Annie's getting a new hip

annie57

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Hey everybody. Late to the ballgame and scared to death. Am supposed to have THR on 28th--next Tuesday. But have had no pre-op with anesthesiologist, have no clue what time surgery will be--they say they'll call on Monday between 11 and 2 and if I haven't heard from them by 2pm to call OR. (?) That's just weird and slack in my opinion.

As a recovering addict of 25 years, I am careful about all pain meds. Likely more careful than a non-recovering addict. Not taken a full 50 Tramadol yet with Tylenol 1000 mg.

I'm terrified: yesterday he drug tested me--it came back negative--he's only prescribing Toradol and the same amount of Tramadol--2 50 mg per day. Post op. POST-OP!

Nobody has contacted me about a Home Health nurse or home physical therapy--no aftercare discussion. Zip.

And my live-in partner is not supportive AND all the rehab homes around here are absolutely horrid. No time to get in one now anyhow. Am seriously thinking of calling surgery off. I need some help here about pain management. And oh: I'm surely not "opiate seeking."
 
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Hi @annie57. We have the same surgery date. . .next Tuesday. I've been sitting around all by my lonesome. Sorry though that you're having trouble communicating about your medical care. That's distressing. I'm sure someone from the forum will contact you with advise about the pain management. Have you had a chance to check out the articles on pain management yet? This is such a calming, helpful, listening forum. Everyone is extremely caring. You will get honest answers with wisdom and comfort. And good cheer. . .always good cheer. I can understand why you are considering rescheduling your surgery. Perhaps you can get some help thinking that one through as well. This will be my 2nd revision on the same hip and I'm not too happy about it either. So it's nice to have a buddy. Good luck; wishing you well as you make some difficult decisions. I'll follow you to see how you proceed. Serious stuff you're asking about.
 
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Thanks zinnia! It's difficult and made more difficult by little home "support" and med profession behaving erractically. I've never had any form of surgery--lots of dental--stitches, etc. But no mention of aftercare is . . . wow. No more pain management post-op, as in right after, than Tramadol and Toradol. Oh well. Communication is one way.

Am so sorry you're having a revision. My brother had to have one of those and he was livid. "Parts" recall but the $ and pain were doubled. Again, I'm so sorry.

So nice to have a friend on here! Blessings! Annie
 
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@annie57, from the November surgery list thread into a pre op thread of your own. You and your questions and concerns will receive the attention they deserve here which would not be true in the surgery list thread.

The surgery list thread is primarily for letting members know who else is having surgery the same month they are. Members' individual threads are for sharing information, asking questions, getting answers, and venting if needed.

I have put you on the November list. Take care and keep us posted. We care.
 
And my live-in partner is not supportive AND all the rehab homes around here are absolutely horrid.
You will not leave the hospital until you can safely move around on your own. I was alone for most of both recoveries and had no problem. Do you have a friend who could stop by a few times in the first days?
 
So @annie57 I am wondering if you told doc about your recovery? If you did, most of them don't understand will be afraid to prescribe much. If you haven't told him, perhaps he is just a cautious doc. We are really get caught here in the middle of some parts of US with the opiod epidemic and doctors suddenly realizing they may have over medicated cases in the past and helped contribute to the situation. So now many of them are afraid to prescribe.

However, Tramadol is prescribed after surgery and it with the Torodal may be ok. Don't freak out in advance. In terms of home health care, etc., mine was arranged at the hospital. Have you checked to see what your insurance will cover? Might be a good idea of having that written down ahead of time. Most hospitals have a social worker or some other staff member who can coordinate care once doc has determined what may be needed. I didn't talk to anesthesia until the morning of the surgery. The call in procedure does seem a little strange but maybe that works for them?

Hang in there--many of us have gone through this on our own.
 
One day at a time....life without hip pain will be your future.
Sorry you are anxious...I think you can do this.
We will be rooting for you.
Sending good mojo your way.
 
I'm sure things will fall into place. When you are in the hospital, they talk to you about after care. They also send you to PT to show you how to do stairs, how to get into your vehicle, etc. so you can get around ok when you leave there.

As far as pain meds, I'm sure they will find the right mix in the hospital. I wouldn't get stressed about it ahead of time. I actually was quite fortunate and really was not in much pain but all that varies from one person to the next. Sending positive vibes your way for all to work out just right.
 
