Update as of Saturday:
Darla is doing phenomenally well since her surgery on Friday. The surgeon told us that most patients experience tremendous pain for 2-3 days following this type of surgery. When we saw her yesterday, she was only using about half of the prescribed pain medication available to her so she is tolerating the surgery very well. Darla is alert, talkative and in good spirits. She is back to eating a regular diet and gearing up to get moving this week. They will start with her sitting up in bed, dangling her legs over the bed, then progress to sitting up in a chair to rebuild her stamina. The goal is for her to be ready to start a few hours of daily rehab about 5 days post surgery.
Aside from rehab, the next clinical focus is evaluating the ligaments of her left knee to validate that she will be able to use this leg during rehab while her right ankle heals. She is waiting to have a scheduled MRI on her left knee. Darla is also very happy that the surgeon removed the external fixator pins in her right knee during surgery. They are no longer necessary for traction since her pelvis has been stabilized.
Darla returned back to the med/surg floor after surgery so she can have flowers now and a reasonable number of visitors. She also has her Blackberry with her so you can drop her an email at dfriel@ameriquest.com.
