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THR 2nd Hip Done! Time to enjoy life!

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Going back to work on the 25th of February. Can't wait! Being home all the time drives me nuts when I can't be doing projects. I was very sad to put my tools away the week before my surgery and not know when they would come out again. Told hubble I was going to finish painting the living room the weekend after I came home from the hospital. I think he actually believed me for a moment. Anyway it will be good to get back to my own desk at work in time for the end of month rush.
 
I had my hip done the same day. You're going back to work at the end of the month? That's great! Can you walk without an aid now? I can't, I won't know when I go back until March 12,
 
Mbone I am walking without an aid at home but I use a cane in public and when walking outside. Is March 12 your next recheck date? What kind of work do you do?
Please don't judge your progress in comparison with mine. I seem to have really lucked out with my recovery after each of my surgeries and I have no idea why. Not that I'm complaining. Other then a few minor aches my recovery has been phenomenal. The exhaustion that most discribe just never hit me, the constant pain sapped me out more than the surgery did. It just feels so wonderful to be pain free!
 
Katlover13, I am a teacher, but not in a classroom. I am a reading specialist that travels around to all the classrooms so I need to walk all over a huge building. For the most part, I am with minimal pain, thank God! I am having an easy recovery when it comes to pain. This miner pain is no where as near as my pre-op pain! Today was my best day, I used the cane most of the time around the house so I am feeling a little better about my recovery. Next week I start out patient rehab. March 12 is my next surgeon visit. At that time, I think he will determine if I can go back to work. Maybe I will go back after Easter. When you walk around at home, unassisted, do you limp?
I love this forum!!! It is so nice to be able to talk to others who are having the same issues.
 
Glad to hear you are having so much less pain, Mbone. That is the part that is so amazing to me, how the arthritis pain is immediately just gone! I do have the classic penguin walk if I don't concentrate on walking correctly. That is the reason I take the cane for my long walks outside. The limp is much less when using it and I don't want my muscles to get into the habit of limping. The surgeon that did my replacements works closely with a hospital that has a whole wing dedicated to joint replacements. The PT starts two times a day on the first day after surgery. (They call it joint camp and they even give out T-shirts!).
Walking all that distance in your job must have been horrible. Before surgery I would do almost anything to avoid walking distances.
Where in Illinois are you from? I used to live in Kewanee - the pig capitol of the world!
 
Hi Katlover13, When I was working and going around all the classrooms, I deliberately would put my materials, and then some, on a cart, and push my way around the school, and up and down the elevator! It served as my 'walker'! I would use a cane when going short distances. I teach in Chicago and live in a suburb called DesPlaines. I had a terrable limp without and even with the cane! Everyone felt sorry for me. It seemed like one day I just woke up and my hip was really killing me. It was bad, but went to worse practically overnight! This happened in September. The funny thing is, I went to Las Vegas with my daughter in August and it was not so so bad! I decided to wait until after the first of the year, because our new contract provided Short term disability and recovery. This did not go into place until Jan. 1, so I limped and pushed my way around school until then! I have never heard of Kewanee! It must be a small town! How many cats do you have? I have the one, but also two dogs! They have been my company, while everyone is at home. Are you doing anything fun this weekend? I have to do something...I need to get out a little, but it is so so so cold today!!!
 
Yes, Kewanee is a small town. With a claim to fame like pig capitol it would almost have to be! I only lived there for a year and a half starting in Sept. 1981.
I just got home from 45 minutes of walking. It's pretty nippy but at least it's not snowing. My oldest son is coming later from Columbus so I'm glad he won't be driving in the snow. Hoping I can persuade him to walk with me a bit tomorrow.
It's great that you cold hold off your surgery until the short term disability was in effect. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have it.
I am owned by six cats. :kittykiss: Before my hips got bad I volunteered at a no kill cageless cat shelter. Cats are much easier to take care of than dogs. It would be nice to have one but I will have to wait for retirement.
It's funny how the hip pain creeps up on you. You start out limping and sore when you over do things and before you know it you're a gimp that can hardly walk. That's why the surgery is so amazing to me. My husband and I were browsing in Home Depot today. I was saying to him that a month ago I wouldn't have been able to do that.
Did you find something fun to do?
 
It was a lazy day for me... A little down and out. My husband tried to talk me into going to the local liquor store for wine tasting but I just didn't feel like it! I sometimes feel I have to force myself to do things.

Tonight we are taking my kids and their significant others out to a Mexican restaurant! I'm looking forward to that! It's hard for all of us to get together with everyone's schedules! It seems once I take my shower and put some make up on, income to life!!! I have a tendency to just stay in my nightgown and robe all day... And that is not good!!!

I don't know if I can walk that long. Do you use a cane or walker for that long time? I'm so glad not to have the hip pain!!!
The Chicago teachers were on strike in September... I had to " sit" the line instead of walk it!!!

