Knee Surgery Tomorrow

NY65912 · 03-01-2013, 12:23 PM

I finally scheduled my knee surgery (torn meniscus). I am having it done tomorrow at HSS by a NY Mets team doc. I hope he does a better job than they do.

I had to get it done on a Sat because he's going to the spring training camp in Fla.

Any tips or tricks to getting back to work quicker, I drive a desk for a living.

I'm pissed off because I am so darn close to finishing my IROC project, now I have to give up a few Saturdays until I can work on cars again.

Thanks

quicksix · quicksix's Garage

It is too late to start pre surgery strenghtening,but that is in your future. Ask what the chance of removal is,due to nothing being left after they clean it up.
I woke up after mine,and the Doc said there was 5 percent left,so he took it out.
He did not put anything back,so my knee is slowly decompensating. If I had known I would have researched any available options.
Good luck,I was up the next day, with minimal pain and swelling.

304065 · 03-01-2013, 01:21 PM

Mike,

The surgery is the easy part. The rehab is the hard part. But the rehab is absolutely critical to a fast recovery and regaining range of motion.

Get yourself a fitbit and start monitoring how many steps per day you take. There is no performance without measurement. Once you have the baseline established, double it. Walk out in the warehouse, walk around the block. Motion motion motion.

You will be happier too!

Amail · 03-01-2013, 01:29 PM

I had my knee surgurated years ago. My diagnosis was rare, but the surgery is pretty similar.

In addition to everyone else's advice to expect "rigorous" rehab, I think having a good doctor makes a big difference. A pro baseball team's doctor sounds like a ringing endorsement to me.

jwgn777 · jwgn777's Garage

Good luck with you surgery. Don't worry am sure you surgeon is much better then the Mets. LOL

lendaddy · 03-01-2013, 02:58 PM

Sounds like a simple scope, yes? If so I think you'll be surprised how quickly you recover.

oldE · 03-01-2013, 03:19 PM

A good friend just had a major procedure done to remove cancerous bone from the hip to below the knee on Jan 17th. They took our a 5 year old hip transplant and replaced the femur and knee joint and the tib & fib are socketed and cemented into a piece below the knee. He is walking close to a kilometer/day with a frame and can do stairs. He says his physiotherapist has been a major player.

I suspect also he is a tough b@stard.

Best of luck
Les

NY65912 · 03-01-2013, 04:12 PM

Thanks to all.

I don;t think that anyone can help the Mets!

Yes, it's a simple scope job. It's just that I want to minimize the down time because I have a ton of work to take care of. Plus my 90 year old dad is coming out of rehab from his hip surgery.

John, would a micrometer or dial indicator be helpful in measuring? I'll take your advice, since you are the smartest guy I ever met!

I was thinking of riding on Billy's shoulders for a few weeks, you remember, the guy that delivered the sheetmetal to your place

Thanks

304065 · 03-01-2013, 05:20 PM

Mike, you could ride on that Gentleman's shoulders. . . if you needed to cross the Hudson!

Good luck and try to get to Naproxen as soon as you can.

LakeCleElum · 03-01-2013, 05:27 PM

Tip: Push yourself....No reason you can't bicycle the day after surgery....You have to start out doing 1/2 revolutions, and then pedaling backwards and try it again....In 1/4 mile, you'll be making full revolution and work it from there........

I've had 5 knee surgeries and one replacement......

NY65912 · 03-01-2013, 05:44 PM

I've got all my meds already. Not interested in the oxycodone. I will try to just take Tylenol.

Do they put a brace on to immobilize the knee?

5String43 · 03-01-2013, 06:24 PM

I have lost count of the number of those I've had. Gave 'em up, now doing replacements. Have had three in the past five years.

You'll do fine. Just get up and get going as soon as you can.

Bill Douglas · 03-01-2013, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY65912

I've got all my meds already. Not interested in the oxycodone. I will try to just take Tylenol.

Mate... Just take some of that Scotch.

LakeCleElum · 03-01-2013, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY65912

I will try to just take Tylenol.

Do they put a brace on to immobilize the knee?

No Brace - Just wrapped....I take the prescribed meds for 2 days max.....Just long enough to get me up, around and using it....

NY65912 · 03-02-2013, 04:37 AM

Yes to the Scotch! I do plan to get moving right away, as my body allows.

Thanks, off I go!

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

Some pretty good advice here to be sure. Careful with the Tylenol...too much is way bad for your liver and same x ten for all the NSAIDS like Ibuprofin. Don't be afraid of taking Vicadin or Norco to stay ahead of pain so you can do the PT work. Hope all goes well.

And stay off Scotch etc. while you're on meds....really !

glewis80SC · glewis80SC's Garage

I had the same done two years ago, get back on it ASAP, go hard at rehab it makes a huge difference. I took a couple Vicodin the first day then just Motrin etc, pain was not an issue. Good luck.

NY65912 · 03-02-2013, 04:06 PM

Back home, no real plain, a little discomfort. Down the back of My legs are killing me, from the spinal I guess. Going to take a Norco and chill. Thanks

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

Glad you're out and doin' OK. One of the things that I had a hard time with was the aching behind my knee. Keep it elevated and it'll help.

pavulon · 03-02-2013, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY65912

Back home, no real plain, a little discomfort. Down the back of My legs are killing me, from the spinal I guess. Going to take a Norco and chill. Thanks

If your leg pain is from your spinal, I'd ask if they used xylocaine (lidocaine) for that as it has a well known propensity to cause transient radicular irritation (TRI) but can rarely be caused by other spinal meds. Positioning concerns would be my next guess followed by bad luck. Fortunately, TRI is generally self-limiting.

Glad it seems to have (otherwise) went well.