I
irongirl
Guest
I saw my surgeon today, 10 days post-op. First of all I had my stitches out. The bigger incision had been sore and tender from the get go. I have a fairly large hematoma under it, and it is right at the point where the most pressure is applied when I bend my knee, ya might know..lol..anyway, it'll absorb on it's own. It was quite bothersome earlier this week, but not too bad now.
Well, the doc basically reconfirmed what he already told me preoperatively- that my knee is terrible (his words). He showed me pics of the inside before and after they were finished. As I suspected, the cartilidge was pretty torn up- there was a huge tear in the articular cartilidge that could not be repaired, so he just shaved it down and cleaned it up as much as possible. The inner compartment of my knee was already bone on bone contact, and the outer part is pretty close to that now.
He cannot offer me any type brace. An "unloading" brace requires that you have one good knee compartment, and I have none. I have an ACL brace, because I do not have an ACL in that knee, but I haven't worn it in years, and function quite well without it. My problems now are not due to ACL issues, and he said that my BB has been a good thing when it comes to the ACL issue- I have developed stronger quads and hams and it has helped.
The doc is not putting any limits on my activity, I am to continue weighlifting as per usual. The only thing he said was to use lighter weight/higher reps (which I have been doing anyway) and to lift teh same amount of weight with my hams as with my quads.
When my knee causes problems again, we are going to try the viscosupplementation route first, before we go to total knee replacement.
As for my immediate prognosis, he said that 60% of people get relief from what I had done. I am to stay off work for the next 8 weeks (I hope to be back in 6, tops).
He does give me a little better chance than most because of my motivation and physical health [
] Basically it will prolong the replacement a little longer than someone in poor shape.
Now, I need a new job with the pay and benefits I get now. Any offers?? [
]
Well, the doc basically reconfirmed what he already told me preoperatively- that my knee is terrible (his words). He showed me pics of the inside before and after they were finished. As I suspected, the cartilidge was pretty torn up- there was a huge tear in the articular cartilidge that could not be repaired, so he just shaved it down and cleaned it up as much as possible. The inner compartment of my knee was already bone on bone contact, and the outer part is pretty close to that now.
He cannot offer me any type brace. An "unloading" brace requires that you have one good knee compartment, and I have none. I have an ACL brace, because I do not have an ACL in that knee, but I haven't worn it in years, and function quite well without it. My problems now are not due to ACL issues, and he said that my BB has been a good thing when it comes to the ACL issue- I have developed stronger quads and hams and it has helped.
The doc is not putting any limits on my activity, I am to continue weighlifting as per usual. The only thing he said was to use lighter weight/higher reps (which I have been doing anyway) and to lift teh same amount of weight with my hams as with my quads.
When my knee causes problems again, we are going to try the viscosupplementation route first, before we go to total knee replacement.
As for my immediate prognosis, he said that 60% of people get relief from what I had done. I am to stay off work for the next 8 weeks (I hope to be back in 6, tops).
He does give me a little better chance than most because of my motivation and physical health [
] Basically it will prolong the replacement a little longer than someone in poor shape. Now, I need a new job with the pay and benefits I get now. Any offers?? [
]
