knee arthroscopy

I'm generally do not write in our blog, not because I do not like to write but because I never find the time but now that I can't go anywhere I might as well write about my adventure. Last Tuesday, Dr. Hussain (wonderful surgeon) completed a knee arthroscopic on my  left knee. This surgery is done by making small cuts on your knee and looking inside using a tiny camera and then a second small hole was cut to insert a drill into my knee. It all started around 1:45 with some general anesthesia. I was most fearful of this step but it turned out to be the best nap I have ever taken! Once I was asleep, they placed a cuff-like device that around my thigh to help control bleeding. He then cleaned out floating cartilage and drilled 15 holes into exposed bone allowing bone marrow to bleed out (not a medical surgeon, this may not be the technical terminology). The surgery last a little bit over an hour. By 4:30, I was sent home in a secure brace and instructed not to walk for six weeks (there were a couple of more details but I spare you the boredom). During these six weeks, the bone marrow will form scabs in the holes in my cartilage and serve as the next best thing.

Why did I do this? For about a year, my knee would randomly swelling up and if I took it easy for a day or two it seemed to return to normal. In May, it swelled up (like normal) but then it didn't go away. After about 10 days, I called the doctor and he ordered an MRI. The MRI showed "potholes" in the cartilage. He said I have two choices, have surgery now or continue to use it and look at knee replacement in 3-5 years. So, surgery was scheduled for June.... then it hit me. I can't walk for 6 weeks, I have 4 children, it's summer break,.......so surgery was postponed until August and I limited all of my activities to walking.

What caused it? I'm blaming genetics but it's probably a combination of my lifestyle and genetics.

SEVEN days post surgery: I have officially made it 7 days without walking and other than every muscle in my body is sore. Sore is not the right word, it's more annoyed that I'm using them in irregular manners.

ARMS - were not created to lift by body with crutches.
RIGHT LEG - I now have amazing balance only wish I was working on my left leg because I am right side dominant.
HANDS - they are sore from the crutches
LEFT LEG - not bad at all, other than I can't bend it past 50 degrees.

What have I learned about myself? I do  not like to depend on other people. It's not personal but I'm sitting here on an ab roller which is working very well for scooting. I have never used it for my abs, obviously :) and could not fathom having someone else come in and do anything for me. When I was completing my master's degree, I interviewed an amazing women (in her 80's) and she said something that I will never forget. She lost her son when he was 18 in a tragic accident and she said I knew (like a paraplegic) I had to learn to walk again, I will  never walk the same but I learned to walk again. I know that right now, things are not normal but I am capable of almost everything but not it the same way or the same amount of time as it was 8 days ago. Things could be far worse, basically I have a splinter and I have to deal with it for 6 weeks (only 5 more :) However, for those of you in a panic, I have asked for help. Several friends and babysitters have watched the little ones for us in times of need and made us marvelous meals and it is all greatly appreciated. Finally, Roby has been tremendous. He has done mornings, bedtimes, meals, he has even gone to Aldi's and Wal Mart (I don't think he has been to a grocery story by himself in 9 years hence, why I sent him to Aldi-s 5 aisles vs Hy-Vee's 19 aisles). He came back and said, "You didn't tell me I needed  a quarter to use a cart and I was suppose to bring my own bags."

Thank you for all the prayers and offers of help!

This is what my knee looked like 7 days after surgery. Yes, the doc had to sign his name with a sharpie on my leg before I was put under, proving that we agreed which leg he was operating on.