THR Craftdee's Made It Through

[craftdee]

Well I thought I'd update MY thread today as it was appointment day with the OS for my final clearance from restrictions.... well it WAS, until they texted me yesterday to change my appointment to next Monday. To say I'm disappointed is a bit of an understatement, ridiculous really, it's only four days extra... I suppose I made the mistake of counting down - I've done 76 days now it'll be 80 days on Monday. More exactly it will be 80 NIGHTS... I am SO over sleeping on my back! I have spent a little time on my side this last week or so, but it's not that comfortable with the pillow between my knees and all... and I can only spend a few minutes on my operated side... it's not exactly painful, but just feels uncomfortable, or that I have to keep moving my leg. I'm over the whole thing right now actually.... unfortunately, despite all my posts on other's threads urging them forward I'm not "feelin' it"

I'm not sure all is exactly as it should be, I still have considerable discomfort if I walk any distance or go up steps. I have tried all manner of stretches, of course due to restrictions I can't do anything involving crossing the midline or bending beyond 90 degrees... which does limit how much actual "stretching" you get in. I am a LONG way off the "forgotten hip" -not thinking about it - it makes itself known every time I walk for more than ten minutes, every time I stand up after sitting for more than ten minutes, every time I go up a step (though not down), every time I sit down (feel like I'm sitting on something, the old tennis ball in the pocket syndrome) every time I try to wash my foot... I'm not supposed to bend, but I've found I can't lift my foot more than half way up my shin anyway, and I can't turn the leg outwards more than a fraction - less than pre surgery! I struggle to get in the car, a lack of movement as much as pain/discomfort. It's all exhausting and I was a basically a pocket rocket, so it's frustrating to be so easily worn down.

I suppose I'm over it full stop. I am beyond jealous of all those who twitter away about how "fabulous" it all is, and that makes me feel angry at myself, because I am NOT that sort of person... I would, prior to this experience have thought good luck to you, so it's bringing out the worst in me and it makes me sad that I'm not a nice person and I've been found out! The excessive length of time I have put up with restrictions probably hasn't helped, but the main thing is it really doesn't feel that much better. I have no "bone on bone" pain, for which I'm grateful, but the aching/soreness/tightness is relentless, the increased freedom of movement I was expecting is yet to arrive; I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that it's not going to - I may get back to what I had pre surgery, but nearly three months on I'm a long way off so it will probably be years. I'm supposed to have my other hip done soon, it's apparently on the point of collapse too, or so they'd have me believe. At this stage I think I will wait until I can't walk, at least then the benefits will be apparent and immediate.

Well I've had my whinge. If anything "interesting" and relevant comes up I'll post here. Otherwise it's probably just a waste of time. I'd like to thank all my bone buddies, you did help me get through the difficult early days. I'm sorry, those who are going to message me now saying it's "still early days" I'll have to disagree... 11 weeks is not feeling like early days, its feeling like a long slog. I am choosing to be bitter and twisted! I am one of the 3% for whom this surgery does not provide the outcome for which they hoped... someone has to make up the stats, I KNEW it would be me, I foolishly tricked myself into thinking that doing it all right before hand, losing weight, getting fitter, being informed and doing what I could post op - ambulating on Day 0, doing everything asked of me that it would guarantee me a good outcome, well as they say in Aussie "sucked in".

Hope you're having a better time of it... that your head is in a better place than mine... and that your hip is too come to that

Donna

 

[Me2]

Can I come to your whine party if I bring some cheese? It must be that kind of day.

Today, in fact for a week or so,

I'm not "feelin' it"

How and when is this going to be over . . . as I am so over this . . .

I kinda have been sleeping on my sides now but between new surgery side pinching whether on top or bottom, pillow or no pillow, my shoulders burning, I end up just sleeping on my back but then its been aching all day.

Yea, remember that numb/tight area from waist around outside of thigh to knee? Well, mine is not so tight anymore nor so numb anymore. But, now it aches every day, all day. I think its making me limp again, every one says no your not limping, you worry too much about it, in other words, I'm tired of hearing about it, its all you've talked about for the past year, you've been complaining about it for 8 years -- you had the surgery NOW just be all better . . .

I was so proud of my nice straight feet and ladylike walk and now besides the limp that ONLY I notice (but no one ever told me I had a Quasimodo limp until after the first surgery) . . . my right just operated side that was so beautifully straight is pointing out again . . . I swear I even tripped on it yesterday.

I am still exhausted, I need sleep, but I'm expected to be recovered now so my projects have to be in, I can't work 12 hour days with the kids and get caught up on all the required paperwork when I need to sleep. Then, I get so tired, and I end up in tears and with 5 grown sons and hubby who deal so well with tears!!!