It's so nice that you helped out with the shelter. That's where our little Chloe came from! Our mittens, that passed last year was a found kitty!! She was 16 when she died! We just love our little Chloe! Even though I am allergic... I don't care! I get immune o my out pets and will always have pets!

I think I have to force myself to get out into the world or I will go crazy!

What kind of work do you do?
 
Yummy! Mexican! How many kids do you have? Do they all live near you? I have two sons, the one visiting from Columbus is 26 and single. My youngest is 24 and married living in Norwalk, OH. They both work with computers. I also have a stepson in his 30s.
I get up and shower, get dressed and put on makeup every day. It makes me feel more normal. I am also working from home and that makes the week go by better. I am inside sales for Pella windows. The company I work for is really great and I love my job.
I think I remember hearing about the Chicago teachers strike on the news. I sure would not want to have to worry about strikes!
Sounds like you gave your Mittens a good long life. Chloe is a good name for a cat. I've got Gabriel, Charlie, Juno, Sophia, Scottie and Pepper. They all come with their unique personalities.
Tomorrow my son and I are going to go for a walk in the park. I would love to go out on trails but for now it may be smarter to stay on the paved walkways. I do use a cane when walking a long distance. It will be hard to resist climbing the trail that goes up to an overlook where you can see for miles out over the lake. Hmmmm. Maybe....
Do you teach classes or work with individuals? At one time I wanted to teach special needs kids but life took me in a different direction.
What ages do you work with?
 
I have two children. My daughter is 26 and still lives at home. She will get married a year from June. I also have a son that is 30. He just moved out with his girlfriend. I think he too will be getting engaged soon. He lives about 5 miles away, I am what they call a literacy coach, or a lead literacy teacher. I am also a reading specialist. I basically go into classrooms and teach teachers new and different techniques. I also go into their rooms and work with small groups of struggling students that have not yet been identified as special Ed. I also test individual students for special Ed meetings. My principal considers me part of her administration team so I also attend many meetings. I work primarily with k - 4. I miss the little ones because they are so happy to see me when I go to their rooms. My daughter teaches 3rd grade at my school Aldo. My sister used to be the principal until she retired about 12 years ago,
My son is an assistant manager of a CVS.
It sounds like you like the outdoors! We used to go camping with our kids when they were younger. We did many trails in our time, up till last year, we rode bikes a lot, last year my hip would not allow it! I'm hoping to be able to get on the bike again this summer.

What is your weather like. It's only 12 degrees here! I do not like the cold! Are your kids nearby? I've never been to Ohio.

I really have to get dressed and put on makeup every day... I think I'll feel more normal!!!
Do you have any other plans for tomorrow? We were invited next door for dinner. My only fear is the toilet situation! My husband bought me this portable foam type toilet booster, but it flattens when you sit on it, I'll just have to be careful!
 
It's 17 degrees here and snowing lightly. That makes going on the trail up to the overlook out of the question. We may stop by the park to see if the paved trails have been taken care of. If not maybe we will do mall laps. Usually I avoid the mall like the plague - just not a shopping person.
My 26 year old who lives in Columbus is about 2 1/2 hours away. Norwalk is about 1 1/2 hours. When they graduated from college and were looking for jobs I told them they weren't allowed to go more than 15 minutes away. :) At least they didn't go to California.
When they were younger we used to camp also. I really miss those days. It's funny, when I have dreams about my boys they are usually between the ages of 2 - 10. I guess in some ways I wish they still were.
Sounds like you will be busy with wedding planning. Will it be a large wedding? Good thing your hip is done so you won't have to deal with hip pain while you are preparing for the big day.
Last year I REALLY needed to use the bathroom and the one with my seat was occupied. I did a fairly athletic hovering move and was none the worse afterwards. Felt much better, too.
Your job sounds interesting and it seems like you are doing something good for kids. That's the one thing I regret with my job. Window sales is not something that makes you feel good about helping people.
Last summer I did a lot of biking around the neighborhood. After the 2012 surgery and before things got really bad before this last one. I'm looking forward to getting on the bike again, it's my main stress reliever.
My son is a programmer in a bank so he has presidents day off and doesn't have to leave untill tomorrow. Both of my boys take after me at least in one way - I have two "grand kitties". Soon I hope to go visiting them. It's so nice to escape from the house for a day!
Do you have exercises you do at home or are you waiting to start your PT until you go to the outpatient facility?
 
I'm going to venture out to Walmart today with my husband! I think I'll take my walker with the seat. I do not know what my stamina is and am afraid I might get tired and need to sit. I've been using the cane most of the time at home, but I'm afraid to go out of my comfort zone for a long period of time with it. I am feeling so blah that I really do not want to go... But I NEED to get out of this slump!!!

