I had my pre-op visit with the PA prior to my surgery. She went over all the things I may need after my surgery such as getting a handicap placard, setting up my time off work, notes for traveling, note for disability time off, getting my crutches, choosing my pain meds and what to do the morning of my surgery. I want to share all the things I did to get myself prepared for surgery.  

MEDS: There were two options given to me… Narcotic or the Non-narcotic package. Here is what it entails: 
 
Narcotic 
– Oxycodone (for pain) 
– Aspirin (for blood clots) 
– Laxative (for pain med) 
– Zofran (for nausea) 
 
Non-Narcotic 
– Tylenol (for pain) 
– Motrin (anti-inflammatory) 
– Nerve blocker 
– Muscle relaxant 
– Aspirin (for blood clots) 

They allowed me to get both, so I did since I was not sure how much pain I would be after.  

BEDDING: 

I purchased a triangular wedge so after surgery I could elevate my leg and keep it in extension.  
This is a great wedge to have: Amazon Triangle Pillow Wedge 

It’s also the end of the hottest time of the year for us in California, so having blankets was going to be difficult to navigate. Instead I used my Sand Cloud beach towel as a blanket because it is very soft, light to move around, and easily washable. It is made by 100% Turkish organic cotton and profits go back to marine conservation! SandCloud Towels 

ICING: 

Icing is very important after surgery because my knee was going to be very swollen and inflamed. I have two types of icing methods so I can switch back and forth from. I already have a soft gel/clay ice pack that I leave in my freezer. I would wrap it around my knee with an elastic bandage to compress and keep in place. I also purchased a cheap ice machine which can cycle iced cold water for as long as I want. Donjoy Iceman Clear3 is an affordable ice machine and I would suggest getting the extended hose so you can use it on the couch or on the bed.  
(Promo Code FREEZE10 to get $10 off) 
 

FEMALE HYGEINE: The universe decided to gift me with my period a day after my surgery date so I needed to prepare for that. I set up my bathroom with stools so I can prop leg surgical leg up, a pitcher to fill up with water so I can wash myself over the toilet and stocked up on tampons and pads. I also invested in THINX panties just in case there was leakage and I could not get to the bathroom in time due to my limitations. (A commode could also help if you have a low toilet since it will elevate the seat and have handles for your to safely don and doff the porcelain throne.) 

Healthy Bowel Movements: 

Do not take this lightly….being constipated is the most painful thing you will ever experience. With the anesthesia and pain medications taken, patients MUST remember to take their stool softeners or laxatives. I personally prefer Miralax and I take a scoop a day the week before surgery and well into the days after. It is a tasteless powder that dissolves completely in water, coffee, or juice with no texture. Taking this daily kept my gut happy and I did not have any trouble at all. 

My list of other purchases for preparing for my ACL recovery can be found at this link: 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3SDAJ1246QONR?ref_=wl_share

The post 4 – My ACL Journey – Prepping for Surgery appeared first on MOTI Physiotherapy.

Dear ACL, 

Choosing the right surgeon is not a difficult task and there are more components than having the “best surgeon.” These are the list of things I look for when choosing a surgeon that is right for me: 

1. Am I comfortable with this surgeon. Do they answer all my questions and do I have a feeling of trust and comfort when I am around them? Are they confident with their answers and do they back it up with research? Are they very adamant about one way or are they open to other methods, and if so why? 
2. What is their interest, specialty, and how many surgeries of that type do they do a year? 
3. Does you insurance cover their services ? If you have a PPO, is their entire team (including the anesthesiologist) in network with your plan? Is open enrollment around the corner and do you want to change your plan to accommodate your surgery and post surgical and rehab appointments? 

I am fortunate to have many friends who are orthopedic surgeons. I went to see Dr. Nima Mehran at Kaiser, who quickly got me a knee MRI, and confirmed I had a proximal ACL tear. In the MRI images, my ACL is torn but still sitting vertical and he stated I could maybe be a candidate for a repair but most likely a reconstruction. I consulted with a couple other of my ortho surgeon friends, and a close friend of mine, thought an ACL repair could be possible while others thought I might as well do a reconstruction since I am having surgery anyways.  

I spent 4 days going back and forth between the pros and cons of a repair vs. recon. I am a very decisive person, and this was the first time I could not make a decision. I spoke to my colleague and boss, who eased my mind by advising me that I should try the repair and then if it’s not possible, do a reconstruction.    

I made a chart on the two types of surgery to help me make my decision. 

I knew I wanted a quad autograph reconstruction because I wanted to avoid any type of anterior knee pain, I want to be able to kneel for my job, and I have very strong quads to harvest from. I also do not participate in any high impact or cutting sports so I don’t necessarily need a BTB (Bone-tendon-bone patellar autograft). 

And after discussing this with many colleagues, friends, and surgeons, I decided to aim for the repair but be ready for a reconstruction if the ACL is unrepairable. Surgery was scheduled for 9/27/22. 

The post 2 – My ACL Journey – ACL Repair vs. ACL Reconstruction appeared first on MOTI Physiotherapy.