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Bilateral THR Done! I have two new Go Gadget, Go hips!

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Hi all, just a quick update.

I seemed to have a better night last night - woke up every few hours but felt like I was actually sleeping for the first time! Also, the burning pain in my right hip has subsided just a little bit!

So, as everyone has patiently pointed out to me, it may well be just a matter of time - however difficult it is to believe that when you are awake at 2am in the morning and you just cannot get comfortable!

Thanks everyone for all their kind words and advice. You have really made a difference to my recovery - knowing that people have been there before and had similar experiences. It has (and will continue to be) very much appreciated.

I'll update you all on my PT next week! Woohoo!
 
Goodness! We are just a day apart, aren't we? And it sounds like we are having similar experiences in recovery. One area that I'm lucky is that I've always been a back sleeper. But I did stay up a bit late late night reading forum postings! The first time I realized I knocked off with my hand still touching the phone screen should have been a clue, eh? But people have been great in making me realize that I'm, uh, normal!

How's your six-yr-old doing now? Still performing THRs on her dolls? My 8-yr-old admitted to a lot of fear yesterday. She has been such a great post-op buddy taking little walks with me around the house, holding the 2nd crutch as I go up and down the stairs, etc. Today, however, I think I'll focus a but more on snuggle time with her than on me.
 
Yellowgopher, the sensation you're describing in your right hip sounds a bit like what started to happen to my right hip. Occasionaly I would get a burning feeling deep in the thigh, mostly at night. It began around the second week I had been home and made me nervous as up to that point everything had been going so smoothly. In reading around the forum I noted that some other hippies had reported similar sensations. I decided to take it as part of the healing process since it wasn't a constant pain and didn't cause me any problems. The feeling has disappeared now and all is well. I'm sure it will for you too :thumb: I don't recall if you mentioned it but was your right hip the worse of the two pre-surgery? Mine was and I have noted that while both hips feel great now, the left side overall seems to be getting back to normal a little faster than the right.
 
Hello!

HipsterSquared - yep, my little girl has performed a number of operations and is now monitoring the progress of her patients carefully. She has even fashioned a set of crutches for one teddy! She has been a star and is keeping an eye on mummy for me too. Bless her. I envy you being able to sleep on your back btw!

Jen, I am pretty sure it's just normal post op pain. My right hip is swollen more than my left so I think it just needs to settle down. It's light to moderate ache really and goes away with a bit of stretching and movement. Sitting up now, it's gone completely. I'll keep an eye on it though. Funnily enough my right hip was the best of the two before I went under the knife - my left hip was really quite bad and it's wonderful now!
 
Ups and downs!!!

Just had a VERY poor night. My right hip was just awful! I would call it a moderate ache but would it go? Eventually, having drugged myself up to the hilt and applied ice on it for an hour, it got to a stage where I dropped off for a few hours but it's still a little sensitive!

Not sure what is going on tbh. My left hip is wonderful - very little discomfort at all - but my right hip discomfort can be there one moment and gone completely the other. Sometimes it's just a twinge and at other times it's enough to mess up an entire night's sleep! Aggghhhh!
 
Hey, surgery buddy. Sorry your night sucked. As my eldest used to say to her little sister, that's not ok. I'm glad you were able to get a few hours of sleep, and hope you are able to be more comfortable today. Unlike you and Jen, it is my left hip that gets crankier than my right. It can almost make me forget the right leg. The odd thing is that the left actually ”moves” better than the right when I'm up and moving around. Keep us posted on how you are doing today and know that you'll be in our thoughts.
 
Well, the ache hasn't been too bad today! It was a little annoying at lunchtime but, this afternoon, I decided to go for a proper walk anyway. Did about 1/2 mile in the end and ALL the aches went! Seriously, been home a couple of hours and have had no aches whatsoever! Strange body!

The one thing I do notice, however, is after my walks I feel absolutely whacked. I'm not sure I will be doing much else today!
 
OK, spoke a wee bit too soon! Moved out of my chair and, ouch, ache. But it subsided pretty quickly. I guess it's all part of the process... why can't I be fixed now!?!
 
I hear you! I felt great this morning. A friend came over and she helped me get some things done quite I stood there and ordered her around. I was actually moving around without crutches a couple of times before I realized it. We got some laundry put away and the girls' room picked up a little. These were a couple of things that were bugging me, but I knew they were no big deal, so I hadn't said anything to anyone about it. When we were done with these few chores, I was thrilled. Thanks to this forum I made a conscious decision to stop, sit down, and ice. Got up each hour after to just walk around a little, and then sit back down. If not for the reminders here, probably would have pushed on. I'm feeling pretty good right now. Did you ice after the walk? Half a mile?! Goodness gracious. That's far for a guy less than two weeks after being rebuilt. Take care of yourself.
 