My daughters wedding will be about 150 - 200 I think! We are really looking forward to planning, but the surgery has prevented us from looking for a venue. Hopefully we will work on that soon. We did look at bride dresses one day last week and that was fun. I' get worried that some other joint is going to need replacement right at e time of the wedding, so when I see my surgeon in March, I'm going to ask him what he thinks my next joint should be! I might schedule it during the summer! I'm so tired of being crippled and having to put my life on hold. My husband actually wanted to go to Europe this summer and I said no ... Not until I can walk around comfortably!

This washroom hip restriction is the worse. I think I can manage a lower seat if I had to! It's the only restriction that is difficult!

My home PT ended on Friday. She I'd give me some exercises which I do. Tomorrow I start out patient PT..3 times a week for 4 to 6 weeks. What do you do for PT! I wonder when this leg will be strong enough to carry me!

It's nice that your son came to visit you! I'm having a hard time with my 30 year old son leaving me! My sister in law said... "He is 30!!!" That kind of put things in perspective! And he is only about 5 miles away! But they will always be our babies!

I will really feel bad hen my daughter moves out! We are very very close!!! Her fiancé works in retail so we works the weekend a lot. At least we will be able to meet up on Saturdays and shop or have lunch!

I'm so happy I found this site! I really look forward to talking to you! It's nice to talk to others going though the same thing. People just o not understand!
 
How did Walmart go? Did it end up being fun to get out of the house? Sometimes I need to get out so bad I could scream! We were going to try the park trails this morning but my husband decided to come with us so we went to the mall. He is not very healthy so he sat at one end and people watched while my son and I walked. I only did two laps because I don't like to leave him sitting long. He does like to get out, though. Later today I went out to walk around the neighborhood. Only walked around the block once, it was too cold to be much fun.
I do calestenics at home, some of them laying down that started the day after surgery in the hospital. Home PT added some standing exercises to that routine. Total time with those is about 30 minutes. I've had three sessions of outpatient PT. They have added some exercises and they also do deep muscle massage. I also try to walk about 45 minutes a day and use the exercise bike for about 20 minutes. It seems the more I do the more I am able to do.
You are so lucky to have a daughter. Not that I would ever trade my sons but it must be so special to have a girl. What fun to look for bridal dresses together! Hopefully your joints will not be bad right at the time of her wedding. I can so relate to being sick of putting your life on hold. Even Europe! When yo do end up going what countries will you visit? I always wanted to see Spain but just watched the first two seasons of Downton Abbey and now I think it would be fun to see the old English castles.
Are your joints so bad that you seriously think you will need more replacements?
 
You do sooooo much more exercise than I do. Maybe that's my problem!!!! Walmart was fine, but I did have to rest. My hip is pain free but my knees and ankle hurt. I used the walker with wheels and a seat, but I think that ii was harder than usingthe cane! My shoulders and back were hurting!!!i have osteoarthritis in all my joints! Even my toes and hands! That's why I worry! I am bone on bone with both knees and my right hip only has a little cartalidge! I will definitely need more replacements!

I'm anxious to go to outpatient tomorrow! I feel like I'm doing much better today! I have been just using the cane at home, no walker! We went to our neighbors for dinner and I walked there also... With the cane!!!

I do like having my daughter, although at times she can be difficult!!! My son is o easy going, he eats anything... But my daughter is so picky!!! And girls are expensive!!! Lol!!!

We went to Europe on a cruise a few years ago. My mother in law took both her kids and their families on a European cruise!! It was great!!!we went to Spain, Italy, Malta,and France. Since it was a cruise... We only had a taste of the countries! We spent the most time in Italy! When we go back, we would go to Italy and Switzerland for sure. I don't know where else! We have friends in Switzerland and we want to see more of Italy!

My daughter and I are Downton abby also!!!have you started watching season 3. It is so good!!! I watched the first two seasons on video and now watching season 3 on tv. I agree, it would be neat to see the castles in England!

I'll let you know how my outpatient PT goes! It's in the late afternoon so that my husband can go with the first time!

Also I drove today!!!!!

Mary
 
Oh that's great that you drove! That always goes such a long way to making you feel independant.

I could never use the walker very well. Only used it for one day in the hospital and went right to crutches. It seems to me that the way you have to walk with it is more tiring.

What a great trip you must have had! Italy would be a fun place to see, too. And the food! What was that like? I would have gained a million pounds!

My Aunt got me seasons 1 & 2 of Downton Abby for Christmas and I saved it to watch while recovering fom the surgery. Once I started I could hardly stop. Now I'm going through withdrawal. :) Have not watched any of season 3 on TV may just get that whole season, too. Maggie Smith does an amazing job. She was great as Professor McGonagall, too.

