woodsy
junior member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2012
- Messages
- 24
- Age
- 74
- Country
United States
- Gender
- Female
OK, so I am getting a little scared and now just want to get it over with --trying to prepare but not thinking about the actual surgery (or post-op) too much. Trying to keep busy without being able to walk much.....can't even swim much any more. I guess it is time to just take each challenge as it comes. Like walking.
It took me a long time to get here. Being a naturopathic type of person, I had difficulty coming to terms with having surgery to replace a part of me. Snout a year and a half ago, I was told (by a Dr. I do not go to anymore) that I should just keep exercising and the pain in my hip would continue to improve. Wrong. The pain ebbed but returned with a vengeance, so that I eventually had to hold on to furniture to navigate around the room and use a cane all the time. My current Dr. told me I needed the hip replacement, but would not do surgery until weight went down due to increased risk of complications. Surgery was scheduled, then postponed. Finally, got the go ahead for surgery next week. It has been almost two years and yes, I am anxious for some sort of closure and moving on. I am looking forward to getting my life and activities back. The scope of your life gets smaller and smaller when you cannot do the things you want to do- sometimes you do not realize that it is happening because we make excuses why we do not or cannot do something.
SO now I think I am ready emotionally and physically to move forward. I am thinking that I am fortunate that THR is an option--years ago folks just got worse and less mobile and ended up in a wheelchair and taking pain meds instead of getting their lives back.
CT Joint Replacement Center had a good pre-op workshop for those of us scheduled for a joint replacement with presentations by a nurse from the surgical unit, a hospital pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and others. With great resources and a question/answer period, it was a good way to share a lot of information and help to put folks at ease. They gave us a notebook with information about what to expect, including info on meds, hospital stay, suggested aids, what to bring, etc. They also participate in the National Joint Registry, which is something I am happy to be a part of.
Enough of my yakking, but I have a quick question. I like to read, but wonder if I will be able to do so or interested in reading during first weeks of recovery or do the pain meds keep you sleepy? Do Puzzles?
One last note -- those electric carts they have in the larger stores (Home Depot, Sam's Club, etc.) are a lot more fun than I thought they'd be!
Best of luck to all-
Woodsy
It took me a long time to get here. Being a naturopathic type of person, I had difficulty coming to terms with having surgery to replace a part of me. Snout a year and a half ago, I was told (by a Dr. I do not go to anymore) that I should just keep exercising and the pain in my hip would continue to improve. Wrong. The pain ebbed but returned with a vengeance, so that I eventually had to hold on to furniture to navigate around the room and use a cane all the time. My current Dr. told me I needed the hip replacement, but would not do surgery until weight went down due to increased risk of complications. Surgery was scheduled, then postponed. Finally, got the go ahead for surgery next week. It has been almost two years and yes, I am anxious for some sort of closure and moving on. I am looking forward to getting my life and activities back. The scope of your life gets smaller and smaller when you cannot do the things you want to do- sometimes you do not realize that it is happening because we make excuses why we do not or cannot do something.
SO now I think I am ready emotionally and physically to move forward. I am thinking that I am fortunate that THR is an option--years ago folks just got worse and less mobile and ended up in a wheelchair and taking pain meds instead of getting their lives back.
CT Joint Replacement Center had a good pre-op workshop for those of us scheduled for a joint replacement with presentations by a nurse from the surgical unit, a hospital pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and others. With great resources and a question/answer period, it was a good way to share a lot of information and help to put folks at ease. They gave us a notebook with information about what to expect, including info on meds, hospital stay, suggested aids, what to bring, etc. They also participate in the National Joint Registry, which is something I am happy to be a part of.
Enough of my yakking, but I have a quick question. I like to read, but wonder if I will be able to do so or interested in reading during first weeks of recovery or do the pain meds keep you sleepy? Do Puzzles?
One last note -- those electric carts they have in the larger stores (Home Depot, Sam's Club, etc.) are a lot more fun than I thought they'd be!
Best of luck to all-
Woodsy
There are constant interruptions in the hospital, and if you have anyone keeping you company you won't need to read. But I would certainly take a book or a couple magazines for the odd moment when you want them. Once you get home, you will definitely be able to read, although you may find your attention span isn't very long. I love to do puzzles when I want to fall asleep....I enjoy them but they send me to lullaby-land, which is good. Don't fight sleep at all....you need it for good healing. 
And a 2 out of 10 for pain!?!? How wonderful! I'm so happy to hear you FINALLY have some relief! That is truly encouraging news for those of us with surgery right around the corner also.
