Felonious Fig-
Anytime one goes "under" the knife it is serious. Anesthesia alone is enough to be concerned about. Many years later I would work in a main OR so I do know "both sides of the fence".
I just wanted to share that though this is serious, and yeah it hurts physically , blows your self esteem, you will feel dependent and helpless...you are human , and this is too be expected. You have friends here , some of us have BTDT, friends share , answer questions, give support.
I just had mom order herself a Laz-Boy Ez-Lift chair. Mom has some problems walking, neuropathy in her feet and other heath matters at 75 yrs young. She has a hard time getting around, getting down into and out of a chair.
I sure wish I had had a Ez-lift chair when I had my Knee Surgery and Emergency Appy. We recommended these to folks that knew they were going to have surgeries, and not just for Hip, knees, back...anything, from expectant mothers to Bypass surgery.
When I had my double knee surgery, my red-headed wife had a red-headed brother. So I am in the room getting prepped. I have had nothing to eat as per pre-surgery instructions. In comes BIL with a box of do-nuts and huge cup of coffee. So there I am getting my knees shaved, starving to death and I ask the nurse if she had a disposable scapel. " Sir, we use razors for this" I replied - " I don't want the scapel for ME - I want a do-nut and his coffee"
I am sure other folks just wondered what was going on...BIL and wifey left the room ...he more quicker than she clutching his do-nuts...do-nuts wafting in the air...ought to be a law against that.
I had two dogs ( actually the wife's when I married her) One part black lab and and he was really smart , the other part Golden retriever , I think she was abused by a male - still I got her to open up and she became herself again. Both very fond of me, the Lab especially very protective of me.
I would hobble around the house, the Lab at my side, moving any chairs, so I would have a clear path. Doors would get bumped opened, even the shower door would get nudged more opened. They ( especially the lab) never left me unattended.
Entering the office area we had a coffee table and chair just off to entrance, he moved these, and knocked a book off the coffee table. Nosed and pawed that book up against the door to keep it open so I could better make the turn.
He would just get into/ onto my regular Laz-Boy as I started to sit, ease out from under me to cushion and make easier my "plop". Getting up, he would help push the foot part down, offer me his collar and help pull me up. At 80# and being so strong - he could help get me up.
Darn right I took them to Sonic so they could "bark" their order. Favorite treat of ours. The Sonic girls would bring their burger and lots of extra peppermint. Dogs were so happy when "daddy" could drive again.
See the den led outside to a big covered patio. The lab ran to the wood pile and retrieved a 2 X 4 , he put this down to make the one step down "shallower". At first he would jump and I held onto him and the door facing to ease down. Later he just stood on the 2X4 until I was down.
The dogs ate their peppermint in the bed of the truck. Carrying their sacks into the house, and out to the patio. They waited and the lab helped me down. Then we had our picnic. They waited to eat until I was settled. After eating, they would bring me the sacks and wrappers and toss them in the trash while I held the trash lid .
So while I had a red-head wife, the dogs , especially the lab would turn on/ off wall light switches, pick up stuff I dropped ( like a frying pan, spatuala) , retrieve my shoes, or the book I was reading , or the book of crosswords and a pencil.
I had dogs to aid in my recovery from knee surgery.
Ever seen a Lab pull a box with powder , primers, and a 25 # bag of shot from the garage, through the kitchen, down a long hall to the reloading room? I have, he knew I was hurting, he was helping. So on my stool I reloaded shot shells, and the dogs helped, listened to music and made sure I was safe.
Wishing you all the best and speedy recovery.
Steve