I finally called the surgeon's office today to see which way to go on back issue because I am NOT going to still have an achy back after being a "good" girl and getting both hips done in one year. I don't want to go back to chiropractors as once you start down that road, everyone I've ever seen wants to see you two or three time a week for months .... I just feel like I'm throwing money and time down a bottomless pit. I don't know whether physical therapy will help, I don't know any good ones, and again, when will I fit that in. I tried to go back to gym and I'm just too tired and besides my shoulders hurt and my newest hip doesn't move well enough and just lack of time with holidays and working and needing SLEEP. Now, his PA scared me with giving me appointment for tomorrow but I just feel like I'm going to waste his time and mine! What's he going to do - cut it off again and reattach? He told me he couldn't guarantee back would feel better, I just thought since it felt good for 8 weeks that it was good.

I had such high hopes that physical result with first were so dramatic that I would be all better now and not having second surgery looming over me if I just got it done. Now, I don't have that with ya, but I just feel I deserve to 100% --- I so want to be that "pocket rocket" again -- now I just feel like I'm OLD and WHINY. My hubby calls it something else - kind of like witchy. 'Tis the season! Hopefully you are feeling better now

that your head is in a better place than mine... and that your hip is too come to that

So where do I ship the cheese to?

 

[craftdee]

Hi Sheryl @Me2 Now this is going to sound really OFF, so I apologize in advance because you are a great Bonebuddy.... but I am SO glad you're not doing super duper fab Seriously, I'm glad I'm "no orphan" in this, I accept that we all heal at different rates, and all have different expectations but I can't shift this Groundhog Day feeling when I get up from what is loosely referred to as sleep every morning, hubby asks how I am... and as we've always been honest with each other I reply 'nah, about the same' he always assures me 'you'll be right' so

in other words, I'm tired of hearing about it, its all you've talked about for the past year, you've been complaining about it for 8 years -- you had the surgery NOW just be all better . .

really struck a chord with me... he doesn't roll his eyes, but he may as well!

I don't want to go back to chiropractors as once you start down that road, everyone I've ever seen wants to see you two or three time a week for months .... I just feel like I'm throwing money and time down a bottomless pit. I don't know whether physical therapy will help, I don't know any good ones, and again, when will I fit that in. I tried to go back to gym and I'm just too tired and besides my shoulders hurt and my newest hip doesn't move well enough and just lack of time with holidays and working and needing SLEEP

Hit the same chord ... as did in fact 99% of your post - me only having one hip done being the 1% difference, not that a second hip is only "worth" 1% but you know what I mean

Yea, remember that numb/tight area from waist around outside of thigh to knee? Well, mine is not so tight anymore nor so numb anymore. But, now it aches every day, all day.

Hits the problem right on the head! I'm sure I'm going to get some advice to "rest, ice and elevate" and that would be lovely... and may even make a difference, but WHEN do I "rest etc" people?? I've barely got time to scratch myself, the "phased return to work" was a... nice idea Not sure if going from none to full on in less than a week constitutes a phased return, but us self employed types don't have the luxury of taking longer.

I suppose the biggest thing is that, like you I don't know what to do for the best... stretching/exercising (as I seize up if I sit longer than about ten minutes) or resting (as I seize up if I SIT for longer than about ten minutes)!! If I KNEW one was doing more good than the other, I'd try and put the emphasis on that one. The Dr fobbing me off (alright changing the appointment day, I'm feeling bitter and twisted, remember so it feels like I've been fobbed off!) just brought out the frustration as I've been saying for the last couple of weeks "I'll ask the surgeon when I see him" about ALL of these issues... I don't know this Dr from a bar of soap either (as my OS has gone to Canada for a year) so he doesn't know how positive and motivated I was post op, even at the six week check, he's just going to see Little Miss Whiny Expect A Lot.... and I KNOW he's not going to have an answer, he's going to tell me it's muscular and to see a Physio.

I'm not scheduled to see one until January, but so far all they've done is watch me walk, tell me how to adjust my gait (which is when this extra level of discomfort came in, so I'm sure that while I'm walking "properly" now it's certainly not added to the benefits of surgery!) then send me home. Gait, gait, gait, nothing about Frozen-Hip-Aching-Everything syndrome I could get an appointment with a private physio, the one I had before gave me acupuncture that helped with an acute problem with my Quads/Psoas, but I am concerned that if I start going for what appears to becoming a chronic problem, the ol' money pit scenario is with me again. I could medicate more, but frankly I resent medicating, I had this surgery to stop the need for medicating. As it is I'm taking my 2 x Panadol Osteo (which is 625mg Paracetemol per tab, so not NOTHING!) most days just to get going.

Ah well, I've vented now..... AGAIN!! You're welcome to my pity party anytime Sheryl, don't forget that cheese... Donna likes cheese I actually hope you don't make it, because you're too busy having a great time with your non aching, fully functioning super duper new hips

Merry Christmas and all that Baubles,
Donna :santa hug:

 

[Me2]

What kind of cheese?

