#By the way medicine cost MONEY. Don't know if you knew that. Therapy costs MONEY. I have to take Humira every monday!

[anxietalyn]

ACL reconstruction

so. last week on Tuesday I got ACL surgery, and I've looked on a few tags on Tumblr for tips and what to expect. but, I didn't find a lot, and when I did they weren't really descriptive. so ima do one to maybe help some folks out. this is tips and my experience so far.

Edit: this turned out waaaay longer than I thought it would

THIS IS ALL BASED ON MY SURGERY AND RECOVERY. I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT WILL GO. I WENT TO A TOP ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON BC MY FAMILY HAD HEARD A LOT ABOUT MY DUDE AND THEY TOOK MY INSURANCE(he turns out to be one of the top orthopedic surgeons in Texas. If you live in the Houston, Texas area, the dude is Dr. Barrett Brown at Fondren Orthopedic Group in the medical center. whoop.) :

if you have the time, money, and availability, go to therapy a few weeks before the surgery. it'll strengthen the muscles in the injured leg, and the leg that isn't going under the knife. it'll help you after the surgery when you're having to use crutches or a walker. trust me on that. I was going to therapy 7 1/2 before my surgery. my orthopedic said that I should've gone at least six weeks.

when I went to therapy for the first time after tearing my ACL and MCL back in October, he was concerned. *I was also in a wheelchair for ten days*.

don't do that

I wish I would've looked up how or asked a family who is a doctor how to use crutches. because I was miserable in that wheelchair. my muscles in my left leg(injured leg) shrinked because they weren't used in a week and a half. and my leg muscles are pretty strong for my height and weight. that was the most difficult part of therapy leading up to last Tuesday. the fact that my strength and body changed.

if you're learning how to use them, or they are unavailable for a day or so, go ahead and use a wheelchair. bc, I'll be honest, it is a lot easier.

You might be at the hospital for a while before they take you in. I was told to be at my surgeon's office at 9:30, and I wasn't taken back for prep until 13:00(1:00pm)

You might also be in the prep area for a bit.. but there is where you get the hospital dress, no-slide socks, a "fall risk" bracelet(which I should've gotten when I started to walk when I was little bc I'm hella clumsy), your IV, I was offered a numbing shot for the area of the IV but I dunno if that's universal

if you have a family member or friend back there with you, ask for them to distract you. I had my goofy brother to make faces at me

if you are offered that numbing shot, they will tell you this, but for about ten seconds it burns like hell

at my hospital, everyone who would be in the OR had to come introduce themselves before surgery, so if you have any questions, ask! they are there to answer your questions. no matter if you think they're stupid.

my Anesthesiologist(the dude who gives the knock out juice) came over, asked if this is my first surgery, and when I told him yes, he explained EVERYTHING. He said that all the folks in the room(for me it was 6) would come by, ask my name, birthday, what was happening during the surgery, and which leg. he then said that the anaesthesia I would get was a non-narcotic which is to help you not throw up after surgery(which I didn't).

five more people then introduced themselves

when they were wheeling me to the OR, they said it would be cold so they gave me a second blanket

they wheeled me up to the table, had me crawl onto it, had a foam pillow for my head, and extended arm holders for my arms to lay outta the way

Steve(anesthesiologist) then asked if I was ready, I said I was scared. one of the nurses then held my hand as he put in the knock out juice. he then said I did good, and to help the anaesthesia work faster, put an oxygen over my nose and mouth until I was out.(last thing I remember)

when I woke up, I was still in the OR, but I was incredibly dis-oriented. I know ASL, so I started signing "want brother" over and over. none of the OR folks knew what I was signing, so they found someone who knows a little ASL and they interpreted what i was signing

they told my that I had to wait for a little bit so they could check to make sure my vitals and wrap up my leg(it's a 30 minute waiting period)

when my parents came in, I was offered sprite(You can't eat anything after ten o'clock the night before, or drink anything(even water) after midnight.) because my sugar level was low

!!!start drinking water a week before the surgery!!!it's so much more difficult to find a good vein for the IV!!! my grandma was poked seven times in different places to find a good juicy vein!!!

the anaesthesia will most likely make you feel weird.

