THR Am I having a unique recovery?

[Kansetsuen]

Wow! You are definitely due -- in fact, overdue -- for a nice long sunny, warm weather vacation! Glad your doctors have given you the thumbs up. Let us know where you decide to go.

We've decided to go to Hawaii--Honolulu, Hilo, Volcano Village and Kona. Our favorite places. I hope go snorkeling and to do a hike or two in the HI Volcanoes National Park. If that's still hard, the scenery is worth the trip. And there's always beaches. I can hardly wait!

I have no pain, but am a bit stiff and can feel that things are still a bit off when I climb hills or stairs. I am doing stairs the "adult" not toddler way. My next goal is to try the treadmill so when the weather is wintry, I can still keep moving. I think the slowest setting might still be a challenge. But we have a few months before we take off. My orthopedist said I should take a walk down the plane's aisle every hour.

 

[benne68]

We've decided to go to Hawaii--Honolulu, Hilo, Volcano Village and Kona. Our favorite places. I hope go snorkeling and to do a hike or two in the HI Volcanoes National Park

That's sounds wonderful!

I have no pain, but am a bit stiff and can feel that things are still a bit off when I climb hills or stairs.

That stiffness and sensation that things aren't quite right yet is normal. You are only two months out on the right hip and six months on the left -- there's still some healing to do. But you seem to be doing really well and should be ready to snorkel and hike on vacation!

 

[Deni444]

Your vacation sounds absolutely gorgeous. What a treat after everything you've endured. Something really lovely to focus on

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!
I hope you're doing well. A trip to Hawaii is certainly something to look forward to.
I'll bet you're excited for that vacay. Take care and enjoy the weekend, Kansetsuen.
@Kansetsuen

 

[Kansetsuen]

Thank you!

I think the only signficant changes I am hoping for are to be able to sleep on my sides. And in bed not on the sofa.

We can hardly wait to go. It all depends on our health statuses three weeks before take-off. Fingers crossed.

@Layla

 

[Layla]

I am hoping for are to be able to sleep on my sides. And in bed not on the sofa.

Have you tried surrounding yourself with pillows in bed? Worked like magic for me.

For laying on my side, I used a lengthy pillow between my legs. I purchased an inexpensive Body Pillow (about $10 from Target) which came in handy for me post op when I was ready to try sleeping on my side. I use it nightly to this day, over seven years post joint replacement.

Multiple bed pillows certainly help me get comfortable in bed, making it easier to fall asleep. You can experiment with different arrangements to find what works for you. Early into recovery I surrounded myself with them so I could rest a leg, or arm easily enough...whatever felt comfortable. Surrounding myself with pillows gave me the feeling of being swaddled and anything that feels soothing may certainly help you drift off.

Doing whatever you can to basically "set the scene" for sleep may be worthwhile. Make up the bed with your most comfortable bedding / blankets along with the extra bed pillows of different degrees of firmness. Try to block out the light if it's daytime. Minimize noise unless you feel listening to calming relaxation music, a fan, or white noise may help lull you to sleep. Make sure the room temperature is not too hot or too cold. Try to disconnect from the devices at least an hour before the targeted nap or bed time, so it's easier to wind down. Limit caffeine throughout the day and consider natural sleep aids such as Valerian, Chamomile or, Magnesium, my personal favorite, which can assist in muscle relaxation and nerves and promote healthy sleep (falling asleep and staying asleep)

Trying some relaxation techniques in bed such as deep breathing, prayer or meditation or even some gentle stretching may help relax your body and mind.

An article on Magnesium from our Library -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/magnesium-is-a-star.20301/

Most large grocers carry a variety of teas such as Celestial Seasonings - Sleepytime Herb Tea,
Yogi Teas, Bedtime, Bigelow Cozy Chamomile, all of which may help you relax...at least worth a try.

Wishing you many nights of peaceful sleep soon...in your bed!
Happy November!

 

[Kansetsuen]

I am hoping for are to be able to sleep on my sides. And in bed not on the sofa.

Have you tried surrounding yourself with pillows in bed? Worked like magic for me.

For laying on my side, I used a lengthy pillow between my legs. I purchased an inexpensive Body Pillow (about $10 from Target) which came in handy for me post op when I was ready to try sleeping on my side. I use it nightly to this day, over seven years post joint replacement.

Multiple bed pillows certainly help me get comfortable in bed, making it easier to fall asleep. You can experiment with different arrangements to find what works for you. Early into recovery I surrounded myself with them so I could rest a leg, or arm easily enough...whatever felt comfortable. Surrounding myself with pillows gave me the feeling of being swaddled and anything that feels soothing may certainly help you drift off.

