THR Craftdee's Made It Through

[copsham]

Thanks for the info re Tens m/c. I will just try it away from my incision I think and see if it helps the development of my weaker muscles.

I am so envious of your swimming. I know I will feel so much better when I can get back to swimming. My incision healed but little internal stitches and then a huge knot came out of the incision and I think I need to give it a few weeks to heal totally again before I go to a swimming pool. (Donna and Karen doing what they like best!!)

I had my op in January thinking that I would be healing in the beautiful spring weather. Instead since the op the weather has been mostly miserable, occasionally with a little bit of sun. I could do with a bit of warmth outside - it is all mist and gloom this morning!

As for doing your other hip I do not know if it would be better or worse to know what to expect and then possibly find that it is a different experience!

Thanks again for all your sharing.
Karen

 

[MajorHeidi]

@craftdee Hey Donna!!!!
You will absolutely have a happy ending .... I know!

All this tendinitis stuff and various muscle issues with assorted areas....
I am now at 11 months, and it just kinda blended out of the way.
Whew.
If I could just get over this bronchitis after my flu I will be happy. fyi; had bronchitis at about 8 weeks post op as well and it was hard to lick; this time is hard, too. Boo.

But, the hip is good!

 

[Me2]

And a happy healing to you Donna! and Karen and Claire, too! I've a bit of time, not really, but taking it anyway, to catch up. I read the "five months out" and thought geez, I thought your surgery was about same time as mine . . . what?!?!!? I'm almost 5 months out -- and creeping up on a year from first surgery. Ah, Claire, could it be? So sorry to hear your dealing with the bronchitis again --- I fought the flu back in January and thought that was awful until I did the pneumonia thing. Maybe I could blame those two on "recovery" , too!

I see your "recovery" is keeping you very busy tweeking the "discomforts" and so glad to read that they've come down several notches. We are all going to "absolutely have a happy ending." We have a good hip (or two, nah-nah)! Just have to keep sortin' out the other little aches and pains.

I, like @copsham , got a TENS machine, sans directions, when I was working hard at avoiding/putting off surgery. I got the direction to about not putting on the spine but also was told to keep pads on either side of spine with the "pain" in the middle of the two pads. I've not pulled mine out to try it on my "discomforts." I'm still working on naming it . I have ordered some lovely aromatherapy heating pads!

Back to work

 

[craftdee]

Hi ladies
My laptop has died (water and laptops don't mix, who knew? ) so I'm using the PC... 'coz I'm really working Nice to hear from you both... I'll catch up when I get a chance to sit back at the desk (harder to disguise than using the laptop!) or when I get a new lappy... just got to get the "be bothered" to go and sort one

Hope your bronchitis clears up soon @MajorHeidi and those aromatherapy pads sound awesome @Me2

 

[copsham]

Loosing your laptop is like loosing your right arm (if you are right handed). The Desk top is not the same but better than nothing. When I dropped my iPhone in the bath, dried it on the radiator but surprise surprise it did not work, silly person that I am! Laptops are expensive but my logic is I am not spending any money on ... alcohol, gambling etc so I can treat myself.

I will not try the tens machine at the moment, will try one new thing at a time.

I have just got grape seed extract as discussed with @caroline2 and am trying that to dampen down my allergies - worth a try! Aromatherapy pads sound a good next thing to try @Me2

@craftdee be careful that your desk chair is right for you. I bet you will be sitting longer and longer at your desk while no laptop.

Donna will be reunited with laptop soon x

 

[craftdee]

I hope so @copsham My laptop is my treat. I'ts the keyboard that's stuffed it types extra letters... this is what this looked like before editing... too hard!

I hy6ope so @copsham Mhy6 lapgt5op is mhy6 gt5reagt5. I'[-gt5'[-s gt5he kehy6board gt5hyagt5'[-s sgt5uffed '[- gt5hy6pes exgt5ra legt5gt5ers... gt5hy6is is why6agt5 gt5hy6is looked like before edigt5ingt5... gt5oo hy6ard!

Back soon

 

[Me2]

And me? I definitely like my desk top computer much better. I only use my lap top if I have to and will usually just use the iPad if I can't sit at my desk. Tho, I did just treat myself to a nifty new chair with much improvement. I was looking for one of the exercise ball chairs 'cause my piles of paperwork are threatening me. I found a nifty chair that is more like a stool but rounded on top and bottom which keeps me moving and stretching the back while working. It works for me!

