Dealing with Surgery
When I first learned I could get knee surgery I was relieved.
A little confused because I didn’t know this was an option while sitting on the medical table hearing my MRI results. I hadn’t researched the possible options for my newfound condition, plica syndrome. I had never even heard of plica syndrome!
If you read my blog preceding this one, Dealing With the Inevitable Injury, you’ll know how I was dealing with both causations and what I did for four months leading up to surgery.
The tightness in my knee was persistent and was stopping me from fully flexing and doing activities I liked doing. I was walking around everywhere with a soft compression brace for nearly four months. I was over that! Anecdotally, I had become embarrassed and shameful that I had this injury since my job is to help people prevent injury!
To accept my injury and work through these emotions of personal shame, I eventually focused on myself as my own best client with daily mindfulness and physical care, embraced how much I love developing my strength training programs, and kept it moving.
Here, I’m going to discuss how I dealt with surgery in three ways so I could help myself feel as good as possible while dealing with this shitty circumstance (a knee injury could have been worse). Reader, I hope if you or someone you know dealing with an injury or surgery find this helpful! Also if you prefer a to the point synopsis, scroll to the TLDR section at the end.
1. Understanding and maybe even accepting surgery? For me to understand surgery as an option, I needed to understand my diagnosis. I listened to the initial osteopath who reviewed the MRI and shared basic anatomy of the diagnosis then I did a lot of my own research to see if surgery was even necessary for me thereafter.
I decided I wanted a second opinion and confidence from a different surgeon. After this visit, I had enough information to figure the chances of me having surgery and feeling less discomfort long term were greater than continuing doing physical therapy and feeling less discomfort long term. I opted to deal with surgery!
2. “What Can I control?” I was nervous and unsure of what might happen after surgery, as many people would be! I was concerned losing time conducting live fitness training sessions and losing the possibility of my own physical growth.
Reminder: You cannot control your future. The best thing I could do was speak with the surgical coordinator and nurses and ask questions when they called. This gave me more insight as to what to prepare for the day of and in days after the surgical procedure.
Good news was I could be ready to drive in one weeks time and that the surgeon encouraged walking a day after surgery! This can be somewhat unconventional for knee surgery, so check with your surgeon.
5 Little things that gave me confidence and control in my present:
+ I knew I could make it to the surgery on time with the help of my spouse.
+ I scheduled my Physical Therapy appointments before surgery, so I would have a professional after care.
+ I began a prehab exercise program, which I created, that integrated in quad, hamstring, glute, and abdominal strength training. Depending on the condition and time prior to surgery, regular strength training in preparation for surgery can help negate some strength, flexibility, and mobility lost after surgery. You or someone else may need clearance for this.
+ I planned for a delicious sushi and steak meal before the mandatory fasting period before surgery.
+ I invited friends over to my place for games to cheer me up while I was stuck to the ice machine and the sofa within days after surgery. They’re the best!
3. Home set-up and post-op after care. When my spouse and I arrived home I was dependent on him to get me food and water. Having a good pal and/or life companion should never be taken for granted!
I was able to set up a section of the couch in front of the TV with all my essential stuff handy, with his help. Although, I felt surprisingly good after the surgery! The drugs helped? I began walking within the first day and had no problem moving from the couch to the kitchen to bathroom.
Please keep in mind being full weight baring with support from crutches as needed was my protocol, so I followed that! In whatever case you or your folks are in, follow instructions.
Ankle pumps were essential when sitting for long periods to keep the blood circulating in my leg and to avoid blood clotting. I ditched most of my routine activities and focused more on drinking enough water so I could poop, meditations, and sunshine when I could.
In days to follow, I took everything step by step, literally. Once I got into PT while my physical recovery developed, it also brought new challenges, many of which reminded me this is not a race!
Overall, being well informed, organizing a solid team of professionals, and honoring your unique recovery process and time to heal is essential!
Too Long Don’t Read (TLDR)
In order to feel confidence in surgery, be confident in your surgeon. You can always get a second opinion. Also, understand and read a variety of articles on diagnosis and options for care. Sorry, Redit does not count here. Review research based or medical journal articles.
Being nervous for surgery is natural! Talk with your close friends and family and ask for help the day of surgery and after. A friendly game of Cards Against Humanity may be in order?
Ask questions in preparation for surgery from nurses, surgeon, and surgical coordinator. I needed to write my questions down ahead of time so I could remember what I needed clarification on. Some question I asked were, What can and can I not do before Physical Therapy? How far can I bend my knee? How much weight can I put on my leg?
If prehab exercise is available to you, do it!
Ditch the old routines and set new small goals for the day like drinking lots of water, getting sunshine, and watching a genre of movie that cheers you up! Nature docs and Pixar anyone?
If you or someone you love is interested in learning more on how to deal with surgery, they’re not alone. Share this with them!
For personalized prehab workouts and long-term exercise programing contact me for free consult!
