It's been a CRAZY two weeks!

I am now officially two weeks post-op.  I thought that I was going to be able to post almost every day in order to keep a running journal of how I felt and whatnot.  Obviously that didn't work out so well for me.  It was rough and to this point in the recovery process, I would NOT have done this if I had known how bad it was going to be. 
Today is the first day that my lower leg and foot haven't swollen to the point to where it cut off circulation to my toes every time I stood up.  Yesterday was also the first day that I was prescribed and wore TED hose.  They are a fashion statement, let me tell you what, but they have kept my swelling at bay and that's all that matters to me at this point.
On Saturday, 4 days post-op, my calf felt like I had a constant charlie horse that wouldn't go away.  It was absolutely miserable and so much worse than the pain from the surgery site itself.  I was told to go to the ER when I called on Sunday morning.  4 hours later, they tell me that a clot did not show up on the ultrasound, but that I wasn't necessarily in the clear and to come back if symptoms continued.  Well, symptoms did continue throughout the week and in fact, symptoms got worse.  My leg eventually not only hurt like the dickens, it then began to swell, and was hot to the touch.  At one point, I was running a fever of about 100  about a week post-op.  So, I was at the ER once, the nurse practitioner once, and then my surgeon once all in about a week and a half after surgery.  I was given muscle relaxers at one point and I couldn't tell that they did me any good.  I had to just live through the agony. 
I had a nerve block done that wore off about 30ish hours after surgery.  That made it nice because I didn't really feel much of any pain for almost 2 days after surgery.  Pain at the surgery site never really was that terribly bad, it was just my calf, and eventually, my quads having to swing my completely straight leg out in order to bare a little weight. 
I was able to bare weight about 5 or 6 days post-op.  I went to full weight-baring without crutches 2 days shy of 2 weeks. I probably could have done it beforehand, but it is freaking scary to trust your recently operated on knee to bare your full weight.  I was also able to bend my leg to 90 degrees within about 9 days.  The PT for me hasn't been bad at all.  The surgeon told me that at the level of sports I had been playing with as bad of a knee as I had, PT would be a breeze and thankfully, it has been to date.  I go again on Friday, so we'll see how that goes.
I'm not driving yet, but I will be today after work.  My brace was unlocked to where I can bend it to 90 degrees any time I want.  That is MUCH nicer when walking, trust me!  I'm still sleeping with the brace on and even unlocked, it still sucks.  I was exhausted yesterday from doing all kinds of things with the brace unlocked, but couldn't get comfortable.  I think I was able to sleep so easily for the first week and some change because I was so doped up on meds.  I was taking Percocets sometimes and Lortabs sometimes, Phenergan because it all upset my stomach terribly, Flexeril, stool softeners, baby aspirin, ibprofen, and heck, I don't even remember what else.  I was a walking pharmacy and with all that nonsence in my body, no wonder I slept peacefully.  I haven't taken a pain pill in about 4 days though and I am SO glad to be off of them.  I HATE taking pills with a passion. 
Anyway, in closing, I am doing well after getting past the calf swelling and pain that really no one knows what the exact cause was.  If you don't have that pain, recovery is a breeze.  With that, recovery is pure hell.  Like I said, at this point, I still wouldn't have had the surgey, but as every day goes on, my opinion starts to change a little.  Oh, and I'm finally back to work.  I was hoping to only take off 1 week, but because of the calf pain, it ended up being 2.  Things are okay today, but if you're laid up...find something aside from watching TV to do.  Also, have someone with you.  If my Mom hadn't stayed at my house the entire time, I couldn't have done it.  I went through a stage of what I may have considered depression, but it faded in a couple days.  That sucked too.  I don't know why I was so down and out, but man, your mind really starts playing tricks on you after being down and out for a couple weeks.  Today is a good day though and I'm happy to be back at work.  Hopefully I don't have any set-backs and I will continue to get better.  I almost fell today after getting out of the shower and putting my clothes on though...that could have potentially been REALLY bad.  Anyway, it is good in the hood today and when I drive to work tomorrow, it will be better.

