Monday, June 7, 2010

It's Over But it isn't Over Yet

Thank you, all of you who offered good wishes and prayers for my successful surgery! It's true that a knee replacement is a very common everyday surgery, and my surgeon does hundreds of them each year. But this is the first time on one of MY knees, so I am particularly grateful for all your help!

For some reason, my surgery took longer than usual for Dr. Cohen, and I hope to find out what the problem was when next I see him. Even so, the procedure took only 45 minutes, hardly enough time for a decent nap. When I awoke, it felt like someone had replaced my legs with logs! They had given me a a spinal tap which blocked all sensation from my hips down, plus general anesthesia so I couldn't watch.

Next morning the drill sergeant hauled me off to physical therapy and put me through my paces. My second meeting with the drill sergeant was less stressful: I just had to walk. The physical therapy is designed to to get me back to full range of motion, but what good is a lot of flexibility if I can't walk? So I have two regimens to follow at home -- exercises and walking.  Monday I meet with the physical therapy folks at Benson Hospital to begin working under their direction. Can't wait to see what torture they have in store for me!

The staff and the facility at Tucson Medical Center were first rate. We were initially greeted by the free parking valet service, who patiently waited while we got Suzy's mobility scooter unloaded before they whisked the car away to safe and monitored parking nearby. The admission process was smooth, swift and sure, and we were quickly ushered into the surgical waiting area where I was allowed to exchange my designer outfit for a hospital gown. This was the big delay area, as my surgery was scheduled for two hours later than we had originally been told. Dr. Cohen is a "get-'er-done" kind of guy, though, and sped through his progression of knees quickly, moving me back up ahead of schedule!

Since I was"out" during the surgery, I can't tell you what happened there, but the nurses and technicians in post-op were all in good humor while I was with them. And the folks who took care of me back in my room were great, even the ones whose job was to wake me up every hour during the night to check my vital signs or take more blood for the lab.

While I was basking in the glories of hospital comforts, Suzy had a room nearby at an Extended Stay America Inn. They offered a special rate for people using the hospital services. The room was adequate, and she could have prepared a meal or two there it she wanted, but that's a hassle. Suzy breakfasted at Carl's Jr., taking advantage of their Monster Biscuit breakfast, and had dinner at Chili's, with their fine Margarita Chicken plate.

Any of you who are still with us (I just re-read what I've written and found it B-O-R-I-N-G!), thanks for sticking around. And here's your reward, a couple of pictures from one of our early trips to Nebraska. There's more water in Nebraska than you might think, and we saw some wonderful waterfalls while we were there!

This is the Niobrara River, which has been given the designation as a National Scenic River, passing through northern Nebraska.
From Nebraska Waterfalls
From within the Niobrara Wildlife Refuge, Fort Falls drops 45 feet into the Niobrara River.
From Nebraska Waterfalls
And this is Smith Falls, dropping 63 feet into the Niobrara.
From Nebraska Waterfalls
From Nebraska Waterfalls
And finally Snake Falls, considered the broadest waterfall in Nebraska, or at least this part of Nebraska!
From Nebraska Waterfalls
For a special treat for Mike McFall, a couple of Nebraska windmills. I believe Mike is a Nebraska boy himself, and will undoubtedly be able to place these two windmills as to their exact location.
From Nebraska Waterfalls
From Nebraska Waterfalls
Thanks for sticking with us along ... Our Life on Wheels!

15 comments:

  1. Jerry, I'm glad to hear that your knee surgery went well. It's good that Suzy could stay in Tucson to be with you during your hospital stay. Now you just have to follow your doctor's and therapists' orders and get the new knee working the way it should.

    Your pictures of Nebraska are great, but the story of your surgery is NOT boring and it's great that you are posting your blog again!

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  2. Jerry,
    Good luck with the rehab. I wish you a quick recovery and I send my best to Suzy as well.