 

[craftdee]

Hi Sheryl @Me2 , just typing this on my new laptop.... did a "quick purchase" this afternoon - and could be about to "repent in leisure", suffice to say there's a few teething problems... isn't there always? Having trouble hooking my old laptop to this one (which is how I was going to do the data transfer, so now THAT's a big job) Office isn't working at all, back to the shop for THAT one I think and Windows Explorer is clumsier than ever... it used to be good, last version not so much, this one blugh!

I did do a hubby style bit of decision making on this one, I usually agonize for ages over every little decision. This time I had my short list, the big decision was Windows or Mac... I've gone Windows as it's basically my "play" machine, but when we change the main computer (won't be long I'm sure!) it'll be Mac for sure; this Windows 8.1 feels "messy"!! The only thing I really wanted was a backlit keyboard; of course I haven't got it as I was discussing Processor Speeds etc and got completely carried away. Ah well, I'll have to get a clip on book light - very high tech

I can't use the iPad, I touch the screen while simply intending to point to something and get sent off on tangents all the time, gave mine to my son (who's Mac through and through and combination disappointed / disgusted that I didn't spring for the extra 500 bucks and get a "proper" computer! Hubby loves his. I could use it with my hands in my pockets or something - though that probably defeats the purpose of a touch screen environment

A good office chair is VERY important. I didn't realize how much difference it makes until I actually GOT one, I always thought that "ergonomic" was the new "snake oil", but it turns out there IS something in it . Still, getting up and moving about regularly is very important too, it's essential for me since I had the THR or I seize up completely! I'm sure it's better for you anyway, so I'm not complaining.

 

[FiFi]

Hi @craftdee I'm glad you have a new laptop I hope you sort out the new bugs they always have a new way of doing things you would think they would get it right one day maybe xxxxx

 

[copsham]

Hi @craftdee
Luxury - a new laptop! I agree laptop easier that desktop. I often half watch TV and use laptop at same time.

I had been good weight wise, lost weight pre op and kept it off - until this week put on 3 pounds and found that my stomach is hitting the laptop and doing thing like closing down documents without me knowing it! No hope for me!

 

[copsham]

Hi CraftD
How are you???
K.

 

[craftdee]

Hi Karen @copsham Thanks for popping in and checking up on me... things are absolutely MANIC here at the moment... it's my twin grandchildren's second birthday on Saturday and I'm knee deep in fondant "doing" their cake, interestingly I can now stand for long periods of time thanks to my new hip , something I didn't realize had become such a problem prior to surgery! I've also been volunteered to make some mini quiches for the party - so far I've only made some pastry so they're not that tasty I also make cards, and haven't even started theirs yet - I can see me dragging some out of my stash, which is shameful as I've known for a year when their birthday is

That coupled with; relatives visiting from the UK (places to go, people to see, lol), one parent sick, then other parent sick, now son sick , a new laptop with new operating system proving "challenging" to get to work like I want it (only just worked out how to "share" all my info between Users, gahhh!) and life in general, there's been 'so little time' (just typed those single quote marks on purpose as it took me HOURS to find out why I could only use the single quote mark as an apostrophe...so FYI and in the interest of sharing :cool: if your keyboard is set up as "US International, or in fact "ANY country International" it requires a space either side of the apostrophe to make it a single quote - which of course is a pain when you've been typing the 'proper way' for twenty plus years - all I had to do was change it to "US" or "UK" without the International and it's all good.... but like I said HOURS later, sigh)

I'm going pretty well... for about a week or ten days I was FANTASTIC, I was about to post that fact when the tendinitis chucked a wobbly; the universe doesn't like braggers I'm taking Paracetemol for a week or so and see how it goes, not much else to do about it really, and generally it IS much improved. I am noticing incremental improvements in my ROM too, like I say nothing to write home about but generally the trend is "UP"

The psoas issue has reached a point I can live with, I'm not even considering the injections offered... but if it's still at this level in a few months I may reconsider; I certainly don't think I'll be going for the tendon release option (though the OS did say that if the injections work and then wear off the release op would probably be a good option for a permanent solution) I really think the TENS machine made the biggest difference to the treatment of the pesky tendinitis, it was well worth the investment... for me at least!

Gotta go, fondant to roll, palm trees to finish, little jungle animals to set upon their island... oh and some quiches to make, some paperwork to do, some................

