So thank you again

Yes, it was, but I was so happy I could get over the step leading into the shower. 🙂

An interesting side to this story is that last week I went in for the first time after the operation (3 weeks) to have the bandage removed over the incision. So the nurse looked at it, declared it ok, and removed part of the covering. I thought she did her job. (What do I know?) But then I began wondering a few days later, how come some of the covering is still there? Is it supposed to come off by itself? So I called the office and they asked me to take a picture of the covering and send it to them. I did. And then they called me back and said no, it's not supposed to be left there. So I said, how did that happen that she didn't take the whole bandage off? And the woman answering said, "I don't know, but you need to come back in asap." So I'll be going back in Friday.

@cindiwass you’d think that would be impossible in our modern healthcare system. I am so sorry this happened!

Literally nothing surprises me anymore when dealing with the medical system. I double-check everything since, twice, almost being given penicillin, to which I'm allergic as it says in my chart in BIG letters.

A friend wrote her allergies on her forehead with a Sharpie before being admitted to a hospital. And I knew a man who was scheduled for knee replacement on his left leg and inked a big cross over his right knee with an arrow pointing to the left and the words "Other Leg!!" below it. And yet we still hear stories of the wrong operation done on a patient or some other preventable screw-up.

So I borrow the Reagan credo of 'trust but verify' lol.

Today I went in to the office for physical therapy. The Physical Therapist was very good, much different than the one sent by the home healthcare agency. Although i liked the PT from the home healthcare agency, I fired them because they bothered me too much. So I am continuing PT with the office associated with the surgeon's office, right next door. He massaged my leg very nicely and did some exercises. Also he told me that icing the inflammed part does not necessarily help. I heard that before, but with all the information and recommendations over the internet to ice/ice/ice and more ice the inflammed portion, I ordered ice packs and more ice packs. But what the PT said made sense. He said that while you can ice after a workout, icing actually will hinder the natural healing since the vessels shrink during that time, impeding the flow of the blood. And that made sense to me. So -- I'll just try to let my body do more healing and maybe (I said maybe) stop playing around with all sorts of anti-inflammatory pills and gummies, etc.
P.S. The real pain now is by my knee. I had trouble with the knee for years due to a high school basketball injury (some lovely girl threw me down during a game and the miniscus was torn and my mother took me to the doctor who took some of the torn cartilage out.) One orthopedic surgeon said, "That's what they did back then." I started to cry because it was a long time ago (like 60 years ago) and maybe surgeons learned better ways since then? Just asking...
OK, I am very, very, very reluctant to go ahead and get a knee replacement. I hear it's worse in recovery than a hip replacement and I'm about 4 weeks into it since the operation, still have pain (really by the knee) and can't walk too well. I'll wait a few weeks and hopefully somehow things will get better. I'll let all you good guys know. 🙂

Yes, I saw the medical assistant today and she took the remains of the old bandage off (it was peeling) and put on strips. When I asked her how it happened, she offered no answer. I get really tired of people sometimes and so I hope I don't see the person that did the wrong thing when I go back again. I was reading a book written by a doctor about his training (very interesting) and he wrote that when they were in residency, they would take classes, and one class was by a lawyer who told them, "Never admit a mistake." (I'll bet.) While I respect (to a degree) the profession, and I go to doctors, yes -- they aren't all the same.

Ha, that's funny but understandable about your friend and the "handwriting on the forehead." I like to verify things, you just never know...

@cindiwass Wow, it sounds like you have a good PT now. I never thought of icing as potentially inhibiting healing but what your PT said really makes sense! I have known some people who have had knee replacements with little pain or they perceived it as little pain because the pain they had before the operation was so terrible. I guess it boils down to every person is different and the surgical decisions are so hard; I don't envy you. It is good to see you continue to post. Your mood seems more upbeat. Your questioning of things in the past and alternative treatments you've tried is normal, in my opinion. I think the human brain tries to make reason of everything, it's just a fact. Please continue to post. It is healing to watch someone else on their journey.

@cindiwass I understand why a lawyer would tell them that. For me, a doctor not showing his humanity in the fact that something may have been done differently would make me more likely to want litigation.... but that's just me. Everyone makes mistakes. If you think of the name of that book, please share it. I'd be interested to read it and get most of my books cheaply through HalfPrice Books or Thrift Books.

Yes, I agree @bustrbrwn22 , I have learned from others' posts here also. This is the 2nd time I heard about icing not helping too much. I questioned the PT today and what he said makes sense about closing the vessels, but he said it could be helpful for a little while after a "workout." He gently and kindly massaged my hurting knee and thigh as well as taking me through some exercises. I'm glad I switched. Sometimes, as suggested here, we gotta do what we have to do. Glad I fired the home healthcare agency, the communication among them was terrible. I am learning (sigh) to take down names & times & dates of people from the same agency I talk to.