What You Need to Know DURING & AFTER Your Knee Replacement Surgery

Now that your surgery is approaching get a manicure, pedicure and haircut. They will be the last for at least eight weeks. Heck, if you can afford it, throw in a massage. If you like baths, take a long hot soak with lots of bubbles. This will be the last time you will be using your tub for that activity for some time.

Draw up a Living Will Directive and Declaration. Sign a Durable Power of Attorney/Proxy, and designate a Health Care Surrogate. These are for your protection and are very important.

Do not take anything valuable. Leave your purse, your wallet, money and jewelry at home. If you’re female bring in a little make up. It will make you feel better and will take your mind off your knee for a while. Bring in a book, you may not read it but at least you’ll have something to take your mind off of why you’re there.

DURING AND AFTER YOUR BIG DAY

This is how your day of surgery will progress:

Get to the hospital promptly at the time specified by the admissions office. Paper work needs to be done before you are admitted.

After being admitted, you will proceed to the pre-op room, where the nurses will review your test results and history. They will get you ready for surgery. Whoever brought you to the hospital will be able to stay with you to this point.

The nurses will insert an IV before surgery and infuse your prescribed antibiotic.

You will be wheeled on a gurney to the operating room “holding area”.

This is where you will see the anesthesiologist prior to surgery. He will ask you how much you weigh. Don’t even think about lying. The amount of anesthesia is based on your weight.

After the surgery you will awaken from the anesthesia feeling groggy. Your mouth will be dry and there will be pain at the surgical site. You will be given pain medication and ice chips.

A bulky bandage and a drain will be present at the site.

You may have compression stockings on both legs to prevent the risk of blood clots.

Once your blood pressure, pulse and breathing are stable, you will go to a room in the Orthopedic/Surgical Unit.

The balance of the day is to recover from the surgery. You will be very tired so sleep as much as you can. It will be annoying but the nurses will come in very often to check your vital signs and, yes, they will wake you up. Use this day to sleep, relax and keep yourself calm. Tomorrow the physical therapy starts.

You may be able to drink water after surgery when fully awake. Your diet will be soft and will advance as you can tolerate it.

Your doctor may have ordered a PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) to control your pain medication, or injections and/or pain pills. If the PCA is ordered, the nursing staff will provide additional information about how to use its button.

Nurses will periodically ask you to rate your pain intensity on a 0-10 scale. (0=No Pain, 10-worst pain ever). Be honest!

You will be asked to take deep breaths and cough. You should do this every 1-2 hours while you are awake to prevent congestion in your lungs. The doctor may even order an incentive spirometer to breathe into. Exhale deeply and hold for 3 seconds and then inhale. Do this 10 times every hour while awake.

Flex your ankles 10 times every hour while awake to decrease risk of blood clots in your legs.

Turn from your back to your sides every couple of hours to prevent skin irritations and to help circulation.

If you want further information on the specific graphic detail of the operation go to www.JointReplacement.com. You can get every last detail there.

Okay, it’s the day after surgery and the physical therapy department knows you’re here, they know your room number and they know the bed number. They will come, ha ha. The therapists know how to handle you, let them guide you. It’s going to be painful. Try to find out from the nurses what time your therapy is scheduled, so you can time a pain killer thirty to forty minutes before they arrive.

Things that should be ordered by your Doctor from a medical supply store, delivered to your house and covered by insurance:

Over the toilet commode with arms

A commode for next to the bed to use at night

Wheelchair

Crutches

Wound protector for the shower

One thing that is very helpful is a “Reacher Arm”. It’s invaluable for picking up things that you drop or can’t reach.

You must do all the exercises the doctor orders. The more you do them, the faster you will get back in shape. I will not kid you, the exercises will hurt but they really are essential. If you have access to a pool, use it to do aquatic exercises, which will build up your muscles and ligaments, so it won’t hurt as much.

One last thing, sleep as much as you can. While you sleep your body heals!

Please see my other article on what you should do before the surgery.

Good luck with your replacement and I promise you, it will be worth it!

Copyright, Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

The Best Dandruff Shampoo

The best dandruff shampoo targets the primary causes of dandruff – flakes, itchiness, and excess oil, while soothing irritation and inflammation.  Controlling flaking and itching are the primary duties of a restorative shampoo, yet alleviating the causes help eliminate future symptoms and restore scalp health.

Major Symptoms

Dandruff symptoms are caused by several factors – excessive oil production by sebaceous glands, scalp and skin allergies due to paraben preservatives or harsh surfactants, product build-up, or inflammation.

A primary cause of dandruff is an oily scalp. Excessive oil clogs pores, traps dirt, and inflames scalp tissue. As irritation worsens, flakes form. White or yellow flaking and scaling can become severe if oil is not controlled. The best dandruff shampoo controls oils while “clarifying” and irrigating pores of dirt, oil, bacteria and fungus.

