THR April 12 - Second THR

[MissFanny]

Soooo sore. The thigh pain is wicked. It’s particularly bad in the evening. Deep breaths and one foot in front of the other. I like the “this is temporary” mantra someone shared. I know from experience the payoff will be awesome.

 

[Mojo333]

My thighs felt like someone hung me up and used them for pushing bags



All Temporary but yes, worth it.
Hang in there, my friend.

 

[MissFanny]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your words mean a lot to me this morning. I know this intellectually but it’s nice to hear it from someone who had the same experience (and pain) as me.

This morning has been a little rough. I didn’t sleep well last night. My walker got stuck somewhere and I had a little cry, “Why can’t anything be easy??” I am not usually a crier but that short release felt good. Everything feels hard right now. For one, I feel like I drop everything I get in my hands—including my grabber! I dropped it twice yesterday alone.

On the brighter side, I found a new way to ice that feels so good. I wrap an ice pack around my hip. Then I lay a rectangular one on my wedge I prop my feet up on. Finally, I lay another rectangular one over my thigh. It feels amazing!

Gonna try to shower this morning before the pain gets out of hand. I have only been showering every 3rd day but I do have big disposable washcloths I am keeping clean with. I brush and floss every day. I change into PJs at night and comfortable loungewear in the morning. These small things make me feel a little better.

 

[Jaycey]

For one, I feel like I drop everything I get in my hands

Yup! I ended up having 3 grabbers. You always need one to pick up the one you just dropped!

Are you taking your pain medication as prescribed, around the clock? It's important to stay ahead of the pain at this stage.

 

[MissFanny]

Jayce—yes, I have a timer set on my phone. I also have some “as needed” for pain the Tramadol and Tylenol can’t control I have been taking 2x/day. I didn’t need it with my first hip replacement but I do this time.

 

[MissFanny]

Jayce—yes, I have a timer set on my phone. I also have some “as needed” for pain the Tramadol and Tylenol can’t control I have been taking 2x/day. I didn’t need it with my first hip replacement but I do this time.

Jaycey! Sorry! I have a grandson Jayce and my phone autocorrected.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Your recent post could have been written by most of us, seems if anything can go wrong (stuck walker, dropping stuff), it sure does when you need it least.
I dropped everything! And a good cry is the way to go for sure, I was a big cry baby first few months, not over pain just over falling in first place and getting hurt and felt like it was my fault for being in predicament I found myself in.
Hang in there, you will improve.

 

[Mojo333]

The dropsiesyes... and the emotional swells
I went into my surgery fairly optimistic and upbeat...but I think the mostly suppressed anxiety just prior to the operation and then the exhilaration of being through it finally gave way to an over flow of feelings of being dependant and overwhelmed.

My melt-down happened about a week post-op when husband was away all day and I had dropped everything I tried to hold at least twice.
The final straw was a cap from a plastic water bottle that rolled under a TV stand and unreachable...
I was still boo-hooing an hour later when hubby returned ...he had no idea why a bottle top for a Now Empty bottle of water could turn me into a blubbery mess.

The recovery article in the guidelines about Post Op blues is pretty Spot On.

As my grandma (in a thick southern accent) used to say
"Everyone deserves a pity party sometimes, just don't turn it into a soiree."

Love how you are sharing your experiences and tips for icing...
These are the stories that were helpful for me when I came to the forum.

Hope things ease and your day is Sweet.

 

[MissFanny]

As my grandma (in a thick southern accent) used to say
"Everyone deserves a pity party sometimes, just don't turn it into a soiree."

LOVE this! I will add it to my “temporary” mantra.

 

[djklaugh]

@MissFanny Your tale of grabber drops reminded me of my own melt down/whoopsie. I had bought a pack of 6 grabbers before my surgery and stashed them at various places around the house so as to have one available when needed. But one of the first days I was alone during the day (about 2 weeks after surgery), sigh, there was only one near by. I was trying to get up to go to the bathroom. Dropped first one crutch .... then dropped the other one. Tried to haul them up with the grabber and dropped that too! House mate was not due home for hours and I was on very strict hip precautions .... and since I'd had both replaced at once I could not even try the golfer's stretch. And the need for the bathroom was getting more and more urgent. Tears started as did panic. But looking around I saw my back scratcher on the table in front of me. AHA moment! I was able to use the back scratcher to lever up first one then the other crutch and scoop up the grabber too! Made it to the bathroom before any catastrophe!

And then there was the time I dropped my purse on the floor ..... grabbers work for many things but not very well for small things like coins. Those had to stay on the floor until my house mate returned.

Chin up! This too shall pass! And one day you'll be sharing these occurrences as amusing anecdotes.

 

[MissFanny]

Funny story—in hindsight @djklaugh! I imagine that was super stressful in the moment, though.

Multiple grabbers! Why didn’t I think of that? I am one week away from getting to bend over again, so I guess I’ll skip the additional cost now, but that would have been smart!

