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Day 1 of a new lease on life

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So the night before they let me go home the pain kicks in? Is that normal? Maybe the expadril (?) finally wore off?


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Yes, totally normal. Now your job is to get that pain management cocktail right. Ask for pain meds and take them regularly - around the clock. If they don't work - ask for something different. And don't let them send you home until that pain is managed. You need pain control to get moving again.
 
@shabazz I think my pain really kicked in at about 48 hours in a much different way and it can be trial & error to get it managed. Once home you are kind of stuck with what you get so making sure you are on what is really working for you will make a huge difference. With the great food you are getting an extra day won't be so bad :) I agree with @beachgal, the PT in hospital is the best!
 
So the first night home wasn't awful. I kept up with my meds and rested a lot. The walking isn't hard, just everything else The leg is like a giant dead weight in the bed and is stiff in the knee joint and when the pain is bad it's really bad. I'm not sure what I expected at home. Almost wish I'd gone to rehab.


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@shabazz, you are only about 4 days from a major surgery....so some pain is expected. But, please stay ahead of the pain by religiously taking your meds on a regular schedule. It is extremely important. The dead weight in your leg is very normal at this stage. It will get better day by day. Hang in there. Best wishes to you for a safe and speedy recovery. We are here for your moral support.
 
@shabazz Good to hear you are home. Do you live alone? The log leg starts to lift after about 10 days if I remember correctly but is likely different for all of us. I set my alarm at night for pain meds and found I didn't wake in so much pain that it was hard to gain control of it again. Sleep as much as your body demands, just go with the flow. Remember to keep icing also, it really does help with pain control.
 
Be kind and patient with yourself. All you describe will improve with each passing day. The first week is the toughest so circle that one-week anniversary day ahead and vow to do everything we've suggested until then. Rest. Ice. Elevate. Stay ahead of pain. You'll be fine!!


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I am at day 12. The log leg and stiff and painful knee is much better now. I can get in and out of bed by myself now and only taking Tylenol. That is not good for everyone but for me it is because narcotic pain pills we we just too strong for me. But that's just me. Everyone says it gets better each day and that is very true. First week is the worse, uphill from there.


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shabazz said:
The pain is not bad at all yet only a bit achy
Click to expand...
Well, this pain is quite different from that you experienced pre-op, you know. Now it includes soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness. Do remember that.
shabazz said:
The leg is like a giant dead weight in the bed and is stiff in the knee joint and when the pain is bad it's really bad.
Click to expand...
Are you doing exercises? If so, you need to give it a miss until your pain ebbs more than somewhat.

Actually hips really don't need much 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.
 
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Oops.........just wanted to say been looking for your update. Hope you are doing well and stiffness has eased up.


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SO I kinda got some really bad post op blues and didn't want to engage with anyone at all...I apologize for my absence, I was feeling negative and sad and frustrated and didn't want to bring anyone down.

Last week was rough for me, I didn't feel like I was healing well, I couldn't seem to sleep more than 40 minutes at a time and was having a hard time managing the pain. After PT today I can see drastic improvement and am feeling a lot better about things.

Cabin fever has set in something awful but there are bright days ahead.


Log Leg is almost gone (thank goodness) the biggest frustration now is getting over the brain playing games with me. I have no trouble (or pain) putting the full weight on the leg with the walker, but as soon as I take it away, the brain freaks out and goes into the protect the bad hip mode. I NEED to get over this and I will.

Thank you all for reaching out..I truly appreciate it
 
Hi @shabazz - I too went through some blues the first 2 weeks...thinking why the heck did i go through with this and other such bad thoughts...hang in there, these feelings pass...your body is still healing and also you're still getting over the anesthesia and surgery. Don't push yourself or feel down about what you can't do yet...it takes time and you are still probably low on energy...it's been about 6.5 weeks for me and i was still napping in the daytime last week a bit. With time you will get over the protect bad hip feeling...for now just go with it and relax...I'm sure by the 5-6 week you'll feel much better (pain and sleep-wise). I found that I moved around the house from chair to bed to stool every 20-30 min...most time in my bed though, lol..which is OK, since you just had major surgery!!! Don't feel down for needing to rest, it's the best for your body right now!!!
 
I actually started back working today (albeit working from home)
luckily my company busy really nice office chairs and sent one to me at home along with my dual monitor setup to hook my laptop to.

I get up from my desk every 20 or so minutes to walk a bit and keep from getting too stiff.

I want to push it so badly, but I am fighting the urge.
 
So glad you got back on Shabazz........we can all understand and identify. Only time and realizing every day brings some improvement will get you through. I remember at 4:00 am on day 4, lying in bed, bawling like crazy, and saying to myself "what the -----did I do?" My lowest point. It of course passed, at least the major downer feelings. Thoughts still creep in once in a great while, but the vast majority of the time I now feel optimistic and glad I did it. Just as long as I feel better with each day. And I do. I think some medications messes with our heads and emotions too. They did me. I'm at day 20 today and finally able to do some things for myself. Being dependent is tough.

I think pretty much all of us has struggled with the blues at some point, so all normal stuff. Patients and hard work will sooner or later make those negative thoughts leave. Sounds like you are already better. First steps to getting there. Hang in there, things get better each day.


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@shabazz, welcome to the pity party club! We've all been there...thinking that it was a big mistake, wondering if you'll ever be able to sleep through the night again, etc. THR is not for the faint-hearted. I spent a lot of time reading on the pre-op and the recovery sides of this forum to try and get my head on straight about what to expect after surgery and I was not surprised at all by all the crud. It was just as everyone said. No worse, and, frankly, some better. You're entitled to feel your emotions and to deal with them accordingly, but don't let them cripple your rehab. Pay attention and focus on the "positives" in your recovery and OWN THEM! They are milestones for you, my friend, whether you think they are baby steps or not. You're over the worst of it now. So glad to see you back online. I was getting worried....

:dubious:
 
@shabazz Very happy to see you back and glad you are feeling a bit better over last week. As everyone above said, we all go through some blues and feelings of such frustration at being so dependent, isolated and cooped up. If you have times like that, stop in and ask for some support ~ someone will be able to help you feel better. At about your stage my son came home after not seeing since the week after surgery and was quite vocal about the improvements and changes he could see. Of course I didn't really see them and even my husband being around every day didn't notice them so much. It really lifted me up to have such noticeable improvement! Try to think back to your 1st week at home and compare that to where you are now ~ I am sure it will be encouraging!

That is super sweet that your company sent you a good chair to use at home ~ very thoughtful!
 
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