@anny Good to hear from you
Glad that you are getting some sleep, even if at three hour intervals! It is unfortunate that we aren't on the same time zone. PJ parties are great!
The Dilaudid was good for the initial pain, but it made me feel really drugged out, to the point each time I typed the word Dilaudid I think I spelled it differently each time!
It did its job pain wise last Saturday and Sunday, but by Monday morning I had had enough of the druggy feeling, and the side effects of itching and really weird dreams. It is the first time I'd had Dilaudid, but I did have a "morphine" pump after an ectopic rupture and repair years ago and had the weird dreams with that. I came off that pump quickly!
It would be nice if every country used the same name for paracetamol/acetaminophen!
The Tramadol certainly makes me feel more functional. Again it is frustrating as Canada, at least here in BC, dispenses it in 37.5 mg tablets. It seems that the US and UK dispense Tramadol in 50 mgs. My OS prescribed Tramacet, which is Tramadol with added paracetamol/acetaminophen. Anyhow, with Josephine's help I have figured it out! I think in another day or so I'll be able to drop that dosage down. I'm feeling more stiffness now than pain. My swelling is coming down nicely, but I keep up the ice machine and then use ice packs on isolated sore/puffy areas. It is so helpful to know that all the later swelling is normal and not to panic. Because I couldn't get my right shoe on to come home in (wore the hospital socks!), I walked around the house initially in bare feet. I think the nerve ending in the foot benefit from being barefoot and that helps the overall healing picture...but what do I know! LOL!
The other thing I'm noticing is that, although not a heel slide has passed through my heel since surgery, I can slide my heel up and bend my knee this morning (without breaking the 90 degree rule) almost to the same height as my other leg. The only "physio" I've done is waggle my feet around for circulatory reasons and walk around the house...just to the bathroom and back, and to get some water etc. My husband has been amazing but I really want to be more independent!! I am following the BS guide line for activity so will add 3 - 4 more 5 min walks. The weather has been dreadful here, with terrible rain, so not conducive to walking outside. It is supposed clear on Monday and I hope to be walking outside by then at the latest.
The OS said 8 - 10 weeks for the other side. I asked him to book it for 8 weeks. He said we'll make the decision on Tuesday when he'll take an x-ray, take the staples out (I think), and we discuss physio! So far he has said to wiggle my feet around for the circulation and walk only. The hospital physio dolled out a booklet of exercises, starting with stretches, and she then went over the strengthening ones with me as she felt I could do them. I politely listened and haven't looked at the booklet since
I'll be posting on Tuesday as to what OS wants me to do next. I hope he continues to be of the walking school of thought!
Really interesting about how your second hip quieting down one you had the first hip done. My second hip is being very quiet indeed, but was starting to catch a lot in the last two weeks before surgery. Since surgery I notice that the muscle tightness in the second leg has improved, which is interesting. I have been asking second hip/leg to take a lot of pressure, so I hope it holds up! I can feel my operated leg gaining more strength again, albeit slowly.
I hope you are having a comfortable day/night and that your sleep continues to improve