Orthopaedics

Charlie's Story

Charlie K.

Name: Charlie K.
Age: 56
Occupation: Self-employed woodworker
Home: Contoocook, NH
Procedure: Bilateral knee replacement

Getting back to work

My knees started bothering me about four years ago. It got to the point that it was very difficult walking and I couldn't bend my knees. I saw one doctor down in Concord, but my girlfriend's son had knee surgery here at Dartmouth-Hitchcock so I called and was able to get right in.

In the last couple of years I haven't been able to work as much because of the pain in my knees—it's been a hardship. I didn't know if I could take on the costs involved with a major operation. I needed some financing, which Dartmouth awarded me one hundred percent. It only took two or three weeks after filing the paperwork. And now that I've got my knees back, I can start working again.

Thinking about every step

Before the surgery, every aspect of my life was painful. Every step had to be thought through. If I wanted to get up and walk across the room, if I wanted to go out to my shop, if I dropped something on the floor…

People around you don't realize just how much the pain affects you. And there is no medication to take the pain away. It really deteriorated to the point where there was nothing I could do to get better except surgery.

Making informed decisions

My surgeon was Dr. Sparks. He's one of the best doctors I think I've ever had dealings with. I've had other surgeries and those doctors seem kind of impersonal. You depend on your doctor and their skills, but it's nice to know there's someone who looks you in the eye and talks to you a little bit, too.

Dr. Sparks told me it would be six to eight weeks before I could drive and get back to work. So I decided to get both knees done at the same time because I said I didn't want to do it twice. I would just as soon get it over with.

Another thing I liked is the [knee surgery] class. For two or three hours the nurse explained the surgery, showed you what the implant looked like, and explained what to expect. They went through the recovery process and the level of pain I should expect. I had gone to another hospital before DHMC and it wasn't explained to me there. Here, the whole process was laid out for me so it took away a little bit of the fear and anxiety of the operation itself. I felt very comfortable going into it. At each step along the way, through the whole thing, what they said would happen did happen–knowing what to expect makes you sleep better at night.

The surgery and recovery

I have breathing problems and sleep apnea, so I decided to have a nerve block [instead of regular anesthesia]. The doctor recommended this because they don't put you under as deeply, so coming out of anesthesia is easier. It might take you a little bit longer to get up and moving after the block wears off completely. The two or three days I was in the hospital it didn't really make that much difference. It worked out very well for me and I'm pleased with my decision.

As the nerve block wore off there was a morphine drip, which is another thing they explained in the class before the surgery. You have an IV and click a button. The machine only allows so much so there's no way you can overdo it. For the first day or two I pushed the button a lot. Then they put me on oral medication after that. The pain management was really good and I was told the only way you're going to recover is if you take your medication so that you can feel comfortable enough to do your therapy.

After I left the hospital, a visiting nurse came twice a week to test my blood. Then, on a weekly basis, I talked to a nurse and at the end they called me every once in a while to keep in touch. Also, I did my physical therapy through Concord Rehab and that physical therapist was very good—it was like a continuation of what I started at DHMC.

A world of difference

Before the surgery I couldn't pick anything up because I couldn't bend my knees. I pictured myself like a giraffe with my legs spread out trying to get lower and lower. That went on for years and everything was painful. But I just went for my three-month checkup [post surgery] and I just feel better overall.

I was up to 320 pounds. I'm down to 280 right now. I can move, and I can do my exercises. Before I'd sit around and eat. I was in pain. I couldn't get up and do anything. I'd get a little bit depressed and bummed out. Now I can start exercising. I can start doing something with my life and I started cutting back on all those extras. I couldn't wear these pants three months ago. My sleep apnea is better. It has made a big difference—just my general attitude when I get up in the morning. Dr. Sparks says it will probably be nine months to a year before I am totally doing things without thinking about it anymore. But I do feel I walk a bit straighter already, not slouched over because of the pain. People who haven't seen me in months say there's something different about me. It's a good feeling. In fact, now everyone around me is telling me to do more work!