    (your post wasn't boring at all!)
    Selene, NC

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  3. Good to have you back and read that everthing went according to plan. So now with therpy you will have new wheels under you and will glide around withoit all that pain and stiffness,

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  4. Jerry, Glad to see you are in the recovery mode,Hope your therapy sessions go by fast and you are back among the uprights really quick. maybe we can even have that foot race. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  5. Hey Thanks old Buddy for the windmills. I just lifted them and they are now in my Windmill file..

    So glad you survived the surgery. You should soon be as good as new!!

    I love NEBRASKA!!!!,,,Great place to be from... I believe you were up around the northern middle of the state. That's a ways East and North of the Panhandle where I was raised. My parents Ranch was 45 miles out in the Sandhills east of Alliance....
    Great pictures of the Niobrara....
    Hope you continue your recovery and have all pretty therapists !!:_)

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  6. Boring..nawhhhh..I was very interested. My dad is having this June 29th..I will be taking care of him and mom and of course driving them everywhere. I hope everything goes as smoothly for him as it did you! He turned 81 today..and has always been so active.
    He said he would be coming home with some kind of machine that will work his leg. Did you have that?
    Thanks for sharing..
    Cindy and Walker

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  7. Jerry, I'm glad to read your post today! That surgery may be routine or commonplace as you wrote....but we all still care about you and were hoping for the best outcome! Sounds like you are on your way with the rehab exercises and all. From what I've heard, the rehab is the most important aspect in making the knee feel like your original. You guys have a lot of future travel plans in the works so I'm sure you'll put all your effort into getting that job done!

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  8. Glad to hear you're home and doing well. Hard to imagine a complete knee replacement could be done in 45 minutes - garages can take longer to change oil and a filter!! You did check to make sure they replaced the correct knee, right Jerry? I don't envy you the physiotherapy sessions you'll be going through.

    Great pictures of Nebraska, waterfalls are among my favourite scenes.

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  9. Hey, good to see you up & flopping around Jerry & no, I didn't find your post boring. Maybe you are just a little spazed out after all those surgical drugs & finding things a little on the slooooow side. Maybe Suzi can slip you a an extra big juicy Carl Juniors with extra sauce & that will for sure speed up your recovery. Won't be long & you will be jogging over to CJ's yourself:))

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  10. In my humble opinion there is NO surgery that is commonplace...especially if it is on me(or you in this case). Glad you are ok and progressing nicely.
    Do the rehab...its important.

    You are never boring. It is not just about travel its about a life and we are interested in your life.

    Loved the pics of Nebraska. A place one day we look forward to seeing and experiencing.

    Take care of yourself!
    Mike & Gerri (happytrails)
    http://freedom2roll.blogspot.com

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  11. Glad to hear that surgery went well and you are on the road to recovery. It is amazing what they can do now a days in the medical arena.

    Definitely not boring to read and to find out you are doing well. Loved the picture of the river. That would make a great wallpaper on the desk top.

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  12. Jerry, It's good to hear you're past the surgery stage of knee replacement. Just stick with the therapy and do a little more each day, and you'll be good as new in a short time!

    Thanks for the pictures of Nebraska. They brought back great memories from a trip with Dave and Sandy Baleria in October 2006 (I think).

    Hugs to you and Suzy!

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  13. Not boring at all! I like the way you narrate your life :) Glad to hear your surgery went well!

    Oh, and thanks for stopping by my blog and choosing to be a "follower" Keep coming back!

    Nellie
    http://midlifecruiser.blogspot.com/

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  14. It's official!! I'm following so many blogs, I lost track of who's following me, and who I'm following. And if you think that's confusing, imagine how I'm feeling. Want to hear more? Ok, so I'm following your blog, but you're not following my blog...yet! :) So let's make it official and follow each other! LOL!

    Nellie
    http://midlifecruiser.blogspot.com/

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  15. Knee surgery..If it's like most surgerys they do these days I'm surprised they didn't "phone it in"..Keep doin' your PT like a good boy...and drugs if you need them..Better living through science, I always say...Keep on gimpin'..soon you'll be joggin'!

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