THR Cpollock Surgery June 19, 2017<

[cpollock]

@GrannyC thank you for your kindness. Cheryl

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[MyAussieGirl]

. Anytime I am glad things are settling down ...better sleep tonight kiddo. I saw Josephine here too way cool she's awesome ... Good nite sweet dreams

 

[cpollock]

HI everyone. Today is the day. I'm getting my staples removed and have my first physio appointment. The ortho nurse will come to physio to remove the staples so I don't have to wander all over the hospital.

Depending how I feel afterwards I may stop and see my son Myles on the way home, it's his 37th birthday today. He came out to visit me yesterday and my husband had baked him a cake for him to take home for today. I gave him his card to open today too, he's getting money to shop. I'm hoping to stop and have a piece of cake at his house on our way home. Myles and I both work in the same department- government jobs so it was quite easy for him to have his birthday off.

I think the rest of the family are all going out to dinner tonight then to his place for cake. I'm not making 2 trips to town today and I wonder if the bathroom at the restaurant is usable for me etc....

My hip is feeling stiff today, almost like I can feel the prostheses inside. I'm walking with no pain, just slow. I tend to hang onto the walker for support a lot and keep repeating to myself heel toe so I walk straight. I'm taking my Tylenol every 6 hours and only missed those couple doses which my body let me know. I have twinges still in the hip and some itching going on. Once the staples are out I'm hoping it helps some. I'm doing my ankle pumps a lot to prevent clots and I have a daily needle in the stomach of lovenox which is a blood thinner. That continues for another week.
Happy healing. Cheryl

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[cpollock]

@PS46 you sound good. You are going somewhere to watch tennis next Week? When was your surgery Date? Enjoy the tennis, it's good you have something enjoyable to focus on. I'm sending positive thoughts to a continuing recovery. Cheryl

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[PS46]

Hi @cpollock - yes we are going to a Wimbledon. They will be into the second week, so hopefully we will see some top players. We are on No. 1 Court
My operation was on May 2nd, ironically the day after my birthday!
Thanks for the positive thoughts - and back to you. Keep up the good work and I hope all goes/went well today
Peter

 

[cpollock]

Day 15 quick update. I just got home. I was 5 minutes late getting to physio. It seemed to take a long time to get dressed and get everything together and get me loaded in the car. Then we get to the hospital and I get dropped off at the door while Gary parks the car. I waited for him inside. He insisted a go in a wheelchair to physio, it's a long ways and I move like a turtle so off we went.

I was assessed by physio on strength and range of motion. Then I was shown how to do about 10 exercises that I'm to do 10 reps 3 times a day. Most seemed simple like getting up from sitting and sit down again. None caused pain at all and was told they would build strength and range of motion. I was told to walk more now and my walker was raised a bit. And I was told to walk heel toe and tuck my bum in and be straighter. I go back next again once a week till the end of July and then I'm reassessed again.

The nurse came down and removed my staples. Some of them kind of hurt but most were ok, it was manageable. It feels a lot better with them out. I was told I'm healing great. There's swelling and I'm to ice more on the area. We left and on the way to the car I noticed one of the tennis balls was gone from my walker. So we had to stop and pick up a pack, hehe. I'm just waiting now for Gary to finish changing the sheets on my bed then time to elevate, possible nap too. I hope you're all doing well. Cheryl

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[Layla]

Yay! Sounds like you had a good day.
Best wishes for continued healing, lessening pain and restful sleep.

 

[MyAussieGirl]

Wow awesome don't let them make you do too much but it sounds good. I like your husband getting you the wheelchair. I am beat it's 2AM here but had to check on you. I am glad I did you're continuing to do great.

 

[cpollock]

@Layla I did have a good day yesterday, thank you.

@MyAussieGirl I will be careful of the exercises, I will try each one to the extent I can without discomfort, I don't want a set back and will concentrate more on my walks around the house.

We are in a heat wave. It's in the 30s Celsius for the next couple weeks for sure and long term forecast is for a hot dry summer right into September. I'm thankful for central air and our 3 cats. I may venture out to the mall next week and see how I do. I haven't been there in probably 3 years because of my pain and no carts. I've been to Walmart occasionally but just to get what I needed and out. I'm looking forward to shopping again. Also garage sales are enjoyable.

My incision area just has some Steri-strips on it now and it's itchy. The nurse that took the staples out said to put absolutely nothing on it. The ice helps numb the itch and I need it there for the swelling yet.

I had a pretty good sleep last night, got up at 3 to the washroom and took my Tylenol and back to sleep. Over 8 hours worth so I'm happy about that. My husband was still awake, said he couldn't sleep. He got up at 7 with me to feed the cats and get my coffee and muffin etc ready for me. He made the 6 week bran muffins on the bonesmart site a day they're awesome. He's gone back to bed now for a little more sleep.

Happy healing everyone.
Cheryl


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[zauberflöte]

@cpollock hey Cheryl! You sound like you are doing very well. That itching is, so I was told many decades ago, a sign of healing. You also have a very healthy attitude towards your physio-- good for you! I'm glad they raised your walker-- that can make ALL the difference to one's gait. I practised with mine, and with the cane, pre-op, so that I'd stay in the cage and progress with my head up etc. I was very fortunate to be able to stop using the walker around the house at about day 6 or 8, and skipped the cane as support entirely, as it unbalanced me and hurt my hand and wrist awfully. When I walked outside in the street, I took the walker for a while so people would see I couldn't get out of the way fast. Later, cane ditto. Pretty sure I carried the cane for months on my walks and into stores, as much a badge of slowness as anything else!

