Comments on: Going Home Can be Very Traumatic….

By: (((Billy))) The Atheist

(((Billy))) The Atheist — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:44:38 +0000

Having been the participant in 13 knee surgeries (all on one knee (the left one (tell me again about intelligent design?))), five majors (thank you so much, US Army), I can answer your question: leg condoms.

Seriously. They are large flexible rubber tubes, rather roomy, except for an area at the top with a diameter about the same as a baby’s wrist. Before the shower, you carefully put the leg condom on and quickly, before it cuts off the circulation to your lower leg, take a shower.

Contact your local pharmacy or medical supply store. Just be sure that they know what your are referring to or you may end up with a colostomy bag which straps to the inside of your leg (the Army can be very particular about descriptions of items) called a ‘leg bag’. Your orthopaedist (or (more likely) his or her medical secretaries) might be able to help you find a leg condom.

I sympathize. Knees are tough. Well, they are fragile, but tough (read ‘difficult’) to heal once something has gone wrong.

Look on the bright side, though — at least you broke your kneecap in a somewhat macho manner. My son broke his leg playing tetherball.

By: momkat

momkat — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:49:25 +0000

An overall shower every other day, with daily spot attention to the pheromone-producing areas, is certainly adequate. And the getting wet of the wound is not the problem, it’s the staying wet that will KILL YOU. It’s part of a medical professionals training to put the fear of god into you and warn you of DIRE CONSEQUENCES. Stay safe so I can get my daily fix of your ongoing mischief.

By: Ron Kephart

Ron Kephart — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:33:10 +0000

Hey Greg, the Olympics is exactly as you describe, even without the drugs…

By: Virgil Samms

Virgil Samms — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:14:41 +0000

"Oh hai. I suppose you want your good chair back."

Let me guess, was that from your cat?

By: mikey.duhhh

mikey.duhhh — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:43:59 +0000

Here’s a little Creationist theory to make your day:

Intelligent Recall

http://www.fakingnews.com/2010/02/creationists-propose-intelligent-recall-theory-to-explain-extinction-of-species/

By: Pinky

Pinky — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:37:20 +0000

I have been through the “Don’t get the dressing wet”, many, many times since a drunk driver used my body as a breaking device 17 years ago.

To add to the good advice from Lisa #2 and Chezjake #7; get a hand held shower device (they screw on/off so it would not be a permanent unwanted feature in your in-laws shower); buy a shower chair (the best type is one that extends from inside the shower to the outside) and use a padded, comfortable stool to rest your foot on outside the shower.

I used such an arrangement for years and almost got used to it.

I hope you feel better soon.

By: george.w

george.w — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:16:10 +0000

Way, way too much experience with this: cut one end off a plastic grocery bag. Slide over affected area and secure with electrical tape (it’s a bit more flexible than ductape) or rubber bands. Optionally you can leave the bottom of the bag open so if it leaks, it won’t retain water and defeat the purpose. Take short shower. Afterward, remove bag and dry area as it will be moist even if seal was effective.

But for 10 days or so, hell, just do the wet-washcloth thing. Your hygiene will be fine. It will give you a valuable opportunity to be antisocial.

Hope you feel better soon/off the vicodin. Nasty stuff.

By: Mike Haubrich

Mike Haubrich — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:03:54 +0000

See, I learned something today. I had always been warned about getting stitches wet, but no one had ever explained why.

I have been watching the Olympics on CTV (Canada) – it is a slightly different experience compared to watching them on NBC and CNBC.

By: chezjake

chezjake — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:51:30 +0000

This is how to do the shower; it really works:
1. Wrap knee and dressings snugly in plastic wrap (Saran).
2. Tape upper edge of Saran with duct tape (just snugly over the Saran, not on skin).

Heal well.

By: digital Rabbit

digital Rabbit — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:48:39 +0000

Old spice works well. It will also alert people to your presence blocks before they encounter you. 🙂