Calf, Knee and Ankle Surgery

Dr. Gruber is excellent in every way. Her bedside manner is amazing, she is great at conversation during the procedure to take your mind off of it (as are her nurses) and she is truly an artist who wants to make sure every detail is right. She is very sensitive to your comfort during the procedure, and if you feel any pain, she is great about renumbing the area until you feel good, while still keeping a close eye on your safe limits for meds. I could not have asked for a better doctor, and I would highly recommend her.

Surgery update: Surgery went well, didn't feel a thing and actually dozed off a few times. I felt pressure, sort of like a massage. There was one spot that wasn't quite numb enough, and Dr. Gruber had to go back and numb it up a couple of times, then we moved on. The numbing process before the procedure is a bit painful - it feels like a dull bruise and some burning pain all at once. But the pain doesn't linger, and you can pretty easily hang through about 20 minutes of that. After the surgery, I was cleaned, most of the wounds were glued up, and I was wrapped in maxi pads around the ankle (and believe me, it was necessary!) and puppy pads around the legs. When I got home, I ate lunch and slept for the rest of the day. When the lidocaine wears off, you will definitely feel it, and (I cannot stress this enough!) take your pain pills! Don't try to be a hero. Also, make sure you eat enough take your anti-nausea pills first, because I was one of those people who say "I have an iron stomach" and ended up losing my lunch. The first night, I will not lie, will be hell. It hurts, you don't feel right, you can't really move around in the pads, and every time you shift in bed, you feel a gush of the fluid draining out of your legs. In my case, it was heavy, but that ended up being a good thing, because it's out of your system and if you're like me and had to fly the next day, you want to be done "draining" before that. If you can survive the first night, everything else is better after that. I started a system of keeping snacks and water by my bed, eating as soon as I woke up, taking my meds, then getting up AFTER they kick in. It makes a difference. When you get up, you will feel burning pain, especially around your knees, but it eases up pretty quickly, and you can get around slowly.

Day 1 after surgery - I made it through the night, and it only gets better from here! They ask you not to shower the first night, and I'm not sure how that would even be possible with mummy-wrapped legs, but I sponge-bathed what I could. The initial results are long gone, and I'll probably see them again in six months or so, but honestly, at this point, you're not going to be thinking about the looks as much as the feels. And it feels pretty bad. :) I'm telling it like it is, since other really honest reviews on RealSelf helped me prepare, and I want future patients to know what they're getting into. With everything, I will still say it's worth it. Getting in and out of the compression garment will be the absolute worst part of your day, and it will make you want to say very bad words. But with the meds, honestly, the pain throughout the rest of the day is manageable. I bought an extra garment when I went back for my follow-up, and I'm glad I did. The first garment was pretty bloody after the first night. After my follow-up with Dr. Gruber, I went back to the hotel to spend another day sleeping before my flight the next morning. With just one oxy, I slept much of the day and kept the pain at bay. If you're active like me, you may feel strange or guilty about sleeping so much, but trust me, this is the best thing you can do for yourself. This evening, when I took off the garment for a shower, I could see the swelling and bruising start to appear. The shower honestly felt really good on my legs, and I hated to put that garment back on. It's like putting on a pair of pantyhose that is 27 sizes too small. Before that, I put the Dragon's Blood from the nurse on the incisions, and it really does help them dry out and heal (although it smells awful). Because I knew I would be flying the next morning, I put Band-Aid gel bandages on the open incisions around my ankles to prevent any possible leakage. They worked well, were very comfortable and kept the compression stockings from chafing them (which will happen). Then I had another good night's sleep with just one oxy.