THR 2nd Hip Recovery

[Renate]

Sorry about the knees, Julie, and leg length. I hope a shoe lift/insert will correct it. Wonder if the knee pain has anything to do with the leg length?
Hopefully the injections will help you and calm down whatever is bothering you.

 

[Juliep]

I wish it would be the leg length that is bothering knees, but I have the AVN in the right knee and we'll do the MRI to see if it's in the left knee as well. More than likely yes. I'll tell you what, my knee is really sore right know from that injection. Time to put some ice on it I think and take a med tonight.

 

[NYLiz]

Julie - you have have come such a long way and I hope the knee issues get resolved soon.

Your implant is considered Metal (for the ball) on Plastic/poly (for the socket). I believe the outer part of the socket is almost always metal and but it's the 'liner' material that differs - ceramic, metal or plastic.

I recommend getting the shoe insert - the same thing happen to my Aunt with the leg length after she had her 2nd hip done and she uses a shoe insert which she says it works very well. Trust me, you do not want to end up with any lower back issues from this (the last thing you'd need on top of the knee issues :eek.

I wish you lots of luck returning to work next week

Liz

 

[Juliep]

Thanks so much Liz, my fellow one day apart hippie. Yes I will do the shoe lift for sure. I notice my low left side of back hurting the more I'm doing my normal life again. I also have herniated discs at L4/5 & S1 I think that's where it is. That's where this all started from my back to find out it was my hips and now my knees. :rolleyespink: I don't want the back to further go and I know you know all about back issues.

Hey I go back to work for 3 days next week and then take a week long vacation. LOL. It's not like this time off of work has been a vacation, right??

Thanks for the help in what I have in me. What about the stem for everyone? Are they made of something different as well or are they all titanium?

 

[Jaycey]

Left leg is longer than right. He knew that I guess when he was doing surgery. (I asked for my Op notes which were interesting to read and it shows in there that he had to go shorter or longer and elected longer for more stability). He gave me script for if I want to get shoe insert lift. It's 1/4" and even though by looking at 1/4" and thinking it's not much, I feel it in my left lower back after walking a lot.

Hi Julie, congrats on your 6 week followup!

I too have a 1/2" leg length difference. I was advised to wait until at least the 12 week point to try any lift. Things are still settling (as you are feeling in your back). Some of the LLD may ease off by that point. Then by all means see someone to measure you accurately and get a lift.

Found out finally what I have all in me: TaperLoc Microplasty Hip Stem - I guess it's shorter than a normal stem and it's made from porous, plasma sprayed titanium. Then for the other it's a Biomet RIngLoc & Poly RingLoc liner. So is that metal on metal?

I have the same "hardware". As Liz has already indicated its a poly ring not MOM. They rarely use MOM for female patients anymore.

Good luck with your knee pain. Sure hope the injection works!

As you know the sleep issues are a part of this recovery. You might want to see your GP about something to help you sleep. But it will all ease in a few weeks. Nap during the day when you can.

Hang in there - you are doing very well!

 

[Juliep]

Thanks Jaycey, so I guess I have the normal type of hardware in me. I wasn't sure about that MOM thing.

Thanks about the shoe lift idea as well. When I was reading my Op notes it was very interesting reading to say the least. Of course it said all was normal going into PACU but do to extreme laxity there was a disclocation posteriorly in the PACU and they then gave me Versed and Diprivan and it was easily reduced by internally rotating the leg and maintained in that position with a sandbag. I guess the guy that it happened to after me also had "extreme laxity".

 

[MagnoliaMs]

Julie Right behind you with the second hip. I, too, have fatigue--getting dressed requires a lie-down--:hysterical:I guess it is par for the course! We are getting stronger everyday though!!

 

[Juliep]

Julie Right behind you with the second hip. I, too, have fatigue--getting dressed requires a lie-down--:hysterical:I guess it is par for the course! We are getting stronger everyday though!!

It sure does, I think having the 2 in that short of time really takes more out of us than we realize. The body sure does take time to recover from such ordeals.

 

[hipmom]

Hey julie - i found you! Embarressed to say that i haven't been able to find your thread, but so glad to stumble onto it today!

You have to tell me what AVN stands for concerning your knee. I hope you don't need knee surgery now. I was also surprised to read that the guy after you also dislocated right after surgery? That is an outrage!

So, you are going back to work soon. Good thing you have that vacation planned! Good luck returning to work. I'm sure that even though it is work, it will feel good to take that step back into normalcy. And the thought of vegas will carry you through :th_heehee:

You have been through a lot and you are doing great. Keep your eye on the prize!

