Expectations and Reality

2 months ago today I had a half-knee replacement. My, hasnt time flown?

I have discovered that there were huge differences between my expectations and the reality.

For instance:

E: Back to work in 2-4 weeks
R: Back to work part-time after 6 weeks

E: Bend knee 90% in 24 hours
R: Bend knee 90% on Day 4

E: 4-6 weeks of Physio
R: 3 sessions then you are on your own

E: Lots of relaxation enjoying reading, blogging, sleeping, TV watching
R: Unable to concentrate on anything for more than 5 minutes

E: Able to be fairly independent on return from hospital
R: Being almost totally dependent for at least 4 weeks

E: Moderate to severe pain for about a week and then better than pre-op
R: Severe to unbearable pain for at least 5 weeks

E: Driving after 4 weeks
R: Driving after 9 weeks

E: Some swelling and light bruising
R: Massive swelling and horrendous bruising

E: To be totally back to normal after 2 months
R: Never was normal!

Conclusion:

I feel that more realistic advice should be given by the healthcare team before and after the surgery. There is a tendency for a bit of depression caused by the mixture of severe pain and being dependent for everything which I think would be easier to handle if there was fair warning. Knowing that I was not the only person crying 'please cut my leg off' at 3 in the morning would have been a real help.

Would I recommend the op - of course. If it needs doing it is because life without it has become unbearable/undoable. I look forward to walking further, cycling, swimming and dancing; I couldnt look forward to those things without the surgery.

Onwards and upwards - tally ho!