Button Surgery and the Bloodletting

I haven't post in a while - do you really want to hear about my days sometimes? Work, home, fur-babies, beach, sleep, repeat. I used to live a life of hiking, exploring, finding dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs, but that's in the past - though not lost. I miss that life - every day, and someday, you will get to hear about my adventures, and see pictures. But alas, that's not why I am here today.

September 13th, I had my button surgery. What, you ask, is that? In technical terms, it's Arthroplasty Replacement Partial Knee, or Patellar Femoral Resurfacing. Basically, the doctor takes out your knee cap, removes the back part of it, smooths it out, then cements a 'button' on the back of your knee cap so that it glides smoothly over the titanium (btw - had my knee replaced December 14, but kept my knee cap in tact, hence the issues...). If you want to learn more, check out this site - even has some nice, bloody pictures you can watch of the procedure:

Patellar Femoral Implants

The first week, all was well except the massive cramp in my calf. On the Saturday after my surgery, the cramp was so bad it was hard to walk. I called Dr. Scott (my ortho) and recommended that I go to the ER to make sure that I did not have a blood clot... so 6 hours later, I was finally back at home, with no blood clot, but the killer cramp remained. The killer cramp remained until I went back to see the doctor on September 19th when I got some Valium. Needless to say, that Valium did the trick - by the next morning, no more cramp!!

Week #2 was going well -- until September 29 when I woke up with what I thought was the flu and with an insanely swollen knee like I've never seen that hurt to touch or walk on. I ended up taking the day off and slept until 4:30 (with some much needed breaks in between). When I woke, I saw blood on my foot, so I thought one of the dogs was bleeding - checked all the dogs, nothing. Then I finally noticed that my pant leg was seeped with blood - my knee had swollen up so much that it sprung a leak, a very bad leak!! (My nerves are still a bit 'numb' after surgery) This is what I'd like to call bloodletting.... once the bloodletting started, my flu-like symptoms magically went away. (Those doctors in the 18th Century may have had something) I don't think an 8 hour flu exists, so I'll chalk my nausea, etc. to this ***** infection!

I called the doctors office, Mike (the Physician's Assistant) said to come in in the morning, rinse off the cut and wrap it up tightly and they'd look at it in the morning. In conclusion (because I think maybe this was TMI and more for my memory than for your benefit - sorry).... I have an infection in my knee, was given 2 types of antibiotics and if the infection does not go away, I get to have a 2nd surgery to clean out the infection.

Now, if you remember, I was "fortunate" enough to have 2 brain surgeries in May. Personally, I have absolutely no desire to have 2 friggin' knee surgeries. Not only would that be like going back to square 1 - but it would extend the period of time that I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE. I love that I can recuperate at my folks house, however I am going a bit stir crazy and I think I really need to go into work and show my face for a while before my next surgery. Thankfully, my job is such that I can do it from home, and my company is understanding enough to allow this. In that sense, I am incredibly fortunate! (and yes, as a matter of fact, sometimes I work in my pajamas all day - especially when I am not allowed to shower as I cannot get this incision wet!!)

Round #2 bloodletting started this morning, another messy morning, but at least I wasn't as shocked. I managed to clean everything out, but I've no doubt the swelling will be back by morning to the point of popping again, or better saud, soringing a leak! I'm prepared for the clean up, gauze next to me at all times! 

Tomirrow, Monday 10/03, I get to go back to the doctor for the THIRD time since my surgery for a follow up on the infection. Lucky me (she said with all the sarcasm she can muster). Hopefully these killer antibiotics will do the trick, though as of now, while I type, my knee is still hella swollen, and if I sneak a peak under the ace bandage, there is still some bloodletting. I have been chronicling the bloodletting with pictures and video, so if any one  wants to see pictures, I'll send them to you.  They are a little narly. 

So that's where we are right now - limping, healing, bloodletting, icing, with my ass growing into the couch so I can ice my knee as much as possible to fight the swelling. Yeah, I know. I lead such an exciting life right now. You know you wish you could be me....... yeah, right! 

Funny thing, and last thought, is I find it quite amusing and found myself laughing way to much about it today! I guess it's better that getting mad....