Thanks everybody. I think as several PMs have relayed, I shouldn't have told my doc that I had 25 years recovery. We live in "Hillbilly Heerrowine" country and I worked in the counseling and specifically, addictions counseling field for 15 years. I have two MA's, one in Counselling with Addictions Certification, was fully licensed LPC and in NC Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist: I know more about addiction than many docs because I've been trained, been through the hell of active addiction, have studied pharmacological synergies, and have dealt with SO many clients. Thus, my honesty, thinking "Wow, a person with that much time would be the least likely contrasted with a non-recovering person without the personal hell and pharma info." Boy Howdy was I wrong! Geez.

I'll relax, let go and let God! Thank you all!
 
Hi @annie57
You're kind of comical. Hope it was by design because that humor will be helpful in recovery.

I think it's normal to stress over certain aspects but you / they will get it all figured out beforehand.
They will get your meds right too. Could there be a little trial and error....yes. But they will get it right.
I was honestly scared to death also. Never experienced a surgery either.
The day of: They have it all down and everything moves very quickly, by design I'm sure. I really didn't have time to dwell on anything. They can give you something for anxiety almost immediately and it most certainly will take the edge off. If your live in partner is truly non supportive then I'd enlist the help of family and friends who will give you the attention and TLC you deserve in those early days.

I wouldn't postpone the surgery if I were you. I would move forward and get into recovery. Why prolong something that will bring you relief or just cause you the same stress but at a later date. We're here to help you through. We're a friendly bunch. I think you'll enjoy our company.
 
You should have told him and remind him...you have 25 years recovery...25 years.
You know the danger, you also will need pain relief and I'm guessing you have a Good support group and you know what to be wary of.
Sorry about the stigmas...I'm on your side.
 
My experience with my first THR was that ice was the best medicine. I got an old fashioned ice bag and a 6 inch wide ace bandage. Cut a slit in the ace bandage for the top of the ice bag to poke through. That way, I could strap on the ice bag and take it with me wherever I went. Unlike the slushie ice packs, the ice bag didn't get too cold so I could just keep it on most of the time and it would stay cold for hours (would even last me all night). I found that it helped more than any of the narcotic pain killers they gave me.

Also, if you're not getting the information you need, contact the surgeon's office and insist on information. They may assume that it's not a big deal because you'll get whatever care you need, but the care you need right now is reassurance and they should be able to provide it. Each person is different and each recovery is different but I turned down home care the first time around because I really didn't need it. The main thing I needed was someone to drive me places for the first week or so (one of the advantages of not taking the narcotic pain killers is that you're eligible to drive sooner).
 
Thanks, folks.

And Thanksgiving was a blast. In that, my youngest brother, who has had a kidney transplant but no ortho told me, vehemently, as we were leaving my mother's yesterday, "In PT they ARE going to HURT you. YOU ARE GOING TO HURT!" I'm limping around like and I felt like saying, "You soulless jerk, I know what pain is, but thanks for the well-wishes, blockhead," but refrained. I wanted to cry though.

I know what other pain is as back in the day in inpatient they took off mega-abusive doses of benzos cold turkey. But that was 25 yrs ago. Crash helmet for seizures, hallucinations, got up out of bed with sheets waving and answered knocking door on detox unit to talk to my grandmother been dead a long time. Bu that was kinda neat because she was supportive. :scratch:

My partner said I was "attacking" her last night when I asked to her to let them not hurt me in PT. But then, she'd previously asked if there was any "reason" that my family might have wished pain on me, as if my person, my being warranted unnecessary pain put upon it. Uh . . . we got in a bit of a mild "discussion."

I know it's gonna hurt. But it should not be unbearable. Nobody is going to manipulate aka touch and move me, to where it hurts, I have an ice water hip machine, the DVT to sleep in, and I need to veer toward crossing the Rubicon with my partner in order to get my critical and immediate needs met. I can't touch that toe, lower calf, much less, put on DVT machine at night.

If I don't kiss up, consciously try to be extra nice, regardless of how I feel, I'll be "sharp" with her because I'm in pain.

Any tips on how to be angelic while in pain? Were my brothers right? On phone one told me I'd do fine with no opiate (even though he's had it 4 times) but in real-time with dysfunctional fam dynamic yesterday, he was chiming in the chorus of how much I was gonna hurt.

