13 Year Old Daughter Possibly Facing Knee Surgery

Xango! It is a life saver when it comes to pain and inflamation! Xango is a juice supplement that you only need a couple of ounces a day for it to work! I was going to have to have hemmoroid surgery after my second pregnancy, (wich was not an option!) After three weeks of taking Xango daily I have been Hemmorroid free for three years! I have found many other benifits of Xango and have talked to many people whos lives have been changed by Xango. Is it safe? Yes, my 3 year old has had it scence she was 5 months old and my 6 year old has begged for it scence she was 3.It is 100% Fruit Juice. They are both very healthy, happy, and antibiotic free children! I hope this helps your family!

You might ask her Doctor about a Ice machine, I can't remember what it is called but it looks like a small cooler and has tubes attached and a pad that will wrap around her knee. The Hospital can have it there and put it on her after the surgery. They are awesome and work better then ice packs. You just need to stock up on ice cubes. Also, reassure her that the pain will not last forever, it will get better everyday! The most important thing is when the Doctor tells her it is time to weight bare and bend her knee, she needs to do it even if it hurts.
Good Luck!

S.,
Having had several knee surgeries, I think hopefully I can offer you some good advice. First, make sure you have enough pillows around to help prop and cradle her leg on her bed. SHe will likely come home with a brace. Ice packs help tremendously. I got jelly-like re-freezable ones and always had one out of the freezer on my leg and one inside of the freezer getting ready. Pain pills should be used if prescribed. Don't get behind the pain or you will never catch up! Clear fluids-7-up and Ginger ale are helpful. Keeps some sugar coming in and liquids. Pain meds can be constipating. If it is a simple torn meniscus, crutches for a few days(maybe a week) and then physical therapy to help her regain her strength. It should be pretty "easy" as knee surgeries go. Just remember she will be groggy and grouchy from the pain meds. Offer soups, crackers and liquids. Be regular about pain meds-at least for the first 24-48 hours when her pain is likely to be the worst. You may then be able to switch over to advil/motrin. Magazines, movies, a lap top to help occupy her will be good. All in all, just make her bed area super comfy and clutter free floor wise-no throw rugs. Walkie talkies helped for me as my bedroom was upstairs, and my hubby and kids were downstairs or outside. Make sure you have crutches and that they are fit to her and she knows how to use them before the surgey!
Hope that helps. Good luck and God Bless!

I have a messed up meniscus tendon that causes my knee to lock and pop on occasion, it's annoying but I finally saw a specialist and leg exercises have helped. As far as postop, I would suggest painkillers and ice. Try exercising mind over matter with her as well, don't think about pain, it won't be there.

My daughter had a compound facture in a leg at 16 years of age. A squishie hair ball is what she squeezed when her pain level was intense. She used to squeeze the ball when she would have to move her leg in her bed, or use the commode. The squishie hair ball can be found in most toy departments around the rubber stress balls one squeezes in their hand. They come in many colors. She liked it because she was able to carry it in a hand and use crutches at the same time. She carried it to school and could squeeze on it without disrupting class. It is amazing what our doctors can do for us today. I believe in the power of prayer, also. Keep the faith. Your friend,Kathleen in WY

Hi S.,
I had double knee surgery when I was about your daughter's age. What helped me was: a nice comfortable bed w lots of lightweight blankets and pillows; lightweight clothing, ice packs and/or heat packs, and a long shoehorn like thing to help w the itching. Her leg may be itchy so it will be hard to scratch it if it has to be kept in a brace. She may have to wear tub-a-links or tedhose to keep down the swelling too. As always, magazines or a new book also helped. You may also be encouraged to rub some aloe/vit. E substance on the scars to help w scar tissue, etc. Be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best. Expect her to be in a bad mood, angry, sad, sleepy and just not herself. She is going to be frustrated because she won't be able to do things on her own. She may have problems sleeping too. That was my worst time because I was really tired but I couldn't sleep b/c of the pain. Just remind her that she will get through it; though the scars may take a while to fade. Mine took 10 years. Hope this helps! Good luck!

I also have a low threshold for pain, and have had two surgeries in the past. My best advice is to be careful about perscription medication because the temptation to over medicate to compensate for pain can be strong. I once broke my arm so badly that a plate had to be put on the bone. I also broke my collar bone at the same time so I was in quite a bit of pain for a while. Managing pain can be hard, and one thing that I found helpful was that you can take tylenol and IBprofin at the same time. But other than that, you just learn to accept the pain, and you even become used to it. Also she will need to take it slow. Our bodies are amazing things that heal quickly and remarkably, but if she over does it, she will reinjure herself and subject herself to more pain. I had my gallbladder removed, and sitting up was the most painful expereince in my life, but you work through it. I over did it after that surgery ( I had both of my kids at the time) and it took me much longer to heal. Physical therapy will help too, it hurts at first, but if she works at it, it will help in the end.