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Blondie's Elbow Replacements

cawedel@kans.com 

My name is Anita, but most people online know me as Blondie. I have RA and OA, the RA being diagnosed in 1981. I have had both elbows totally replaced. The first was my left one, in 1993. My RD had advised me to see an ortho. surgeon. I had several injections into the elbows over the years and X-rays were telling the tale. I went to the only surgeon known within several hundred miles who had elbow experience. After the exam and X-rays he advised me the left needed a total, the right a partial. I opted to wait a little longer to think things through and find a convenient time. Ha! 

Six months later the left elbow had frozen into a 90* angle. I was struggling at work and at home. After much cajoling by my family, friends, even my boss , I returned to the ortho and scheduled my surgery. Of course I was lectured on having waited too long, the ligaments, muscles, and skin had all shrunk, making surgery and recouperation that more difficult. The surgery took around 3 hrs, if I remember right. After regaining my senses from the anesthesia, I felt good, no more teeth grinding pain in the elbow. Following morning when the lines were removed, I was told I could begin walking on my own. I felt so good that the nurses and Drs. were chasing me down for meds and exams . The following morning (day 2 after surgery) I was released
in a half cast. 

The recoup time went slow (to me) but well. I really don't remember when the drain and stitches came out, and there were X-rays and exams along the way too. What I do remember is the grueling PT (who doesn't). I also worked on in home exercises to speed my progress. PT measured my progress with fancy little instruments, I measured by when I could touch my thumb to my nose, bend my arm fully, place my hand flat against my face. It felt wonderful after so long a time to have both arms working! I returned to work after 6 wks. The PT continued for a few more months. I was ready sooner, but the incision had to heal to lesson chances of infection in my workplace.

I chose to pass on the partial replacement for my right elbow, and continued working. By the time I was ready(translated in way too much constant pain doing even the simplest of tasks) I returned to the same ortho. surgeon for a repeat performance. September 1997 was the date for my newest bionic part. Only difference from first surgery being this elbow wasn't frozen in place, plus I had a block done on the arm besides the general anesthesia. I regretted this upon awakening and feeling as if I had no arm. I had to pick it up and move it, it felt heavy and foreign to me. Ugh! I was so glad when those effects wore off, and I was able to be up and about with ease again. When the ortho and his assistant came in the following morning on rounds I was waiting He asked how I was feeling, I said like I'm ready to go home. As his assistant was shaking his head no, the surgeon said OK, and explained to the wide eyed assistant that I had experience with this type of surgery and recouped well.

As you can probably tell by now, surgery and hospitals are last on my list of to do's. Not too mention the PT sadists. But, am I glad I had the surgeries? YES! Would I repeat them? YES! Are the elbow replacements as good as original "working" equipment? No, but any surgeon who is worth his degree will tell his patients that...from the beginning, and that different people have different results as with any surgery. My elbows don't extend fully and there is always a 15lb. weight restriction to protect the prothesis but the awful continual pain is gone, and I for one, am so very glad that these joint replacements are now available for us, and the list is growing and improving all the time.