at 90 degrees (a right angle) and said that is excellent progress as this stage of the game. I'll continue to be diligent about all my at-home exercises to increase that flexion degree to as much as will be possible with artificial knee components.
I'm anxious to get back to the gym and swimming pool. Swimming is actually my favorite form of exercise; the doc said I can swim this week and that it's a desirable form of exercise because of the buoyancy provided by water, making all exercises less traumatic.
OK, enough knee news! My newly-engaged granddaughter, Quinn, is coming home this weekend; she and my daughter, Kari, have appointments to view several venues for her wedding. As of now, the wedding date is in October, 2015; so, they have lots of time to make decisions and get things done for a beautiful wedding.
This was Quinn Easter morning - before Landon popped the
big question at Easter dinner
The Duane siblings with Landon, the groom-to-be
L to R: Spencer, Avery, Addison, Holland, Tate, Quinn, and Landon