Glad i found your thread - sorry to be so late in coming to the party!

 

[Jamie]

AVN would be avascular necrosis....an area where the bone has died.

 

[Juliep]

Hey there Donna W., thanks for reading it. I know we've been keeping up with each other regardless.

As Jamie, pointed out it's Avascular Necrosis. The bone dies and with my hips the femoral heads were near collapsing from the bone death. They say it doesn't "travel" to other locations, but it can be in more than one joint and obviously so with me. Usually when you have it you get it bilaterally. So I got it in both hips and it's in my right knee and now we will check the left. Will hold off as long as possible for whatever may be with the knees.

Yes it's been one tough year and I know there is more to come which is the hard part as well. I've already been off so much from work this year and now who knows what will happen with the knees so I'll have to see how things go with work. Yes, looking forward to a vacation no matter what. We leave next Friday early a.m. and arrive nice and early in Vegas and will stay for 3 nights and then rent a car and travel to Grand Canyon and Sedona, Arizona and then back for 2 nights in Vegas. Maybe I'll hit the big jackpot and won't have to worry about work, right? :yes 4::yes 4:
If it could only be so simple.

 

[alexthecat]

Wow Julie... It's hard facing all that surgery! I had four surgeries in less than 9 months and it really takes a lot out of you. I swear I had the post-op blues for almost a full year.

Good luck with your knees. I hope you're able to hold off on more surgery for a little while and have a little fun. It sounds like you already are with that trip to Vegas.

 

[Renate]

Have a great trip Julie and enjoy the distractions! Hopefully the trip will do you good, and you'll be refreshed for work.

 

[hipmom]

Can't wait to hear about the trip! Bet you and donna have a blast! Have a great time!

 

[Juliep]

We go back to Vegas tomorrow so hoping I reach her before we leave. We got there Friday and did so much before we came to Arizona. I will tell you what....it's been very hard. I have been SO sore from walking so much... I have been soaking every night in a hot bath.

Funny story. We are taking long walk to see big red rock formation in Sedona, Arizona. We meet up on the trail with a couple and start talking. The man says to me, when did you have your hip replaced??? I asked my boyfriend after we walked away if he told him, he told me no. The guy is from up north and is a PT. He then said he is very interested in anterior hip replacements and knows of a great OS in Sarasota, FL who he has been telling one of his patients about. It's my OS. He asked me if this man could call me about my surgery. Before we walked away he asked if he could feel my hips from my back side. I told him sure. He said, "you are square on and level". That is with me shoe lift in.

It just was so funny to meet people on a hike and him being a PT was so interested about my surgical approach and all.

O.K. I've had such a great trip, but very sore. My knees hurt and my left knee MRI is on the 3rd and next OS appt is 6th. Right knee will be 12 weeks at that point since last injection. UGH. I need time before I hear that I now need knee surgeries.

 

[The Cappuccino Kid]

Hi Julie, your trip sounds great - I'm envious!

It's great to hear unbiased positive comments about your OS isn't it.

Sorry to hear about your news - I'd be greetin' at the thought of more surgery! I do hope you get a good outcome in early October.

Hope you win the jackpot!

 

[Josephine]

Man after my own heart! I'm often getting into those kinds of conversations with people! Can't seem to help myself!

 

[Renate]

Hi Julie, envious about your trip, but sorry about your knees. Yikes, here you got two beautiful new hips, and now your knees are wrecked. I wonder if there are more treatment options for now instead of surgery. Funny how you met this PT and he assessed you on the trail. It is a small world.

 

[hipmom]

Glad to hear from you! I hope you can enjoy the rest of your trip. Your poor knees It's just great to be away, though, right? Funny to run into a pt and one that likes your doc, too! I just found out that one of my neighbors is a pt. They're popping up all over.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. Hope you meet up with donna.

 

[NYLiz]

Julie, so glad to hear you are giving those new hips a workout! I'm so jealous you went to Sedona, that's on my 'bucket list' of places I want to see.

I hope the pain in your knees ease up and you can prolong any surgery, but if in the end you need them replaced too, don't despair. My aunt who I previously mention needed to use a shoe ift too after the second hip, well she had both knees replaced 4 days apart last October and today you'd never know she's walking around on 4 artificial joints. She said even though the first weeks were rough, she is so glad she had both of them pretty much at the same time.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Liz