Have you ever had surgery?.What for?.Right total knee replacement.

It all started during the COVID19 year (2020) I became sick with symptoms of COVID19 such as congestion, fever,sore throat, poor appetite, no sense of smell and fatigue. So as I was recovering from COVID19 symptoms I developed pain in my lower back and my bilateral lower extremity. I took pain medication of motrin or aleve to alleviate my pain.

Few days later my right leg was so swollen I kept managing it at home hoping that the problem will solve by itself. But it did not. I dealt with it for few months. I saw my doctor who diagnosed it as Osteoarthritis. He managed it with conservative treatment. I was later referred to see a Rheumatologist who ordered series of laboratory test and identified that I was low in vitamin D. She recommended that I should be on high dosage of Vitamin D3 and that I should see Orthopedic surgeon immediately to drain the fluid in my right knee. I spoke with my primary doctor and he referred me to see Orthopedic doctor.

I met with Orthopedic surgeon who said that he will get authorization from my insurance company because I will need a knee replacement. In 2022 I had surgery to clean up the meniscus but the problem was not resolved. In 2023 I did a total knee surgery.

Unsplash.com/search. Picture of surgeon performing total knee surgery. Consent signed after a clear explanation of benefits and risks for the surgery. Patient is well sedated with oxygen via nasal canula. Automatic vital signs were taken frequently.

Google.com/search. American Ortholife.This is a picture of the bad knee cap on the right 👉 and the picture of the fixed artificial knee cap on left.

A total knee replacement is a surgical intervention in which the Orthopedic surgeons replaces your bad knee cap with artificial knee cap.The surgical procedure performed in ambulatory care setting often referred to as outpatient. I had total right knee replacement in a surgical ambulatory setting. ( Outpatient)

Outpatient surgery is more common these days. This is for the hospital to reduce length of hospital stay and reduction in human resources expenses. So many procedures that requires hospitalization are performed in ambulatory settings. These include knee replacement, cataract extraction, retina detachment surgery, crushing of kidney stones, gallstones with sound waves, abortion and the list goes on.

I was shocked when the doctor told me that my surgery will be performed at outpatient clinic. I prepared for the surgery, surgical consent signed.I was NPO after midnight. (nothing by mouth)On the day of the surgery I drank 8oz of Gatorade as ordered by the doctor. Upon arrival to the hospital I was checked in by the unit secretary. I signed all the needed paperwork. Preoperative teaching and assessment started by the nurse. The list of my medications given to the nurse. She asked if I am allergic to any medication, I said no.

I have no evidence of infection in .I left my jewelry at home,I had no nail polish. I was given hospital gown to wear.I removed my street clothes. Foley catheter was inserted to drain my urine.I was placed in a gurney and wheeled into the operating room.I was strapped down, sedated and that was the last thing that I remember. The anesthetic caused me to lose consciousness. Which was fine since I didn’t want to hear the sounds of screws. For sure my respiratory function was assessed by monitoring my respiratory rate,rhythm and depth simply by observing my skin.My cardiovascular and neurological assessment gave the doctors assurance that I am doing well.

Unsplash.com/search. Surgical knee replacement.

I woke up after four hours but in a different room with a bulky dressing on my right leg.Foley catheter removed. With the help of the physical therapist I ambulated to the bathroom with my front wheel walker with minimal assistant. I was discharged,my saline lock removed. I dressed up in my street clothes. I was given four types of medications which are antibiotics, colce,aspirin and pain medication. The intraoperative and postoperative phase were successful. Knee immobilizer in place,physical therapy ordered for six weeks. Follow up with the surgeon in six weeks. I was wheeled to the car by one of the hospital staff to begin my recovery phase.My convalescence phase was done at home since I was not admitted into the unit. I used the items below to help me during this phase.

https://www.nursesyoumoveme.com Knee immobilizer in place as ordered by the doctor.

https://www.nursesyoumoveme.com I used this to move around the house. It was very helpful.

https://www.nursesyoumoveme.com This is a raised toilet seat .It helps to elevate the toilet seat so that it is not to low for me to sit when I want to use the bathroom. It was so perfect and helped me a lot.