THR April 12 - Second THR

[Layla]

Congrats on the achievement, Miss Fanny!
What a beautiful photo. Enjoy your time out in nature!
@MissFanny

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary!
I hope life is treating you well and you're enjoying the Summer.
Almost half over already. Say it isn't so!!
Take good care!
@MissFanny

 

[MissFanny]

Thank you, @Layla! It’s going way too fast but it’s great!

Feeling good at 3 months, too. I still have some stiffness in the surgery hip I didn’t experience with my first surgery. But I had a lot less range of motion in this second hip due to a bone spur, so I haven’t stretched it in years. I am working on stretching and more stretching right now. It’s slowly starting to release. All in all, I am still pleased with my progress but I am not to the point where I don’t even think about my hip anymore.

 

[MissFanny]

I saw a physical therapist today for the bone deformity in my heel and—surprise!—she said partially to blame is hip weakness. I told her how much I hike and she said my body has learned to compensate for hip weakness. That is one of the reasons I get butt pain when I overdo it. So, the two main culprits are hip weakness and tight hamstrings. These didn’t cause the bone deformity—that was caused by my gait and misaligned hips—but that is what is making it extra difficult for me lately. Ever since I stopped taking ibuprofen and Tylenol since my hips are healed, my bone deformity has given me more problems. She gave me two strengthening exercises and two stretching exercises. And she told me to rub ice directly on the bump, not to just wrap an ice pack around it. The next time I see her, she is going to work on some massage and loosening of the bump.

I also have not had another period since my strange post-surgery period. Based in negative test results and it not happening again, I guess it was the stress of surgery.

Anyway, all in all, I am doing well. But I have some additional work to do in my recovery. This PT seems good—definitely told me not to push to the point of pain. I will try her way and see where I end up.

The surgery hip is also starting to loosen up thanks to my stretching I did on my own. I have better range of motion than I have had in years! But I still have some work to do on that, too.

No easy solutions. It all requires work, exercise, and patience. Maybe by next April (one year from second surgery) I will be GREAT.

 

[djklaugh]

@MissFanny "Maybe by next April (one year from second surgery) I will be GREAT." In the words of Jean-Luc Picard "Make it so!"

 

[MissFanny]

I hit the six-month mark on my second hip replacement yesterday. Sunday will be 13 months for the first. It is not an understatement to say this has completely changed my life for the better.

I sleep all night without pain. I can walk and hike without agonizing hip, back, and butt pain. I can sit without creating tremendous stiffness in my hips. I no longer hobble for a minute or two after standing. I took ibuprofen and Tylenol daily for over a year; I never take it now. I have lost weight. I think I look and move “younger.” I can go to concerts that don’t have seats—this was unthinkable before surgery. Standing in one place hurt so much.

For those of you considering the surgery or just recovering, it gets better. Great even, by my experience.

 

[Mojo333]

Hi, @MissFanny

Good to see you on the forum!

I love seeing these updates and our newly recovering hippies do too!

It will get better and better.
Hope your weekend is Sweet!

 

[Layla]

I can go to concerts that don’t have seats—this was unthinkable before surgery. Standing in one place hurt so much.

Rock On!

In all seriousness, I'm very happy for you. Happy Six Month Anniversary!
Thanks for stopping by with such an encouraging update, MissFanny.
I hope you have a lovely Autumn...and holiday season...Yep, I said it, it will be here in a flash!