Going into this surgery, I wasn’t sure what to expect. People say “oh, it’ll be over before you know it,” but they fail to relay the insane amount of pain you’re about to be in.
Let me back up, as I’m sure this differs based on the extent of the injury and the method. I completely severed my ACL and meniscus about two months ago. Due to my age (under 35) and my fitness level, the doctor suggested that I use my own tendon for the procedure. Once that’s decided, you have to choose whether you take the tendon from you hamstring or the patella. He suggested using my patellar tendon because 1) I’ve torn my hamstring before, and 2) women tend to tear ACLs more frequently if they have weaker hams. It was a no-brainer for me; I’ve built my hams pretty well, but I definitely didn’t want to risk making it weaker!
Friday was surgery day. I was the first patient of the day, which meant getting to the surgery center at 5:45 am for a 7 am procedure. You can’t eat after midnight. Of course, I was starving. You’re not supposed to even have water… but I know I’m not a puker, so I had half a glass of water. Shhhhh!
They take you in, show you to a recliner in a little private room, collect a urine sample, then give you a lovely gown and socks to wear. Everyone came by to introduce themselves – the nurse, the anesthesiologist, and the assistant. They confirmed the procedure and asked which knee it was (the left) about 100 times. You can’t be too careful! I was glad to see my doctor before I went it too; he came by to draw a giant “L” on my left leg.
Then came the IV needle. I have amazing veins. Phlebotomists turn into vampires when they see the inside of my arm. I’ve never had anyone try to put an IV in my forearm or my hand before though. Apparently, those veins have an inordinate amount of valves on them. This just means it’s basically impossible to put an IV in, and when she tried I almost crawled off the table. Eventually, she gave up and did the standard inside of the elbow, which didn’t hurt at all. Whatever. I was about to get some general anesthesia, so what more could hurt… right?
After all that, it was time to go. Vegas was escorted out to the main waiting room and I walked myself to the operating room. I kind of liked that I got to walk in. One last stroll for a while!
The last thing I remember is being introduced to the nurses, laying back, and oxygen being placed over my face. I woke up in recovery, asking for Vegas. The nurses assured me she could come back as soon as they got my pain under control. It was about a 9 out of 10 and I was shaking violently. I couldn’t stop my teeth from chattering! The rest is pretty fuzzy, but I know Vegas came back and held my hand. They adjusted the meds until I could stop shaking, and eventually give me Percocet for the ride home. The surgery itself took 1.5 hours, so I was out by 8:30 and headed home by 10. Not bad!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXYd2hdH3Fd/
I don’t remember a whole lot from that day except Vegas making me a smoothie bowl and scooting up the stairs on my butt to the bathroom. That evening I guess the hospital meds had worn off, and the Norco they prescribed wasn’t near as good. The last trip up the stairs to the bathroom, there were tears streaming down my face. I couldn’t control it! I don’t think I’ve ever been in pain like that before.
Imagine someone driving a dull knife into your knee, twisting it and then pushing it in and out. That’s what it felt like for the first 3 days. My leg felt like a piece of heavy lead. Poor Vegas though. I basically NEVER cry. I’m sure she didn’t know what to do. She helped me as much as she could and then got me to bed.
We ordered pizza, which arrived cold. It’s the first time in my life I’ve only eaten one piece. So the above is actually what we ate for dinner on the second night (I was too pissed off about the pizza). I wasn’t kidding when I said I ordered more Hello Fresh meals for this surgery! Vegas made us the Sweet-as-Honey Chicken with rice and snow peas. I’m not crazy about rice, so she added spinach to mine. It was delicious, and Vegas reported back that it was really easy to make. The review and $30 discount code are in my previous blog post. That post was paid, but I paid for this shipment all on my own. Definitely recommended for busier weeks. Or if you’re having surgery.
I had to pee a lot because I tried to drink more water to accompany all of the pills. I’m pretty sure I took 10 Norcos in as many hours. I’d wake up, take one, and pass back out. MISERY.
The problem with having the patella tendon taken is that I can’t tighten my quad at all. I can’t lift my leg. I can’t even slide out of bed without excruciating pain. Did I mention I have a pretty good pain tolerance? Vegas has been my hero. She basically holds my leg so I can totally relax my quad while getting in and out of bed. Even at 3 am.
Speaking of the bathroom, the super fun part about all of this is that pain meds constipate you. So not only can I not move, I have a poop baby the size of a watermelon. TMI? I’m so far past caring… I can’t even take a laxative because it takes like 10 minutes to get to the bathroom. That would be a tragic moment, one that I’m sure Vegas would never let me live down!
At least I had the surgery done on a Friday. I didn’t shower until Monday afternoon. Still haven’t gotten dressed at all. Vegas has brought me every meal (and several a couple of glasses of wine).