Morning 2

Yesterday was not bad at all. Of course the nerve block was still active until the middle of the night last night. Now the nerve block is done and I am in the worst pain I have ever been, hands down. All of my pain is in the posterier and medial aspects of my knee. It hurts and it hurts bad. I don't want to do anything but sleep, but my mom called the doctor yeaterday because my lower leg was quite a bit warmer than the non-operative one. Every time I get up on the crutches too, mg little piggy toes turn into little blue sausages. The doctor wanted to see me, so in I go here in about 2 hours. I don't think anything is wrong, but we'll see. The percocets make me dizzy and sometimes sick to my stomach. I shoud be getting something else today, but the doctor said it was expensive. The most I have to pay on my plan is 40 dollars, so I say bring it on if it helps. These percocets aren't even touching the pain. Started taking them last night as the block begun to wear off. Took them every 4 hours. I took two about 40 mins ago and the pain is at a level 9 out of 10. This sucks!!!!

So it is 2am and I have been awake the majority of the night. My leg doesn't hurt because the nerve block I got hasn't warn off yet. If you can get one of those bad boys, do it!! It made getting home and settling in much more comfortable. I'm talking on a scale of one to ten, right now pain is at a zero. Sleeping with my leg propped up in this brace isn't too bad either. I know this is just the calm before the storm, but I have been taking percocets every 4 hours as I was told to because I never know when the block will wear off. We're going on about 15 hours now and they said it last 12-24. So, by morning, I imagine I'm going to be in pain.
I am weight bearing as tolerated with my leg numb, I am able to rest it on the floor while standing, but because of that block, I am unable to bare really any significant weight. Found out shortly ago that my leg just crumbles underneath me when I try. Getting around is not hard right now. My mom is staying with me and she's already been a big help. I really would not recommend trying this on your own at first. My first pt appoint was supposed to be in 5-7 days. Unfortunately because of the holiday and because of a meeting I have at work on Tuesday, PT won't be until Wednesday of next week. Until then, the brace remains on and locked at 0 degrees. After day 5 I will be able to take a shower and change my dressings which should only include band aids and the ace wrap that is covering mainly only my knee area. The doctor explained that I can return to driving in 2-4 weeks likely. Not happy about that because my mom and/or dad is going to have to take me and pick me up. My boyfriend works an opposite shift, so he's not really able to help out much aside from the weekends. Speaking of him, he has been really supportive through this. Honestly, if it hadn't been for him, I'm unsure that I would have went through with it right now. I probably would have pushed it off like everything else.
Anyway, the nerve block itself was not in the slightest bit painful. Getting my iv was worse. I almost passed out from that. I don't know why. It didn't really hurt that much and I have always watched when I got my iv in the past. Maybe it was because I hadn't eaten or drank for about 12 hours. It scared the day lights out of mom. Surgery itself took about 1.5 hours. It was only supposed to take about an hour, but they said all was fine and they didn't have to do anything that wasn't planned. I got there at 10:30 and left at about 3:30. I was sick to my stomach after waking up, but that went away in about two hours and I had no problems after that.
So, that is where I am at now. No significant problems and all is well. I know I'll be glad I did this eventually, but right now needing help to do the smallest of things isn't fun. I'm just lucky I have such great family and friends who are willing to help me however they can.
I'll be posting more as recovery goes on. Hopefully it all goes as smoothly as it has this far!! :)

Dooms Day has arrived

This morning is it for me. I'm laying in bed and typing this from my iPhone. Oh how I love my iPhone. I am not supposed to eat or drink anything and that has been since midnight. Right about now, I'd kill for a diet coke. My belly is grumbling and I don't want to get out of bed, but I can't sleep any longer. I am definitely an early bird. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but I guess here goes nothing. Surgery is in 4 hours. I have to be at the surgery center in 2 and a half hours. Guess I better be getting any last things done around the house. I'll post more later if I'm coherent. Bring on the pain pills! :)