Banal .. Open to any topic on and off topics etc

[aussiegirl]

Hi Dottie, Mike went in early Monday morning to have an arthroscopy on his knee. The cartiledge was very torn and there was bone on bone. He has had his cartlidge trimmed plus an Osteoplasty, and Chondroplasty (shave knuckle coating).Came out about 1 pm. He was able to hobble to the car, so we thought "hey that's looking good, he should be ok" WRONG!!! by the time he had got half way home in the car (1 hours drive) he was in absolute agony as the anesthetic was wearing off. We stopped at McLaren Vale to fill his script for Panadeine Forte and he swigged them in the car. By the time we got to our place, 10 minutes up the road, he could hardly stand to put his weight on his leg. He managed to get up the stairs by hanging on to the rail and leaning on each step with his other hand and then hobbled to the bed and that is where he stayed for nearly 3 days. Could not walk to the loo, could not move his leg by himself, nothing. I have spent the whole week with him looking after him. He was contacted by the surgeon the next day and he told the surgeon that he was concerned because his leg was so swollen and he couldn't put weight on it. Asked the surgeon about taking anti inflammatories as well, but he said that the research had shown that they have very little effect early in the piece but can help a bit later on. Well he decided to take them anyway, and thinks they may have helped a little.
He has been icepacking his knee, top and bottom as much as he can, but also found a heat pack helped a little too. By Wednesday he was able to stand up and hobble to the toilet, but I ended up hiring some crutches for him to help him get around. Tonight he has been hobbling about from the bed to the computer without the crutches, so that is an improvement. He still can't do all the exercises because the knee is quite swollen above the knee cap which restricts how far the knee will bend. He also is unable to lift his leg unaided, it just cant take the strain of lifting it's own weight. Spoke to the surgeons PA today and she put us onto the nursing staff at SportsMed because he was concerned about the slow progress and not being able to bend it properly as well as a bit of blood still weeping from under the bandaids over the incision wounds, but apparently all is well and as per normal, it will just take some time. He seems to be a lot better today so lets hope he has turned a corner. He has another week of work and then an appointment at the specialist to have the stitches removed. Not sure if he will be ok to return to work after next week. Hope it doesn't take too long because he is only casual and therefore gets no wage whilst he is off.

Hope you are feeling better tomorrow Dottie. Was thinking about you today

[T1 Terry]

Do you have a tens machine Jenny? The pads making an x across the knee with the positive and negative of each pr. Just constant pulse, not the ranging up and down one, he will find the frequency that works best for him. Pumps the area full of endorphins, great for an hr or two so you can start to do the exercises without screaming.
The latest drug my rehab specialist came up with was Norflex 100mg 3 times a day and 1400mg paracetamol ( 2 panadol osteo) 3 times a day, keeps the pain under control. The Norflex starts to effect the vision after a while, the little muscles in the eyes get so doped out they can't seem to get the focus part all together, but by then it should have settled down anyway. Watch out taking those anti inflammatories for too long, the damage the stomach lining and then you suffer gastritis for the rest of your life, wish someone had told me that

[Dot]

GOOD MORNING NOTE THE TIME PLEASE All sounding normal Jenny, remember Mike is a "MALE" Also remember that taking the tabs with "Forte" tabs because of the codeine he may get constipated then he will be a bigger Mere Male Don't need to worry about tummy ulcers as you will only need them for a few days and then panadol osteo will be enough I reckon the script that he got from sportsmed would have been PC Ibuprofen 200mg 20 tabs ? so take AFTER food and should be cool. He had the same op as I did on my shoulders and I got my exercise by lifting a glass so he might like to try that with his foot Tell him to be careful when using machinery when taking drugs never know what he may write if he gets to the computer BTW the best way for him to get up the stairs is to go up backwards on his bum, coming down just push You will need a holiday after this hint Take his call bell away.
The reason I am up at this ungoddessly time is because I went to bed at baby bath time so I needed a milo and a wee so thought I should give you lot a stir along.. Had a pretty good night really, pain pills gave a pretty good effect but I have to see what happens with no pills so the specialist knows if we go to the next step. If I get a ok result from this procedure he will look at the next and that I will be asleep for. Now for another milo and might go back where it is warmer but I have been having flushes of the steroid kind all night, rather good as it is sooo cold otherwise. Q/ Will I get a hairier chest will I bulk up instead of fat up and will my willy shrivel up Oh I hope so Good morning

[T1 Terry]

Poor George best be careful of the 'roid rage when it kicks in..... and I've hear it makes women toeier than a pr of thongs, sorry Jandals for those from the far eastern states, so George will have to careful of that as well, although Martin is sending a package that should sort that problem for a while at least

[Dot]

I think I feel chest Stubble, and my voice is different and there are "tinglings" elsewhere wait and see.
At the chance of being bombed I say...
GO THE ALL BLACKS

[Dot]

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[aussiegirl]

Hi everyone, glad you are feeling a bit better. The script he got from sports med was for Panadeine Forte so I got that not a generic. We already had Mobic 15, voltaren Rapid 25 and a generic of Voltaren rapid 50 which he got when his knee first played up. We got the generic for that so we could only buy 10 tablets instead of 20. Yes he took the anti inflammatories with food, and only took them for a day or two. Is now on no tablets at all, coz he couldnt have a beer whilst he was on those drugs, so decided to go without after the first 3 days. Finally went to the loo properly on day 4. We were warned about constipation so I made sure he had plenty of cups of tea and made him drink heaps of cordial, and when he did go, it was fine. Is coping quite well, has been hobbling around with out the crutches I hired for him for part of yesterday and today. I went out this morning to see a friend and left him to his own devices. He was saying that his leg was sore today so I asked him if he had put his stretchy bandage on. "No" said he. Why not?? asks I. "How was I supposed to get that on", he asks, "I cant bend my knee!!!!" Fair point

As for the stairs Dottie, we have a spiral staircase, so not quite enough room for ya bum, but by holding onto the railing on one side and putting his hand on the stair, he can get up one stair at a time. Has had no problem getting down either.

I have been looking after him thats for sure. I am taking next week off from work too, but after how he has gone today, I think by the end of next week he will be heaps better. Swelling in the knee has gone down alot over the last two days and so he is starting to improve on some of the exercises. Still cant support the weight of the leg unaided though, but that is mainly due to the swelling that is there.

All in all, doing ok

How about you young Dottie???

[BruceS]

Don't think you'll get much sense out of Dot till after the fooz ball........ All blacks etc etc

[Dot]

Cheeky bugga, I am female albeit I may be changing
Glad the Mikeman is improving all on the mend now. And also good to hear he has had bum success congratulations from us all I am doing ok so far so good, I just want this part to work so I can get the next step done. Took some pills at 11pm and had a reasonable night,, got up to go to the loo and no pain Just a twinge now and again but better than the last year for sure. Even went for a walk outside while there was a break in the horrid weather.. Thanks for asking
G did another couple of perches for the bird family today and they are happy with the result.
Going to camp out tomorrow night with Helen & Paul(the reformed boring one) at a nice gravel pit about 5ks from here, also taking Miss Meow with us to see how she copes with the bus moving and new smells of the area. She will be in her travel crate whilst moving then has the run of the bus and bed..

[Dot]

Congratulations to the Mighty All Blacks . 29-47