Harsh preservatives and surfactants are also considered “suspect #1”.  Many shampoos use cleansers that get your hair clean, but irritate the scalp – causing itching.  Same applies to preservatives.  Paraben-free free preservatives are gentle on the scalp, while still providing maximum preservation of the product without interfering with deep-cleaning action.

As an important note, severe dryness can also cause scalp itch and flakes. Though this is a rare occurrence, it produces dandruff-like symptoms and requires a moisturizing shampoo for treatment. Using Emu Oil, Jojoba Oil, or as topical applications will reduce dryness while an Emu shampoo will provide daily relief and add moisture to the scalp and hair.

What to look for in the best Dandruff Shampoo

Zinc PCA is one of the most effective active ingredients used in shampoos for dandruff. Zinc PCA is a naturally-derived compound used extensively (and proven) to regulate oil production from sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands are associated with follicle pores and produce sebum. Sebum protects the follicle shaft, adds moisture, and helps infuse nutrients.

Zinc PCA helps control over-active glands and reduces sebum. For most, this dramatically reduces itching and flaking.

As a manufacturer, we recommend shampoos that are paraben-free and contain botanical extracts. Many inexpensive shampoos are harsh and use surfactants (the foaming action) to clean. While cleaning is good, the result can often be scalp irritation or slight allergic reactions…just enough to get the dandruff “engine” started.

Botanical extracts such as Sage, Ivy Burdock, or Thyme have been shown to work very well at cleaning while soothing irritation and reducing inflammation. They reduce itchiness, clean product build-up from styling aids, and work well for dandruff control.

The best dandruff shampoo addresses the primary causes of flaking and irritation and leaves your hair and scalp clean and refreshed.

The Best Shampoo for Itchy, Flaking Scalp

An itchy, flaking scalp is aggravating and annoying.  Besides dealing with visible flakes and scaling, a chronic itch distracts from our lifestyle and can bring some pretty curious looks. In more severe cases, left unchecked, scratching and inflammation can lead to infection and localized hair loss.

If you’re one of the millions who suffer – as many of our customers do, finding the best shampoo for itchy, flaking scalp is probably at the top of your list when it comes to hair products.  The good news is, there are several shampoos available that clear flakes (and prevent their return) while soothing and healing scalp tissue.

Itchy scalp can be the result of several factors. Dryness, excessive oil, bacteria and fungus, or the onset of scalp diseases such as dermatitis or psoriasis. Most common symptoms are white or yellow flakes, chronic itchiness (and scratching), and temporary thinning at the affected area.

Treatments for Itchy, Flaking Scalp

One, if symptoms are the result of excessive oil (sebum), a shampoo that regulates the sebaceous glands helps control oil. Oil accumulates and attracts dirt and styling products (hairspray, styling gels, etc.)

Trapped dirt and oil clog follicle pores and may cause inflammation and infection. Though often confused with dandruff, symptoms are inherently benign and can be effectively treated with a clarifying shampoo that targets oil control.

Two, if oil combines with yeast, bacteria and fungus may form. This is most common in dermatitis (seborrhea dermatitis) and, again, can be effectively treated with an anti-fungal shampoo or one specifically formulated for dermatitis.

The key objective of any shampoo for itchy, flaking scalp is to tackle excess oil. This can be accomplished by looking for one of three active ingredients.

Zinc PCA

Peppermint or Menthol

Emu Oil

Zinc PCA is used in many hair products to regulate and slow the production of sebum. Controlling sebum acts to ward off inflammation and flaking by deep cleaning and clarifying the scalp and hair. Effective at removing dirt and product build-up, Zinc PCA is a botanical complex that is gentle on the scalp and helping to heal while removing flakes.

Peppermint and menthol act in very much the same way as Zinc. Menthol is an extract of peppermint (and spearmint) and has the added benefit of increased healing of damaged skin and is aromatic to boot! Often used in shampoos to awaken the senses, there are many therapeutic qualities for reducing itchiness.

Emu Oil has become one of the “miracle oils” for hair and skin care products alike. It penetrates deeply into the scalp and soothes and heals inflammation. It is a natural anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory and has superior moisturizing properties. it is very effective for treating fungus and bacteria and providing soothing relief to dry, itchy scalp.

Stop Stressing Over Teen Acne

Teen acne has long been a problem for generations past and present. If your teenager is dealing with acne, most likely they are suffering unnecessary stress and embarrassment too. Unfortunately, the extra stress can also lead to extra acne.

Although acne is a day to day problem, it can cause long term skin damage. Many teenagers will squeeze or pick at the acne, leading to permanent scarring. Thankfully, the good is that today’s teenagers don’t have to suffer through their acne. There are many products on the market, such as the PCA Acne Kit, that can eliminate bacteria and shrink pimples, giving the skin much needed relief and ultimately clearing and healing the complexion.

