Hi everyone
It is time to get active. Last night I went for a walk, as part of my rehab. it was pretty cold. but I have skipped the day before and skipping 2 days in a row is not on.
My knee is feeling much better. I am working the muscles with the prescribed exercises.
Many people make the mistake of staying indoors in the winter. Keep on going. It is difficult to lose those extra kilos in the summer.
I am losing weight at the moment. My immediate target is to lose 10 kilograms. I now drink tea and coffee without sugar.
The only other thing I need to overcome is snacking on savouries and sweets. But it will come right.
Keep well
Greetings
Tommy
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
I am up and about after my op
Update
It’s been a week since my op last week. I must say that I did struggle to sleep for the first few nights. But things got better with time. The problem was that one does not know which way to position the affected leg, and one has to change body position every now and then.
I do my walking every day, as well as the prescribed exercises.
The only things that I am not allowed are:
• Driving
• Stairs
• Unequal surfaces in general
Walking is prescribed, since it helps to strengthen the muscles and tendons of the joint. Furthermore the joint is kept flexible as well.
I have an appointment with Dr Swart in 1 week’s time.
C u soon!
Tommy
It’s been a week since my op last week. I must say that I did struggle to sleep for the first few nights. But things got better with time. The problem was that one does not know which way to position the affected leg, and one has to change body position every now and then.
I do my walking every day, as well as the prescribed exercises.
The only things that I am not allowed are:
• Driving
• Stairs
• Unequal surfaces in general
Walking is prescribed, since it helps to strengthen the muscles and tendons of the joint. Furthermore the joint is kept flexible as well.
I have an appointment with Dr Swart in 1 week’s time.
C u soon!
Tommy
Friday, May 21, 2010
Arthroscopy in my left knee
Update
As I have mentioned before, I consulted our GP on 3 May, and was off work on both days 3 and 4 May. I visited the Orthopedic Surgeon Dr KP Swart at St Georges Hospital on Friday 7 May. I tried to work on the Monday. I was booked on from Tuesday 11 May to Friday 14 May by Dr Swart.
I returned to work last Monday the 17th, but I worked very short days. The couple of days off work and the rest meant the world of good to my knee. It was actually not a good thing that I had to go back to work.
After I went to see Dr Swart that Friday, I also had a pre-op examination and interview. I had to obtain an authorisation code from my medical aid and I was told what to bring with on the day of the op (yesterday 20 May. I also received an exercise chart showing and instructing me how to exercise the operated knee for rehabilitation purposes.
Dr Swart explained to me in his surgery that three holes are made sort of in a triangle shape on the left, right and I think the rear side of the knee. A small camera is then passed through each hole in turn. He would then check on a monitor the condition of the cartilage and clean away loose debris or shave the cartilage smooth remotely. How clever!
The Big Day 20 May 2010
I had to report there at 6.00 am. I had nothing to eat or drink since 10.00 pm the previous night. I was in the ward at about 6.20 am.
Preparation
My heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, bloods sugar level, and urine was tested. An ECG was done to check my heart function as well. Everything was OK, except that my blood pressure was on the high side - the reading was over 170. My left knee area was shaved - this hospital use baby powder and not a soapy lather. Then betadine antiseptic was smeared over the whole area.
The anesthetist came around later and they offered me a tablet to relax. I had to place it under my tongue.
The last thing I remembered was that I was wheeled to the operating theater waiting area at about 8.00 am.
Recovery in the general ward
I awoke in the general ward, with a drip on my arm. The nurse said my blood pressure was low at just over 90. I was also given a special solution intravenous for nausea, at my request. I felt terribly nauseous. I had a nice meal later, when I was feeling better. Dr Swart came to see me and said that my left knee interior was very red, and he booked me off work for 3 weeks. I will only return to work when the schools re-open after the extended June holidays !!!
I have a booking to see Dr Swart in 2 weeks time.
I was picked up at the hospital by a colleague of mine. On our way home we picked up a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory from a pharmacy.
My colleague lent me his crutches, as he has had 3 of these ops already. The biggest mistake he made the first time was that he sat down after the knee, with the intention of giving his knee a rest. He told me that the rehab exercises were vitally important for a complete recovery.
I will go for a short walk and do my exercises later today.
See you.
PS Dr Swart emphasized that the walking is important.
C u soon!
Tommy
PS I will post a pic or two soon!
As I have mentioned before, I consulted our GP on 3 May, and was off work on both days 3 and 4 May. I visited the Orthopedic Surgeon Dr KP Swart at St Georges Hospital on Friday 7 May. I tried to work on the Monday. I was booked on from Tuesday 11 May to Friday 14 May by Dr Swart.
