Surgery Tomorrow....
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
From: ???.....depends on the day
Surgery Tomorrow....
Well....I go into surgery tomorrow at 6:30am for my knee....I will be having two things done:
....should be done with the whole shooting match by noon tomorrow...then who knows what all will be in store for me for awhile....either way....my doctor (the Head Physician for the St. Louis Cardinals) said that I should be on crutches for about two weeks...then another two weeks of walking in a restrictive brace....then two months of limited activity and no "active sports" until next year......
....nonetheless.....no beer for me for some time...so ya'll have a few for me....I am heading out to get some schitt done before I go in tomorrow morning.....
(images and text from ORTHOGATE)
1) Microfracture. Doctors use a blunt awl, a tool for making small holes, to poke a few tiny holes in the bone under the cartilage. Like abrasion arthroplasty, this procedure is used to get the layer of bone under the cartilage to produce a healing response. The fresh blood supply starts the healing response and triggers the body to start forming fibrocartilage inside the lesion.
2) ACL Reconstruction. In a typical surgical reconstruction, the torn ends of the ACL must first be removed. Once this has been done, the type of graft that will be used is determined. One of the most common tendons used for the graft material is the patellar tendon. This tendon connects the kneecap (patella) to the tibia.
If the patellar tendon is used, about one third of the patellar tendon is removed, with a plug of bone at either end. The bone plugs are rounded and smoothed. Holes are drilled in each bone plug to place sutures (strong stitches) that will pull the graft into place. The next procedure is to prepare the knee to place the graft. The intercondylar notch is enlarged so that nothing will rub on the graft. This process is referred to as a notchplasty. Once this is done, holes are drilled in the tibia and the femur to place the graft. These holes are placed so that the graft will run between the tibia and femur in the same direction as the original ACL. The graft is then pulled into position using sutures placed through the drill holes. Screws are used to hold the bone plugs in the drill holes.
If the patellar tendon is used, about one third of the patellar tendon is removed, with a plug of bone at either end. The bone plugs are rounded and smoothed. Holes are drilled in each bone plug to place sutures (strong stitches) that will pull the graft into place. The next procedure is to prepare the knee to place the graft. The intercondylar notch is enlarged so that nothing will rub on the graft. This process is referred to as a notchplasty. Once this is done, holes are drilled in the tibia and the femur to place the graft. These holes are placed so that the graft will run between the tibia and femur in the same direction as the original ACL. The graft is then pulled into position using sutures placed through the drill holes. Screws are used to hold the bone plugs in the drill holes.
....nonetheless.....no beer for me for some time...so ya'll have a few for me....I am heading out to get some schitt done before I go in tomorrow morning.....
(images and text from ORTHOGATE)
Last edited by wstahlm80; May 30, 2006 at 02:54 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,424
Likes: 0
From: Motor City
Sucks to be you! 
On the plus side, it's time off to relax from work, have the lady ride you like a pony & 'get well BJs', and all around all-about you time. Life is good. Just don't pig out/drink like a fish and get fat(er).
On the plus side, it's time off to relax from work, have the lady ride you like a pony & 'get well BJs', and all around all-about you time. Life is good. Just don't pig out/drink like a fish and get fat(er).
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,823
Likes: 15
From: Houston, TX
If I were you I'd go ahead and have them do your vasectomy while you're in there. 
Believe me, you'll thank me later!
Believe me, you'll thank me later!
Trending Topics
Global Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,080
Likes: 82
From: Burleson/Athens/Brownsboro, TX
Originally Posted by ddellwo
If I were you I'd go ahead and have them do your vasectomy while you're in there.
Believe me, you'll thank me later!
Believe me, you'll thank me later!
__________________
Jim
Jim
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
I had the ACL reconstruction done about 3 yrs ago... So I know what your goin through.. and wish you the best of luck from someone that has been there! Your doc is right.. with your limitations for the next 2 months or so. The trick is.. to start putting pressure on it, and walking as soon as you can (even with the brace). The more you can try to walk on it, the better, really.
I'm sure you'll be getting a machine, or having it dropped off shortly after you get home, that will move your leg for you, bending it a number of degrees. You will probably spend some good amount of time in it.. but really not a big deal since it causes you no effort. You can even sleep in it!!! I had mine for about 2 wks, and I had to up the degrees by 10 every day.. a little stiff at first, but you'll get used to it.
Did they tell you about therapy after surgery? I started mine 3 days later... sounds rediculous, but was good to start then before you knee gets too stiff.
If ya have any questions .. just ask. if your lucky.. you'll get this nifty ice cooler, with a hose attached to it, with a wrap attached to that. It pumps constant water through the wrap on your knee.. it's an AWESOME invention if you ask me.. just watch out when you fall asleep and the ice runs out... lol
Seriously though.. i'll be thinking about ya
I'm sure you'll be getting a machine, or having it dropped off shortly after you get home, that will move your leg for you, bending it a number of degrees. You will probably spend some good amount of time in it.. but really not a big deal since it causes you no effort. You can even sleep in it!!! I had mine for about 2 wks, and I had to up the degrees by 10 every day.. a little stiff at first, but you'll get used to it.
Did they tell you about therapy after surgery? I started mine 3 days later... sounds rediculous, but was good to start then before you knee gets too stiff.
If ya have any questions .. just ask. if your lucky.. you'll get this nifty ice cooler, with a hose attached to it, with a wrap attached to that. It pumps constant water through the wrap on your knee.. it's an AWESOME invention if you ask me.. just watch out when you fall asleep and the ice runs out... lol
Seriously though.. i'll be thinking about ya
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 17,118
Likes: 7
From: Burleson, Texas
I have no ACL in my right knee. My orthapedic surgeon says I am one of the few that can maneuver normally without it. I initially tore it when a teenager and somehow snapped it in two later. I had miniscus cartilage damage cleaned out about 4 years ago and that's when the doc found there wasn't an ACL there. Guess I'm lucky since I can do everything a normal person can do with the knee.
Good luck with the procedure. Do everything they tell ya!
Good luck with the procedure. Do everything they tell ya!
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 705
Likes: 42
I had replacement ACL and miniscus repair done almost three years ago.
Piece of cake. Stay on the meds the Doc orders, no hero crap, just keep taking them till they run out or he says to stop.
A good friend of mine has no ACL. He ripped it in college, had it replaced with a synthetic one. It ripped too! He had it cleaned out and never looked back. He's 45 now and never missed it.
Piece of cake. Stay on the meds the Doc orders, no hero crap, just keep taking them till they run out or he says to stop.
A good friend of mine has no ACL. He ripped it in college, had it replaced with a synthetic one. It ripped too! He had it cleaned out and never looked back. He's 45 now and never missed it.
Last edited by serotta; May 30, 2006 at 11:15 PM.
Feel better soon!