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THR Bickypeg's new hip

You're all such kind ladies and also informative! So glad others dislike the memory foam. It swallows you and it's very hard to move or even rearrange pillows once you've been sucked in. It's a brand new one too! Think there's an old Ikea one on a single bed upstairs but it's past its sell by. It's like shoes really - it's our poor old bodies that are at fault not the mattresses I suspect! But I think an ordinary sprung mattress might suit me better. Who knew this would be such a costly disability? Recliners, mattresses, posh shoes...I'll try the little orthopaedic pillow under the knee though @1stSurgery.No good between when you're on your back I found. I like the Princess and the pea allusion @Alitm! I still often feel like the little Mermaid when she got her legs..ouch ouch ouch.
Can't comment rudely on the food theme as I'm just jealous! I had a baked potato with cheese...
Son feels like a new man after being whisked straight from lovely GP up to ENT outpatients where they lanced his abscess and put him on a drip for several hours, then sent him home to bed when he proved he could eat! Job interview on Friday so fingers crossed.
 
Ha ha re: the Little Mermaid when she got her legs...good analogy @bickypeg! I certainly felt like that the first time I walked in the hospital with the walker.

Yikes, your son sounds as if he has had a real time of it with his throat. Certainly hope he is on the mend (eating is a good sign for sure!). Good luck to him on the job interview...

All that talk of yummy food @SurreyGirl .... I had to go and make lunch!
 
bickypeg said:
Just had a quick go at lying on my hated bed with its memory foam mattress which eats me
Click to expand...
:heehee: Sorry don't mean to make light of your frustration, but I rehabbed at sister's AND one bedroom had memory foam...and I laid down and was stuck until DH cane back from store
 
Poor @Mojo333 so glad to know it's not me! My right shoulder aches so much from prising myself out of the bed when I've been eaten. I tried the bit nearest the wall last night where I hadn't slept before and also had an orthopaedic pillow under my knee and did sleep much better which was great. But I think a change to a different mattress would be even better.
 
I agree. Mine at home is not optimal and I'm due for a new one.
Glad you rested a bit better.

Hope you have a good day!:)
 
Well, I have to weigh in here, too. I also got sent home with a little bag of pill bottles and no real instruction other than "take X every X hours as needed". I, like so many others, just experimented to find out what worked and what didn't. As it turned out, Tylenol during the day was just fine but at night the Tramadol was really needed, 2 doses at 8:00 PM and then at 2:00 AM. Wish someone would have explained this to me in the hospital! The one night when I woke up at 2:00 AM in significant pain was NOT fun and very unnecessary. I know that it's hard for hospitals to gauge how much pain each individual patient will experience and what drugs will work best to control, but you'd think they'd give you some sort of direction. I've got it figured out now but now feeling a bit jittery about when I should taper off and how to do that. Only taking 100 mg of Tramadol in total but would love to be completely off this stuff so I can go back to having an occasional cocktail! But, I'm sticking with my medication plan for now and won't worry about changing it until at least the end of this week. And I agree with everyone, @bickypeg, your son's cooking sounds fabulous. I adore my kids but none of them cook very well and unsurprisingly, none have volunteered to bring me a meal!
 
My biggest worry, at least for today (probably something different tomorrow) is that even with the full dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen and the occasional codeine my old baddy hip (and knee) are generally so painful or at the least uncomfortable that I am doing as little exercise as possible. And 11 weeks on I'm worried that the new hip is not getting as much as it needs to help it heal fully. It has been aching a bit for the last couple of days which is unusual and I'm worried that this means it's deteriorating? Most days I do a mile or nearly but that's just pottering around the house and not really proper walking. Any thoughts @Layla and @Mojo333 ?
 
