1 Week Post-Op

This past week has been a roller coaster.  I spend the majority of my time sitting on the couch hooked up to my IceMan.  For those who are not familiar with this amazing contraption it looks like a cooler (you know, the ones you try to stuff as many 'beverages' in when you go fishing) and has a hose coming from the front of it.  You fill it up with ice and then water.  Then you hook it up to this little pad you secure to your knee with these things that resemble heavy-duty ace bandages.  There are two hoses that are meant to circulate ice cold water in and out of the cooling pad.  For the first couple of days I didn't get much relief from this impressive hunk of machine because I was still sporting my relatively thick surgical dressing.

IceMan... my new best friend

Day 3 was a rough day.  I started the day by popping an extra pain pill and telling my husband I wanted to take a shower (I'm sure he was relieved).  I was a little worried about removing the compression dressing especially when I saw the amount of blood the cotton had absorbed.  My knee looked disgusting (picture to follow).  There was minimal bruising but it was super swollen (which was expected).  Getting in and out of the shower was difficult.  We have a tub with sliding glass doors so it was really hard to get in and out without bending or putting weight on my right leg, especially considering hopping around resulted in blinding pain.  Eventually I learned that by leaning on the wall and just kind of scooting/inching my left foot around slowly I could function on my own.  I'm sorry if that was a bad description, I can't think of any other way to describe my odd shower technique.

3 days post-op

My post-op instructions said I could get my leg wet but to only let the water and soap run over it--no scrubbing.  This was not a hard instruction to follow as even the slightest brush against my disgusting knee hurt.  I stayed in the shower as long as I could before forcing myself to get out.  By the time I was dry and dressed again I was ready to plop back down on the couch.  I redressed my knee using non-stick pads, a roll of gauze and topping it off with my ace bandage.  I wanted to keep the dressing as thin as possible (so I could feel the ice a little more) while still providing a layer of cushion.  Finally I laid back down and my Boston Terrier finally gave in to my pleading and cuddled up next to me (probably because I didn't smell like a hospital anymore).

As exhausted and uncomfortable as I was I was instantly met with reward when I reattached myself to the IceMan.  I could feel the cold!  Relief was practically instantaneous.

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I have been sleeping hooked up to my ice machine and I suggest, if you are ever in the same position as me, to do the same.  A relatively numb and pain free knee makes for falling asleep much easier.  The only thing that stinks is when you wake up in the middle of the night only to realize that the once cold pad is now luke warm.  This is normally when I take another pain pill, try my best to sit up, and start perusing the newest threads on Chive or continue rereading the Harry Potter books for the millionth time (I'm a nerd and proud).  Also, STOCK UP ON ICE!!!! And I'm not talking about buying a little dinky 10 pound bag, I'm talking about buying as much as you can find space for.  You will go through it a lot faster than you think.

Overall, a difficult week but not as bad as I was expecting.  I can get around alright and my husband has been more than helpful.  Patience, patience and more patience.