As of the time of writing this Tuesday night (4 days post-op), I feel a little better. I at least smell better! Friday I’ll go back for a checkup with the doctor, and then I’m on to PT. Hoping to be fully functional again within 6 months. Which is when they say I should do the other one. Argh.
At least we have wine.
[Tweet “What recovering from #ACLsurgery looks like. Week 1 wasn’t pretty.”]
I hope you enjoyed my janky day of post-surgery eats. Follow along on IG for more – Vegas is doing a great job! Be sure to link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby below.
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Knowing what I know now… I may have chosen the cadaver tendon. We’ll see in a few weeks though.
Have you ever had surgery? This is way worse than getting my boobs done!
How are you with blood? I made a conscious effort not to post the worst pics.
Jesus. I’ve torn through 3 ACLs, and while the second one on the same knee required bone grafting and an extensive operation, it sounds nothing like that. I mean, ok it wasn’t pain free but I think the most painful part was the constipation element of it, not the knee area post-surgery itself. You’ve undergone one already, right? Why was this one so much more painful? Was it the autograft part? (I picked allograft each time.) The combination of ACL and MCL?
My best friend just had the exact same surgery (ACL + MCL) after a skiing accident and her pain was unbearable as well. Sounds horrible! Feel better!
THREE?! I’m not sure I’d have the surgery 3 times. Wow. I think the autograft is worse though – they took my patellar tendon, which left and huge scar and is extremely painful. If I do fix the other knee, I’ll be using a cadaver!
Oh, poor Laura! I’m so sorry you’re in such misery. I know you’re glad the surgery is over, but geez–what a rough recovery! I had a surgery (much less painful than yours) in my younger 20’s for something minor and refused to take my pain meds for the same reason they’re causing you such misery… I was in agony 3 days painwise from no meds, but I refused to deal with the alternative aftermath they cause! (I’m a total wimp when it comes to my GI system and upsets.) My veins also roll like yours do despite that you can basically see all of them through the undersides of my arms (must be a woman thing?). I used to have to get blood drawn for my neurologist appointments when I was a teen for the seizures I used to have, and the nurses there hated taking my blood because no one could get the needle to go in. They couldn’t believe someone with so many prominent veins had such “roly poly veins” as they used to call mine. I guess we have more in common than we thought! 🙂 Anywho, I hope you feel better really, really soon. You’re so lucky to have someone who loves you to take care of you, though! 🙂
Those pain meds are rough! I wavered between wanting the whole bottle and trying to tough it out. I had to cave a night though… just to get a little sleep. The vein thing is crazy. I didn’t even know you could have too many valves! I’ll know next time – only put needles in my inner elbow! Glad you don’t have to do that anymore.
And yes, I’m incredibly lucky. 🙂
omg. I feel so bad for the pain you were in/are in! I am hoping each day gets better from here. I am not a good patient at all so going through labor to have my son was not a pleasant experience but the body is amazing for recovery at eventually gets there so that you will feel like yourself again in no time! The IV in the hand is the absolutely worst. it was worse than when I got my epidural, I swear! and how dare the pizza arrive cold! that was tragic and rude! lol
It’s SO much better now! Those first 5 days were crazy! I can’t imagine the pain of having a child. I’d be begging for the epidural!
OMG woman! That really sounds horrible and I feel so badly for you. I know you don’t want pity but since I cannot supply drugs or wine, that is all I have. When I had pretty major surgery a few years ago it was excruciating and they cut into my abs so getting out of bed was a total nightmare!! I feel for you and wish there was some way I could help. Sounds like Vegas has it covered but ugh…
Hang in there – you are TOUGH but remember, you don’t have to be 🙂
All my good vibes to you for this week!!!! < – – and those vibes are STRONG!!
It is absolutely miserable. However, it’s not currently as miserable as it was at the time I wrote this post. So that’s something. I can’t image having my abs cut through!!! Thanks for all the vibes. (Is it wrong that that made me giggle?)
Good golly. I’m feeling sympathy pain just reading this. I’m wishing you a speedy recovery. Did the doctors say anything about when the pain will start to subside?
Thank you! It’s actually much better these past couple of days. He just failed to mention how bad the pain would be at the start. LOL!
So, that sounds like the worst. Pretty much. Yeah, I don’t think I will be trying to have ACL surgery anytime soon. I hope you get some relief ASAP and kudos to your other half for being such a sport!
I don’t recommend it.
That just looks miserable! I’ve never had surgery but I’ll never forget when my mom had an abdominal plasty! It was torched for everyone!
I don’t know what that is, but it sounds like something I will NOT be looking to have!