 

[Layla]

For one, I feel like I drop everything I get in my hands—including my grabber

I kept my grabber and cane within reach if I was in my recliner. My grabber fell to the floor and I needed it for some reason so I began fishing for it with my cane trying to hook the handle to lift it and pull it toward me. I remember feeling really pathetic. Those wonderful recovery aids can certainly make you feel old before your time. Tossing them aside, one by one is the best, I'm sure you agree having just experienced your first THR so recently. I hope you have a nice rest of the week.

 

[MissFanny]

One week post-op. I am coming out of the worst of it now. The thigh and knee pain are beginning to mellow. I slept fairly well last night.

Now I’m starting to swell! I swelled terribly last time and hoped I wouldn’t this round. I have been very careful about not overdoing activity and keeping my legs elevated nearly round the clock. But alas, I must just be a sweller. My ankle puffed up last night.

I had one of the nurses order me another “round” of Tramadol yesterday, but I think I have enough of the stuff to take in case of severe pain. I have taken 6 doses of that this time around—I didn’t take any for my first THR. In some ways this time has been easier, especially since I knew what to expect, but I do think I have had more pain this time.

I showered yesterday and gave myself a little spa treatment. I highly recommend it if you have the energy! It felt so good. I used a cooling gel mask on my eyes and chilled jade roller on my face; did a meditation on Insight Timer specific to healing after surgery; gently dry brushed all the areas of my body I could reach to get my blood circulating; and massaged my neck, shoulders, chest, arms, hands, and wrist—all the muscles that are getting sore from using the walker—with some nice smelling lotion. Oh, it felt good! Then I binge watched “Anatomy of a Scandal” on Netflix! I recommend it, such a good story.

I also got a little deck time in the sun yesterday. It’s supposed to be 74 and today. I am hoping for more of the same.

Fingers crossed I continue to improve now.

Thanks for all the touching, funny, and relatable stories and support! I wish I had known about this place my first time around. It has been so good for my mental state.

 

[MissFanny]

 

[MissFanny]

I live in a 1 1/2 story with attic bedrooms so I am sleeping and resting downstairs in a rented hospital bed in my office. Can’t do those treacherous stairs yet.

 

[MissFanny]

Going to try to cut down on the Tramadol today. If I can do that, I think I can feel better.

My body aches from lying in that hospital bed so much with my feet propped up. I will try moving between bed and recliner today. I know the bed is best for managing my swelling, but my back, shoulders, and elbows are getting super achy.

Depending on how I feel this weekend (and if I have successfully cut down on the Tramadol), I may attempt the climb upstairs to sleep in my own comfortable bed.

Trying to stay positive but getting to that restless stage of recovery when you are feeling better, but not great. And the side effects from drugs and lack of movement are starting to escalate.

But all in all, I count myself lucky. If I can cut my Tramadol in half beginning today, I think things will start to look up. I hope I can! I hope I can!

 

[MissFanny]

Average steps, sleep, and exercise minutes vs the last 8 days. I don’t know how I even averaged one exercise minute since surgery—straining to poop? Sorry about the TMI.

 

[Jaycey]

@MissFanny please taper off your medication very slowly. You don't want to suffer withdrawal symptoms while coping with recovery. Here is a bit of information on doing this:

You can do one of two things to begin reducing the amount of drug you are taking:

1. Begin spreading out the times when you take the drug. If you are currently taking it every 4 hours, for a couple of days make it every 5 hours, then 6 for a few days and so forth until you reduce to one pill a day (usually at bedtime, cuz that's when we seem to need the pain relief most). Then at that point, you can start taking half a pill for a while and then no pill. At that point (no pill), you would take them only periodically when you have pain that over-the-counter medication won't take care of.

2. You can stay on the same schedule (like every 4 hours) and cut back on the amount of the narcotic with each dose. That can be done by asking your doctor for a lower-strength medicine or by cutting pills in half. Only reduce the amount by 1/2 pill at a time if you are staying on the same schedule - not a whole pill. Then when you get to the point that you're taking a half pill at each dose time (that's about as small a dose as you can get), start spreading out the time between doses. This approach works if you need the pain medicine during the day for PT appointments or other activity where over-the-counter meds won't work.

As you're cutting back, expect that you may have to use NSAIDS to fill in the gaps for pain.... Aleve (Naproxen), Advil (Ibuprofen), Motrin or try Tylenol (Paracetamol).

Just be sure you don't try to cut back too fast. You'll feel it if you do and will need to make adjustments accordingly to slow the taper. The whole process can take several weeks, so be patient and make sure you are stable for a day or so at each level before you make another reduction.

Or....you can contact your doctor and ask what schedule THEY prefer you do. But I believe a person will do just as well taking care of this yourself. Only YOU know how you feel at any given time. You want to cut back just enough so the over-the-counter meds work and not so much that you get those flu-like symptoms or have pain.

 

[MissFanny]

Thank you, Jaycey. I have only been taking them 8 days so hopefully it will go smoothly and I am not going cold turkey, but I will be careful.

 

[Eman85]

Step counters should be removed during THR recovery. Quality was more important than quantity and speed for me.