Brace Fitting Appointment
[ Monday July 31st 2023 at 2:40 pm ]
I just finished my compression knee brace fitting appointment. If I take this appointment out of the context of my health care and the reason why I was there then as a whole this appointment went well. I like the orthotist. I appreciate people being direct with me. The administrative assistant was wonderful when addressing the funding benefit this set is progress for me. When I peppered the orthotist with questions for 40 minutes they answered as many as possible. It is reasonably what I would expect out of them.
As I see it the problem with this starts with a response I was given at around the 30 minute mark. The orthotist responded to a question I gave with: "Why not just try positive thinking?" I responded to this question without thinking or having any filter in what I was saying whatsoever: "I gave up on positive thinking 5 surgeries ago." I meant every word of this. When discussing the operation I was referring to the surgeon told me I'd make a great recovery and would get another 15 years out of my left hip. In reality that surgery came undone after 54 weeks later. This isn't to mention that most of the 54 weeks was a physical struggle. I am not interested in this positive thinking suggestion. I know better. At this point it took the wind out of their sails in trying to convince me this brace was more likely to work than not. I reasonably know what I am and am not capable of. This is no long term viable intervention.
I think my gut instinct on this topic was correct all along: That the idea of bracing my knee isn't a viable fix. I had briefly articulated this when my pain management specialist doctor asked me to re-visit this on June 1st. I did say I'd set aside my better judgment and still pursue this. I've been instructed by the orthotist to use the brace 6 hours a day. This could be extended to as many as 8 hours a day. I've been left with the sense that 8 hours a day needs to be the anomaly. I've been told not to wear the knee brace to bed or it will begin to kill off my toes and possibly my lower legs because of the reduced blood flow that results as a side effect. Herein lies the problem: The 16 to 18 hours a day when life happens without the knee brace. In very practical terms this still leaves me unable to find a position to put my legs in while trying to sleep, what then am I suppose to do for taking care of my hamster, using the toilet, meal preparation, personal hygiene, etc., while I am not suppose to be using the brace.
I am not entirely pessimistic but I am forced to tentatively conclude that this was suggested out of desperation. I can't possibly see how my pain management specialist doctor would not have known the limited use I'd get from it. I will give my pain management specialist doctor a chance to explain what he hoped I'd get out of it. The upshot is that at best I can decide what I want in place before I have a knee surgery. The idea of using bracing to avoid knee surgery isn't reasonable or viable. Effectively my life doesn't go into hibernation as soon as I remove the brace.