See ya
Donna

 

[copsham]

It is wonderful to hear the "back to normal" in your life!!

Like you I keep realising different ways that my hip was hindering me:

• I used to go to the petrol station where they did the filling up for you instead of self service - even though it was a 10 mile drive away.
• I had stopped hanging washing on the outdoor washing line.
• Not going food shopping at a time that there might be a queue
• Not taking little grandson swimming anymore as too painful to dry and dress him

All little things, but life is gradually coming back to norm and it still seems amazing how hindered I was. I suppose I spent time denying how hindered I was in order to avoid the logical conclusion of surgery.

It is amazing the progress that can be made, eventually! xx

 

[craftdee]

Thought I'd pop on to my thread just to update... well it's a sort of update! I spend all my time on Bonesmart now stalking other peoples threads

I am still seeing improvement, at glacial speed... but improvement nevertheless. I have more good days now, sometimes four in a row - which is a huge improvement. The hip is not by any means forgotten, but it's more an "awareness" than real discomfort... like having an elastic band on your wrist, or a too-tight bra on

I can live with it I am still hopeful of improvement and see myself at 12 months with a very acceptable outcome.

We took our grandchildren to the State Aquarium last weekend... the first time we've been "allowed" to take them in the car without parental (as in their parents ) supervision... and they're TWO!! There were A LOT of steps, carrying one or other of them a lot of the time, we had been looking after them since the previous afternoon and took them to a mega playground after the aquarium (could have been a mistake, the STRESS, ye gods and little fishes ) and boy was I tired.... BUT my hip was really good... all day! Of course the rest of me ached like blazes

I was tight in the buns department the next day, but have worked out that rest is the best solution... resting was - attempted It took a few days to really settle down, but it has

The psoas still tweaks on a fairly regular basis but again, it's less problematic than it was.

My sister had her THR done last Tuesday... hi @FiFi she's still in hospital as she has had a few "issues" - her wound is oozing and has to stop before they'll let her home, poor Fifi From my point of view it's shown me how far I've come from those early days. I still maintain though that pre op is the hardest time of all

I am noticing the arthritis in my right hip now, it's not anywhere near the level the left one had reached... even though it looked just about as bad on Xray... but it is doing the twinge thing at night regularly, sigh. Still, not rushing to get it done. Overall I've had an okay experience, definitely better than I was anticipating, but with Fifi oozing all over the place I'm thinking already of all the things that COULD go awry... geez, is there any hope for me Anyway my lovely OS is still in Canada so I CAN'T think about it yet - I would like to not wear 10-12mm off this hip first though as it did add a layer of complication I'd have been better off without.

That's it
Bye for now
Donna

 

[Great Aunt Janet]

Great update @craftdee - your trip out sounds great, and so glad the new hip didn't give you gip, even if the rest of your body let you down a bit, and you just a spring chicken!

It must be tough to have that awareness of your other hip starting to give more problems, just 6 months after the other surgery; I hope it remits itself for a good long while for you.

What a lovely grandma you must be - 2 two or unders all day at the aquarium - I think a halo might suit you!

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

Yay!!!!! Great to hear that you have 'moved on' @craftdee in your recovery .....it sure does take all of the 12 months to have the 'forgotten hip' but you will...you will!
Sounds like a great but tiring day with your lovely twins....why do we always overdo it? I do exactly the same & it is the rest of our body that lets us know.
Do hope your sis gets 'out of jail' soon & can start her recovery....will look out for her thread.
Hope you can keep that other hip happy for the time being.....know exactly what you mean....need time to get your head in the right place before going again!
Take care...Chrissie xxx


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum

 

[Me2]

Well I'd better go, rainy Sunday notwithstanding some things HAVE to get done - at seven months out the excuses are long gone. That said, I'm going to a physio/chiro centre this week... my back and bum issues are still with me, sigh, I'm DETERMINED to be rid of them before going for Hip 2

Bopping around on our Sunday morning here on the other side of the world and saw some of your cheery messages! So great to hear of your fun adventures. Aren't twins twice as fun! I have my pair (in child care program) now just finishing kindergarten, and, at the least, I can assure you that at two it will continue to get ever so much easier! And they even may begin to start going in the same direction at the same time rather than like little magnets repelling off of each other. Twos are terrific.

