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!! :)