Medical advances dramatically reduce surgery down time

Advances in science and technology over the past few decades have slowly but surely reduced down times of many who have undergone surgical procedures.

I recently underwent knee surgery to correct three tears in my meniscus. Prior to advances in the use of scopes and tiny tools, this procedure often required six to eight weeks of recovery before patients could begin to resume activities such as walking without the assistance of crutches or a walker.

In preparation for the procedure, I spent hours organizing the room where my recovery would occur. I had set up my computer within less than 10 feet from the recliner I assumed would be my bed for several weeks, placed snacks, medications, and wound care items such as antibiotic ointment and bandages within reach and had all three television remotes nearby.

Prior to the surgery, I had spoken with several people of varying ages and physical conditions who told me to expect at least two-three weeks of not being able to walk without assistance. I prepared for the worst possible scenario in hopes that I would not have to depend too much on my wife for assistance.

Even though my procedure was to be performed arthroscopically with one small incision for the scope and another small incision where the tools used to mend the tears would be inserted, I assumed that I would be out of commission for at least one week.

Immediately following the surgery, which was performed at a surgery center rather than in a hospital operating room, I walked from my car to the front door of my home without the help of any sort of walking aide. My leg was a bit stiff but strong enough to hold my weight and function as it was designed to do.

However, some 24 hours after the surgery, as I attempted to get out of my bed for the first time since the surgery, it became apparent that soreness and stiffness had set in overnight. All it took was one step on the cut leg to make me realize walking the second day was not going to be as easy as it had been on the first day. I took a deep breath and did my best to suppress the overwhelming desire to let out a blood curdling scream and hobbled hunched over toward my recliner.

The second 24 hours after surgery were extremely uncomfortable with frequent pain shooting up and down my leg no matter what position I attempted to relax in. It hurt to move the leg even the slightest. That second day consisted mostly of attempting to sleep between the every six hours of prescribed pain medications.

However, when I woke on the third morning, I was amazed at the lack of discomfort and the gradually increasing strength of the leg that had been operated on. That first step out of bed wasn’t nearly as painful as it had been on the prior morning. Though I was feeling much better, most of the third day was also spent lying in the recliner and limiting my movements to only those absolutely necessary such as bathroom functions.

But by the fourth day, I was walking upright and able to sit in front of my computer and catch up on work that had been missed the previous two days.

Perhaps I’m lucky or perhaps I had an excellent surgeon, but whatever the explanation is, it has become obvious to me that medical advances can have a huge positive impact on down time normally associated with surgical procedures.