Happy Friday!
Your new prosthetic wouldn't be deteriorating. It will probably last for your lifetime.
If you're hurting it is most likely from some type of movement or over activity around the home.
You're still healing too, possibly the discomfort has to do with that. You're not even three months post op.
Do you need your other hip, or knee replaced? The one that has you taking the OTC meds? If so, are you scheduling it soon?
@bickypeg
 
Hi @Layla Yes the consultant agreed the other hip needed replacing at my 6 weeks check up as Xrays were taken of both when I was in hospital and he could see it was bad. So I'm on the waiting list but he said it would be unlikely to be before the New Year. I've got a date for Joint School on the 4th December. I did ask if it was worth nagging his secretary nearer the time for an earlier date and he said I could try! But I was so happy with how the first had gone and just a few more months seemed manageable. I told him I only needed painkillers now for the old hip.
Do you think it is just muscular then? I'm still not happy in bed (new mattress tomorrow!)and often sleep awkwardly. But I'm relying more and more on the new hip for bending, stretching, climbing stairs. I know neither knee is great from previous Xrays but new hip-knee seems fine at the moment. Old hip-knee is painful in bed.
Took a codeine yesterday prior to longish journey and a day with the granddaughter and I was fine! But can I keep taking the odd one like this? I think when I remember to tighten my glutes when walking or reaching for something it is easier. But what with that and the heel toe step and wondering if I need my cane it all feels very unnatural! Generally everything feels better by the end of the day but then it starts all over again!
 
Hi again, I hope you're having a good day...
If all feels better at the end of the day once you're resting, I'm assuming it's probably that you're tensing up during activity as you're favoring your ailing hip and knee. Thankfully it sounds as though you're on track to achieve some relief. If I were you, I'd use the cane if you feel it offers additional support right now. It's only temporary. About the codeine, I'm sorry but I can't advise in that regard, consider checking with your GP to get an answer on that.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
@bickypeg
 
Just wanted to chime in here, after reading all the "what I want in a bed" posts, and note that I personally love the sink down into it sort of mattress. For years we had a really firm mattress and my hips just hated that--I'd wake up stiff and sore in the morning (well, probably had osteoarthritis then but didn't know it). I blamed the mattress and convinced my husband to get a new one, soft and cushy and so comfortable. It is interesting what feels best for different folks!
 
My pre-op hips hated all beds!
I know, I tried them all..of all I could.
I don't think you are not doing enough @bickypeg .
Four months was my biggest turnaround for new hips and then you have that poor bad hip to contend with.:doh:Hope today is a better day.:loveshwr:
Ice new one...heat the old one?:what:
 
Thanks @Mojo333 that's a comfort! I'm sure you're right - the problem is my poor old body not the bed (or the shoes) but we'll try anything. Another busy day yesterday- out for tea with a friend and quite a long car journey for me and all was well including nice new hip which seemed fine. Think I may just have pulled it or reached or sat awkwardly. And of course it's easier to be philosophical when you're busy and enjoying yourself. I need to plan more treats! Did sleep a little better in 3 shifts - a cup of tea at 1.00 am, breakfast at 5.00 and napping until 7.30! Tried the squidgy cushion under the bad knee again @1stSurgery and I think it does help.
New mattress arrived today and it seems nice and bouncy!It won't suck me into its depths. Also sent off for 2 pairs of Skechers shoes on your recommendations- hang the expense if it gets me through the next few months...
Thanks all of you again. So helpful.:angel::angel::angel::angel::angel::angel:
 
@bickypeg
My new hip, done a week before yours is doing great but I am in a similar position to you. X-ray at the consultation showed the other hip and one knee need 'doing' too.
The knee in particular has been so painful, to the extent that I am virtually housebound, I went to see my GP yesterday. Told him I have tried paracetamol, ibuprofen and arcoxia and none working. He gave me some co codomol to try. Let some see how that goes. Hope you have success with your meds
 
