First published in Crow's Feet in Medium on 01/21/2024
I finally got in for a consultation with the local orthopedic practice and had x-rays done. I don’t think knees are supposed to look like that. I thought my knees hurt before, now that I see how bad they are my knees hurt even worse. I’m surprised I don’t spend more time screaming from the pain.
Unfortunately, the local practice won’t work with fat patients, so I have to drive 100 miles away to see another practice. Hopefully, they won’t give me the brush-off. The one positive is my mom lives up there and we can stay with her the night before the surgery (if I get the surgery).
They called me yesterday and I have a consultation with them in a couple of weeks. The local practice forgot to send my scans with the referral, so they will need to get ahold of them. The next time we are over that way we will stop at the hospital and pick up a CD of all my x-rays and take them with me for the consult. I’d like to have a copy of them for myself.
I plan on being silly, I will press to have both knees done simultaneously. The left knee is almost as bad as the right and I want them both working. Gardening season is fast approaching. Plus my 84-year-old mom wants to go to Atlanta, Georgia, in October for the big Highland games. It will be the last time she can go, but she can’t go alone. I LOATHE flying with a passion, but I want to make sure my mom has a chance to enjoy a trip she used to make with my Dad one last time.
Plus I don’t want to have to go through the whole thing twice!
I’ve been researching total knee replacement and even caught a “how it’s made” type show that covered the making of the parts. That was so cool.
The hubby had envisioned me being in the hospital for days after the procedure and was surprised when the doctor said it was an in and out the same day procedure with the possibility of having to stay overnight for some reason. Needless to say, the hubby has to reassess what will be involved. Modern-day surgery and science is so freaking cool!
My meniscus repair back in 2008 was supposed to be in and out, but I ended up with a huge bruise where they did the spinal block, so I was in for an overnight stay. Not to mention, I didn’t regain feeling in my lower half until later that evening.
I’ve been following Donna Gerard’s knee replacement surgery, so I am getting an idea of what I will have to look forward to after surgery. It is a lot more involved than when I was recovering from my meniscus surgery.
I’ve also been reading the practice's post-op information on their website. I think I am already ready for the post-op recovery. Over half of their suggestions and checklists are stuff we already do, I just need to make sure there are plenty of things in the kitchen and pantry that hubby can cook while I recuperate (which is going to be seriously difficult as it is MY kitchen. I am a tad possessive in regards to it).
So, here is hoping that all things align (Medicare, Blue Cross of Idaho, my Medigap, and the surgeons) and I get my new knees. I would like to start the garden season without freaking out the neighbors when they go by and I am laying flat out on the ground weeding.
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