Posted by chucke/fl on 8/6/13 8:23pm
Msg #479469

Knee Replacement

I will be having a total knee replacement next month. If anyone has had one, how did if effect your business? Were you able to get your old faithful back after being away for six weeks ? Or did you use the lay up time to market for new clients when you returned ?

Reply by Kat2857/CA on 8/6/13 8:36pm
Msg #479471

Hi,
My Dad had both knees done 4 months apart at the age of 81. While he is not in this business, he (along with my reminders) followed his PT to the letter. Made all the diff in the world. Do what the Drs tell you as well as the Physical Therapist and you will be fine.
Good luck!

Kathy

Reply by jba/fl on 8/6/13 8:54pm
Msg #479472

I would worry less about my business and more about the business at hand of recovery and PT. As schedulers call you, explain your knee is in the shop and you will be better than ever about (date). I think you will find that they will not forget you at all and will want to know how you are doing so will call for updates as the time fits.

I wish you well and speedy recovery with no "issues".

Reply by Yoli/CA on 8/6/13 9:05pm
Msg #479475

As jba/fl said, Chucke, concentrate on recuperation. Follow doc's orders and all PT. Very important! I had my right knee replaced about 9 years ago -- before getting into this business. My particular surgery was not a success. However, everyone else I know with replacements have done tremendously well. Guess I just got the wrong surgeon. Oh well, moving on.

Take care of yourself but do the therapy.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/6/13 9:01pm
Msg #479474

Wishing you a speedy recovery from your knee surgery. I'm not there (yet), but know many who have had that procedure done. It's all about the PT.
If you're concerned about your biz, maybe you can find a local "associate" who will cover for you while you're recuperating. The refi biz is in a downward trend now because of the rising rates, so perhaps the timing of your surgery is good.
Regardless, health has to trump everything else.
I'll keep you in thoughts & prayers. Keep us posted on your progress.

Reply by chucke/fl on 8/6/13 10:02pm
Msg #479477

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I will do my best to follow PT to the letter. My Dr. told me 20 years ago, he saw a knee replacement in my future and that I will know when it is time. I know the time has come when you are in constant pain. Some of my borrowers would notice I was in pain also. So, I know the time is now. Thanks again for the pointers and well wishes.

Reply by LindaD/NJ on 8/6/13 10:11pm
Msg #479478

Speedy recovery Chucke! You will be back and better sooner than you think!

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/6/13 11:18pm
Msg #479483

You're unavailable

Wishing you a speedy recovery....however, I would NOT recommend you tell schedulers or any other person calling for notary service that you're recovering from surgery - not anybody's business. You're just "unavailable"....take each call as it comes, then respond "I'm unavailable on X date.....and leave it at that. If there is a notary you network with that you refer business to, pass along their info to the caller. Otherwise, I'd respond to each call as it comes in - with, "I'm not available on that date". JMHO

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 8/7/13 12:40am
Msg #479485

I agree completely

The last thing you need to do is tell a company you have had surgery. Tell them your booked or out of town for that particular appointment.

Her advise is great; take each appointment one at a time and refer someone you trust (if you have
someone)?

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/7/13 8:00am
Msg #479491

I told people I had surgery. I didn't have a problem.

A year or two before that, i had pneumonia. I did not lose customers either time. There's nothing wrong with telling the truth. In fact, people will empathize with you. Aren't we supposed to have integrity? Where is the integrity in lying? JMHO.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/7/13 3:33pm
Msg #479554

Re: I told people I had surgery. I didn't have a problem.

I think there's a big difference between a lack of integrity and giving out "TMI". The details of why someone is unavailable for taking assignments are personal, IMO, and really none of anyone's business. It might also potentially put someone as risk, although that's probably highly unlikely.

Also, I think people might want to consider that this is a different market today than it was a year or two ago. When things are booming, it probably doesn't make much difference what you say; the phone will still keep ringing. This market may call for a bit more strategic thinking.

I can't really say for sure what I'd do - but my guess is that I wouldn't be telling clients that I just had major surgery. When things are slowing down, schedulers are probably looking for more reasons to cut someone from their lists than to add them.

Reply by ananotary on 8/7/13 8:41am
Msg #479496

Since when is not giving out personal info lying?

I agree with LKT/CA. I would be "booked" and take it one call at a time. I do network with other notaries and that is priceless in these types of situations. I have kids and things have come up last minute that without a network I would have had to cancel. My network picks up for me when needed and vice versa.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/7/13 11:09am
Msg #479518

If you say you're out of town and you're not! n/m

Reply by ananotary on 8/7/13 2:28pm
Msg #479548

Nothing wrong with being booked and not releasing

personal information.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/6/13 11:47pm
Msg #479484

I had both my knees replaced at the same time 5 1/2 yrs ago.

I used my layup time to recuperate. I don't know how old you are, but you need to concentrate on your PT. Additionally, I highly recommend that when the surgeon gives you the go ahead, that you join a gym and get a top notch trainer. Your goal will be to build up your quads and your hamstrings so that your upper legs carry your body and not your knees. Also, your trainer will help you get your balance back. I can't believe how off balance I was when I started with my trainer 9 months ago.
Training need not be horribly expensive. At LA Fitness, I pay $30/month for membership and $30/ half hour for a really great female trainer in her 50s who was formerly a body builder. I'll match her up against any trainer in the expensive gym I used to go to. Gold's Gym is also a good place to find a great no-nonsense trainer.
I highly recommend that you take your pain killers 30-45 minutes before you go to PT. This will enable you to work harder and get the most out of your PT. Just remember to do your at-home exercises even after PT is over.

