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THR Diary of my journey to happy times

Good morning, @Klassy--wonderful to read that the progress continues. Being able to walk around one's kitchen without aides is wonderful and feels, well, so normal, doesn't it? I would certainly agree that sticking with aides, particularly when you're out and about, is the sensible thing to do. But I do recall those early days when I was able to cautiously walk around inside without anything. I took small little walks through my house at first, with my husband following anxiously behind me in case of trouble, but I focused on sucking my stomach in and standing tall, and talking deliberate, heel-toe steps. I felt so proud of myself! At only 6 weeks out you've got a way to go, but looking back to pre-surgery and your undoubtedly painful, hobbling gait, you have got to smile and take comfort in how far you've come. It's amazing, isn't it? Hurray for you!
 
Day 49: I took it very easy. I felt that my body would like a rest after quite a lot of walking the last few days. I was pleased that my hip wasn’t hurting, I just felt weary. The muscles on the outside of my shin were a bit sore, but only in that pleasant way that tells you they have done some work but not too much. And I felt it was a good sign that the right shin was almost as tired as the left, so it must be mainly to do with getting more active, not particularly related to the operation.

I only pottered inside the house for short spells between lots of sitting and reading. I even nodded off without meaning to, so I’ll probably be awake till the small hours tonight.

I managed 35 seconds standing on the operated leg, a small increase on previous personal best. I tried out walking without aids just a little bit. I am very slow and halting, and the steps are very small. I’d be boasting to call them baby steps, more like embryonic. I find I can march on the spot and side step much more easily. It is clearly the muscle that supports the hip at the point where the right leg swings forward that needs more strength. I will try to look up which muscles do what, there is nothing like a THR for provoking an interest in anatomy. I am confident the strength will come. I noticed a while ago that I could side step in one direction, I forget which one, but not the other way. Now it’s ok either way.
 
Hi :wave: @Klassy
When you go in to sign an image request, consider asking about office visit notes and surgery notes also if you're interested. I was. All they do is run off copies. I found it all interesting to read and I'm happy I have the info for my personal records. No charge either.
Hope you're having a great day. Wishing you a peaceful evening :)
 
Hi, @Klassy--another good update on day 49! Sometimes it can feel as if progress is nonexistent, or certainly glacially slow but, heck, it IS progress and that is the appropriate focus. I am sure someone has probably warned you about energy drain, and that certainly was a problem for me and I know for others as well. Even if you get through a day without pain, and really don't doing too much, you can still feel exhausted. I remember my first trip to Costco with my husband. I thought I'd be fine with wide aisles and a big cart to hold onto when I got tired. Wow, after only a few minutes of hobbling along I was puffing away like I was running a marathon. And although I've never been the kind of person to nap, I too would find myself drifting off during the day. I was reminded by several folks that so much of our energy is being put into healing that we have very little left over at times for activity. I would feel like such a wimp at times, but remembering that exhaustion also meant energy going towards hip healing definitely made me feel better. You're doing great--always remember that! All those muscles need time to repair before they'll be ready for strengthening and flexibility. That will come, but first things first--hip gotta heal! Happy Tuesday!
 
Thanks @Barbaraj . You’re right, and sleep time is healing time. Despite the nap I still got a good 8 hours sleep last night, so obviously the extra rest was what my body wanted.
 
Day 50. I have named my new hip Lavender, after her colour (even if @Bone-obo ‘s OS reckons the colour is pink.). She definitely has a personality. She is strong and beautiful, but she does like to get her own way. Last night she suddenly seemed willing to let me lie on my non operated side, to my delight, but after a few minutes she started grumbling. Now what is that about? She just has to lie there, she’s all nicely lined up, but she’s not happy. But what Lavender wants, Lavender gets. So it’s back to sleeping on my back.

There was an exciting development this morning. I tied my own shoelaces! Hoorah! I probably didn’t use an approved technique. I sat in a chair. The non operated side gets the knee bent and foot lifted up, the way I’ve always done it, although both sides have become a struggle over the past couple of years. The operated side is a long way off bending like that, but I found that if the foot stayed on the ground and I leant forward and streeeeeeetched.... I could just reach. I have always had flexible hamstrings, for some reason, plus of course the benefit of short little legs, so it worked. It may not be the proper technique, but the result was very satisfying.

H is home, another hooray. We went to the coast, not quite so cold today, and walked 1.1 miles in 40 minutes (=1.65 mph). A personal best for distance and speed.

I have been monitoring my lump. I wrote on Day 46 that in size it was like the pieces of a squashed apricot. Over the last four days it has formed a more distinct, firm, lump. Like half an intact, unripe, apricot. I was a bit bothered that it seems bigger, but H suggests it may be the surrounding swelling going down that makes it more obvious. The position is on the outside of my upper thigh exactly where the palm of my hand rests. Anyone else have the same?
 