Oh I feel for you! I had mine done w the patella graft as well about 13 years ago. I had 3 and 5 year old children at the time. We lived in 3 story house-fun times. the pain was excruciating indeed. After the first week it was better. Back then I had to stay in the hospital for almost 2 days on morpine. Hang in there you are young and will recover quickly but it’s no fun at all
You have given me SO much hope! It feels like I’ll never heal, but I know what all you are able to do.
I can’t believe you got to stay in the hospital for two days! Vegas and I both said they should have kept me at least one night to manage pain (and not have to hobble to the bathroom in tears).
Hang in there! Sounds like you’re through the worst of it!
Thanks! Thank god by day 7 it was SO much better.
Oh Laura, I really feel for you and hope you have a speedy recovery. It’s so great you have Vegas by your side. Remember this is temporary and you’ll soon be back to normal and have a story of recovery to tell to inspire others.
And literally, when I had leg surgery they marked up the leg like crazy to make sure they had the right one, I literally Lol’ed. But hey guess they can’t afford any silly mistakes.
I’d rather have it all parked up than have the wrong one done! Although, i Guess it wouldn’t have mattered since both ACLs are torn… *eye roll*
Thank you for the kind words!!!
Oh man, you poor thing. That sounds awful! Other than having my wisdom teeth out, I’ve never had to have surgery. Luckily you’re being well taken care of and I hope the pain goes down soon!
Wisdom teeth suck too! The recovery is much rater though. I’ll never forget my chipmunk cheeks.
I’m so sorry, I’m wincing for you. I have a problem with pain meds like Norco. I find they aren’t super effective, and end up just bothering my stomach. I don’t even get the loopy part!
I do that with Lortab. It’s the worst reaction – I basically just throw it up.
Wishing you a speedy recover! I have lot of friends who’ve had ACL surgery, including my husband, so I know it’s not a fun process but hang in there and you’ll be as good as new when you’re all healed.
Thank you! The more people I talk to, the more I’m surprised by how many people have been through this!
OMG I feel so bad for you – this sounds awful! I hope things get a lot better soon! I’ve never had surgery (I thought I might have had to for my broken foot but luckily I didn’t)! I can deal with a little bit of blood but nothing extreme.
I’m down with blood and usually I have a pretty good pain tolerance. This was crazy though! At least there wasn’t any vomit involved. *knocks on wood*
A friend of mine just went through this. She’s still on crutches and said PT is painful. I can only image the pain you’re in. Praying for a speedy recovery for you!
Thank you Megan! I know you understand the general struggle. I start PT Monday and I’m already dreading it.
Oh my lovely this is just a crappy time – I’m just so glad you have Vegas to be with you through it all.
I have never had surgery and have major medical anxiety – in fact I had never had a blood test done until this year (not something they do regularly in the UK). But it’s something I need to work on!
Sending you lots of get well (heal) soon love and hugs!
Thank you, Jen! I’m good with blood, but this pain is something else! I just thought vomit was the only thing I couldn’t tolerate before… WRONG.
Agh dear looorddddd!!!
Laura this sucks. This sucks sucks sucks and sounds incredibly painful… I can’t even imagine it. You are a force to be going through this, and Vegas is incredible for all that she is doing for you (but I’m not surprised). I’m sure she – as well as any of us – wish there was something more we could do to make it better. But you’re the power ranger here. One day this will just be another huge feat you can say you over came. Thinking of you and wishing you ANY sense of relaxation and comfort I can <3 <3
PS were your incredible veins one of the draws you used to turn on Vegas? Sexy stuffffff
I so appreciate the kind words. It’s getting better (finally), but Vegas is totally my rock.
I’ll have to ask her about the veins… she IS a big Twilight fan. 😉
LOL, I have amazing veins too. I love all the confirming of the LEFT leg!!! Especially that big L. OH NO a 9 out of 10? I’m so sorry Laura 🙁 This hurts my heart. The surgery was pretty quick, I’m happy you were home so early. Cold pizza sucks, but I’m happy Hello Fresh came through! OMG I love Vegas! She is the best 🙂 Sending lots of healing energy 🙂
I’d never actually felt a 9 out of 10 before. I hope I don’t again because WOW. Vegas is the best though. She rubbed my feet when it was a 9. 🙂
Oh girl, I’m not going to lie… this surgery sounds like it sucks hardcore. But I’m happy that it’s done, and the worst should be over pain-wise. Vegas is such an amazing nurse!!
Oh, it sucked a big one. At least I have uplifting news to distract me. *gag*
I’ve been watching you instagram pictures and thinking about you. Hope you heal up quickly.
Thank you, Abby!
Vegas is a saint. We really need to get you better meds for the next knee.
Shhhhh… don’t let her hear you say that. It goes to her head. 😉