I called everyone cute. everyone. nurse, doctor, patient, people who I don't know. everyone. I asked my nurse out on a date. I told my mom who Is married she's jealous of my "mad flirting skills"

You need to eat something on your way home. I stopped and got soup to-go. I recommend soup, just because it is easy on the tummy

You will not have an appetite for at least a week. regardless, you need to eat protein during recovery bc it'll help your Incision.

I keep repeating this but. YOU NEED TO EAT. YOU WILL NOT FEEL LIKE IT. BUT EAT. I AM AN 18-YEAR OLD AND I GO TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE SO I STAYED HOME. I HAD THREE PEOPLE TELLING ME TO EAT. AND ONE WHO FORCED ME TO EAT. GET YOU SOMEONE THAT WILL MAKE YOU EAT WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.

your leg will hurt. there's no way to sugar coat. it will hurt a lot.

find something to distract yourself. my Alma Mater was in the state championship for football, and I love football and star wars. I watched The Force Awakens an ungodly amount, that I could quote every. single. character.

just find things to do that you don't need to exert yourself too much. I like colouring books, reading, and watching movies. just have something to do while you recover. please.

you'll get prescribed four things: pain medicine, meds for muscle spasms, meds to help with nausea, and a shot that helps prevent blood clots in my leg while I can't move it regularly

I'm about six days into recovery, and the shots are the worst part currently.

The first three to four days are the worst of it. your nerves are waking up, you're getting used to not bending your knee, your learning how to walk again. they are just bad.

take the pain med when your pain level is a 3 or 4 on a 1-10 scale. it'll kick in right before it gets too bad

on that note. DON'T LET SOMEONE TELL YOU HOW BAD YOU HURT. YOUR BODY. YOUR PAIN. EVERYONE'S PAIN TOLERENCE IS DIFFERENT.

when you stand, it will hurt.

when you put pressure on it, it will hurt.

when you move it, it will hurt.

when you hit it(on anything), it will hurt.

when you have to adjust the brace strap that is riiiiight on top of the incision, it will hurt like no other.

that pain, will pass.

I PROMISE you that the pain will reduce. in the moment it may seem like your leg is on fire, but fight on, Strong Warrior. fight on.

elevate your leg from behind your ankle

elevate when ever you can. you're told to, and 10/10 recommend it because it will reduce swelling

you're gonna swell anyways. a little bit of swelling is normal. it's your body trying to heal it's self.

don't take Ibuprofen: it flushed out the good things that the swelling is bringing to heal your body

ice your knee. ice. ice. ice. it will help with over swelling

you don't HAVE to elevate your foot while you sleep though.

You will not sleep for a couple nights. it will suck. it will be frustrating. and it will awful. last night was the first night since Tuesday(it's a Monday) that I got more than four hours of sleep. You will eventually get sleep though. and personally, I was able to take small naps during the day.

I personally, have self-harm scars on my left thigh. so I was slightly uncomfortable with people being around them. You'll have to have someone wrap an ace bandage around your leg(mine is wrapped from my ankle to mid thigh.). Have someone you are comfortable with touching them wrap your leg.

You may not always be fully comfortable during recovery, but try to get as comfy as you can

Go to physical therapy.

it will help(and it's prescribed)

and for goodness sake. Do your at home exercises they give you. they seem like a waste of time, but they honestly do help.

find a PT group you like. **look on your insurance to find a place that is "in network". it'll cost a whole bunch less.**

for PT it's completely okay to go to different people until you feel comfortable. You will do so much better when you're with someone you trust and can tell they know their shit.

I'm curious by nature, and my therapist has the alphabet behind his name. so if you get a card, Google the letters!

for example, the alphabet behind his name is: PT, DPT, FAAOMPT. When I searched them, I found that PT is the good ol' fashioned Physical Therapist. DPT is Doctorate of Physical Therapy. and FAAOMPT is  American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists("The “Fellow” is a physical therapist who has demonstrated advanced clinical, analytical, and hands-on skills in the treatment of musculoskeletal orthopedic disorders and is internationally recognized for their competence and expertise in the practice of manual physical therapy." Basically, my dude knows his shit).

