Life Pre-Surgery
Sunday, June 22. 2008

Pre Surgery Lifestyle:

1987-2004:sports 5x / week; volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer.

1993: motorcycle accident; fractured femur. Long term result – severe arthritis, bone spurs, loss of cartilidge.

2002-2008: severe pain after sports; self medication through alcohol

2005-2008: stopped all sports but basketball due to pain. Added mountain biking (less impact) to pick up slack.

Posted by Kenny Gensel

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Surgery & Post Op

Sunday, June 22. 2008
Surgery:

Day 1: Pretty immobile, jacked up on pain meds. Able to move to chair by end of day. Day 2: Walked around ward with crutches. Confidence growing. Day 3: Ready to go home in morning. Learned how to nav stairs w/ crutches. Drive home was PAINFUL [no meds prior to leaving; snafu due to Sunday discharge]. Drive straight to pharmacy, downed the meds, straight to recumbent chair for snooze.:

Home Recovery::

Day 1: walked around block with family. Very nice to get out. Able to check work email. Able to go up / down stairs (2x day).:

Day 2: able to make work emails / calls from home recumbent chair. Pain meds make it difficult to multi-task. Attention span greatly reduced. Must take nap.:

Days 3-5: look forward to daily walks around block with family. Easier to get in / out of bed each day. Able to go up / down stairs as needed. Cut all “additional” pain meds [percocet] but for 2x/day oxicontin.:

Day 6: attended BMX Olympic Trials. Only able to stay 2.5 hrs. Percocet in car ride home and useless rest of day.:

Day 8: decided to drive myself to work-likely a mistake. Driving is PAINFUL. Sitting at work in regular chair painful. Lower back hurt since I was trying to sit comfortably. Home at 3pm and resumed the percocet. Disappointment.:

Days 9-13: went to work every other day for short days; had to take perc to recover. Days stayed home were pain free & no percs necessary. Driving and sitting at work were key culprits. Limited mobility around house possible with only 1 crutch.:

Confidence Boosters::

Home and walking within 4 days of surgery – perception of “being on track” good feeling. 4 days post surgery perceived to hit plateau or even step backwards; easy to feel sorry for myself and get moody.:

Determination: epiphany that mental toughness is as important as physical therapy.:

Dr. Ball personally called to check up – classy guy. Great help to confidence.:

Read article in Competitor Mag re: pro athletes Floyd Landis and Robyn Benincasa had same surgery. Emailed and got a response from Robyn! Wow what a boost. :

Must maintain mental toughness – this is a marathon not a sprint.
Posted by Kenny Gensel