6 day post OP!!!

[tapan]

Hey guys! I finally got discharged from the hospital yesterday. At the moment, I cannot walk without a walker and have some difficulty getting on and out of the bed. My left leg still feels a bit heavy and my left ankle feels numb throughout the day (has been like that since day 0). The reason for numbness is due to my leg extension. On top of perthes, AVN, and osteoarthritis, my left leg was about 1.5 inches shorter than the right one. The surgeon said that he lengthened my left leg to the max his equipment permitted and the shortening after the operation is about 1 cm.

I did loose a lot of blood during surgery which brought my hemoglobin level from 138 to 80. I have been taking iron pills and also iron sucrose through my veins. Also the painkillers I take make me VERY drowsy and I am up for only about 9 out of 24 hours of the day.

The incision is slowly healing and oozing of blood, water, and other body fluids has stopped completely!

In terms of mobility, leg feels heavy and I still have slight difficulty walking. Without the walker, its a complete NO NO!

When do you think I will start experiencing independence from my walker? I know 6 days is way too soon but whats the time frame I can expect?

Arthritic pain has completely vanished!:wub:

 

[Josephine]

Well, welcome home! Everything seems to be right on course thus far. To be honest, no-one can be specific about how long anything since, as you well know, everyone is different! But getting off the walker onto a cane should happen naturally and with the guidance of your physio. But I think maybe 2-3 weeks should see it done.

And that strange heavy lump feeling that is your leg will also take its own time to recover. With it you will have to take it easy, sleep plenty and relax in between doing your exercises, of course!

DO NOT rush anything. It will happen in its own time and pace. Your body will tell you when.

You're doing well! :thmb:

 

[JudyS]

Welcome back
My first 2 weeks, I just basically rested. Never left the house, never got dressed. Slept, pain meds, exercises. I left the hospital with crutches and did use those for a few weeks.
Yes the leg does weigh 10,000pounds!!! It just all falls into place if you rest.
judy

 

[Texas]

Hey Tapan glad your done and home. Mine felt like I was lifting a ton on bricks. but day by day those bricks will come off. Sorry you have a lil rough time in the beginning but I hope its smooth sailing from here....Yes rest, ice take it easy. Pamper yourself. Please post anytime, we have all been thru it...ok...k Take it easy....

 

[TBONE]

Arthritic pain has completely vanished!

nice! Congrats!

 

[Steph]

Sounds like you are doing fine, just take it all steady and each day will show some improvement, exercise and lots of rest is the key.

Well done and welcome to the other side

 

[Jamie]

Tapan....so HAPPY to hear from you!!! It sounds like things are progressing nicely. As the weeks go by, you'll be amazed at the progress you make. Just take it easy. As Jo said, your body will tell you when it can move to the next phase of recovery. Strike a good balance between resting and working those muscles back into shape.

 

[Judles]

The hardest part is OVER, Tap! Now the REAL healing can begin! Just pace yourself and start off slow! Everything will fall back into place!!

 

[loghaula]

Welcome Home, Tapan,
As MoJo related, your body will tell you how fast you can move forward; just relax and let it flow lol. From reading the viewers' comments, it appears we all heal at varying rates.
I made the smart move before going for my first HR, of setting up a small bed in the living room. It is lower than a regular bed, and does not have a footboard. That way, I can scoot myself off and on the end using my good leg while keeping my "fixed leg" straight, and helping push or pull with my hands. It sure saved a lot of pain and frustration, especially when one has to get up during the night to use the potty, which I kept at the end of the bed overnight, then moved it back to the bathroom during the day.
Keep posting away, as I enjoy reading the new posts; we all have war stories and funny anecdotes to tell.
Glenys

 

[DianeC]

Tapan,

Glad to hear that you"re out of the hospital and doing well. I used a walker for 8 days and then switched to crutches for a couple of weeks. It took about 3 weeks before I felt steady enough to walk with a cane. At about 5 weeks, I could walk without any support.

Just take your time, get lots of rest, and you'll be good as new before you know it.

Diane

 

[leosmom]

Hi Tapan! Welcome to the other side. Isn't it wonderful not having that awful arthritic pain? :wahey: The other stuff will improve over time. Don't be impatient, listen to your body, and get that rest it so needs right now. Look forward to your progress posts.

 

[mvo]

Hi Tapan!

Great to hear you are doing so well

I was on two crutches for just over three weeks, then one crutch for quite a few weeks after that. Do rest up properly and don't rush anything,

All the best,
Monica

 

[ronhall51]

did you have minimally invasive procedure? Just curious because my OS is expecting me to leave the hospital with just a cane in three days.

 

[Texas]

Im glad the arthritus pain is gone and at least you know this surgery pain WILL go away as well...

 

[mdakota]

hey tapan. so glad to see you home and doing well. you've already gotten thru the hardest part. the next week you'll start to see many changes. do the exercises and rest. be good to you, sounds like everything is going beautifully. i had some nerve pain under my big toe for the first week and now when i do alot of exercises i get little twinges. the swelling can be part of that as it goes down you should notice some difference. i had the inch and a half lld too and changing all that makes you feel some funny things. i'm just greatful your doing good and i'll be praying for you.
monique

 

[Judles]

Yep! Those are healing twinges! Tap!!! . Good sign!

 

[tahoe1009]

I'm glad you're on the other side. Take your time, going too fast will hurt you!! I can tell
You!! Take it easy take your pain meds and sleep!!

 

[Nancyo]

Congratulations! As you can see we are all so excited for you! A new life awaits you and you will be amazed from here on to see how things change and progress. Remember what has been said so many times and that is that everyone heals and progress's at a different rate. There is no set time line for any one progression issue. Something that was interesting for me was to keep a little journal. Record day to day things that happen and in even two or three weeks time you can see the improvements your making. If you write in it for several months, you will really be impressed with YOU! LOL As T-Bone stated.....NO arthritic pain! WOW! Please do keep us informed when you feel like posting....some days are easier than others in the beginning..... but we all care and are interested. Once again...congratulations and welcome to the other side!
Blessings to you always.
Nancyo

 

[tapan]

Thanks for your concerns and advises guys! They were surely very comforting. As days go by, I feel like my mobility in moving my leg around is increasing gradually. I am taking my pain meds following physio regularly; however, my left thigh feels very STIFF while walking or even sitting. Is this normal? Is this what constitutes definition of surgical pain?

Numbness in my left leg (knee downwards) is gradually decreasing and slowly making its way to the ankle. My surgeon said this is normal since my leg was lengthened and my nerves were extended beyond their natural size. Also, he mentioned that I can expect slight bruising around my left toe when the numbness is about to go away completely (ETA about 3 weeks according to my surgeon).

 

[mdakota]

The thigh tightness will be there for a while. depends alot on swelling. it is for me actually one of the things that goes last. i still have what had turned from a painful tightness, to a noticable pressure that gets better all the time. the third week sounds like a good landmark. the only pain pain instead of pressure pain that i've had was the lateral muscle. my os cut thru it and said that would be the longest to heal. by the end beginning of the third week the pain there was gone, but it is still a stretch i notice.