Warning though, if you're curious about what a certain exercise does, and you ask,they might touch your body and physically show you what muscle the exercise works. and while you're doing an exersice, if you're doing it wrong, they will fix your position themself. this is why I say find someone your comfortable with. They are very hands on. I was lucky because the first one I went to, we hit it off. we both have mutual interests, and he isn't annoyed when I sass him. he sasses me back.

In pictures of me within a couple weeks of the operation, you can see how swollen my foot is. the brace I have is a pretty general brace, and it I locked straight. I cannot bend my leg while I have it on. under it is two ace bandages, and then on my incision there is a steri-strip. My nurse said not to touch it/try to remove it because it's keeping it clean and helping it heal. I got four holes in my knee for a camera and tools. the graph that is now my ACL is from my Patellar tendon, so the incision is between 6-8 inches.

I'll continue to update this as my recovery continues. and if you have any questions, feel free to message or send me an ask!

[sailourpastel]

The 3 Stages of Rehab Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers (How it Works)

The 3 Stages of Rehab Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers (How it Works)

The following presentation contains graphic images and shocking information viewer discretion is advised in the United States over a hundred and fifty people a day die from drug and alcohol related problems two-thirds of homeless people report that drugs and/or alcohol we're a major reason for their becoming homeless when addiction strikes it strikes without warning a dangerous road awaits those who don't get help people with drug and alcohol issues are in danger tremendous danger as a doctor a mother and a concerned community member I've seen firsthand what drugs and alcohol can do car accidents jail time loss of limbs injuries bankruptcy overdose even homelessness or death these are all things I can see on a daily basis it's not a matter of if something tragic will happen it's a matter of when the vast majority of addicts will experience one of these consequences that I just mentioned it's not unusual  for me to see patients who've been gang raped shot rookie assaulted or have nice threatening diseases such as cancer liver disease all because of using alcohol and drugs if you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction there are two things you need to remember number one addiction is a disease the addicted person is not just quit drugs or quit drinking as if by magic addiction doesn't work that way a person with an addiction is going to need structured help in which they get therapy support and even medical attention if needed only that way can a person find a way to an empowered life number two help is available treatment can save your job it can save your relationship you can't even save your life stick with me through this short video presentation and I will talk to you about different treatment options what would happen when you go to rehab and how to get in touch with the right people who can help you I will also tell you a story that you simply must hear it is about a woman who waited to get help for a loved one only to lose them a few days later to an overdose please listen to this story closely and don't make the same mistakes she did lastly I will tell you about new laws that make it possible for you or your loved ones to get a diction treatment add little to no out-of-pocket cost to you but first let me introduce myself my name is saya beheshti but you can call me dr. B I'm 45 years old I live in Southern California and I'm a divorced mother of two I am also an addiction specialist and I've been helping people take their lives back from drugs and alcohol for many years after seeing hundreds of patients recover from addictions I can tell you there is hope if you get into a treatment program and stick with it you will find that the benefits of far beyond what you imagine treatment offers a second chance at life new beginning if you want to avoid life destroying events such as divorce using your children we're killing someone in a car wreck treatment offers you that chance treatment can save lives I've had many people tell me that when they first started drinking they had a lot of fun with it but before they knew it they had lost control over the drinking and it was the drinking that was controlling them they couldn't do anything else when their urge to drink would strike them if you feel powerless against her drug of choice if you feel that it has control over you that your slave to it think about how it would feel for you to be free from that addiction takes away your freedom treatment gives you your freedom back it gives you back the power and releases you from the life of slavery you've been living treatment can set you free and freedom is the most amazing feeling you can ever imagine treatment can give you the tools to recover and thrive so you can no longer if you lost confused and powerless over alcohol drugs why try to do it alone if you've ever been hit with a craving and you've been on your own you know how hard it is to face it in a treatment center you will have 24-hour support and someone will hold your hand through the hardest times once you improve you can start repairing all those relationships you've damaged you can regain those people you lost you can get a new career get new education you can even start chasing down those dreams you've been neglecting for years and years treatment always takes place in a safe environment well nobody will look down on you or judge you the life of an addict can be quite chaotic and when you check yourself into a treatment center you can find that safety and tranquility you need to make improvement imagine how great you will feel if you put yourself in an environment where you can work on yourself without the demands of family without a dealer who wants to get paid without a job that keeps putting pressures and deadlines