What Made You Decide to Have Knee Replacement?
The pain I was enduring 24/7 for several years and the fact that it was so bad, I woke myself up screaming from pain more than once.
What Were You Not Prepared For?
I was very surprised, and unprepared, for how soon they got me out of bed. I knew they were going to get me up soon but I wasn't prepared for only 8-9 hours after the surgery! I also was pleasantly surprised by the kindness and care I was given by the nurses and LPN's and Aides. They were really great.
Lessons Learned
- No one will ever understand your pain.
- Recovery is painful but there is a light at the end of the tunnel (and it is not a train!)
- If you are determined to have the surgery, don't allow anyone to talk you out of it.
- I wish I had known about the weird pain that I have in my calf after surgery. Doctor says it is because he cut muscle and ligaments and they are healing. I just wish he had said one side will feel like your being shocked (kind of like a TENS unit) and the other side will feel like you are being stabbed repeatedly. It comes and goes, it isn't constant.
