Day 2 Post-Op 7/24/14

The day did not start off too good.  It actually all started in the middle of the night.  I had a tough time sleeping.  It was really broken up for short periods of time here and there. I did ask for my pain medication a few times and then had to ask for more to top it off.  I felt bad cause Alicia had spent the night so she kept waking up to see what I needed etc.  I finally just accepted the fact that I wasn't going to sleep.  Around 4:00 am the nurse came in to put me on the CPM machine.  The first couple of times it pulled back it hurt but then it started to feel good.  It's a nice consistent movement that helps to keep my knee bending and stretching.

As the day went on I did more icing as well as more time on the CPM machine and some PT.  The pain again has been good and bad.  The key is to stay consistent with pain meds so it doesn't get real bad and then I'm trying to catch it up.  Plus different things seem to take more out of me which will set it off as well.  In all the things I read before my surgery everything really stressed that I do what they tell me. They, meaning the nurses, doctors, physical therapists, anyone that is involved with what I have gone through and has anything to do with my rehabilitation.  Some of the important ones are 1) to take care of the pain.  Like I just said, it's easier to stay on top instead of catching up.  2) keep doing the breathing exercises.  These seem so simple but are really important.  It's very easy after a major surgery to catch pneumonia because of fluids building up in your lungs due to not working on deep breathing.

3) do the suggested exercises.  I looked up on line what I was going to need to be doing right away after surgery and actually started doing them before I went it.  Then when the PT came in, I knew what she was talking about and the importance of what exercises are needed for what.  One exercise that is really important is not really for the rehab of my knee but it is to keep good circulation in my legs to keep blood clots from forming.  4)  stay hydrated. Drink water, water, water.  All day yesterday and today my mouth has been so dry.  That's mainly from the anestisia and the pain meds, but to help that I have been drinking a ton of water.  Plus. It helps to flush all that stuff out of your body as well.  5) rest.  Whether it be resting to go to sleep or just resting because I just had major surgery, there has to be time to let my body adapt to my new joint and basically breaking it in.  Overall those are some of the things I have learned not only from previous surgeries but also from the information I have read and heard in order for my surgery to be successful.  

I'm supposed to go home tomorrow so we'll see how tonight and the morning go.  I still have a drainage tube in as well as a catheter so I have to get those removed before that can happen as well.  Now that I am trying to move around a little more the catheter is bugging me.  Although on the other hand it's been nice not having to try to get up and use the bathroom.  It's hard work getting in and out if bed.