What Is Causing The Acne?

Acne commonly starts in the early teenage years. This is due to an increase in production of skin oil from the natural oil glands. When normal dead skin cells mix with the oil, it causes pores to become clogged. There are actually two types of pimples: whiteheads and blackheads. A whitehead happens when the oil and dead skin cells clog the pores or hair follicles. Blackheads occur when the pores or hair follicles are clogged closer to the surface of the skin and get exposed to the air. A worse type of acne, called cystic acne, happens when the follicle wall breaks deep within the skin and causes cysts to form. Each type of acne or pimples can be cleared with the right treatment.

Helping Your Teenager Control Acne

There are so many reasons why teenagers cannot seem to find relief from their acne. With very busy lifestyles and natural impatience, teenagers will likely have a difficult time maintaining a consistent acne treatment regimen. Forgetfulness also plays a major role in teenagers keeping up with an acne treatment that will help to clear their skin.

The keys to really healing and clearing the skin is consistency, along with finding the right acne skin care regimen that will work for your teenager. A treatment with specific steps like the PCA Acne Kit is probably the easiest solution for managing and healing your teenager’s acne problems. With this type of treatment your teenager will have specific products to use in a certain order such as a cleanser, an acne cream, a mask, and other products and steps that will help to establish a daily routine.

Quick Tips For Your Teenager

Just remember not to let your teenager take matters into their own hands. Squeezing or picking at pimples can cause permanent acne scars. Continue to stress the importance of remaining consistent and maintaining the acne therapy every single day at the appropriate times. Consistency is key – so buying the right teen acne treatment regimen like the PCA Acne Kit is an important step in achieving clear and healthy skin. Remind your teenager that he or she is not alone! Understand that problem acne can cause emotional issues for your teenager and can affect his or her social life. Tell your teenager that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that if they continue to cleanse and treat the problem, it will eventually go away – leaving them with fresh, clean skin in the end.

How to cure an itchy dog; and using a dog tear stain remover

How to help and itchy dog and eliminating dog tear stains

Having an itchy dog can be very frustrating, not only because you know your pet is in pain but also because you don’t know exactly how to help him or her. This article will discuss what the causes of a dog itching usually are and how to cure the problem with dog enzymes and dog anti itch remedies. We will also briefly discuss dog tear stain remover to deal with staining under dogs eyes.

So let’s start with the most common reason dogs experience any number of health related issues to include dog itching – nutrition. The interesting part here is that this goes beyond what we feed a dog; it also deals with the dogs ability to digest food and absorb the nutrients in it. Let me elaborate: dogs comes from the wild and accordingly have digestive systems meant to digest raw (and sometimes spoiled) meat from animals as well as other things found in nature. There digestive systems are not designed for processed food, which is what almost all dog food is. For many dogs this is no problem at all as their digestive systems adopt to absorb the needed nutrients from the food we provide them.

There are however many, many dogs that are unable to digest pet food properly. This will cause dog dry itchy skin, as well as many other issues such as dog shedding, digestive problems, dog allergies, hot spots on dogs, lack of energy, mood disorders, etc…

By adding dog enzymes to the dogs diet has been the solution for hundreds of thousands of dog owners. The enzymes, which are living bacteria (which humans and dogs have in their stomach naturally), act as a catalyst, or booster, to aid in their natural digestion. The best part about these enzymes for dogs is that it is all natural as these enzymes occur naturally in dogs digestive systems. The problem is that with processed food they are unable to produce enough. Always use a high quality dog enzyme that is not a meat product. We offer great enzymes for dogs at Evolution Pet Supply that has been used successfully by many pet owners looking to help their dog like you.

Next, I’ll address the issue of Tear Stains as we’ve had many questions on this subject lately. Small dog such as Poodles, Bichon, and Maltese are prone to dog tear stains.

The trick to permanently remove these dog tear stains is to use a quality dog tear stain remover that contains Tylosin. We have a great dog tear stain remover at evolutionsupply.com which has had just great success. This type of tear stain remover attacks the root of the problem; it does not simply mask the issue as many removers do. All you have to do is sprinkle a small amount of the tear stain remover over your dogs food.

Lastly, I’d like to quickly get back to an itchy dog. While enzymes work great there are other reason for dog itch. Some are as simple as bites, rashes, dry skin. In these cases use a good quality oatmeal dog shampoo for dogs and may I also suggest a dog dandruff shampoo with zinc-pca. This type of shampoo work great to eliminate dog dry skin issues and moisturize the skin very nicely. Again we see great resuts with these solutions. For immediate relief use a dog anti itch spray with neem oil and aloe; trust us it works nicely.

We hope we answered some of your questions, if you have any other questions please email me at Bill@evolutionsupply.com

 

 

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