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Life Pre-Surgery Sunday, June 22. 2008
Pre Surgery Lifestyle:
1987-2004:sports 5x / week; volleyball, basketball,
baseball, soccer.
1993: motorcycle accident; fractured femur. Long
term result - severe arthritis, bone spurs, loss of
cartilidge.
2002-2008: severe pain after sports; self medication
through alcohol
2005-2008: stopped all sports but basketball due to
pain. Added mountain biking (less impact) to pick up
slack.
Posted by
Kenny Gensel
Surgery & Post Op
Sunday, June 22. 2008 Surgery:
Day 1: Pretty immobile, jacked up on pain meds. Able
to move to chair by end of day. Day 2: Walked around
ward with crutches. Confidence growing. Day 3: Ready
to go home in morning. Learned how to nav stairs w/
crutches. Drive home was PAINFUL [no meds prior to
leaving; snafu due to Sunday discharge]. Drive
straight to pharmacy, downed the meds, straight to
recumbent chair for snooze.:
Home Recovery::
Day 1: walked around block with family. Very nice to
get out. Able to check work email. Able to go up /
down stairs (2x day).:
Day 2: able to make work emails / calls from home
recumbent chair. Pain meds make it difficult to
multi-task. Attention span greatly reduced. Must
take nap.:
Days 3-5: look forward to daily walks around block
with family. Easier to get in / out of bed each day.
Able to go up / down stairs as needed. Cut all
"additional" pain meds [percocet] but for 2x/day
oxicontin.:
Day 6: attended BMX Olympic Trials. Only able to
stay 2.5 hrs. Percocet in car ride home and useless
rest of day.:
Day 8: decided to drive myself to work-likely a
mistake. Driving is PAINFUL. Sitting at work in
regular chair painful. Lower back hurt since I was
trying to sit comfortably. Home at 3pm and resumed
the percocet. Disappointment.:
Days 9-13: went to work every other day for short
days; had to take perc to recover. Days stayed home
were pain free & no percs necessary. Driving and
sitting at work were key culprits. Limited mobility
around house possible with only 1 crutch.:
Confidence Boosters::
Home and walking within 4 days of surgery -
perception of "being on track" good feeling. 4 days
post surgery perceived to hit plateau or even step
backwards; easy to feel sorry for myself and get
moody.:
Determination: epiphany that mental toughness is as
important as physical therapy.:
Dr. Ball personally called to check up - classy guy.
Great help to confidence.:
Read article in Competitor Mag re: pro athletes
Floyd Landis and Robyn Benincasa had same surgery.
Emailed and got a response from Robyn! Wow what a
boost. :
Must maintain mental toughness - this is a marathon
not a sprint.
Posted by
Kenny Gensel
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