on you as a doctor I can arrange for you to go on medical leave without your co-workers or boss knowing where you're going imagine how freeing it would feel to be able to get out of work scot-free and getting your life finally handled once and for all without anyone judging you condemning you or even asking you where you're going if you feel unable to improve under the current circumstances you're not alone no one should expect you to make massive life changes under so much pressure it's just not realistic real healing takes real effort and real time by removing the stress you'll have a chance to be discovered yourself will be able to heal from all the pain and all the stress that causes you to start using in the first place you might be wondering why I can be so sure that treatment can help you may be asking yourself why should I be listening to some random doctor who lives on the beach in California well those are reasonable questions I wasn't always a doctor I started my journey as a computer scientist and moved on to the master's degree in physiology later i got my medical degree from UC irvine did my residency at UC Irvine Medical Center I worked at the VA hospital where I spent six years helping veterans with addiction trauma and anything else they needed for their mental well-being it was during this time that I became a published researcher and became certified in treating opiate addiction the reason I switched from computer science to medicine is very simple all my life I've had people  come up to me and tell me their deepest darkest secrets and share their innermost struggles with me after years and years of this I realized that I'm a born listener I listened to people without judging them on lecturing that I realized that most people mourn listening and less lecturing and judging the most important thing a doctor can do for you is to listen it's always been my dream to start my own treatment center and when I did I called it healing path recovery this name always reminds me that listening is the key to healing listening leads to understanding and understanding leads to empathy empathy leads to healing healing leads to a more empowered life these are the words that I live by and I insist that all my therapists learn this principle before they can work with me at healing path recovery I am the founder and medical director of healing pass were covered and unlike other treatment facilities human path recovery is a hundred percent physician owned and operated I don't answer to investors or profit ears I answered only to my patients if you decide to get treatment I strongly recommend you the first center that is a hundred percent physician owned and operated that's the only way to be sure that your entire care from beginning to end is overseen by a physician at healing path recovery I know every single patient and I personally oversee them every step of the way I don't care about your money on your insurance plan I care about saving your life and giving you a new hope for a brighter tomorrow did you know that at Haven pass recovery we give grants and scholarships every month we also help our patients get insurance is they don't already have it we even fight for you  to get to maximum benefits even when your insurance companies say no just pick up the phone and call us at 1844 to just be and we'll get you taken care of remember it's a hundred percent confidential and convenient and easy to get started because we will do all the paperwork for you if you're calling a few different treatment centers don't forget to ask them if they are a hundred percent physician owned and operated ask them if they're medical director knows every single patient by name ask them if you can mark some videos on YouTube of their doctors talking about treatment now let's talk about the three different phases of rehabilitation the first phase is called detox in detox you will enter a medical facility where you will be supervised than taken care of while your body goes through this first round of changes when you arrive at detox the doctors and nurses will make sure that you get the rest sleep and medication that you might need to get through this initial phase their job is to simply make you as comfortable as possible while making sure that your body is not threatened by the detox process the second phase is called rehabilitation for most people it takes about 30 to 90 days for this phase you can choose to go to a residential program where you live there and have the program at the same time or you can choose to go to a sober living facility and do a day program I have found in my experience that both methods work equally effectively in the beginning you will need a high level of supervision and structure you want to spend as many hours as possible in therapy sessions and positive healing activities as you progress you will gain more and more of the skills and the tools that you need in order to live a drug and alcohol free life as you gain more and more skills you will feel more confident and you will realize that you can reenter the outside world the third phase is called maintenance in maintenance you need to continue the good habits that you've developed so far you can go to some meetings every week or continue therapy in order to maintain these habits there are some good programs out there such as smart recovery or alcoholics anonymous that can help you greatly with this process those are the three phases of recovery detox rehabilitation and maintenance if you're not sure where to begin just call us at 1844 to just be or email at help at heating pads recovery calm and we will get back to you and answer your questions did you know that there are laws in place that make it possible for you to get treatment and little to no cost to you the two laws I'm talking about are the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare and the mental health parity Act the Affordable Care Act makes it possible for people who never had insurance before two get insurance you may not believe it but it's easier than using the mental health parity Act