Knee Update

Mel and I saw my surgeon yesterday morning for a few minutes. He is a member of a group of physicians and the office is very busy. Lots of people sitting or standing around waiting to see their doctor. Mel and I were walking toward some seating in the back when the assistant called me in.

When she saw me walking toward her, her eyes grew wide and she gave me a huge smile. As we walked back - waaayyy back - into the depths of the building, a couple other workers gave me big smiles and thumbs up. One woman came up and said, "Wow! You aren't even using a cane!! Most people at 6 weeks come in hobbling a bit, using a cane and here you are walking normally and without one! Wow!" All I could do is give a big smile back to her and everyone else.

The assistant showed us into the room and asked how I was doing. I responded honestly - I was close to tears due to the drug situation. She told me then that she couldn't believe the doctor in the hosptial had put me on that drug, that they hardly ever use it any more.

I thought back to my phone conversation with that doctor a few days earlier. He'd told me how to go off correctly and insisted that I did not need the smaller and smaller amounts of it, just the Norco. Mel told me that the doctor had told Mel that the reason they'd put me on it was for the pain control. While in the hospital I'd asked for more pain medication before it was time for it again several times (I don't remember this) and that's when it happened. Well, I think I know why I did that - the Norco is a narcotic mixed with a heavy dose of Tylenol. I never take Tylenol for pain control (headache, arthritis, etc) because I might as well just drink the glass of water without it. Tylenol never seems to touch my pain at all. I always have taken Ibuprofen or plain asprin. So - maybe that's why I was asking for more - it wasn't doing a lot for me?? Even now, only on the Norco and totally off the other drug, it doesn't touch the pain I have in my hips and back from arthritis. I will be glad when I am totally off this as well - another day?? - and can start taking what I've always taken for pain control. The pain is not really bad, just annoying, especially when I'm trying to sleep...

So, the doctor came in the room, looked at the incisions and declared that they looked great. I have some amount of keloid scarring, but it will fade over time. He had another doctor (an intern??) come in and measure how far I can bend the knees and said that at 6 weeks that was fine (left - 110 degrees, right 108 - at the PT she got me up to 120 and 110 after exercise and massage). I also had x-rays taken and they showed everything is "perfect."

I left his office with a paper copy of my x-rays and a card saying I'd had bilateral knee replacement surgery. He told me I'd need both going through security control at the airports. Wonderful (said with a slightly sarcastic tone). We go through security control so often - I'll have to have copies of the paper x-rays made for future use :):). The x-rays are interesting to me - so THAT is what they did! Cobalt and chrome knees. With a plastic patella. Wow. Those sure are big white spots in those x-rays!

I realized late last night, after a meeting we were speaking at our church's mission conference, that it had been 12 hours since I'd taken my last Norco! I thought I'd just go to bed and go to sleep and voila! this morning I would be drug free.

Nope.

Didn't happen. I ended up waking Mel up again at 12:30, moaning, crying and my legs moving all over the place. For some reason getting the rest of that first drug out of my system involves my legs moving, moving, moving. Mel reminded me that it takes a whole week for it to be totally out of the system and the body not craving it. So after many tears and "I'm sorry"s (again!!), I got up and took a Norco. Took one again this morning and pray I'll not have to take another for 12 or more hours again. And maybe tomorrow...tomorrow I will not have to take any. Maybe.

Dear Father in Heaven - Please help me to get off this stuff!!!