"My recent knee replacement surgery"

I recently posted about getting to this point and so I thought I would continue the saga.

I received the good to do and my surgery was scheduled at the early-ish hour of 07:45. It was a shame this coincided with a named storm and high winds and knowing as we live in the wilds a bit not only did we pack a chainsaw in the car but left before 06:00 to give us lots of wriggle room just in case.

Made it on time and I commented to my wife -  if we had got stuck we could do a DIY job we have the chainsaw in the boot.

On checking in I was collected within 10 mins and off to get marked up and do the paperwork. The Surgeon, Mr Murray, came and we had a chat marked up the correct leg and then the anaesthetist popped in to explain how the spinal block worked.

I’ll skip the wait to get to theatre as not a lot happened and the it was show on, I had asked Mr Murray if I could skip the sedation and watch the procedure on the theatre table assembly and to my delight he said yes.

In the prep room my spinal administered and smooth as silk I lost all sensation from my waist down. 

Lots of covers and protection covered the table but the team all helped to make I had the best seat in the house. It’s odd watching your leg being cut open and actually joking up with yourself and what you are watching on the television.

All I could here were streams of reassuring questions and feedback and the we were off. I knew what it looked like from Gray's Anatomy but seeing it for real amazing.

Mr Murray was superb, super confident and skilled at the human DIY of cutting away the bone that had been causing me so much pain for so long. I know he was not on his own doing this procedure but I didn’t get every team member's name ( then I realised their names were on their hats).

When everything was cut off, cleaned out and ready for my new pain free knee, I could have wept. It will enable me to get so much of my life in the country ask. 

After about 90 mins or so I was stitched up, sampled and plastered.

Back in the recovery area I was monitored and looked after perfectly.

Then when there were happy, it was off to room and a wait until the spinal wore off. Then it was over the physiotherapists to get me on my feet.

I was really keen to go home and we had a protocol of things I had to do before the pain angels 😀 would sign me off.

Exercise  demo getting off bed on bed chairs and being able to go to the loo etc etc. By 16:00 I was really close to being able to tick the boxes. 

Made it! I was delighted and am sure the team on the ward were happy to get rid of me ! 

My wife collected me at about 8 and I walked from the chair, the porter took me down in to my car pain free for a very long time.

I know my experience is not for everyone but it’s so worthwhile because now as I write this, in a bit of pain as I was told I would be, I know and understand where that pain coming from and will go away day on day. My previous pain was getting worse every day and team who operated on me have given me the ability to do so much.

It’s a procedure that’s well worth getting done and don’t let gory stories bother you, if need be they will happily sedated you and then you have it done and you would hardly know it.