I returned to work last Monday the 17th, but I worked very short days. The couple of days off work and the rest meant the world of good to my knee. It was actually not a good thing that I had to go back to work.
After I went to see Dr Swart that Friday, I also had a pre-op examination and interview. I had to obtain an authorisation code from my medical aid and I was told what to bring with on the day of the op (yesterday 20 May. I also received an exercise chart showing and instructing me how to exercise the operated knee for rehabilitation purposes.
Dr Swart explained to me in his surgery that three holes are made sort of in a triangle shape on the left, right and I think the rear side of the knee. A small camera is then passed through each hole in turn. He would then check on a monitor the condition of the cartilage and clean away loose debris or shave the cartilage smooth remotely. How clever!
The Big Day 20 May 2010
I had to report there at 6.00 am. I had nothing to eat or drink since 10.00 pm the previous night. I was in the ward at about 6.20 am.
Preparation
My heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, bloods sugar level, and urine was tested. An ECG was done to check my heart function as well. Everything was OK, except that my blood pressure was on the high side - the reading was over 170. My left knee area was shaved - this hospital use baby powder and not a soapy lather. Then betadine antiseptic was smeared over the whole area.
The anesthetist came around later and they offered me a tablet to relax. I had to place it under my tongue.
The last thing I remembered was that I was wheeled to the operating theater waiting area at about 8.00 am.
Recovery in the general ward
I awoke in the general ward, with a drip on my arm. The nurse said my blood pressure was low at just over 90. I was also given a special solution intravenous for nausea, at my request. I felt terribly nauseous. I had a nice meal later, when I was feeling better. Dr Swart came to see me and said that my left knee interior was very red, and he booked me off work for 3 weeks. I will only return to work when the schools re-open after the extended June holidays !!!
I have a booking to see Dr Swart in 2 weeks time.
I was picked up at the hospital by a colleague of mine. On our way home we picked up a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory from a pharmacy.
My colleague lent me his crutches, as he has had 3 of these ops already. The biggest mistake he made the first time was that he sat down after the knee, with the intention of giving his knee a rest. He told me that the rehab exercises were vitally important for a complete recovery.
I will go for a short walk and do my exercises later today.
See you.
PS Dr Swart emphasized that the walking is important.
C u soon!
Tommy
PS I will post a pic or two soon!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Knee surgery needed
Last Monday, 3May, I had to visit our family doctor, as I was suffering from acute pain in my left knee.
Previous symptoms
Somewhere in the last quarter of 2009 that I noticed that climbing up steps with my left knee was becoming strenuous and painful. At the instant when I have to raise my body with my left leg, I started experiencing pain in my left knee. I changed my walking route to avoid climbing those steps.
Over the last few weeks, I started walking again, after a lay off. I work in a new location, and there are many steps I have to climb each day. At the end of my walking routine, there are a number of steps that I have to climb, and that is where the trouble started again. My left knee was very uncomfortable.
My family doctor agreed that I should see an orthopedic surgeon, so that a scope of my inner knee can be taken
Orthopedic Surgeon
Last Friday, 7 May, I did see an orthopedic surgeon. he was actually very glad to hear that I walk for fitness. Jogging is very bad for the knee joints, he said.
He tested my left knee joint, and found that there is a possibility of cartilage damage inside it, as I experienced pain during one of the tests.
I got booked for the operation, on the 20th of May.
I had to go back to him yesterday for a stronger pain killer, and so that he could book me off work for a few days. Well, I got a stronger pain killer from the pharmacy, and he booked me off work for the rest of this week.
Look after your knee joints.
Previous symptoms
Somewhere in the last quarter of 2009 that I noticed that climbing up steps with my left knee was becoming strenuous and painful. At the instant when I have to raise my body with my left leg, I started experiencing pain in my left knee. I changed my walking route to avoid climbing those steps.
Over the last few weeks, I started walking again, after a lay off. I work in a new location, and there are many steps I have to climb each day. At the end of my walking routine, there are a number of steps that I have to climb, and that is where the trouble started again. My left knee was very uncomfortable.
My family doctor agreed that I should see an orthopedic surgeon, so that a scope of my inner knee can be taken
Orthopedic Surgeon
Last Friday, 7 May, I did see an orthopedic surgeon. he was actually very glad to hear that I walk for fitness. Jogging is very bad for the knee joints, he said.
He tested my left knee joint, and found that there is a possibility of cartilage damage inside it, as I experienced pain during one of the tests.
I got booked for the operation, on the 20th of May.
I had to go back to him yesterday for a stronger pain killer, and so that he could book me off work for a few days. Well, I got a stronger pain killer from the pharmacy, and he booked me off work for the rest of this week.
Look after your knee joints.
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