First Post-operative VIsit

[gallahadesquire]

I have my first-month post-op; visit with the Orthopod who did my left total knee.

 

He described it to my nephew as "Much harder than I thought it would be." I will have some interesting question.

 

My driver will be my first Personal Trainer: 6'2", 230", 26. I haven't talked to him in a awjile. Much to discuss.

[+ glennnn]

Sounds like your attitude is on the up side!! Glad you are doing okay!

[gallahadesquire]

Update:

It was great seeing my trainer friend. Really smart dude who I could fall for if I were so stupid. It was great for him to be there, as he heard things I didn't, especially the physical therapy things.

 

The surgeon told me that surgery was "much worse than he expected" and my blood loss (about two units perioperatively) [there's a way to estimate and/or calculate this] was not surprising. He also said that it was difficult because I had preoperative reduction in my knee flexion. The scar is a thin line, which is surprising. I told the surgeon it looked good, and he demurred … and I told him it was because I have a great surgeon. After all these years, I know how to buff a surgeons ego. (Ortho: Man, you're strong! Plastics: Man, you're pretty!)

 

He was happy with my progress, and told me it will be a long recovery. Now, if I only needed fewer pain meds …

 

On the down side: my Physical Therapist is gone as of October 28. He's willing me to the Boss therapist which should be interesting: he's somewhat erudite, and I know I'll have a good time playing with his intellect. It's naughty but it's what I do.

[+ deej]

On the down side: my Physical Therapist is gone as of October 28. He's willing me to the Boss therapist which should be interesting: he's somewhat erudite, and I know I'll have a good time playing with his intellect. It's naughty but it's what I do.

 

Sometimes they deserve it. Just keep doing you.

[gallahadesquire]

Sometimes they deserve it. Just keep doing you.

 

It comes from traing New Phyicians for 26 years. The smart and questioning ones got loving care; the pompous, everything I could throw at them, and as often as possible, and generally when they weren't watching.

[Guest]

It comes from traing New Phyicians for 26 years. The smart and questioning ones got loving care; the pompous, everything I could throw at them, and as often as possible, and generally when they weren't watching.

 

I find that people who are pompous or arrogant are often that way to hide their lack of substance.

[gallahadesquire]

I find that people who are pompous or arrogant are often that way to hide their lack of substance.

 

Exactly. I have found that one way to deal with it is to call them out on it. Besides, it's fun.

[Rudynate]

(Ortho: Man, you're strong! Plastics: Man, you're pretty!)

 

 

Sounds like it was a great visit.

 

 

Why is it that orthos are always big, good-looking jocks? I've never seen one who isn't. The guy who did my spine surgeries is a tall, handsome triathlete.

[Rudynate]

Exactly. I have found that one way to deal with it is to call them out on it. Besides, it's fun.

 

I find that very few actually lack substance. They may be concealing their substance for one reason or other, but it's nearly always there.

[Guest]

Why is it that orthos are always big, good-looking jocks? I've never seen one who isn't. The guy who did my spine surgeries is a tall, handsome triathlete.

 

It is quite the macho specialty, and it does require a good deal of strength and mechanical talent. Two of the three most handsome men from my medical school class went into orthopedics.

[Rudynate]

It is quite the macho specialty, and it does require a good deal of strength and mechanical talent. Two of the three most handsome men from my medical school class went into orthopedics.

 

 

I'm really glad the world has men like that.

[+ quoththeraven]

I'm glad your postop report was positive. Here's to even better things in the future!

[gallahadesquire]

It is quite the macho specialty, and it does require a good deal of strength and mechanical talent. Two of the three most handsome men from my medical school class went into orthopedics.

 

A random, technical comment:

 

During my surgical rotation, we had different surgical "subspecialtiy" Attendings come and speak to us on a variety of topics.

 

During one Orthopedic lecture, the Professor asked "Who's the engineer in the crowd?", and about half the class either pointed at me, or called out my last name.

 

"Ok," he said, "in a total hip replacement, one component is metal, and one is plastic. Which is which, and why?"

 

I thought for a moment, then pulled the following out of my ass:

Well, plastics take compressive forces better than metal, and

Metal takes shear forces better than plastic.

Since there is an offset in the femur, I assume the

Femoral component is metal, and the

Acetabular component is plastic.

The Prof was rather stunned. "That's exactly right!" he said. "If you don't go into orthopedics, I'll be terribly disappointed."

"If that's all it takes to get into orthopedics, I'm not interested," my inner mind told my inner self.

[gallahadesquire]

Update: At Physical Therapy today, I was put on a stationary bike, and told to stretch my joint as far as I could.

 

"Go ahead, go backwards, and go through the top [making a complete circle]". I tried and did it!

Then I tried it, and was able to do it going forward!

 

This is the first time in probably more than 8 years that I've been able to peddle like that.

[+ quoththeraven]

This is rather random, but for some reason every time I see the title of this thread, my mind changes it to "First Popstop Visit." I don't know why.

[gallahadesquire]

This is rather random, but for some reason every time I see the title of this thread, my mind changes it to "First Popstop Visit." I don't know why.

 

I fixed it a little. I hope that helps.

[+ quoththeraven]

I fixed it a little. I hope that helps.

 

Thanks! I recognize the abbreviation. It's more the lack of a hyphen or uppercase "o" in "op" that tripped me up.

[+ sniper]

Speaking of misunderstandings, I initially thought this was gonna be a thread about a transition...

[Guest]

This is the first time in probably more than 8 years that I've been able to peddle like that.

 

Congratulations! That must have felt inspiring.