requires insurance companies to treat mental health and addiction issues as seriously as they would treat surgeries and doctor visits what this means for you or your loved ones is that help is easier to get and more affordable than it's ever been before maybe you're in a situation where you know you need treatment but you're worried about the cost or taking time off work or about leaving your obligations if that's the case please stay tuned with us and we'll cover all of those scenarios a few years ago a young woman called me she was very worried about her boyfriend who had just relax back into using drugs and alcohol I told her to call his family I urged her to call his family because I was worried about him too but she didn't want to tell on him so she decided to wait he kept getting worse and worse she finally decided to call them two days after she called he died of an overdose this is the kind of story that I hear way too often it reminds us all that we need to get help right away that waiting can be fatal if you have a loved one who is in crisis please please don't wait call us right now at 1844 to just be if you're not a family member maybe you're someone who suffers from alcoholism or addiction yourself and you just don't feel ready to quit yet well let me ask you this will you be ready after you wake up in the hospital after a motor vehicle accident will you be ready after Child Protective Services takes away your kids or will you be ready when your loved one leaves and files for divorce I have so many patients come in and tell me they wish they had changed sooner they wish they had sought help when it would have made a difference in their families it's funny how addiction works your mind plays tricks on you it may tell you all things aren't so bad oh I have things under control oh another drink won't hurt it's only when your life starts crashing down around when you start thinking that things have gone wrong don't let denial fool you don't wait to get help don't wait until you hurt yourself or seriously hurt someone else if you're worried about who's going to take care of your kids or your pets while we go away to we have let me tell you this if you keep going on like this you won't be able to take care of them much longer anyway and then who is going to take care of them if you can't take care of yourself how do you expect yourself to take good care of your children and pets losing your kids is not a joke I see it all the time if you're an addict and your life is spinning out of control around you Child Protective Services will take your children away Animal Control will come and take your animals away give them the life they deserve a life where their caretaker is living well and free of addictions some people are afraid of the embarrassment of going to rehab they're afraid but their family or friends may think when they find out they want to rehab first of all remember that this process is a hundred percent confidential when I put you on a medical leave I do not state the reason for the medical leave it is your privacy rights to keep that to yourself your job or your friends do not need to know why if your humiliation should never stop you from doing what you know is right let me ask you this how many times have you already humiliated yourself because of your drug addiction or alcoholism how many times have you woken up not remembering anything you did the night before and then you get these calls from people telling you all these catastrophic ly embarrassing and humiliating things that you did and that you can't even recall I bet you've done things that are way more hey Mary chicken into rehab if you're worried about what your family and friends are going to think I've got news for you your family and friends already know you're an addict you're not fooling anyone addicts think they can pull the entire world it can't your family and friends are just playing along they know the lazy they know your family and friends will expect you much more when you get better that's the bottom line maybe you think your problem is not that bad or that you can beat this on your own if you're not that bad then why are you surfing the internet looking for information on addiction why have you watched this entire video you need help you know you need help don't let your denial see you let me give you one simple test if you're really not sure if you have a problem ask your family and friends tell them to be honest with you when you have an addiction it's easy to lose perspective I understand that no one will judge you for getting treatment being in denial is something my counselors and I understand very well and we hope you find ways to be more honest with yourself in the future living in the real world can be a beautiful place denial on the other hand can be very scary the truths can pop up at any moment and ruin your day if you're worried about the cost of rehab I'd like you to weighed against the cost of maintaining your alcoholism or addiction how much money have you already spent cleaning up your messes how much money have you spent on drugs or alcohol how much money have you lost by damaging your job or under teaming in it think about all the money you will make if you can focus on your career instead of your next fix remember a significant portion of your cost or even maybe the entire cost can be covered by insurance even if you don't have insurance call us and we'll help you get one just pick up the phone and call 1844 to just pee and we'll discuss your options also remember that we give out grants and scholarships every month and you may be the next one to qualify for it don't put it off any longer we are standing by waiting to help you or your loved one just give us a call or email and we'll help you on your path to recovery I'm dr. B and I'd like to thank you for watching you

See more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4jZ1KRLQO4

drug rehabilitation definition

Source: http://eliterehaballiance.com/video-blog/the-3-stages-of-rehab-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-centers-how-it-works