Crazy Question

[Kathi49]

But I am just wondering.

I think I might really have to have something done about this left knee. The pain is being referred up into the front and side of my thigh and I feel like I am just dragging this left leg around. :eek::D I DO want to wait and see how the injections go on Tuesday because it is just hard to tell if it is spinal related too. But what I wonder about is this. And don't yell at me it is probably a stupid question anyway. :D Can the surgeons intubate you with something else rather than some huge large tube and/or operate on a knee using a local or epidural? I really, really worry about my neck being hyperflexed or extended when I think about this. I just don't need more grief because that hysterectomy intubation is what I think did me in to begin with. And if I decide to go forth, should I be concerned about pre-emptive analgesia or anesthesia...whatever you want to call it? I get concerned about the PN bit or whatever it is...I hesitate to call it anything anymore other than burning. Okay, well, just curious because I can just feel my knee grinding away. What I don't want is to have it get worse and then really need a knee replacement. Oh, and the Limbrel is helping with the inflammation just not the actual physical problem if that makes any sense. :) Thanks!

[slipnslide]

Kathi,

I have a friend who had knee surgery and they were AWAKE for the entire thing. Now, as for what kind of knee surgery, I'm clueless:o. All I know is that he mentioned "miniscus"(sp?), "shaving off", and "re-shaping". His Ortho is the doc for some pro football team, and can be a bit barbaric in my opinion...lol. My friend said that he (the ortho) once jammed a needle into his knee to drain off fluid, no numbing agent or warning, and he swears he hit the bone:eek:. Anyhow, the doc gave him a play-by-play throughout the surgery and he could see the monitor of what they were doing.

[MarleneW]

Kathi,
When I had my hysterectomy in January, the anesthesiologist used a more flexible tube made out of something like microfiber that they use in patients with spinal cord injuries. This was what I was worried about too, because since the surgery I had for the sectioning of the occipital nerve my head won't turn to the right or tip back. It was one of my major concerns before my hysterectomy, my neck was a little stiffer than usual,but in a few days it was back to how it usually is. I don't know why but they also made me gargle with lidocaine and put it down a different way than they usually do, I was already starting to go to sleep and that is all I remember.

Marlene

[Boxerlover]

Kathi, I can't speak from experience as I don't have spine issues, but I think they can do a block and numb your leg and do the surgery. I had foot surgery and I had heard that the doc kept you awake by doing that, when I asked him, he said he could do it either way but preferred to do it with me asleep and I agreed! Although as I have been under anesthesia a lot lately, I have considered being awake for the surgery I am having next month. I know it's for different reasons than yours, but with todays advancements I think they can be more flexable and do what you are more comfortable with.

Melissa

[Kathi49]

Thanks Kim, Marlene and Melissa,

It's nice to know that there may be some options. :) Thank you all for your input and I will doc to the Ortho doc about it. I did place a call today and will know more on Monday. I just wasn't sure if I needed another appointment or not. Well, I should say I probably do IF I were to have surgery. Anyway, they are supposed to call back on Monday. But the nurse did say she feels as I do...just get it over with. :D I explained that I get injections in my spine already and getting injections in the knee or both knees is just something I don't want to have to add. :( She also said it was logical to see if the injections in the lumbar helped a bit FIRST. And I did tell her I have been in PT; aqua therapy that is.

Anyway, I went out to eat tonight with DH and our friends and I had to stand up several times and mainly due to my knee and thigh. And it is unlike the lumbar pain. This is right across the top of the kneecap and just hurts to bend it. Sooo...I asked DH when he is planning to take some time off. :) And he said pretty soon here...probably for a week or two and about the time they start on our kitchen. So, I said...good...you can take care of me for a few days. :D Oh, and this would be arthroscopic surgery. I don't expect to bounce back immediately but at least it won't be so invasive as a knee replacement would be.

So, let me see what the doc says because he was pretty much leaving it up to me the last time we talked. And let me see what options I have. What I don't want is that horrid occipital pain to come back. :eek: And thank you again for the info., I'll see what the doc says or what he recommends.

[Mark N]

Kathi, everyone is right about being a local for that type of knee surgery. I have had several players and friends go through this surgery and they were awake for the whole thing. Good luck with your surgery if you go that direction. It certainly sounds more like a knee problem than a spinal problem at this point.

[Kathi49]

Thanks Mark,

It is definitely the knee; right over the top of it I mean and then some pain on the outside. I know there is some fluid there because there is bump. And the doc said at one time he could drain that off. I just never worried much with it because it would come and go. This has gone on for several years but it would go away during the summer. Lately, though, it is NOT going away and just becoming more and more persistent. Anyway, it is good to know that your players and other people that have gone through this were awake. :) My mom was put out during her procedure but it didn't take more than 20 minutes I don't think. What was amazing to me is that she needed no pain killers. She just kept that ice pack or cooling gizmo on her knee for 3 days and then by Monday she was putting weight on it and slowly walking around. I also kind of laughed at her because she is so darn independent. She just has us get out her computer chair and wheeled herself around with her good leg when she needed to use the bathroom. :D Yet, my sister and I were there to help her. Of course she had to be very careful for several months. Then again, our issues are different; she had tears and I don't. But the same doc told me after my mom's procedure that he had "cleaned out some arthritis too". Well, let me see what they have to say on Monday. I really would just rather get it taken care of. As I said before, he was leaving it up to me.

[Mark N]

Kathy, some my friends that went through this were given the option to watch a TV of their procedure so they could see what the doctor was doing. It is amazing what they can do with just a couple of small incisions. There is not much surgical damage and it solves the pain causing problem so you really don't have a lot of pain in most cases. There are exceptions to the rule but you can expect that it will be a minor surgery.

[Kathi49]

Thanks again Mark,

I am not sure I would want to watch the procedure; I might get sick LOL! But you are right...it is just teeny tiny holes. At least it was for my mom. The only thing she said that hurt was when he had take out some stitches that were fairly deep but that that was even over with quick. And now I need a crown on one tooth LOL! Anymore it is...whatever. :D So, I will probably get the tooth taken care of and see what the Ortho doc has to say tomorrow.

I will say this much. I don't want it to go on for too long. I had two friends that I worked with for years and years. One had bad knees and the other a bad ankle. Both of them put things off for a number of years....trying everything they could even though the docs were saying surgery. Well, just these past two years both of them FINALLY had it taken care of. Personally, I think they waited too long. My one friend was literally walking on the side of her ankle and that was just ridiculous and extremely painful. I was on her for years to get that fixed. She finally did but it was a fusion. The other one just had both knees replaced at the same time this past year. :eek: I just think if the both of them had had it treated early on they wouldn't have had to go through so much agony. And both of them had said they just couldn't take the time off from work. Well, that was baloney because they could have both used the the FMLA and/or saved up their leave. I think they just didn't want surgery or were afraid of it. And don't get me wrong...I like them both very, very much. I could just never understand the holdup. Or, maybe I am wrong. Maybe there were other reasons that were more involved than I know about. But I will tell you what...they both suffered far, far too long. And now...they both are doing great!

[Kathi49]

Okay, the Ortho doc would prefer to try injections first. His nurse said that sometimes just shaving out the arthritis isn't always effective for under the kneecap. So, I guess he wants to go the conservative route first. But his nurse did say IF that didn't help he would do the surgery. So, I told her I am getting spinal injections tomorrow and I want to hold off on any knee injections for awhile. I don't know maybe a month or two months. So, that's that. :)