Thank you. (Am more terrified after the family stint!)
 
ayla, No; not gonna. For better or worse. And am gonna just "let go and let God GUIDE HOSPITAL STAFF AND SURGEON!" Thank you!
 
You should have told him and remind him...you have 25 years recovery...25 years.
You know the danger, you also will need pain relief and I'm guessing you have a Good support group and you know what to be wary of.
Sorry about the stigmas...I'm on your side.

YES! I can't burn more energy offering medical community a class in addictions training 101. They don't want the class so . . . it will be alright. I'll "chant down Babylon" if they leave me in acute pain. "Say bro, we goin down together." lol Thank you, Mojo333! :thankyou:
 
Hey Annie. They are going to edit out some of your colorful language. I get the frustration but it is a VERY strict protocol due to diverse audience we have.
Now, as far as pain. Let me first say...shock and awe your brother by letting him know your hip will need NO PT . I know you've been through this once but walking and moving around truly is all you need to do. Hips just need time to get well. Kind of like a cold, don't go to doctor and get over it in two weeks. Go to doctor, get over it in 2 weeks. You will just need to heal.
I imagine how tough opiate addiction recovery was, and you did that. You should be proud.
No-one can hurt you unless you let them...that goes for PT and your brother!
 
Curious. You just went through this in April...how did that recovery go?
I did have to constantly remind myself that we often take out our frustrations on the ones closest to us. TRY to be nice!! They may be the only one who can reach the remote when you drop it.:snork:
 
When I am in pain, I just tell people to leave me alone. I go into my cocoon and come out when I can be tolerable. And really, the amount of time of potential intense pain (and remember--not everyone on here has it!) is much shorter than the length of time most of us have gone through chronic pain prior to surgery. Right now you are trying to imagine it and we sometimes make the monster bigger in our mind than it is in reality.
 
Yes, my molehills have gone to mountains while awaiting this surgery. Doesn't help that I have a great imagination and, stupidly, watched Marathon Man a long time ago! (Wow!)
 
Hi @annie
I realize this surgery can stir up a lot of anxiety. Personally, I stressed to the max about it. My mind likes
to go to all the bad places for some reason. I had to "work" at thinking logically about the surgery, continually reminding myself of all the positives.

First, no one can tell you what your post op pain level will be. Everyone is different. So try to let that go in one ear and out the other. I expected major pain considering what my poor leg was going to withstand. In all honesty, I didn't suffer major pain. I definitely have a high pain threshold, reiterated by my mother through the years.
Either I truly do....or psychologically she talked me into believing it...ha!

I do not like pharmaceuticals...period. Weak or strong. In my opinion they're always wreaking havoc with a vital organ and I cherish my liver and kidneys amongst my other vitals. With that said, I realize they are necessary at times and am accepting of that. I only took 4 oxy post surgery and I was done. May not be recommended but I wasn't hurting and it was my recovery and I was doing it my way. After that it was Extra Strengh Tylenol for a couple more weeks. The only pain I really suffered was my incision and ice helped that immensely. Point being.....you may be magnifying all in your mind and it will turn out that your pain is much more tolerable than you ever imagined.

You mentioned home health care, after care and PT not contacting you. You don't need them.
You know what you can and can't do comfortably by the time you're discharged and your body will send you a strong signal if you're moving the wrong way. I am only one year older than you. I had my surgery done at a surgery center where barring any complications you're released 24 hrs post surgery. There were no arrangements for home health care visits. That terrified me initially.....but it was Ok! I was instructed to meet with my OS's, PA three weeks post op which I did and then began out patient PT. Three visits and I was done. Didn't like clamshells or lifting weights with my legs so I quit. I found the BoneSmart mantra about hips not needing much more than walking was true!

Your recovery is just that...YOUR recovery. It is unique to all others and you can steer that vehicle in any direction you want it to go.

I'm most sorry that you are stressing over support from your partner post op. I knew I had people to count on and you may need to concentrate on who that may be in your life. I'm saddened you have to add that to the mix of everything else you're dealing with. Possibly once your partner realizes what you've endured her heart will soften. Please know that we'll be here for emotional support. We will console, encourage and send love through kind words and virtual hugs. That you can count on.

Prayers for peace of mind as you await Tuesday.
 
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