THR Done and dusted

[waterman1]

Welcome Nora. Post op side is always here for you

 

[waterman1]

I see Bamagirl stopped by. How are you doing?

 

[NoraJ]

Thanks all... I drove today. ..who hoo! Got my hair done and went for afternoon tea in a fancy castle with friends. It was wonderful to feel like myself again! Mind you I am having an early night to make sure I don't totally overdo it....

 

[fulafoto]

Hi @NoraJ - I have just caught up on your recovery thread and thank you for documenting so much - it will sure help me enormously in the coming weeks of my own recovery.
What a great milestone for you to drive again! Gives one a terrific sense of independence doesn't it? I hope you had a wonderful time and that early night recharged your batteries!

 

[LoyalD]

Hey all, we are having a discussion about TEDs, as I needed to put mine back on after I thought I had gotten rid of it. Any thoughts? You wearing yours?

 

[NoraJ]

Thanks @fulafoto for having a read. I struggled more emotionally than physically in think. I wasn't expecting the rollarcoster of emotions. Still have moments when I think it nuts to have had my hip replaced at 38...(esp when others comment on my age!) At the back of my mind I am really hoping that my quality of life will improve.

I have been driving this week and it's great! I do pace myself and break up any longer journeys..

@LoyalD I didn't have to wear TEDS at all either in hospital or at home. My surgeon uses electric booties (gives impulses every 20 secs or so to feet to mimic movement) in hospital and I was on a medication called xeralto for 5 weeks post discharge. I don't think I would have managed them although weather wise they wouldn't be as uncomfortable here.

 

[fulafoto]

The emotional part is difficult isn't it and it is certainly a struggle. In relation to your age the main thing is that this new hip will improve your quality of life so much and at 38 you certainly have a lot of living to do. As far as those who question your age in relation to a THR - let them walk a mile in your shoes and see what they would do!

 

[NoraJ]

I had my follow up appointment with my OS today.... he wanted to know was I delighted I had the hip done to which I could reply no not quite delighted. I'm still using one crutch and still have a fair bit of the muscular pain in my back.
I'm nowhere near the place of walking a few miles a day and feeling great. Plus my walk is poor. Anyway after x rays were taken we spoke again and discussed it and he agreed that I am probably at the place I should be given the approach used and the need for a bone graft. I have a LLD which may resolve itself or I'll have to wait till the left hip is done. I'm off for an additional week (he wanted an extra six weeks... not a hope!) and I'm off the physiotherapy to work on my gait so at least I could ditch the crutch and move more freely. I have to attend him again in 2 months at which point I hope I will be 'delighted' I had the op.

I do try and remind myself it's a marathon not a sprint but I am feeling disappointed I'm not further along the recovery road. Hopefully if I can feel a bit stronger and fitter it will help me feel mentally stronger too. On a positive note I can now side sleep with a pillow. .. although I have finally managed to sleep through the night on my back!

 

[fulafoto]

@NoraJ - yes it is a marathon and not a sprint for sure. As one of the wonderful members pointed out - it took many many years to get our hips to the stage they were before THR and it will take some time for it all to get back to being right.
As one OS I spoke to said - we are changing your anatomy with a THR and your body has to learn to adjust to this.
I hope physio helps a lot with your walking and you are able to throw the crutch but while you need it it is doing a job for you.
Take care.

 

[NoraJ]

Hi @fulafoto the physio was quite direct with me last week telling more bluntly what you said! She added my hip was disaster and didn't move for years and I has a serious op and therefore as everyone says here it takes years to the damage so it will take more thank a few months.

Her goal is to get me off the crutch in another few weeks by strengthening the gluts and I am doing my exercises very thoroughly. I woukd prefer to have it gone before i retrn to work but we'll see. I may need heel raise though so no heels for a while.... at 5' 9 " (possibly 5' 9 1/2") you'd think it wouldn't bother me....

 

[frieds]

@Nora hang in there! You're doing great! I understand what you mean by frustration. While I'm not complaining as my recovery was really quite effortless compared to many - I had about two weeks with terrible back aches. Everything in interconnected and my non-operated leg and side if my back have experienced more pain than the entire surgery. Thankfully it was temporary and once those muscles learned that my new gait is my gait - they settled down. I hadn't prepared myself in advance for that - just didn't think about it, but I should have. Even today I am 95% back to normal but i will still feel aches and pangs if I sit too long or in the morning etc. I do believe this is a 6-12 month recovery process to truly be back to normal life pre injury. Take care friend xoxox


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[fulafoto]

Hi @Nora - you really are doing so well and don't let anyone tell you you're not - that includes yourself I have regressed with my recovery to using underarm crutches instead of one or two elbow crutches and why? Well I found my hips were not keeping level and I felt like my leg was shortening again. The main focus for my, and I am sure for you too, is to get this right, even if it means being inconvenienced by extra walking aids for a time, so let's both head in that direction Nora

 

[Poppet]

I found that my walker was my best friend for the first ten weeks. I was on the walker for 18 months prior to surgery and found post surgery it helped tremendously with my gait. Bill is right, use whatever walking aid suits you until your body tells you it is time to lose it.

 

[NoraJ]

Thank you both for boost. I am holding on to the crutch for as long as I need and hope to get back swimming next week.

I joined a slimming class just to focus myself and try to lose the weight I've gained over the past year slowly and sensibly. .. I feel (not just due to the hip) I lost my sparkle over the past year and want to feel myself again...

 

[fulafoto]

Good girl Nora! That is the best thing I reckon! I think swimming would be great for you. I would love to go myself but it is winter here.

 

[NoraJ]

It's still probably warmer in Austrailia than here in Ireland! Raining and grey tonight although it's not been a bad summer.

I rejoined the local indoor pool... so I can't use the weather as an excuse! Roll on Tuesday and I'll hopefully be enjoying the freedom of water...

 

[fulafoto]

Good for you Nora and down south at the moment they are having winds straight from the antartic and it is actually snowing in places it rarely does - wold love to get down there and see it myself and of course take photos - it's quite a novelty to us here in sub tropical Queensland An indoor pool is what we need here to but he closest is about 60 km's away. Please let us know how it goes - I will be interested in how you feel after a swim.

 

[NoraJ]

Goodness. I have family and friends in Australia and in there photos the sun is always shining and everyone has a glow! It must be strange to see snow. Friends if mine now in Perth were in Europe this April and their daughter aged 6 saw and felt snow for the first time and loved it! Luckily the pool is 4km away so no journey at all. Now I'll have to keep my promise to myself and get wet...

 

[Poppet]

Yes, Perth is a beautiful city - not that I am biased @NoraJ

Good for you getting into the pool. Do remember that it is quite easy to overdo it in the pool as due to lack of gravity. So slow and steady still

 

[fulafoto]

Not wishing to hijack your thread Nora but I just wanted to show you and @Poppet what beautiful Queensland has to offer although pics I have seen of both Ireland and Perth are beautiful - I took this photo today while at the beach with my DW, daughters and grandsons. Remember this IS our winter and the water was a bit cold from all reports - for all except my grandsons who all managed to get wet