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I tried cocodamol briefly as you can get it over the counter and at the time I didn't think the GP would give me any codeine and the paracetamol didn't do much for me. Take it with ibuprofen as well? I find RadianB spray helps a bit with the knee though it may be psychological - such a comforting old fashioned smell! And heat is comforting especially in bed.
I still use codeine if I'm having a bad day but try to be very sparing as I'm not sure I can get any more. But it certainly helps . I'm hoping when the other hip is done it will take some of the pressure off the knee. Do hope things pick up a bit for you. It's no fun I know.:cry:
 
Hope that new mattress is working, @bickypeg, and maybe you got a restful night’s sleep. With the other hip acting up plus cranky knees, I am guessing it’s pretty hard for you. My left hip isn’t in great shape either and know it is going to need replacement in the future, but so far it’s hanging in there and not—knock on wood—acting up.
 
Good luck on new mattress tonight @bickypeg and a tip on the knee pillows I have discovered. Since surgery #2 , right side, I've been using one of the small memory foam "between the knee" pillows under the knee of the left leg - which was surgery #1 and has good bending capacity now and is almost 4 mos out. And under the right knee, which I'm pretty sure has been run over by an 18-wheel truck, hammered at kneecap, and twisted by the steel grip of the Incredible Hulk.... I can only put a small flattish soft decorative pillow there. About 1/2 to 1 inch in height. But even that helps relieve back tension. I cannot lift the right knee when in bed at all, 2 weeks out!, or there is a severe pain consequence deep inside, from hip to foot, that only lasts a few minutes but it's 9 type pain. So no can do. Will ask OS on Tuesday appt about it.

Before right #2 THR, and after the left #1, I had the reverse, memory foam under the right knee and flat pillow under the left. So it's a height and firmness trial to get it just right! The taller one under the better leg. During the night I also like to bring knees up higher (well now it's just "knee" singular) from time to time for just a few minutes as temporary back relief from the stretch, and that helps the next sleep cycle start!

And the key pillow for me is this little 5 x5 inch flat one that wedges precisely into the small of the back. Oh that one when perfectly placed is a real boon for sleeping on back with less back strain. It can't be an inch off though!

Thus, with all the pre slumber set up.... I can start getting ready for bed anytime after dinner!

Sweet dreams tonight on your first test drive!

:yawn: :sleep: :zzz:
 
Despite the new mattress had 2 dreadful nights, mainly old hip/knee pain and despite much pillow wrangling was very restless and cross. Did manage to snuggle down and nap for a bit after a very early breakfast at 5.30 and some painkillers, which was new.Not too bad when I got up but twice now I did something which set knee off so I could barely stand or walk (once just trying on some boots) despite painkillers and Radian B. Very fed up and couldn't find a comfy chair. Finally thought sod it! and had a codeine (300mg). Felt like a different woman for the rest of the day, even did some housework and quite a bit of pruning and tidying in the garden! So that's what I am doing from now on when necessary!
I did check on the NHS website which is always ultra cautious and it agreed with Bonesmart that little danger of addiction when it's prescribed for pain relief and under medical supervision. No dreadful side effects as a rule, and certainly fewer dangerous ones than mentioned for ibuprofen @Josephine ! I'll obviously be circumspect but if it means I can get a bit of my life back before my second hip replacement then I'll use it. Needed no other painkillers since this morning.
 
Good to hear! I have 6 codeine tablets left and have not renewed the prescription. However, if the pain starts up again I will use it.
Concentrating on doing some stretching, walking and massaging around the scar and into the muscles now which seems to help but still very tight....I work my fingers right in there like my PT did. Seeing her again on Thursday...
 
Hi @bickypeg
Have you become more comfortable with the new mattress yet? I sure hope so.
Nothing worse than getting excited about a new mattress and it's a big disappointment.
Hopefully it's just a matter of getting used to it and you're slowly adjusting.
Did you get your Sketchers yet? I hope they offer you lots of comfort. Just like walking on clouds :yes:
Wishing you a nice evening and a great week to come! :)
 
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