Not sure if going from none to full on in less than a week constitutes a phased return, but us self employed types don't have the luxury of taking longer.

I"ll bring that cheese -- I gotta keep working -- fell asleep at 7:30p and woke up at 10, now have brain fog and aching back and no time to whine -- no rest for wicked and I musta been wicked

 

[NuMe2014]

@craftdee , I hope you don't mind if, as we say in Canada " I will add my two cents worth"! I am 14 weeks post-op and had a lateral approach on my right hip which is pretty much like your posterior approach, and I had all those nasty restrictions for 12 weeks too. My left hip has severe arthritis and I will be having it replaced next month. Here is were I am at in my recovery. I do not have a forgotten hip I still feel pain, I still take my Tylenol 1000mg twice a day and some days I even have to take my Tylenol with codeine....those muscles hurt. I still sleep on my back because quite frankly trying to sleep on my operated side is extremely uncomfortable, and sleeping on my bad hip side is out of the question because it hurts! So yes I still sleep on my back and looks like this won't change for many many many weeks to come! I usually only get about 6 hours of sleep at night because I wake up with a sore back and then can't get back to sleep. When I do wake up my "new hip" is stiff and sore for at least the first 15 minutes. I still use my "raised" toilet seat first thing in the morning because of the stiffness,( no way are my muscles strong enough to get up from a low toilet yet! so this means I can't use the bathroom off our masterbedroom because I have the "raised" seat in the bathroom across from the bedroom I used for my recovery after surgery( I let hubby have the master bedroom, while I set up my recovery nest in one our spare bedrooms, this was the first period in our 29 years of marriage that we slept apart for an extended period of time - did not like this, but hubby was afraid of rolling onto my operated hip during the night, and during the early days of my recovery I would sleep for only a couple hours and then wake for an hour and then sleep etc...) I just moved back into our bedroom at the 12 weeks!
I have a lot of stairs in my house, going down I still loosely hang onto one handrail, and going up the stairs I still hang onto both sides of the handrails - in the mornings when I feel the strongest I just use them gently, but by the end of the day I need them to hoist myself up the stairs, those darn muscles still have a lot of strengthening to do.
Yes I am allowed to bend past the 90degrees but that does not mean my body is capable of it! Just this week I can finally get a sock on my operated side without using my special "sock tool" do I do it gracefully? heck no, it is very awkward, and I feel pulling and some pain, but hey last week I could not do this, so this is progress, but very very slow! If I drop something on the floor, I can bend to pick it up but this is not very graceful either, I still want to "strait leg" bend as I did before surgery. I try to bend my knees and squat down, but again the muscles are weak, it hurts a bit - mostly pulling kind of hurt, and my bad hip does not want to really bend! Frustraiting...YES!....but I still try the squatting down and each day I notice a little bit of improvement. I can shave my own legs again(hubby does not have to do this anymore for me!) but it is difficult! Cut my own toenails yet...nope!

Now walking....I try to be mindful of my gait but it is hard with my other hip being bad, first thing in the morning because of the pain and stiffness I have to really work at it. I have to be mindful of standing up straight(too many years of hunched forward due to the bad hips) when I stand straight and tall the gait comes a little easier, but then the pain starts because of my pelvis and si joint being out of wack!
Walking on my treadmill at a slow pace is o.k for 30 minutes or so, but going shopping and walking in a mall is exhausting and painful! As to walking outside, I am a little afraid because here in Canada we are now into winter with lots of snow and ice!

Driving is o.k, but I still have to get into my SUV bum first, I still can't lift my operated leg high enough to step into my vehicle! Lifting that leg is tough and it hurts, but every couple days I notice improvement.

I stopped doing most of my PT around the 12 weeks because I was having a lot of pain, in fact it was getting worse. I was afraid of stopping it because I was worried that my recovery would slow down, but I really believe that it was a good thing because the pain lessened and I was able to do more everyday things with less pain. I move more and feel I am progressing better. Once I have my other hip done I will really work on strength building.
Before my hips really started giving me grief about two years ago, I was always busy and moving from the moment I awoke in the morning until I went to bed at night. I just never sat down. This has been a very frustrating and depressing time in my life but you know what gives me hope that someday I will have "forgotten hips"? My 72 year old mom. In Sept 2012 she had her right hip replaced, and then in Sept 2013 she had her left hip done. I watched her struggle through all of what I am experiencing and on her own(well I helped as much as I could, my Dad died 8 years ago.) Today my Mom has "forgotten hips"! She is my inspiration!

I know I have rambled on here, but I feel your pain and frustration, I too read other peoples recovery threads and see how much they can do at only a few weeks, and I don't understand where the fairness is!

