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THR AJinNH’s recovery RTHR

So @NanaMama my hip didn’t like just the Tylenol, especially after PT was here. Pain level ramped up quickly so they gave me a Tramadol and 3 of the Tylenol. Waiting for it to kick in. This is the first pain since the recovery room.

Also, they’re keeping me one more night, PT wants me walking better before they discharge me. Although I’m disappointed, I don’t want to go home until I’m ready. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the car with this pain.
 
I think I might give the oxy one more try now that all of the OR blocks have worn off and the Tylenol and Tramadol don’t seem to be enough.
If I have to stay one more night I might as well see if we can make it work.
Also everyone did such a good job making sure I didn’t get backed up that I’ve been experiencing the opposite effect all of a sudden. :banghead:
 
Well, the Tram and Oxy might fix that problem! I may have been able to do the Oxy - I'll never know... I was using it (in between doses of the hydrocodone). Good to get yout pain under control before you go home! (My ride home was still numb from the block)
 
I had hydrocodone instead of oxy, but I have problems with both of those and Tramadol making me nauseous. I did find that taking them with bread or dairy helped. There may be other things they can do to help the nausea.
 
So they decided to try codeine instead, stronger than Tramadol but not as bad as oxy or hydrocodone. Since I’m still in the hospital I should know how well it will work before going home. Hopefully. I was disappointed that I had to stay a second night, but now I’m glad they insisted I not go home too soon. The staff here has been great, I’m really impressed with the care I’ve been receiving.

Had my first shot of Lovenox today, I’ll be on it for 30 days.

Also the OS told me that my hip joint was badly deteriorated and had moved to the side. And they had to do a lot of cleaning up due to all of the bone spurs. He said that my right leg was shorter than the left and twisted, which I’m sure has been impacting my knee as well. It explains why my leg felt turned in. I’m still amazed at how much my body has compensated for it.
 
I stayed two nights also @AJinNH and didn’t mind it, seemed right for me. I hope they find a medication cocktail that works for you. While I am not big on taking things, with my post surgical pain I needed something the first 2-3 weeks, and then nothing.

Sounds like your hip was way more than ready to be replaced. It is amazing how much we compensate without realizing it and then wonder why everything isn’t back to normal in 2 weeks.

Hope you get some rest tonight.
 
Hi @AJinNH
I hope they get the meds right soon. It's nice to hear you appreciate the care you're receiving.
It makes the hospital stay bearable. Yay for kind, pleasant nurses!

You'll soon be home where you'll rest more comfortably. Hope you have a peaceful night!
Hugs
 
The switch to Codeine seems to be a good choice for me so far. I had a restful night’s sleep. Also grateful that PT had me graduate from bedside commode to walking with assistance to bathroom. It’s a step towards normalcy for me and it feels good to walk, even short walks.
Getting up and walking makes a big difference, helps to get rid of the stiffness. Also sitting in a chair for meals instead of bed helps with pain and stiffness. Looking forward to being home so that I can be up and about more frequently. Those first few movements after sleeping are the worse so far.
I don’t go back to see OS for 6 weeks. I don’t know why, but I had expected it to be closer to 4 weeks. Either way it’ll be here before I know it.
PT is supposed to be in early this morning to do a last evaluation before discharge. Hopefully we’ll be able to make a quick getaway, there’s another nor’easter expected today and I would like to get home before traveling is impacted.
I’ll have both PT and nurse visits at home. Only expect the nurse for a few visits.
Our daughter arrives on Friday and I’m really looking forward to the week we’ll have together. With all the snow we’ve had this month she’s suggesting we go snowshoeing to kill 2 birds with one stone (I so dislike that expression) both mobility and icing :heehee:
She’s going to be fun to have around.
Some of you may remember my posts fretting about having to sleep on my back, I’m a side sleeper. You may get a chuckle here, because they’ve told me I can sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs, but Nervous Nellie that I am, I’ve refused their offers to help me get on my side. Go figure. I’ve been able to sleep on my back for now, we’ll see how it goes at home.
Sorry for the long update.
 