Reply by anotaryinva on 8/7/13 5:59am
Msg #479488

Excellent advise from all

My husband had both knees done, three or four years apart. Everyone is mentioning the physical therapy, that really is key to a successful outcome. Shoshana's post about taking the pain medicine before pt is really important. Also, don't try to push yourself by not taking the pain medicine until you're in pain. If you don't take it as scheduled the pain can get ahead of you and it won't work as needed.

We went to a pre surgery class put on by the hospital, if yours offer that go, and take the person you will be depending on with you. They suggested if you live in a two story house try to get ahold of a second walker, one you can leave upstairs. I was able to get one on freecycle but I've seen a lot of them at thrift stores for little $.

The first time we went skiing after my husbands surgery he said he wished he had done the surgery sooner.

Best wishes!

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/7/13 7:56am
Msg #479490

I handled it a bit differently...

I just recently (2 weeks ago) had shoulder surgery to repair damage from a fall in my shower in April. I just changed my voicemail message on my phone to say that as of xx date, due to a medical situation, I was unable to accommodate any notary or loan signing requests and referred callers to Notary Rotary or the numbers site for a notary that might be able to help them.

I then shut my cell phone off, completely. My thinking for doing it like this was simple to me - it was bad enough I couldn't take the work...I didn't want to have to keep fielding the phone calls when the answer wasn't going to change..it was going to be "no, I'm sorry, I'm not available".

I just today changed it back to "please leave your name and number"... hopefully I'm back on track. Well, at least partially anyway.

Good luck to you Chucke/fl. Speedy recovery!!

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/7/13 8:04am
Msg #479492

Glad to hear you are up and about.

Knee replacement surgery takes at least 6 weeks to heal. Also, people are often on pain meds for 6-8 weeks. It's the most pain I have ever had for my entire life. I have had a few people tell me that they were back on their feet in a week's time. I find that hard to believe.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/7/13 8:36am
Msg #479495

I also was recently out of town. Since I didn't want to

have to answer my phone, I had left a v/m, saying I was unavailable from a certain date through a certain date. The phones started ringing again in July. I've also had to do that when I was on a cruise, and even left my phone at home. The international rates are crazy, and I didn't want to rack up a huge phone bill.

Reply by 101livescan on 8/7/13 8:46am
Msg #479497

I wish you much luck with that knee surgery...it's so simple these days, you'll be back it in now time. Do everything they tell you to do, Chuck, you'll be fine. They know their business. When I'm out of town, which hasn't been much in the last several years, I just tell people I'm unavailable for a certain time frame and never make any reference to what I'm doing.

Take care of yourself. One of my loan officers was out this week with knee surgery on last Friday. He's back originating loans already but not from his desk yet. Soon though.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/7/13 10:58am
Msg #479513

TKR is anything but simple.

Perhaps your LO had a different kind of knee surgery. There are many different kinds. Most people with TKR (total knee replacement) have a significant amount of pain. In fact, for the first day or two they give you morphine. Typically they have heavy pain meds for 4-6 weeks.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/7/13 11:21am
Msg #479520

Shoulders too....

I can tell you the exact minute my nerve block wore off!! Dr gave me dilaudid (hydromorph - yeah, morphine) - didn't touch the pain. Latest prescription is percocet and flexeril, which keep things under control with ibuprofen for kickers...Pain not as bad as it was but still painful, especially with new exercises. I can only imagine how a knee replacement must feel - my body weight is not on my shoulder.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/7/13 11:27am
Msg #479521

Re: Shoulders too....

A shoulder is no picnic either. You're out doing Signings now? That's great! I love it when somebody who hasn't had the surgery says that it's a breeze. Luckily, I had the quad sparing surgery. They only cut my nerves. I still have some numb spots around each knee. If they have to cut your quads, that's a whole other ballgame and a longer recovery time.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/7/13 11:46am
Msg #479524

Not out yet but willing to jump back in...

just going to have to be careful....can't extend the arm too far ... but we're getting there

Reply by Teri_PA on 8/7/13 5:49pm
Msg #479573

I researched my surgeon carefully, after seeing people in agony and not walking after months. Settled on one I was confident on (Rothman Institute, Team Orthopod for Philadelphia Flyers). In network for insurance...After one week, I was walking without a walker...and 2 weeks, driving myself to PT. I lost 8 days of work...I worked hard on the PT and did deep knee bends at the foot of my bed, screaming the whole time in pain..for hours every day...And, that bugger recovered quicker than one would hurt...It was the meds that made me tired...couldn't do lots of signings, but I was able to do some...Just told them I was going on vacation for 2 weeks as I knew I would make it work!!! Someway, somehow...Good luck...I was lucky...Incredible surgeon and good genes and motivation.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 8/7/13 7:35pm
Msg #479590

Teri, you are truly lucky. I had both my knees replaced at the same time. That is a bit different. I would not sign or drive while on my meds because my judgement was impaired. I did not want to have an accident or make errors on my signings.

Reply by chucke/fl on 8/7/13 7:43pm
Msg #479591

Everyone, thanks again for the words of encouragement. I am supposed to have a TKR on both knees a week apart. I am scared half out of my mind that I am not making the right decision to have both done at the same time. My reason for doing both is one rehab, maybe a longer stay at the rehab facility( because I live alone). Hopefully by the time I get home I will be able to walk from my bed to the bathroom with no problems. I know PT will be very important and I plan to give it all I got. I also like the idea about joining a gym also. I am having to wait until Sept 26 to have my surgery to give my rotor cuff time to heal from surgery due to a fall I had(because of my Knee) and I tore it. I only missed a week of signing due to that surgery. I call this my "valley year". Things can only get better :-)