 

[Me2]

If I drop something on the floor, I can bend to pick it up but this is not very graceful either, I still want to "strait leg" bend as I did before surgery. I try to bend my knees and squat down, but again the muscles are weak, it hurts a bit - mostly pulling kind of hurt, and my bad hip does not want to really bend! Frustraiting...YES!....but I still try the squatting down and each day I notice a little bit of improvement. I can shave my own legs again(hubby does not have to do this anymore for me!) but it is difficult! Cut my own toenails yet...nope!

Yeah, while I'm whining I'll ditto that too!

 

[xtina16405]

Oh @craftdee your thread made me so sad. It is not like you.

So I am joining your pity party too. Life is not all great. Of course I am two weeks behind you. I still have the 90 degree restriction. And the cross your legs etc. of course the sleep on the back has been lifted. I can sleep on my non-op side and I use a body pillow. I have never slept on side with legs one on top of the other. The top leg is always forward. So the body pillow is a blessing. Do I last all night? Nope and when I have to roll over I still wake up to adjust myself. I still take Tylenol during the day and my pain med at night to help ward off morning stiffness.

Now muscle soreness you know I have had. And like you sitting is not the most comfortable thing. Today i was shopping and go to the handicap stall because I need the rail to lower myself on the toilet. The muscles don't want to help ease me like they used too. I laugh every time too. When I get up from a chair or out of the car, I have to stand for a moment before walking because I am sore. Once I get going, I am good. And up and down steps, I have to really focus.

Remember we all heal at different rates and you have been doing fantastic. I can't swim or take a bath (which I want to do to help heat the muscles) because I still have a scab at the end of the scar. Will it ever fall off!!!

So please bring my happy, crack me up, fun loving Donna back. You have helped so many of us and you are doing what you are supposed to at your own pace.. You are doing it Donnas way and that is the right way.

:reindeerlights:Smile my friend. Santa comes in 6 days. :santawave:

I want to give you a big hug.

Kristina

 

[craftdee]

Ah ladies, thank you so much for your support... or for joining my "Pity Party" at least - much the same thing really Somehow "self pity" is so much less, well SELFi-sh, when your'e joined by others

Adding your two cents worth is a phrase we use here in the land of Oz too, @NuMe2014 , and I don't mind you adding yours at all especially as you made me feel more like I'm "average" in the recovery stakes and less like a "tries hard, bless" special ribbon candidate You describe the discomfort I'm feeling perfectly - a tightness or pulling sensation... you've given me hope that mine will get better soon too. I'm so glad I don't have bad weather and pavement conditions to factor in, it may just be a hurdle too far right now! We have three levels in our home (study and foyer at entry level, master suite down in one direction from entry lounge down in another direction and rest of house up from entry level) it means a lot of steps in a day, but only one or two at a time; another thing I'm grateful for as a flight of steps fills me with dread... coming down was easy for the first time last weekend, but going up is still a pain in the bum - literally

We are having a great start to summer, it's been HOT (38C or 100F) today but that's the first really hot day we've had. My hubby finished work yesterday, as in did his last contract work for the year yesterday, but the holiday doesn't start just yet, for a start I have paperwork up to Christmas Eve; we took the trailer to the Trailer Hospital today... we take it every year - it has a wellness check and a facelift then went looking for an umbrella or shade arrangement of some kind for the pool area; in the car (sort of bum first @NuMe2014 though I'm short so it's more a scrambling/crawling/slithering action ), out the car, in the car, out the car, needing to go home soon darling... BUT.... needing an umbrella so I don't fry when I'm laying on my Christmas present; very nice sunlounges for next to the pool, thanks to hubby, BIG thanks actually as he liked the clean space and thought we could do very well without lounges, of the sun or any other variety! He's probably right, we have so much outdoor seating in our Al Fresco area with 2 x 3 seaters 2 chairs and a table and 6 chairs... but they aren't sunlounges :cool: Then we went and did some Christmas shopping, were going to have a massage (until I reminded hubby that I had one on Tuesday while he had acupuncture on his shoulders.... should have kept my mouth shut and got a bonus massage) then I really needed to come home.

