Part II: Total Knee Replacement - The Big Event
The big day of the knee replacement finally came. Emotions were high and included apprehension and relief. For someone who suffered with this chronic pain as long as my husband had, it was a relief to know there was a light at the end of this tunnel. Apprehension came from the concern about any issues that might arise from having such a surgery.
We arrived at the hospital and went through all of the necessary paperwork. Our wait in the same day surgery area seemed endless, but finally my husband's name was called. He was escorted back to be prepped before I was able to re-join him. Soon my name was called and I went in to join my husband who by now had surgical gown on along with an IV line and multiple ID bracelets. Shortly after, he was whisked away to a holding area where I was unable to follow. My wait had just begun.
For the next four hours, I sat in a surgical waiting room while others came and went. Family were told when loved ones went into the OR, went to recovery, and when they were going to their room or preparing for discharge. I already knew my husband would be staying, so it was going to be a while before I would get to see him. I prayed often for him hoping everything was going as planned but after two hours and then three, I began to be concerned. Why I was not receiving notice of his going to recovery?
Four hours later, my husband's doctor came out to see me. He told me his condition was much worst than the x-rays revealed. He had a lot more work to do before he could replace the joint. He said there were also some issues with anesthesia; they had to switch to general anesthesia during the procedure. I was shocked that a spinal would have been considered when it was already confirmed my husband had a serious problem.
My husband remained in the post-op recovery room for four hours before he was assigned to a room and arrived there. That wait was endless. I couldn't concentrate on any reading. I went down for a bite to eat and quickly returned, eager to hear that I could see my husband.
The call finally came and I was directed to the orthopedic floor. My husband was awake and talkative. I figured that was due to the meds he received. He described the experience of inefficient sedation and remembered feeing severe pain and seeing his knee opened and bones exposed. He remembered people pulling his arms away from the surgical site before he "passed out"... I guess this is what the doctor was referring to when he described the need to use general anesthesia during the procedure.
Before long, the nurses came in and gave my husband a pain med IV. He began to relax and get drowsy. He enjoyed some jello before dozing off. I quickly got his supplies taken care of and I decided to head home so he could get some rest.
During the night, my husband called me in severe pain and told me he was getting meds hourly that were not touching his pain. This bothered me. I called and spoke to his nurse directly to find out what he was receiving. The meds he was receiving should have held him except the nurse was not giving him a dose sufficient enough to address his pain issue. I discussed how she could better use the meds that had prescribed by his doctor. My husband later called to say he received a variety of meds and began feeling a little better. He even managed to rest a little. I was very relieved.
Stay tuned for Part III: PT and DC
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: pain management, knee replacement, surgery
We arrived at the hospital and went through all of the necessary paperwork. Our wait in the same day surgery area seemed endless, but finally my husband's name was called. He was escorted back to be prepped before I was able to re-join him. Soon my name was called and I went in to join my husband who by now had surgical gown on along with an IV line and multiple ID bracelets. Shortly after, he was whisked away to a holding area where I was unable to follow. My wait had just begun.
For the next four hours, I sat in a surgical waiting room while others came and went. Family were told when loved ones went into the OR, went to recovery, and when they were going to their room or preparing for discharge. I already knew my husband would be staying, so it was going to be a while before I would get to see him. I prayed often for him hoping everything was going as planned but after two hours and then three, I began to be concerned. Why I was not receiving notice of his going to recovery?
Four hours later, my husband's doctor came out to see me. He told me his condition was much worst than the x-rays revealed. He had a lot more work to do before he could replace the joint. He said there were also some issues with anesthesia; they had to switch to general anesthesia during the procedure. I was shocked that a spinal would have been considered when it was already confirmed my husband had a serious problem.
My husband remained in the post-op recovery room for four hours before he was assigned to a room and arrived there. That wait was endless. I couldn't concentrate on any reading. I went down for a bite to eat and quickly returned, eager to hear that I could see my husband.
The call finally came and I was directed to the orthopedic floor. My husband was awake and talkative. I figured that was due to the meds he received. He described the experience of inefficient sedation and remembered feeing severe pain and seeing his knee opened and bones exposed. He remembered people pulling his arms away from the surgical site before he "passed out"... I guess this is what the doctor was referring to when he described the need to use general anesthesia during the procedure.
Photo Credit: José Goulão
During the night, my husband called me in severe pain and told me he was getting meds hourly that were not touching his pain. This bothered me. I called and spoke to his nurse directly to find out what he was receiving. The meds he was receiving should have held him except the nurse was not giving him a dose sufficient enough to address his pain issue. I discussed how she could better use the meds that had prescribed by his doctor. My husband later called to say he received a variety of meds and began feeling a little better. He even managed to rest a little. I was very relieved.
Stay tuned for Part III: PT and DC
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: pain management, knee replacement, surgery
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