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THR Ally on the flip side - Take 2

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@Allycat You sound on top form ! well done I am so glad that this hip is even better than the forts and that you have a full 3 months fully paid off work.This will ensure you are fully recovered before you go back to your very demanding job.Do you work in the public sector ?

To answer your question I have only had one hip replaced but the other started playing up about 4 months after my op and it is slowly going down hill.So far I have not been placed on the waiting list as the wretched X-rays are showing adequate joint space.Like you I don't want to wait until the left hip is as bad as the right one was.It was the same story last time with the X-rays and it was only when I had arthroscopy the areas of bare bone were seen.Seeing the OS again at the end of the month so let's hope its a different story.

All good wishes for your continuing recovery.
Kim
 
Well, you are doing well!

Second time around you should be familiar with these but here they are anyway!

First are the BoneSmart mantras ....
- rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist - to do it to you
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!
- be active as much as you need to be but not more than is necessary, meaning so much that you end up being in pain, exhausted or desperate to sit down or lay down!

Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Activity progression for THRs
Home physio (PT)
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

But do remember that hips actually don't need much exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.
 
Hi @Allycat. You do sound wonderful. Congratulations on hip #2. Wishing you a continued smoothe recovery.
3 months paid leave. You hit the jackpot!
Take care.
Annie
 
Hi Ally,
Glad you are doing so well on hip 2.
Like you, I have 12 weeks off; now in my 9th week.....
I am so thankful to still be off work.
Rest up, and take it easy.
 
@Allycat You are doing brilliantly. I am thrilled your pain is almost nonexistent. You are a very lucky gal to have 3 months paid leave to recover. Easy does it.
 
Hello all,

@Josephine thank-you for popping onto my thread with all those reminders. I will certainly have another read. I originally discovered this forum after my first surgery when I was googling post-op blues. This time around, I have already had my cry, 2 days home from hospital. It makes such a difference knowing what you are going through is 'normal'.

@Kim22 I feel for you. I am so, so lucky that I have an OS who realised that my second hip needed attention and wasn't going to make me wait until I was in agony again. I probably had a good 2 years left in the joint, but really, why wait?? It's not going to get better on its own now, is it. I truly hope that your doctor doesn't make you wait too long. I work as a teacher's aide in a behavioural school. The students there have various behavioural issues and there is a chance that things could go pear-shaped in the classroom and sometimes chairs are thrown. I take the full 3 months to make sure the risk of dislocation is as low as possible before returning to work. I also have an amazing boss, and will not have to do things like playground duty for probably another 3 months.

Hi @anniemg I remember your name from last year. Thank you for your well wishes and I hope your recovery has been just as good.

@MajorHeidi Hi. I remember going stir crazy last time when I got to about the 9 week mark and was dying to return to work. I did end up going back about a week early, mostly to hang onto my sick leave for this second operation.

@Serenity41 I still need to catch up on your journey. I hope you are travelling along well and not in too much pain.

Chat later
Ally
 
Day 9

I woke up last night at 3am in a fair bit of pain. Not really sure why, i didn't do anything extra yesterday so it was probably just one of those things. I took an endone, and went back off to sleep.

Physio came today and I did all the bed exercises, a couple of standing ones and took 5 steps with one crutch. And then I had a BIG NAP. Haha. The physio is very happy with my progress.

Tomorrow the nurse will come and remove my PICO dressing. I'm not sure yet if I will peek at the incision. I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to things like that.

Chat later
Ally
 
@Allycat I love your update-- short and sweet, and with the voice of experience. I am sorry about your painful night-- maybe you forgot to keep up with the pain meds? ;)

Aw go ahead and peek at the incision! I had to change my own dressings as insurance didn't pay for home health, so I got peeks early and often (having gone home the day after surgery...) It's not bad, really! I'm sure you've cleaned up playground injuries that looked worse than this neat and tidy set of stitches (or glue or whatever) will look :) :) Are your bruises spectacular yet?

You know, I am SO glad I didn't have to deal with a crutch! When I felt ready to try things sans walker, I used the cane for about 5 minutes before I realized it would be way less painful and better balanced if I just walked by myself! So I carried the cane for self defense, whacking large 20-something sons barreling around corners, that sort of thing, but never actually got good at putting weight on it.
 
Hi all
Day 10
Nurse has just been and removed the original dressing. She says there is some redness along about 1/4 of the incision so she will check with my OS but is 99% sure I will need antibiotics (and nurses are usually right about these things) so it looks like I'm off to the Dr today for a script.
I didn't look. Nurse says there are a lot of staples, oh great. So now I'm expecting something long, red and ugly.

@fulafoto no, nobody can give any idea to the pain. I have slept well ever since so I'm not worried.

@zauberflöte good on you changing your own dressings. I'm a big sook when it comes to things like that. I didn't look at my first incision for a good couple of weeks and this one will be the same. There is no way I could change the dressing. I don't even give myself the Clexane. My son does it. If it was left to me, I wouldn't have the needle you can be sure of that!

I can now lift my leg into bed without son's help, using my 'Macgyver'. My dressing gown belt, looped around my foot and gently pull and lift into bed. Yay! Another step towards independence.

Chat later
Ally
 
@Josephine A visit to the GP confirmed a bit of infection and she put me on Keflex. I woke up about an hour ago and noticed the redness is not 1/4 of the wound but more like 1/2. It is warm to touch and there is slight increased pain, like a stinging pain. I rang the home nurse, and someone will be visiting me tomorrow (Saturday) instead of Sunday as planned. I'm quite worried. Do you think I will be going back to hospital?
Have attached a pic.
Thanks
Ally

[Bonesmart.org] Ally on the flip side - Take 2
 
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Hi @Alleycat. I am just a few days ahead of you on day 16post op today, but this is my first THR. I am so sorry you are having to worry about infection in your incision, it's definitely scary and a shame you have to have that on your mind. I found out two days ago when I went to have my staples (I also have a large incision - 13 inches so lots of staples) removed that my suspicion of a UTI was correct. I'm on antibiotics but I too can't help but be frightened because I was told in my pre op by a doctor of internal medicine that the infection from a UTI's can pass to the joint. Anyway I am trying to be positive trust what my doc has said (thinks we caught it early enough with the antibiotics). I'll be saying prayers & sending positive thoughts your way that yours clears up quickly with no complications.


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart®
 
Sorry, @Allycat but the image is too out of focus and close to the camera for me to tell anything. Can you do it again from a better distance? And post it with the "full image" option please.
 
@Allycat awww now, don't be infected! :) I hope all will be well quickly, and your visit with home nurse will be reassuring.
LOL my incision was right in front where I couldn't miss it, and only 4"/10cm long, so there was not alot to changing the dressing. They told me to do it "after my shower", and since I wasn't showering every day (bad me!) I could work myself up to it. I won't lie, I was nervous every time till the tape started falling off at maybe 2 weeks.

@Sharri for you, too, I hope for an end of it quickly! And... is that a flaming dessert? or flaming drink? or heaven forbid a phosphorescent food in your avatar???:heehee:
 
Hi @Allycat and @Sharri Thinking of you both and praying that you both get rid of the infections very soon.Keep us posted
 
Hi @Josephine
i will try again
[Bonesmart.org] Ally on the flip side - Take 2

This shows redness from bottom of wound to about halfway

[Bonesmart.org] Ally on the flip side - Take 2

I tried for a close up of the red part.
The wound is covered with clear dressing which reflects the light so a bit hard to take pics I'm sorry.
 
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