Came home and had a power nap; I read yesterday (I think it was here on Bonesmart) that ten minutes is the optimum time for a nap... in fact most benefit is derived between 1.5 minutes and 10 minutes... I napped exactly 10 minutes! Can't help feeling I would have derived more benefit from the next several hundred minutes, but you can't argue with science

I was thinking of you particularly after that Kristina @xtina16405 ; partly because I thought of your handicapped stall comment - I'm taking my raised toilet seat and other aids back to the hospital on Monday (they were on loan for the duration, I figure I've dured enough ) I said to hubby that's the ONE thing I'll miss... it's made me a bit lazy and as he won't use the bathroom with it in he's been using the main bathroom.... and I haven't had to worry about the seat up/down thing for nearly three months!! but mainly I thought of you because we went for a swim; it was still really warm but there was a breeze, the water was fab and then we lay on the SUNLOUNGES I considered telling hubby he wasn't allowed to sit on "my" lounges, but as "I share well with others" I let him use one. I thought how good it was that I could have a swim - in the pool is the one place I can move pretty freely and the pain level drops - and how hard it would be if I couldn't swim... and then I thought of you; I can't believe you've still got a scab, it must be soooo frustrating So I'd like to send you big hugs back,

I've enclosed some pics, it was nearly dark so it looks overcast (and these pics were taken from the sunlounges looking back towards the Al Fresco, so a "darker" angle than my usual pool pics which look back up into the garden) hopefully they'll give you something to look forward too, otherwise I'll be secretly quite happy if you're just a teensy bit jealous - c'mon, I haven't had much to be jealous of - I even had to duct tape my razor to a wooden spoon to shave my own legs from Day 1, hubby wasn't doing THAT (seriously?? it's only shaving, but noooo, yet he was happy to wipe my feet??)! Here's a bit of our blue sky too, inc case your's are grey

I've made the effort to "bring the happy Donna" back just for you @xtina16405 and you've reminded me that Santa comes in six more sleeps, (I hope he brings you a scabby-falling-off scenario, followed by a nice warm bath) and I love Christmas just as much as cheese @Me2 :chrissy grin: I ordered the seafood (lobster tails and Tiger prawns,yum yum) for Christmas lunch yesterday, so a nice light brie would be the most appropriate cheese... and it goes well with the cheeky little Semillon in the fridge that is an altogether better wine than the "whine" I've been having here for the last few days or failing Brie, a nice Danish Blue to go with the Cab Sav will do for the ham and turkey we have too - because we're in a sort of cross culture - Aussie seafood Christmas meets traditional fare (I don't do hot food any more though, so it's cold turkey and ham with salads... a lot of salads!! Moroccan Sweet Potato and Goats Cheese, Stuffed Peppers Rocket and Pine Nuts, Avocado and Mango, .... gotta go, food shopping list to make up!

Hope you all are limping along okay, learning to grit one's teeth while dragging one's sorry a** around is the REAL name of the game in THR recovery land.

Talk or stalk to you soon

Donna xx

 

[Meggzie]

Oh , wow Donna! I'm so sorry you're not 'feelin' it". I promise you I wont offer you cheap platitudes, just a genuine hope that things improve for you and that maybe you can extract some answers from the doc on Monday. Feel free to use whatever methods you consider necessary - maybe take a leaf out of the US military intelligence play book????

In the meantime - I am insanely jealous of that pool. Being in the water is definitely when I feel at my best too. The way that it takes all the pressure of your joints is lovely. One of the exercises my physio has me do is to use two pool noodles (each bent into the letter c), one behind me and one in front, crossed over under my armpits. That allows you to just hang suspended in the water with no pressure. Then, if you slowly nod your head forward and then back (SLOWLY, mind) your lower body will swing like a pendulum and it just feels brilliant. If you move your head too fast, you'll face-plant remarkably quickly - trust me, I found out the hard way!! - just look every so slightly down and your body and legs will swing out behind you, look up and you'll swing the other way - you can feel it gently loosening up your back, hips and knees - almost like a VERY gentle reverse version of hanging upside down by your ankles. I'm not sure that makes any sense at all - but I recommend it if you can figure it out from my somewhat convoluted directions!!

:merryx: from Eddie, :kittychris:Flo :kitty chris: Spud and Me!!

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

Hey Donna @craftee.....I'm going to say it..." It's still early days for you" .....sorry ..it just came out! But, it's the truth....you WILL get the forgotten hip....but it's still someways away darling. I know, I know, you think you should be 'nearly cooked' by now......but in truth it was around the 6 month mark plus that I felt a semblance of normal & up to the year to feel complete. My recovery was slow & steady. Those restrictions will soon be gone...but I never cross my legs, but I can sleep on my operated side but again that took some time until I was comfortable.
Loving the sound of your Christmas food.....lovely!
You will get there.......hoping you have a fab xmas & a great new year...love Chrissie xx


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum

 

[hopefulm]

Hi, @craftdee - Donna. Caught up with your thread & just wanted to send good energy your way. . .I'm one of the lucky ones this go round with surgery, but (as I related in my thread) I have some very bitter experience with things not going right post op. Without beating the topic to death, I'll say that I had back surgery at 30, went from working full time as an OR nurse, one extra weekend a month in ICU, AND raising 4 children - cooking every night, gardening, doing all the assorted mom stuff - to losing my job(s) ( being told by an oh -so -compassionate nursing recruiter that "Your nursing career is over in this town!" - in the midst of one of the worst nursing shortages in the U.S.). That, plus mild foot drop, unremitting numbness and horrid nerve pain in my leg. . .pretty much a worthless ball of self pity and anger for about a year. (Husband laid off from his job for a time during that year!!) Took several years to gradually drag myself out of it - with the usual list of somewhat worthwhile and completely worthless therapies along the way.