I found myself using the grocery cart as support while grocery shopping for quite a while. And when I went into a small store with no big carts, I'd use my cane conspicuously in the presence of parents with small children... I had to use it as a weapon at home! We had in that house a blind corner from the dining room to the hallway, and our son would come barreling down that hall no matter what, so I'd stick the cane out past the wall at shoulder height before I even peeked.

You have central air in CANADA?!?? I went to school in Montreal, and worked in Hamilton for a year, and when it got above 80F people thought they were going to die. I think only stores and of course the metro had central air back then, early 70's. Where do I live now? Virginia, where 80F is lovely and cool in the summer. It took my blood a few years to "thin out" for hot weather

 

[cpollock]

@zauberflote that's amazing you stopped using the walker so early. I was just told 6 weeks and use the cane for stairs. We're you limping terribly and using a cane prior to surgery? I was in bad shape and so much pain and so happy the surgery is done. A lady I know in town had her hip replaced and she recommended also to take the cane or walker when shopping for protection. Lots of inconsiderate persons out there. They just don't get it or care.
Yes I'm menopausal as well so without central air I'm not sure how I'd cope, hehe. I enjoy the small comforts.
Take care.
Cheryl

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[cpollock]

I now have extra swelling on my hip. Possibly the staple removal yesterday,? Now laying on my side with a bag of peas on my operated hip. I elevated for a bit earlier too and use my gel pack but the peas are colder. And yes I have them in a pillow case and on top of my nighty to protect my skin.

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[Layla]

Use broccoli, I heard it works better!
Just trying to find levity in all of this.....if I don't....I'll go crazy!
It's sounds to me like anything goes that's not too, too odd in these early days of recovery. I also have had a bit more swelling in my knee area than before that I'm working on with ice and elevation. I'm so thankful we can share concerns and get positive feedback from others. I hope your swelling goes down and your day ends on a peaceful note.

 

[cpollock]

@Layla I agree it's great to share. I don't have any broccoli other than fresh, hehe. Now that would be odd. The peas are at least working better than a gel pack.

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[cpollock]

@Josephine just wanted to confirm if it's ok to put ice directly over where the incision is. The staples came out yesterday.

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[Josephine]

Most of the time it's around a 1 but I get zingers by the incision area that can spike to around 5. This is new the last couple days.

oh, okay. But does that include other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness?

since day 7 I have been taking 1000 mg Tylenol every 6 hours which seemed to work great the last week.. I missed by a few hours a couple times the last couple days. I also have straight 50 mg tramadol that I took last night at 9 and again at 3 am.

Jolly good.

Yes I have gel packs I put on and change out a lot. An hour in a spot at a time.

Good

Yes I elevate in bed a couple times a day and at night.

Okay

I don't do any housework etc... just walking. Use a wheeled walker.

Wow - lucky you!


My comments in bold
Ankle pumps, 60 every hour when awake - You don't need to do ankle pumps now. You're quite active enough.
Butt clenches, 10 reps 3 times a day - nor do you need to do these for the same reason
I did assisted heel slides for 2 days on day 10 but stopped - good - those are pointless for a hip anyway!
I walk 5 minutes an hour plus a couple extended walks around the house for 10 minutes - okay but don't overdo it. Every couple of hours would be plenty

I was assessed by physio on strength and range of motion. Then I was shown how to do about 10 exercises that I'm to do 10 reps 3 times a day.

No - NO exercises! Did you not read this in your recovery articles on post #39?

Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

just wanted to confirm if it's ok to put ice directly over where the incision is.

It is provided you have a cloth or light towel between your skin and the ice. Don't want any freezer burn, y'know!

 

[cpollock]

@Josephine Thank you for taking the time to respond and offer your valued advice. I appreciate it more than I can express. I did read post #39 and fully understand about the exercises. I've noticed more swelling today and pain. I've done 2 sets of the exercises given to me by physio and have now stopped. And yes the 5 level included the zingers around the incision and some stabbing. The upper thigh was painful when walking but is less now. I've just been icing, elevating, and resting today. I've done a few little walks around the house when I get up to the washroom and I've noticed some improvement to my pain. I'm now putting the gel packs directly on my swollen hip where the incision is. I hope that will resolve some and lesson the pain more. It's manageable, just uncomfortable. Thank you again. Cheryl

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[Donnarita]

Hi @cpollock!!! Sorry you have this set back :( sounds like maybe the sleep on side might have aggravated things?? I guess if you go back to your way if sleeping on your back it should resolve in a few days...I am pretty much where you care at...10 days post op...1000mg Tylenol 2x...50mg tramadol at night...works wonders I sleep 9 hrs!! Doing well with at home PT...WILL do our patient in couple weeks...been showering ...some light cleaning...walking 10 minutes every couple hours...feel better the more I move!! I hope you feel better!! Keep us posted!! Thinking of you

 

[cpollock]

@Josephine I have one more thing I'd like your opinion on. My left side area between my belly button and groin has been giving me stabbing pain off and on as well. Does that have something to do with those exercises I did or maybe my pelvis Shifting? I have heat on that area now and ice on my hip. Cheryl

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[cpollock]

@Donnarita thank you. I'm really struggling now with pain.

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