Well, I’m back to preparing for knee surgery all over again. Back in 2018, I had my first round for my right knee. I ended up having two surgeries for that knee. The first was the scope to fix a few things and get a biopsy of the cartilage, and the second was the MACI procedure with a MPFL Reconstruction. That set of surgeries went so well for my right knee, I decided to embark on the same (or similar) journey for my left knee. On Monday, July 19th, I will be having surgery number one for my left knee. So that means, the knee surgery preparations are starting this weekend!
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Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels
About Next Surgery
When I went in for my follow-up for the right knee, my surgeon asked me if I wanted to discuss the MRI I had on my left knee. I don’t know that I was fully prepared for what he was going to tell me. Like my right leg, I will need two surgeries. As soon as he said that, I knew I was in for another doozy of a recovery. While I don’t have to have the MPFL Reconstruction, I will need to have a Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy and either the MACI again or a procedure where I will get donor bone and cartilage. He will known which one I will need after the scope on Monday. While the recovery from the first surgery shouldn’t be that bad, I am gearing myself up for a long recovery after the second.
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Knee Surgery Preparations
Since my husband will be working while taking care of me when I’m laid up, as well as driving the kids around, I am going to get as much prepared today and this weekend, as I can. The first thing I will be doing is meal planning. Anything I can prepare quickly and package up this weekend, I will do. This way we will have meals ready for the week and make it a little easier for my husband. A few meal ideas we will be having are:
- Protein lasagna
- Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Keto bread
- Pork Chops
- Chili Lime Keto Chicken Salad
Having those things ready to go will make things just slightly easier for my husband. Other things I plan on doing is getting the laundry completely caught up, deep cleaning a few areas of the house, and making sure I have the kids schedule written out for him. With the laundry in the basement, I will need to rely on him to do the laundry. If I can get it caught up, then it will be less stressful for him, and less stressful for me!
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Other Knee Surgery Tips
When I had surgery the first time, I made sure to write a lot about it, in hopes that it helps other people. I have tips and tricks on how to handle a difficult recovery. You can also find lots of updates about the MACI Procedure and the MPFL Reconstruction. You can find those posts here. As always, if you have any questions, just ask! Leave a comment, email, or reach out via social media. I am always willing to share my experience!
I am so glad to have found your blog. I am about to go for the MACI procedure (2nd step) in less than a week. I found out about my injury nearly a year ago, right around this time, and it has already been such a journey, that to think of the second and the real step feels so intimidating.
I have just moved into a new apartment to have more space for me to rest and rehab and am so worried for the extra work my surgery will create for my boyfriend. How did you plan ahead? From your experience, when were you able to resume activities like cooking, or helping with smaller housework? Also did you use hydra-therapy as part of your rehab?
First…good luck with your surgery! I am actually going in for the second part of the maci for my left knee right after Thanksgiving.
To answer your question, I was not able to do those things (housework and cooking) for quite awhile. I don’t really remember how long…a couple months. It wasn’t until I was off crutches and more stable on my feet that I started doing more of those things.
I did not use hydra-therapy as part of my PT. Will you be doing that?
My NUMBER ONE tip is to purchase the knee elevator that I’ve linked in all of my posts. I am not joking when I say it makes all the difference in the world. Also, set your alarm for the pain pills. They will most likely give you a nerve block (if they don’t, ask for one after surgery). That blocks most (not all) of your pain for a couple days, but it is STILL important to take your pain pills on a scheduled time table because once that nerve block wears off, you will be hit with all the pain at once. That happened to me and it was HORRIBLE. The other important thing, if they don’t tell you this at the hospital, is to take a Colace once a day while you are taking the pain pills. You don’t want to get constipated.
I hope all of that helps. Please let me know how it goes.