12 days post surgery

I am writing this whilst doing my first of two sessions today on the knee bending machine. 2 hours each session makes for a lot of time on the machine we have nick named 'The Rack"

It sits on the bed and my left leg is strapped in and the machine just keeps bending it back and forth. I started of at a range of motion of 60. I have been gradually increasing it daily and am up to 85. I need to get past 90. Slow baby steps! I have this machine for three weeks so am making the most of it.

I am able to get around more but have to use the walker. I have been able to do a little to help my husband out.

Still very uncomfortable and sore but it is improving slowly and for that I am grateful. The swelling isn't going down very fast though.

So, still nowhere near the "I am so glad I got this done" stage of the proceedings but feeling like progress is being made.

The doc did say the first two weeks would be totally miserable. He was not wrong lol.

Seven days on from surgery

I wish I could say it has been easy but it has not. After the nerve block wore off it has been horrible.

The amount of pain and disability has been a shock even though I knew it was going to be bad.  At least now I can get in and out of bed myself and in and out of my chair and on and off the toilet.  My poor husband who is not in good health at all has had to do everything. I did have the option to go into a nursing home but to be truthful I was afraid to when you hear of all the folks getting covid19 in them.  It would have been much easier had the risk not been there.

I have not been able to make it upstairs to the bathroom yet for a shower. Wipes have been my best friends. My hair is horrid though and the dry shampoo isn't helping at all.

It has been a miserable time.

I know it will slowly get better and things will improve. Already there has been some.

I know in time it will be worth all the pain and discomfort.

I just needed to document how it has been and currently is.

Not looking for sympathy, it was ultimately my choice to make to get it done.

Will probably look back at this one day and think how wussy I was but for now I am allowing myself a little self pity.

Please no sympathy, snap out of it or motivational comments.  I have already said all that to myself. Just allow me and forgive this self indulgence for this one time.

Hoping for more positive things to come and having undying love and thanks for my wonderful husband.

In the hospital

I had my total left knee replacement yesterday. I will be going home tomorrow and will have physio and nurse come in. Physio will be for several weeks.

After the surgery I was totally out of things and couldn't keep anything down. That wore off overnight and today I have been totally with it. I have enjoyed having meals provided and the food has been very good. I was ready for a few days of not putting three meals a day on the table.

The pain hasn't been as bad as I expected but they did do a nerve block before the surgery which helped enormously. That should wear off tomorrow and they say the third day is the worst.

We are all set up at home for my return.

will update again after I am home and settled.

So much for my posting on a weekly basis!

I am not a good blogger when I am not making much.  I did make a couple of masks and finish the last shepherd for the nativity scene but that has been it!

My mojo has gone.

I saw my knee surgeon yesterday as my left knee has been really weak and sore for a few months now.  I am scheduled for a knee replacement in just over two weeks.  I was a tad surprised as I didn't know they were doing the surgeries but they are.  I thought I would just get added to the waiting list.

I am glad it is getting done, my left knee doesn't have many miles left in it.  He told me 18 months ago that it needed replacing but there was so much going on with my husband that it wasn't practical to get it done. I know it is going to be ghastly for a few weeks afterwards but I think long term I will be glad.  I am pretty much useless right now.  I can do a few tasks a day but it is very difficult.

Will keep you updated.  Have to do pre op stuff and have a cat scan and a covid 19 screening test where they stick the swabby things right up into the nostrils.  The nurse told me it was quite invasive but not painful.  It will be good to be screened.

My thinking is that as we are social distancing right now and will continue to do so because of my husband's high risk I might as well be home recovering from the surgery when it is warm and sunny the virus should be much less active.  He is not attending for hospital appointments for himself right now because of the risk. So the timing is good.