(I won't add the awful tale of near death after gall bladder surgery, with 6 month recovery at age 50!)

Eventually, I did recover to a very active and mostly pain free life, with a terrific nursing career in a completely different field. . . But, I guess I just wanted you to know, I DO understand, and I think you've handled this thus far with amazing good grace and humor!

There is no crystal ball for anyone suffering these sort of complications, so I won't offer any platitudes about "things getting better". But please do know that I so hope that is the case.
Hugs, Mary

 

[Gilly]

Hi @craftdee I have been following your updates for quite a while and I love reading them. I have to tell you that you're an awesome person!!!! You're down to earth and honest, so please don't change the way you are. You have been helping me with my recovery so much with your updates. I think yay, I'm not the only one here who thinks that way. I don't blame you for feeling the way you do as you've put up with the restrictions for sooooo long and no wonder your gutted getting a text to change the specialist appointment time, I would be too. You're a few weeks ahead of me but I'm in on the pity party too. I have a pulling sensation in my groin, my walking is awkward and I find going shopping exhausting. Only 4 more sleeps till Xmas and I haven't done any Xmas shopping. My son is the lucky one he wanted money so he was easy. I'm glad I don't have many to buy for. We are going out tonight to do this. I'm a real shopper but the way I feel I am kinda dreading it.
I'm jealous of your pool, it looks fab....Your Aussie Xmas sounds yummy....

Only one more sleep for you till you see your specialist and then no more restrictions for you!!!!

Merry Xmas....:tree lights:

 

[LaxMom]

Hi @craftdee - I am not getting alerts, so missed everything, even the pity party. But I would have come had I known, especially given the marvelous company, not to mention the whine and cheese selection!

I am MOST DEFINITELY super jealous of the pool. I would go take a picture of my gray, snow filled skies for you to prove it, but it is 4 pm here in the Northeast, which means forget about gray skies, they are black as night has arrived! So jealous on all those levels.

Seriously, I am sad that you are having a time of it. It seems like with all you have been through, that you deserve an easier time of it. But the truth of the matter is, all that you have been through likely makes your case more complicate, so the whole healing thing is harder. That is what I hear about my KNEE anyway. I capitalize KNEE now because I think of it as an ogre that sits below my thigh, or maybe as a cranky child in need of constant attention. But anyway, you get my point, you have a lot going on, so a lot to heal. Small consolation, right? Things in this world are just not fair.

But all that said, we love you, we adore you! And we do because you are so absolutely honest and real. We laugh with you but we also cry with you. You keep telling like it is. Please add me to the long list of folks sending you a hug my dear one. I do hope you have a wonderful Christmas. The menu sounds so good, I have half a mind to grab all the gals and come crash your party yet again! And finally, did I mention - I am sooooo jealous of that pool!

love you,
Sharon

 

[craftdee]

Right!! Huge Update... grab a coffee, or whatever. So, I went to the OS today... new surgeon (locum's locum, lol) he was very nice, but it was SUPER busy as I'm sure they're trying to "clear the decks" prior to Christmas. Long story short I felt a little rushed, but didn't really expect him to offer any solutions to the "issues" I'm having so wasn't disappointed when he didn't

He DID lift my restrictionsand agreed with my suggestion that perhaps now I can bend and stretch and in fact generally move in a freer, more natural way that some of the aches and tightness may resolve themselves. He described my X-rays as "unremarkable" though that's with a capital U (a proper medical term, not just that he thought them boring ) did a quick test and said there are "clearly" some Psoas issues and tendonitis. He said if the psoas hasn't improved in a few months (or sooner if it's unbearable, which it shouldn't be as it's not "unbearable" now, just bothersome) I'm to have an ultrasound to see what part of which tendon/ligament is involved and they'll inject it - with cortisone I presume. He echoed the surgeon who did the op's opinion that if it isn't resolved by 12 months they will do (minor, I'm sure) surgery to release the tendon but that it is a last resort and most likely unnecessary, so all good and nothing new It was good that hubby came with me, as before we went I told him that OS "do" bones, and have no interest in any other aspect of the surgery...if the Xray looks okay, they've done their bit. He thought I was being a bit cynical, now he knows I speak the truthyou say that you ache, they blink at you... as if you've uttered some strange incantation in a foreign language

