Left knee replacement

A week since I last posted and though it is not as sore all the time, I guess I have been taking more of the pain meds too. It is still swelled up and though it is not "hard" like it was, it is not going down either. Ice and then heat, elevation and then walking, flexation and then straightening, nothing seems to help. How frustrating. I have talked to many people that tell me that after a few weeks the joints start to get "normal" I don't know what theat looks like anymore. Still too swelled up to bend more than about 70 degrees. I know that they prodded heck out of it about 10 days ago, but a person would think it would start to heal by now. Am I being "impatient?"

Bored some more.

I went in last Friday and they re-cut open the knee and cleaned out the whole thing. They were worried about infection, but none was found, but a lot of scarring and cogulated blood in the muscles over the knee. It was so tight it would not bend and it hurt like hell!! It still hurts, but hopefully it will get better now and I will be able to walk in the new year. It has been a rough 7 weeks for sure.

Bored is the word. I know that ther are a lot of people much worse off. I will survive!

Sorry for your luck. At least it's your knee and not your vitals! Although, knee's are almost vital to our type.

Read everything on the internet yet? Taking up any new chairbound hobbies? I know you've got to be bored.

Bad news! He drained it and it hurt like hell. then he said he is going to have the fluids analyised but it appears I am headed back into surgery on Friday to open the knee and clean it out. Shoot!

I go and see the Doc tomorrow about the swelling and general stiffness in the knee. Lots of pain too, espcially at night. 6 weeks and more of the same. The "solution" so far seems to be to take more pain meds. Not my style. I will see what he has to say.

Hope you're better now. Wife had her second in May. They have to go back in on Dec 20 because a bit of skin has incroached into the joint. She can hardly walk, but this should be simple orthoscopic work. :unsure:

Boy, that is "US" for sure. With all of the machinery out there we are still carrying "stuff" WHY?

JSC Said:

To all of you younger guys, let this be a lesson. Just because we can lift and carry, doesnt mean that we have to. Have someone help you, use the buddy system whenever possible. Invest in equipment when it makes sense, and sometimes even when it doesnt. It will save your body from a lot of unwarrented strain and stress. We sacrifice our bo0dies for money, then we spend all the money to try and get our health back. Think about that next itme you want to work 14 hours straight.

Wiser words were never spoken, OS. That macho stuff really costs us later. Hope you have a full recovery soon.

Steve Cagle

Yep. I did heavy duty abuse to my body over the years. My guys used to complain that a 200+ lb roll of polyester (12.5' x 300') was too big for 1 guy to carry up the ladder. So I'd grab a 15 footer (300 lbs) and balance it on my shoulder and take it up the ladder to make them feel bad.

My brother and I unloaded 1100 100 lb bags of granules from a railcar, by hand, carrying them into our shop which was an old packing house with a floor too rough for a dolly. Had to get the railcar unloaded and off the siding in 24 hours so we worked straight through, sometimes carrying 2 bags at a time. Doing the math, each of us carried 55,000 lbs of granules off the truck, across the alley, down about a 20' hallway, make a left turn and into an old meat locker where they were stacked.

Add in around 11 years of kicking and punching heavy bags and people in the karate business and my joints feel like I'm 149 years old sometimes.

Ouch!

Today was a bit better. Lots of ice and even more laying down flat. Boring as heck.

John, I would definetly get back in to have it checked out. Shouldn't hurt so much after this much time.

Here's a story to try to get your mind off of it.

About 30 years ago my uncle went in for a vasectomy. About a week before deer camp. Probably not the best timing but he didn't want to wait. He was probably worried that after 2 weeks in deer camp he'd come home super fertile. So he gets the procedure done and a few days later when things should be pretty well healed he started having pain, tenderness and swelling. So he goes back to the Dr. who tells him that it occasionally happens but it's nothing to worry about just take it easy and every night you should soak the package in warm water with some concoction that he gave him. He told the Doc that he was leaving the next day for 2 weeks in deer camp, our camp is an old army tent, GP-Medium if you're familiar with them, we're out in the middle od nowhere and that it wasn't going to be easy to do that. Doc said- Do the best you can and it will eventually be OK. Anyway, the funniest sight I have ever seen was Unc sitting on the edge of his cot hanging it all out a coffee can. I sure wish I had thought to get a picture of that!

A really bad day today and it is getting much worse. I have no idea what is wrong with the new knee, but this is certainly no picnic. It hurts like hell and is swelled up about as much as it can be. It is not infected either. This is not good!

Thanks Steve.

" To all of you younger guys, let this be a lesson. Just because we can lift and carry, doesnt mean that we have to. Have someone help you, use the buddy system whenever possible. Invest in equipment when it makes sense, and sometimes even when it doesnt. It will save your body from a lot of unwarrented strain and stress. We sacrifice our bo0dies for money, then we spend all the money to try and get our health back. Think about that next itme you want to work 14 hours straight.

Wiser words were never spoken, OS. That macho stuff really costs us later. Hope you have a full recovery soon.

Steve Cagle

Hey Branden, give me a call for sure. If it wasn't for the drugs, i would be in a world of hurt. I am trying to get through one night without any and then i am sure that the recovery will be quicker. The swelling and inflamation is what really hurts. The ligaments are stretched taunt and all of the attachment points only take a little bit to fire up and spasm. that really hurts!

To all of you younger guys, let this be a lesson. Just because we can lift and carry, doesn't mean that we have to. Have someone help you, use the "buddy" system whenever possible. Invest in equipment when it makes sense, and sometimes even when it doesn't. It will save your body from a lot of unwarrented strain and stress. We sacrifice our bo0dies for money, then we spend all the money to try and get our health back. Think about that next itme you want to work 14 hours straight.