A few months ago, I fell down a flight of steps (See post Going Down.) The projected knee replacement wasn’t going to happen for 10 years; so I was told by the doctor. I knew I wouldn’t last that long. Then along came hope.
The procedure must have recently been approved because Facebook is full of it. My chiropractor has been having his staff trained and the new machine purchased (or whatever they do with equipment like that). On April 24, 2018, I was the first patient to be processed. I was excited, and so were they. They had a trainer there to oversee things, and that too was comforting.
On the first day, the 23rd, I was given a consultation. Then, on the 24th we started the procedure. They needed to inject some dye into the knee to make sure the synovial sack didn’t leak. Actually, mine was full of fluid, so they decided to drain the fluid before putting anything else in there. As they had a very long and fairly large needle sticking into my knee, they started pulling off fluid. It didn’t hurt. I couldn’t feel anything, but my body has never responded well to people putting holes in my body. I nearly fainted when I had my ears pierced.
At first, I felt woozy, and so they gave me some smelling salts. That helped for a few seconds, but then I asked for some candy. I had just started to suck on the peppermint when I knew my stomach was going to erupt. I told them, but they moved rather too slowly. It was a tiny room with a lot of equipment, and five staff plus me in the big chair with the new machine. I nearly christened them all! The machine got a good dose, as did my clothes, the chair the footstool and the floor. After it was all over, they got me the garbage can. It took some minutes to clean all that up (as a biohazard!). I got a new t-shirt out of the deal and they ran my trousers through a dryer. They believed I have been a good start to their training, as they now have a lot better idea what kind of equipment needs to be available, like a barf bag!
Once that was all over, I got ice on my knee for 10 minutes and then was fitted with some fancy knee braces, which are my to keep for the rest of my life. I need to wear them when I’m walking or doing exercise, but not when sitting or lying down. They keep the bones separated so they don’t hit together and cause pain. The actual injection of the “magic fluid” happens tomorrow, the 26th. I will have injections once a week for five weeks and physical therapy for eight weeks. The treatment should last for about six months, and then can be repeated. Apparently Medicare will pay the full cost, which will be wonderful – and a lot cheaper and less stressful than a knee replacement. Maybe I will make it for the next 10 years!!! I’m also getting BOTH knees done, so maybe I will be able to use the stairs, hike and swim again in the near future!