I did ask him about my ROM, I have a much more restricted range in some directions than pre surgery. I said I'd like to be able to make the number 4 again, as I can with my unoperated leg. He asked what I meant, and I showed him how, when standing, I can bring my right foot up to above my Left knee with the ankle resting on the left leg (even though the right hip is apparently on it's last, well, leg!) with the thigh "pressed" back... nice open number "4", quite impressive for someone with my level of OA, luck as much as perseverance... he asked (somewhat incredulously) why I'd want to do that again with the new hip and I finally had to go down the "I'd like to be able to open my legs again" route, adding quickly "there are some situations in your life when being able to open your legs is desirable"... I actually was referring to climbing over the low fences etc we encounter at "our" cabin which is on a huge bush block with walk trails , but had been thinking about intimacy as well... Obviously the ONE reason this is advantageous came to mind for him first... no fences involved - he kind of grinned, tried to cover it with a "I'm a professional" look which just made him look even more like a 14 year old that had just found some soft porn in his parent's room.... SERIOUSLY, sex is a part of a healthy life, it should figure somewhere in a conversation with your surgeon; I've had "conversations" with three different surgeons now and not one of them has tackled it... talk about the elephant in the room Anyway, apart from the obvious, I would like to be able to move that leg back like that so I can do some of the groin stretches and (old lady, not serious guru) yoga that I did before the OA/AVN took the flexibility away... he did then manage to say that now I'm unrestricted we can "push" the increased range aspect of Physio - yee haw.

Left his office... the waiting room was HEAVING and it was still only 8.45! I chucked the wedge cushion off the front seat of the car as soon as we went to the car park, hubby drove around to patient services and we dropped off the raised toilet seat and shower chair (which hasn't been near a shower for WEEKS) off, then we went and had breakfast in a café - where I sat like a grown up instead of a toddler with a booster seat... it felt GREAT! I went to the toilet, mmm, missed the raised toilet seat - I admit I'd learned to love that thing, makes you lazy though! We did some Christmas shopping or more Christmas looking to be honest then came home.

We were both completely wiped out! Not sure why but I'm certain it's to do with this "signing off", perhaps the whole THR thing has been more a part of our lives than we thought, and now we're officially allowed to NOT factor it in to every action every day there's a sort of tension release going on. Anyway, we sat like stunned mullets for about half an hour then hubby went to have a lie down (unheard of hitherto) I lasted about twenty minutes more then staggered in to bed and zonked out. We slept for over an hour, my sister is up from the bush and she rang to say she was calling in which woke us... don't think we would have been there much longer anyway, but did feel much better for it. I actually got some "stuff" done after that, and made a conscious effort to "use" my leg, bending as normally as I could etc... maybe it's the honeymoon period, but it feels less "tense" already to me It has been such a big year in some ways, I have had to "factor in" my health situation virtually continuously since February with the fall with it's hospitalization, the kidney stone with it's, the gallbladder attack, the gallbladder removal surgery and the THR... I think maybe this "line drawing" isn't JUST under the THR, I feel like I've somehow signed off on all those issues, and it feels good. The plan, or more general thinking, is that the other hip will need doing within 12 months... at this stage I'd really like to have a year off!

Well that's my update, all in all pretty good. I'm not sure I got any real resolutions from today's Dr visit, but I DO feel that I got some control back... the ability again to make decisions and try things without consultation, so that's a huge positive. Oh @Meggzie ... tried the pool noodle thing;

One of the exercises my physio has me do is to use two pool noodles (each bent into the letter c), one behind me and one in front, crossed over under my armpits. That allows you to just hang suspended in the water with no pressure. Then, if you slowly nod your head forward and then back (SLOWLY, mind) your lower body will swing like a pendulum and it just feels brilliant. If you move your head too fast, you'll face-plant remarkably quickly - trust me, I found out the hard way!! - just look every so slightly down and your body and legs will swing out behind you, look up and you'll swing the other way - you can feel it gently loosening up your back, hips and knees - almost like a VERY gentle reverse version of hanging upside down by your ankles.

BRILLIANT, when you can finally swim @xtina16405 you have to try it, all the weight "drops" and it feels like your legs are gently falling into the right position... of course then you have to get out of the darn pool and hobble up the steps... but for a minute there, ah, bliss

I'd just like to thank you ladies, and my other Bonebuddies @Hoppy Nanny @hopefulm @Gilly @NuMe2014 @Me2 and my super bionic buddy @LaxMom with her needy-child-KNEE and everything still finding time to help me through my "sticky patches" I hope I can help if and/or when you hit yours. Well I've got to get up now, I've been sitting here tapping away for an hour... you KNOW my sitting down bits are going to complain when I get up... trouble is, I know it too can't sit here forever though, sigh. It's bed time, but sleep is still being a *itch, I mean tease... nah, I mean *itch so maybe I'll "do" something Christmassy first... like I still haven't made all my Christmas cards for neighbours, still haven't iced my Christmas cake, still haven't wrapped a present, still haven't made up the hampers we give to some special friends, Gawd, it doesn't sound like "Christmas" I LIKE Christmas... it sounds like work (and like I said to a Bonebuddy recently, "work" is a four letter swear word ending in 'k') Maybe I will just go to bed and not sleep, lie there and think about all the things I haven't done/need to do, sounds like a bit of a no win situation to me... not the first or worst I've been in though, so it's "all good"

