Post Surgery

Here is my disclaimer on this post- I am under the influence of some pretty strong narcotics in order to block the pain from the ACL surgery I had 2 days ago. So, if this post rambles, seems disjointed, offends, or just sounds plain dumb, it's the drugs talking.

Wednesday morning, Yvette took me in for surgery on my ACL. Dr. Gregorius tells us right before surgery that while he is in there replacing my blown ACL with one from a cadaver, he was going to check on the break and the patella. If he needed to he'd trim the patella and if necessary drill some holes by the break in order to help that heal better. Worst case scenario he said and if he had to take these measure, it would mean 6 weeks of no weight bearing on that leg.

So, I put on the sexy gown, get wheeled into the surgery room where the anaesthesiologist slips some drugs into my IV while asking some questions. That was about 7 am. At 11:30 am, I hear them say that Yvette is free to take me home and I hear Dr. Gregorius tell her that he had to trim the patella and drill the holes. Yikes! Worst case scenario realized.

I've had surgery 3 times now and each time I distinctly remember thinking that they should never send someone home in the shape that I am in when they discharge me.

Nonetheless, Yvette and some rookie nurse dump me into the front seat of the Honda for the ride home. I spent at least the next 10 hours somewhere between moaning and screaming outright because of the pain. Wow! This one hurt.

My follow up appointment with Dr. Gregorius was at 1:30 the next day and the first thing he said to me was "How was last night?" He really didn't even need to ask. He's had 3 of these surgeries and knows what he did, so it was more of a "welcome to the other side of surviving that hell." He immediately upped my prescription from Hydrocodone to Perkoset ( about 2 times the strength).

I went in to my first round of physical therapy right after that appointment, a mere 26 hours after surgery. The PT seems like he's going to be ok and he's been through this surgery too. That means a lot to me, because I know he understands the pain. We worked on a couple of exercises for about 30 minutes then he sent me on my way to fill my new prescription.

The new drugs helped but it was still a tough night on Thursday.

It has progressively been getting better although there are bursts of crazy pain. However, I can't help but be excited that now I get to start the recovery process and when it is done, I'll have a knee stronger than I've had in probably over a decade. Everyone tells me to make sure I do all of my physical therapy and the harder I work there, the better I'll be. Anyone who know me, would know that those words aren't even necessary. Nobody outworks me at anything and I am the king of following through on commitments, so by the end of all of this, I will be in great shape.

Tomorrow, I am going to attempt to dial back the medication and hopefully get off of it all together by Monday. I hate the feeling out of being out of control and this stuff certainly provides that sensation.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for me or sent well wishes. I really appreciate it.

I blog more later this week, but right now I am drifting off to sleep.