Klassy, you are doing so well and your diary has been so very helpful to me. AND you have made me laugh on days I was so down....Thank you!
Woot-Woot!!!! congrats on thing your shoes! What a great feeling. This process certainly reminds to not take things for granted.
I'm new here and 4 weeks into the healing. With my posterior incision, I have some swelling where you are describing but not a lump as described. Is it painful?
 
Oh I am so envious of your flexible hamstrings and being able to tie laces..congratulations... my laces are still being done on the side of the show and loosely at best (and generally I avoid them altogether). My hamstrings and it seems most other muscles are always really tight. I think it's why I see such benefit from doing stretches in the pool.

Yes this time around I've been a bit perplexed by the lump at the base of my scar/ wound site. I don't remember having such a pronounced and single large lump last time. It did get quite sore for a bit- and some gentle touch massage/ stroking helped that settle down. Over the last few weeks I've been able to increase the pressure for some massage over it- and last week my physio felt she could do some too- and it's definitely finally shrinking/ breaking up a bit. Maybe large grape size now.
 
I meant to add that I think you're right about the other swelling going down too. I had weird pockets of swelling as things recovered- it's an attractive time isn't it.
 
@Klassy
I do hope you are icing that area.
Don't know when your next check is but
It can't hurt to call your OS with your concerns.
 
It is most likely swelling....lots of that "going around" these early days.:)
Best to let the one who did the work know, for reassurance if nothing else!:shrug:
 
I love that you have named your hip & a pretty name it is too! :happydance:

I have struggled with tying my shoes and putting socks on for so many years now that I'm surprised I haven't forgotten how. I prefer my Birkenstocks or even flip flops (although those are horrible for my legs) and wear them until the snow flies every year. I won't be doing that today with 15 - 18 inches of snow and cold temperatures as low as minus 40 celsius. :bawl:
 
Hi Klassy,
It sounds like your OS wasn't concerned by the lump you described in Post #226
I guess if I questioned something similar during my follow up visit and it was brushed off without my surgeon even looking at it, I'd probably be a tad concerned myself with a noticeable change.

Consider calling the office of your OS to speak with him again, or with a member of his care team. If you do and your dissatisfied with their response, I'd ask if I could send a couple photos to have them look at. It may offer you reassurance and peace of mind.
I hope you're having a good Wednesday.:)
@Klassy
 
Thanks @Layla and @Mojo333 . As you say Layla, the OS brushed it off but even though he didn’t actually look at it, peculiar lumpiness is plainly something to be expected. And it’s reassuring to hear from others who have a similar thing.

I was only a bit fretful because it seemed, after shrinking last week, to be growing again. But my husband who has a much clearer view assures me it is just more obvious because swelling has gone down in the surrounding area. That is, the lump is not growing, the rest of me is shrinking.

It’s not at all painful and yes I am icing the area like mad. I wouldn’t need ice packs if I lived where @Carriemay60 does, or where you do Layla, I saw you posted on another thread that the temperature in your part of the world was -28. Brrrrr! I could just open the door and poke my backside out.
 
Thanks @Carriemay60 . It was @SurreyGirl who gave me the idea of naming, she calls hers Hermione. I think it has taken me until this point in my recovery to feel comfortable thinking about the foreign object inside my leg, but the better I feel, the fonder of Lavender I become.

I was only just getting to the point where shoes and socks were a struggle pre op, so my wardrobe is lamentably bare of slip on shoes. It is something I should have planned ahead for, but didn’t. I could also, with enormous difficulty, cut my own toenails, and did so the day before my op as I knew it would be out of the question later. The race is now on between return of my ROM and growth of my toenails. I think I may soon be seeking a pedicure professional.
 
[Bonesmart.org] Diary of my journey to happy times

Thanks @LdnFizz , it’s reassuring to hear you had similar experience.

You mentioned that you had snowdrops appearing as the geraniums waned, me too! This pic (if I’ve managed to post it) is specially for you.
 
Hi @gimpnomore (love that username!) and welcome! I had posterior approach too, and it sounds to me like we might have the same sort of swelling, just that mine is becoming more sculpted as it evolves. I’m glad you were cheered up by some of the posts, I certainly find that coming on Bonesmart and telling my tales of woe has been a great mood booster when I needed it most.
 
Day 51: not much to report. Lavender and I went for a walk- our corner of England has escaped the snow for now. The walk wasn’t longer than previous walks, but it had more panache!

I hope all hippies in snowy climes are coping with the cold and staying safe on the ice.
 
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