Have a good one, whatever it is is

Donna xx

 

[LaxMom]

@craftdee - congratulations on no restrictions!!! I have to say I was truly laughing out loud when you discussed your need (ahem) to make the number 4. That surely has to be the code for "doing it" from now on! OMG, you kill me girl!

I am glad I am not the only one who is not ready for Christmas. I need to wrap presents and get some stocking stuffers. But I am just icing and elevating the needy child.

Loved your report. Enjoy!

Hugs,

Sharon

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

I'll never...ever... be able to look or say No. 4 without laughing now @craftdee...you naughty girl....would've lived to have been a fly on the wall......my though I'm envious you can do no 4 (snort!) with one leg. I'm not gonna try that!!
So glad your restrictions have been lifted...you will gradually ease into 'normal' .....well, if you've not done all that xmas stuff....give it a miss for one year and take it easy.
Glad for you Hun......( really..No 4 ? lol )..... Chrissie xxx


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[hopefulm]

Donna - @craftdee - Wow, such great news! No restrictions. . . .you go girl! Seriously, I can't imagine living with the pain and restrictions you've been slogging through with such (mostly) great resolve and humour. What a fabulous Christmas present!
Loved your description of the conversation about - Ummmm - spreading your legs! I have my 6 Week appt today, and have been trying to figure out just how to broach the subject myself - I think it is unconscionable that the docs can't have an open discussion about how and when we can resume a healthy, pain free sex life. . .I still have some tightness/pulling in the groin area when I let my legs fall apart with soles of feet together. And no instructions regarding how to safely stretch to achieve that "desired" position!
My pre op appt with the (very young) hospitalist who would have been responsible for any medical complications had they arisen while in hospital involved him asking what symptoms have driven me to surgery. I was feeling pretty pissy that day, and said, "well, I can't spread my legs at all, and, frankly, think I'm still to young to give up my sex life altogether!" Had the perverse satisfaction of seeing his ears turn red. . .oh, brother, he's a DOCTOR!
So, again, so thrilled for you - sending all good wishes for a lovely, warm and fun-filled Holiday! Take care and rest.

 

[Gilly]

Hi @craftdee glad your restrictions have been lifted, that must be such a relief and perhaps early Santa gift...lol..

You're so right about how much our lives are affected by this horrible arthritis!!! I can so relate, it's been a horrible year for me too. If it's ok for me to say one of the reasons I got my replacement done is because our sex life hadn't been as healthy as it used to be. My surgeon brought it up when I first met him and I think this is one of the main reasons he agreed to do the operation in the first place, well, that's what my GP told me. Fingers crossed for us that we can open our legs, and wide...lol..
Like you my other hip needs doing and I feel I need sometime to get over this one. My issue is my operated leg is slightly longer (not by much I'm told) but I really notice it and find it hard to walk. I don't think I can put up with a year of this and unfortunately will push for the other one to be done so I am balanced. Had a melt down this morning about it all...So overwhelming at times...
I'm not organised for Xmas either and we only did our food shopping last night. We don't even have a Xmas tree up, how sad is that....lol..Have got lots of yummys for Xmas day thou, so it will still be lovely...And money is pretty much what everyone got...

Have a lovely Xmas & once again love your updates....

Hugs....:santa hug:

 

[Meggzie]

Donna, that's a fabulously fantastic update!! And I 100% agree with this...

He DID lift my restrictionsand agreed with my suggestion that perhaps now I can bend and stretch and in fact generally move in a freer, more natural way that some of the aches and tightness may resolve themselves.

In fact, I'm POSITIVE that the speed of my recovery for my second hip is so far ahead of where the first one was at the same point is for that very reason! Knowing what to expect, where to push the limits and where to hold off a bit have made the second recovery faster and smoother - even the ups and downs on the emotional roller coaster are not as steep. While I dont advocate breaking all the doctor's rules in week one - I do think that pushing a bit to see what's possible is a good thing...anything that takes your breath away (in pain, as opposed to No 4, that is) is a touch too much - our bodies are such good teachers! I was a complete goody two shoes the first time round, not so much this time But of course, I had to go through the first one to get to be such a rebel this time around!!

PS - So glad the noodle thing worked for ya - it really is just the best feeling!

:merry christmas:

 

[Angel1978]

Glad everything is going well. And party's sound fun. Xxx to all.


SonnysWife