Tis unfortunate your very favorite surgeon is in Canada til when?!?!? Och, maybe you can be first on his list when he returns? I am so glad my second one is done and dusted and, by next October, the hip part of my life should be over as my first hip certainly proves the

.it sure does take all of the 12 months to have the 'forgotten hip'

With looking at HOPEFULLY getting my back problem (SI joint surgery scheduled for 26 May) taken care of I'm really worried about, not so much the surgery, but looking at ANOTHER six months recovery time. I had so little restrictions with hips. I so wish my hip doctor or at least my hip hospital could do this surgery, too!

Enjoy!

 

[Constanze]

Hello @craftdee ,
Just wanted to ask how you are getting on. I always enjoyed reading your posts because of your great advice and experience. And you always write with such a good sense of humour. I'm glad you enjoyed the time you spent with your grandchildren. I don't have grandchildren yet.

But I also had a lovely time meanwhile - I went to Cairns in Australia with my husband in June, and we will go again in January - we will then take the opportunity to go to New Zealand as well. I'll report more another day.

This time, I would like to breach a subject that occurred to me, while I was reading your very competent and professional post on Toddlermum's thread - about life-long restrictions. Your surgeon seems to be sensible, nothing is for good. Just use your common sense. And bunjee jumping and parachuting sounds dangerous, even if you never had a hip replacement. But did the surgeon where you actually had your hip replaced pronounce any judgements concerning running sport or jogging. Before my hip replacement, running actually helped me a lot with my health and keeping in shape. I have an office job and usually communte to work by car. And you really don't have to worry about what you eat if you practice long distance running. I don't want a heart attack or heart surgery in my 70s. Well it's not necessary to run a marathon (I actually did 10 in my lifetime), but one of the surgeons I consulted preop imposes a life-long ban on jogging - not even light jogging on grass sort of 4 kms is allowed. And this surgeon is pretty famous in the area where I live and hip replacement is routine for him - he does thousands and thousands a year. A life-long ban on anything seems pretty extreme, especially if you were used to it pre-op. Well, if you remember my story, I chickened out of that surgery appointment in November because I didn't like the hospital where he would have done it (reputation: poor follow-up treatment post OP, poor hygiene) and finally did my surgery in April, and I didn't even ask my actual surgeon about running/jogging. I'm very satisfied with him - he actually is a sports person himself and encourages exercise. And concerning lifting weight, he said, I would have no life-long restrictions on carrying heavy weight. In fact, ever since my OP, I've done hard physical work which is a lot more strenuous than jogging: I vacuum cleaned our attic of our house (involves climbing up a ladder iwth the vacuum cleaner in one hand, and bending a lot, I pruned back the bushes in our garden and lifted the baskets full of the branches onto a sack-trolley etc. My hip is all right. So why not do some light jogging. They say that it might wear out the device and you might need a revision sooner than otherwise expected, but would it matter whether I had my revision at 75 or at 83? And I've got the latest of technology - titanium stem with ceramic ball and ceramic inlay - which is very robust and may last longer than the 25 years they always estimate.

By the way, did you say you would have your other hip replaced in the autumn/fall (which is the word Australians use? The British or the American word). Sending you my best wishes from the northern hemisphere that has experienced several heatwaves this summer and for a change it was warmer in Germany than in Australia (hihihi). But maybe this week was our last heatwave. For next week they have broadcast temperatures only around 20°C and clouds - back to gloomy and dismal weather. - Constanze

 

[Jaycey]

So why not do some light jogging. They say that it might wear out the device and you might need a revision sooner than otherwise expected, but would it matter whether I had my revision at 75 or at 83? And I've got the latest of technology - titanium stem with ceramic ball and ceramic inlay - which is very robust and may last longer than the 25 years they always estimate.

We have many members who returned to jogging post THR. Yes, your implant may need replacing sometime in the future (although this is less likely these days). But I think life is too short. I am sure your surgeon considered your active lifestyle when he chose that implant. If in doubt - ask him. But in the end it's really a person decision.

 

[Constanze]

Hi @Jaycey - Thanks for your reassuring words. Yes, I'd agree that my surgeon considered my active life-style. And he understands the situation of athletic people (unlike the other 2 surgeons I spoke to first), because he is athletic himself (won swimming competitions, did Ironman) and takes care of athletes at the Olympics.

Another point: My surgeons says exercise is a must for me because I've got osteoporosis. For all those out there who also have low bone density - this is to encourage you to exercise. Not only is this good for weight control but also for your bones and joints. Best wishes - C.