The meeting lasted one and one-half hours.

First, a nurse explained the operation to us.  They will not cut
through the quadriceps.  This is supposed to effect a quicker recovery.
We were given exercises and told to start them now to strengthen our
muscles before the surgery.  The stronger they are before the surgery,
the easier the recovery.  The surgery will last about one hour, and I
will be given an epidural to deaden the nerves in the legs and
something for sedation.  Most people drift in and out of sleep.  I was
glad I would not be given anesthesia.  They use a tourniquet to reduce
bleeding during the surgery, and then catch your blood during recovery
and after it reaches a certain number of ounces give it back to you.
There is a one percent chance of infection, but they give antibiotics
after surgery.

She passed around the knee joint for everyone to see and said it is the
same size as the ones inserted in the more invasive surgery.  She said
the pain will be fairly intense when the epidural wears off, but we
will be given PCA Morphine for 24 hours, then switched to Vicodin.
This hospital has almost all private rooms, and we can have someone
stay with us overnight if we want.  They have rollaway cots for them.

They put your leg on a passive movement machine that keeps it moving
right away, but it looks much more comfortable than what they put my
room-mate on 10 years ago when I was in for a hip-pinning.  Of course
you have to wear TEDs, use a sequential to massage your legs, plus they
give you Leparin injections to help prevent blood clots.  I've never
had Leparin before that I know of.

I will be in the hospital 3-5 days and physical therapy will begin
right away.  I will have 3 weeks physical therapy in my home.  I may
have 90 degrees flexion when I come home.  They will also have me work
hard on getting the leg straight.  I may be fairly well recovered
within 3-4 weeks, but will continue to improve flexion with time and
exercise.

They send you home with a cryo-cuff to use to reduce the swelling when
you get home.

I have joined a fitness center and plan on exercising very hard after
the surgery to get the best motion I can get.  I am also exercising
until the surgery.  Tops for the flexion in this knee joint is 130
degrees, not as good as Caroline gets with hers, but hopefully I will
be happy with that.

I don't know if this sounds much easier than the older method of
surgery or not.  Those of you who have had it the older way will know
that. What worries me most is the swelling, after reading the story
that was posted about someone whose legs swelled as well as the knees.
I hope that won't happen.  I'm hoping the swelling won't be too bad.

I will see my orthopedic surgeon on Monday and schedule the surgery as
soon as possible.  I don't want to go through it, but do want to be
able to walk without a cane again.  I loved to walk and hike before my
knee got so bad.

Linda