Glad that your recovery is going well. I really struggled to get used to sleeping on my back. Hope you get home today. Have fun with your daughter
 
Looks like all is going well and I do hope you get out and home before this next nor’easter gets into full gear.
 
I hope you get sprung soon! Those first few steps each time can be stiff but walking a bit did help me loosen things up. It will take awhile before you aren't a little rusty when you get up when I you've been sitting awhile. I was also most stiff in the morning - I guess because of being in one position longer.

Do I remember right that you had either superpath or something similar?
 
Hi @SaraK I had a mini-posterior, OS said it was similar to superpath and is a technique that he developed. Other than that I’m not sure how they’re similar. He did say that he doesn’t cut the piriformis, apparently some do.
 
It's sometimes cut with a SuperPath but not always. Mine was spared both times per op report. I'm not sure how yours differs, but my surgeon said that gentle motion and gentle stretches were the best early on with SuperPath because there was a greater issue with tightness in the joint with that procedure.
 
Good to know @SaraK , I’ll keep it gentle. Also, just got a look at my scar and it appears longer than what was discussed. Perhaps removing all of those bone spurs required a larger incision. I’m okay with a longer scar, as long as he had the access he needed.

I am getting sprung today! All dressed, have all of my prescriptions and now just waiting on the paperwork.

I can’t wait to be home.
 
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Glad you are on the way home and got meds figured out for you.

Interesting you don’t see doc until 6 weeks, but truthfully, we really didn’t do much at my 2 week visit- looked at incision, ordered some tramadol, told me to keep walking and I could drive when I felt secure with cane. Really pretty much what the presurgery literature they gave me said. Every doc seems to have their own protocol.

Rest and ice when you get home @AJinNH!
 
Good news or not-so-good news first? Good news. I’m home and settled into my recliner. And we beat the storm.
Not-so-good news; after PT and OT this morning I was left sitting in a chair while they got the discharge papers filled out and phoned in the prescriptions. Was probably close to 2 hrs. When I finally got up I was so stiff I could hardly move my leg. Then transport came with a wheel chair and brought me down to the car. It was very painful getting into the car. The first 45 minutes of the drive was excruciating, I was one sad blubbering lady. Finally subsided.
 
The better news? It will get better! Days 2 and 3 post op were the hardest for me but things improved from there. Sitting for too long generally led to stiffness but my stiffness eased with a short walk (recliner to bathroom to kitchen (for new ice) and back). Keep up on the meds and whenever you're not up and about, ice and elevate. Keeping the swelling down will decrease the stiffness and reduce the pain.

Hang in there!:flwrysmile:
 
Thanks @SaraK I needed to hear that. I’m still hurting but I’m getting up every 20-25 minutes to do a very short stroll with the walker. It is helping. Sometimes I’ll just stand up for a few minutes. Just got the pain meds filled and took a dose. Hopefully I’ll be back on track soon. It’s helping to have all the experienced hipsters here holding my hand and reaffirming that this should pass in a few days.
No one ever said this would be easy, but unlike the pre-surgical pain, this is temporary.
 
Welcome Home to you @AJinNH ... Hope you've settled in before the snow starts to fall. So sorry for the painful car ride. That was definitely a benefit of the outpatient surgery (my entire hip was numb for the ride.) I hope you have a good audio book and soup in the crock pot (my favorites when a storm is coming) - and I say never underestimate the delicious convenience of Bear Creek Soup mix :yes: I too, don't see the OS until 6 weeks, and actually... I'll see his PA then (not him). That is two more weeks. Will check on you tomorrow! Keep icing (and off the snowshoes!) :wink:
 
Hi @NanaMama it’s funny that you said that about the PA because when I was talking to the OS’s NP today she said ‘I’ll see you in 6 weeks’, so maybe I’ll see her. My OS just said to call and make an appointment, he wasn’t specific about who I’d see, I just assumed it would be him.

We’ve been home a few hours already and no snow yet. I have to say, despite the pain in the car I did a pretty good job of getting into the house and up the stairs on crutches.
I had my first full meal and so far so good. All that cooking I did is paying off.

Ice rules! :ice:
 
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