Doing whatever you can to basically "set the scene" for sleep may be worthwhile. Make up the bed with your most comfortable bedding / blankets along with the extra bed pillows of different degrees of firmness. Try to block out the light if it's daytime. Minimize noise unless you feel listening to calming relaxation music, a fan, or white noise may help lull you to sleep. Make sure the room temperature is not too hot or too cold. Try to disconnect from the devices at least an hour before the targeted nap or bed time, so it's easier to wind down. Limit caffeine throughout the day and consider natural sleep aids such as Valerian, Chamomile or, Magnesium, my personal favorite, which can assist in muscle relaxation and nerves and promote healthy sleep (falling asleep and staying asleep)

Trying some relaxation techniques in bed such as deep breathing, prayer or meditation or even some gentle stretching may help relax your body and mind.

An article on Magnesium from our Library -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/magnesium-is-a-star.20301/

Most large grocers carry a variety of teas such as Celestial Seasonings - Sleepytime Herb Tea,
Yogi Teas, Bedtime, Bigelow Cozy Chamomile, all of which may help you relax...at least worth a try.

Wishing you many nights of peaceful sleep soon...in your bed!
Happy November!

Thanks for the all the tips.

I don't have any trouble sleeping. Just trouble laying on my sides. I can only stand the pressure and discomfort on the still slightly swollen, numb sides of my thighs for about an hour. It's worse on the side that was replaced first (which suffered a cracked femur on Day 5). Then moving pillows and bedding back to the sofa wakes me up. Fortunately, I am retired so I can sleep in until I wake up--even through the commotion my husband makes in the kitchen. It _is_ getting better. I give it a try once a week. I thought about trying the bed for naps but that would push bedtime off to the wee hours of the morning.

Fortunately, I was able to book rooms with sofas for our trip to HI and I have first dibs on the sofa when we go to visit our grandkids this month. They thoughtfully placed nearby a second sofa for the cats. : )

 

[myglasshalffull]

Hope you have a wonderful trip & give yourself plenty of "grace."
Two replacements in such a short window of time is a of of recovering.
I wish you the best.

 

[Kansetsuen]

It's been four months since my second surgery. I have regained most of my mobility but am still feeling a bit numb and swollen. I can't sleep on my sides for more than an hour each so mostly I don't try. I do sleep for 4-6 hours at a time on the comfy sofa almost on my side but leaning against the back. Stairs can still give me trouble but it's getting better.

We flew to NC three months and 6 days after surgery (my surgeon said no flights for three months) to see our son and his family, mostly to celebrate the youngest's first birthday. We hadn't been able to see them since Dec. 2023 about a week after he was born. I had a big day on the day before we left NC: I let myself be talked into a walk around a nice park and then through an outlet mall. My watch claimed I'd walked 4.5 miles that day. To my surprise, I did just fine afterwards. We hope to go back for the oldest's birthday in a few months. We've missed her other parties because treatments for another problem made me very vulnerable to covid, a problem that persists almost three years later but is somewhat less of a threat.

Winter arrived this week and I discovered that getting chilled makes me very stiff and sore. I walked about 4 blocks from the parking ramp to the concert hall (and, of course, back afterwards). I was very sore for two days even though I had walked much further in NC. I'll be using the treadmill until that problem abates a bit. It was discouraging to be limping around the house and struggling up stairs again. I did worry a bit that I'd done some (probably minor?) damage.

In Oct., a former colleague had his second hip replaced (11 years after the first) so we've been comparing notes. He has no air travel restrictions but his surgeon, like mine, recommended walking around after an hour in the car. He plans to leave for FL soon. It will be interesting to hear about stopping every hour on a multiple day trip.

In part because it was long overdue and in part because I am driving again, yesterday we went shopping for a car to replace my 2004 Rav4--and found a brand new, near twin, a Corolla Cross. I think I get to pick it up in Feb. (The 2024 Rav4 is so much taller than mine that I couldn't get in. I use a stepstool to get into my husband's 2015 Rav4.)

 

[Debru4]

I was very surprised my first winter to feel discomfort with cold, wintery weather in the hip that had been replaced in August of that year. My surgeon said it is fairly common in people who have had titanium implants as metal transfers heat and cold more than human tissue does. I was more aware of it the first couple of years---not sure if it has gotten better, or if I have just gotten used to it. It isn't excruciating or severely debilitating ---feels kind of similar the arthritis I sometimes feel in other joints.

Maybe you can see if it happens again with cold weather or it occurs mostly after overuse. One thing I learned early on is that there were some things I was able to do---and so excited that I could, that it sometimes was hard to know when to slow down/stop. The result often was pain, often not showing up for a day or two. I got much better at pacing myself, which made all the difference in my recovery.

 

[myglasshalffull]

It's winter here as well & some light snow fell last evening. It's 22 degrees this AM & I still find after close to 3 years post op I can get stiff with the colder weather.
We vacation every February in Virgin Islands & that nice warm air agrees with my body parts!

 

[SurreyGirl]

I have thermals for the winter which helps in cold English houses and try to go somewhere warm for some part of the winter. It really helps my joints!