Fifteen days ago, I had one, complete with at home rehab. Torquemada’s victims had it easier.
More on rehab in a bit, but first, a total knee replacement (henceforth known as ‘TKR’) is possibly the most rogue, barbaric procedure in modern Western medicine. It involves the literal sawing in half, of the three major bones of the leg, above and below the knee. It is is something I firmly believe regularly practiced by medieval physician, Theodoric of York in between blood letting and trepanning (perforating the skull to relieve pressure on the brain). A form of this is performed today with modern, sanitary devices with positive survival records. And might I add, used today with legit reasons. Ol’ Theodoric and his ilk were clueless. The gangs believe in the release of cranial humors for something as simple as stubbed toes. Death was invariably the end result. Take a gander at how trepanning was performed. These ain’t crowns or tiaras.
TKR’s are common and some people rave about how life changing they are. Maybe. I’m told in about four to six months, when my insurance company tells me I’m feeling better, I’ll believe it too. But right now, too much pain.
It hurts. It hurts like a son of a bitch. I’m going through rehab at home and my visiting therapist, is a task master who smiles as she sadistically contorts my knee in ways that would make Olga Korbut wince. We are currently working on battling scar tissue, stiffness & increasing range of motion. I was able to push aside my cane & walker ten days in, but in that time I’ve done too much; pushed too hard and I’m paying the price. Walking is difficult once again. Pain is present without weight bearing & I’ve been DC’d on all codeine meds.
Damn Dr. Mengele.
I understand how important rehab is…..physical therapy is “cruciate” to full recovery (somewhere an orthopedic surgeon is laughing) but it was also stormy today & overuse of a replaced knee this early in the game is very problematic. IT HURTS!!!!
In closing, my beloved 13-year-old diabetic dog, Bixby watched me attempt to go through the motions of stretching & knee bends of today’s rehab session and yes, I cried throughout the process. He was non-chalant; he didn’t seem concerned in the least at his mistresses plaintive wails & whimpers. He simply diverted his gaze briefly, lowered his head and started sniffing around his groin area. He then replied, “Well, at you don’t have to wear a cone!”
Point taken.