I understand what you mean when you say you have osteoarthritis everywhere. My hands bother me most. Don't even want to think about the knees. My family has a history of having it really bad in the hips, so I guess genetics were against me.

PT places can be very different from one another. Last year I went to the one right in the surgeons office but we moved so this year I'm going to one closer to our new home. So far I like it much better. The first one concentrated on exercise only. The new one pays more attention to range of motion in addition to exercise. They also do a deep massage and I was surprised how much that helps! Can't wait to hear how you like yours.
 
The season of Downton Abby was very good! I love some of the lines said by Maggie Smith! They can be so funny! I was never offered the use of crutches, but the walker is hard on the upper body!!!

My in house PT did the tissue massage also. It seemed to break up some of that stuff beneath the incision. My incision was glued and healed beautifully! However, sometimes it felt like I was sitting on marbles! The massage broke up some of that !

I'm anxious to see what happens at out patient today! I'll let you know!
 
Hi , my physical therapy went well. She did the initial range of motion measuring. She had me do some exercises and gave me a band for resistance. It went well....but I am a little sore. I am moving so much better today! I guess each day will get better and better! She asked if there was anything I would like to work on. We have a steep driveway and high steps to get into my house. So I would like practice with that. I'm looking forward to going so that I can walk unaided.

What other show was Maggie smith is? I love her character and her facial expressions are priceless!
 
Happy to hear your PT went well. It's funny how you can tell which exercises will help the most by the way they "hurt good". Are you able to bend your hip up to 90 degrees? I don't think I could break the ninty degree rule if I wanted to, my hip won't bend that far yet. It seems to me I can do more after every PT session, though. Even the first one which was a couple days after I started driving. I was feeling uncomfortable in the drivers seat and the massage techniques got rid of the stiffness that was making it difficult.
I am thinking of purchasing a stair stepper because some of the most helpful exercises I am doing at PT use it. I only get 2 sessions per week so I try to learn the exercises so I can duplicate them at home. Do you use the resistance band for side to side walking? Maybe they all ask what you would like to work on. I told them I don't want to walk like a penguin!

They closed my incision with nothing but steri-strips. I was told not to take them off, they were supposed to just fall off. My surgeon took them off at my first follow up appointment. I told him I must have a sticky butt....
It is surprising how well it has healed.

Maggie Smith played Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies. She did such a great job, the way she played the character was almost exactly the way I pictured her from the books. I've never seen her in anything else. Do you enjoy reading?

WE ARE FOUR WEEKS OUT!!! WHOO-HOOO!!! Every day will be better than the one before!
 
I did use a resistance band and I was good and did my exercises today, they gave me a sheet with about 8 exercises. I didn't ask what my range of motion was.... I will tomorrow. I doubt they will do any massage, although I did like it with my I house PT. maybe I'll ask tomorrow. She did ask what I wanted to work on as well as some confusing questions. Such as.. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your walking. I asked... With a walker? With a cane? Unassisted? For how long?? She just said in general. Every question she asked could be interpreted differently depending on the circumstance. They were hard to answer without having more details!

I said the same thing you did...I just want to walk unassisted! I tried a little today and I walk like a penguin too! But that's even an improvement from before the surgery!

I have not watched all the Harry potter movies nor have I read the books! I do like to read. I like mysteries, detective and serial killer stuff. (Although I do admin I read all the fifty shades of grey books)

It's nice to sit down with my kindle, and read a book for enjoyment! When I'm working I mostly read teaching books and journals! As much as I get bored, I don't want to go back to work! I'm not sleeping well at night and I can't imagine getting up at 5;30 in the morning!

I'm looking forward to PT tomorrow.... But boy my copayment is 35.00 a session. I'm scheduled for 3 x a week for 6 weeks,,, WOW!!!!!and my hospital bill came also.... Thank God for insurance!
 
Detective / serial killer books are some of my favorites also. Never heard of the fifty shades of grey series, thanks for mentioning them! Always looking for something new. JD Robb is one of my favorite authors for pure entertainment.
The kind of questions you had to answer are so annoying! Some "expert" probably thought them up.
We're you sore after your PT? They seem to find the muscles you haven't thought about for a while. I only get two sessions a week with $25 co-pay. Today I paid all of them I have scheduled with my flex spending account. I haven't seen my bill yet, I'm sure it will be scary. Makes me wonder what people without insurance are faced with...
Since the surgery I have been sleeping better than I have for a long time. For the first time in years I even slept on my side! (With a pillow between the legs). I do take Tylenol PM and have for a long time. It's always easy for me to fall asleep but without the Tylenol PM I can't stay asleep.
Tomorrow I am going to my brother's work to have lunch with him and get a tour of his workplace. Looking forward to getting out for something different!
 
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