I hear you too HipsterSquared! Did about a mile today, in two lots, and haven't suffered too bad until I've gone to bed - then the ache in my right leg kicks off big time and it's drugs and ice time! Don't think I'm doing too much for me - reckon I lie on something swollen or not quite right when I'm in bed! Maybe it's in my mind!

Kept on the crutches today though... been good!

Glad you had a good day HipsterSquared. We seem to be getting more of them now eh?
 
Sounds like you are doing great! I can't imagine having both done at once! Look forward to more good news from your recovery tomorrow!
 
I ended up being really tired last night - but it was a sleepy tired, so not too bad. Another friend came over today and took me to town. I'm in the greater LA area, but my little town only has nearly 11,000 people with a great little downtown area. My friend drove me there and we went to the locally-opened coffee shop. Saw some friends while out, and just had a great time sitting and chatting. When we got back she, just like my friend yesterday, wanted to do some stuff around the house, so she helped me get the kitchen cleaned up. I am so seriously lucky to have this village!

So, Mr. YellowGopher (and where does this come from?), I thought of your posts a bit today and decided that I should go for a walk late this afternoon. Grabbed my 11-year-old, walked up to the top of our hill, and checked out the views as the storm is coming in. It was a really lovely "just-one-Sophie-just-one-Mama" time. And it felt good when I got home. I keep on hearing the advice from people around here that walking is the best PT at this point. And it seems to be working.
 
Hipster, Walking is excellent exercise for recovery....AS LONG AS you're not overdoing it. You really must work up to activity at a gradual pace. So....you were smart to stop when you did and ice/elevate.

But....Yellowgopher.....

Yellowgopher said:
Did about a mile today, in two lots, and haven't suffered too bad until I've gone to bed - then the ache in my right leg kicks off big time and it's drugs and ice time! Don't think I'm doing too much for me - reckon I lie on something swollen or not quite right when I'm in bed! Maybe it's in my mind!

Kept on the crutches today though... been good!
Click to expand...

I have to say that I think you are pushing too hard. You're just a little over 2 weeks out from this major surgery. Normally, walking a mile is too much. You may think that is just about right for you....but your body is saying otherwise. That's what that pain you're experiencing is all about. You are not doing yourself any favors by pushing like this. Your body will heal at its own pace and you cannot make it hurry any faster. If you continue this level of activity each day, you are going to have a LOT of pain....needlessly.

I am glad to hear you're still using crutches. You need to keep with a walking aid of some type until you no longer have a limp. The important thing is to be walking with a correct gait.
 
Hi Jamie, yes you are right, I think a mile yesterday was pushing it. I will pull back a bit today.

It's just so nice to get out of the house and do something...!

The odd thing is the pain I'm getting doesn't really manifest itself until I go to bed in the evening. I have a slight ache in my right hip, but nothing major, then when I go to bed it gets very uncomfortable.

Still, after ice and pain killers, I had quite an ok night - was awake from 3-4am but, apart from that, I slept quite soundly.

HipsterSquared, the one thing I was told by my physio before I left hospital, was that walking was the best exercise - but she did say do not overdo it. In hindsight I did overdo it a bit yesterday.
 
HipsterSquared said:
So, Mr. YellowGopher (and where does this come from?), I thought of your posts a bit today and decided that I should go for a walk late this afternoon. Grabbed my 11-year-old, walked up to the top of our hill, and checked out the views as the storm is coming in. It was a really lovely "just-one-Sophie-just-one-Mama" time. And it felt good when I got home. I keep on hearing the advice from people around here that walking is the best PT at this point. And it seems to be working.
Click to expand...

Yellowgopher just so happens to be my domain - a hangover from trying to be clever at university - but it makes for an interesting email address/username etc...!

Glad you had a great day yesterday. I bet the view of the storm coming in yesterday was superb...
 
An update on the recovery so far...

Today has been a good day. Very limited pain - a few aches now and again but low to moderate. I've kept up on the painkillers to be safe though.

Had a small walk before lunch - just about 1/2 mile - which was fine. What I have noticed is that my gate is not correct - it's still a little bit like a shuffle. I concentrated on trying to walk normally (with my crutches of course) - lifting my feet etc - but it was strange.

Although I can shuffle without my crutches - I am resisting the urge!

After lunch I went with my mother to pick up my sister from work and had a walk around the garden centre she works in. It was great to be out and about! I do think doing a few normal things does help mentally - as long as you don't do too much!

Scars are ok - right side is actually starting to look more like a line of new skin. Left side is a bit bumpy but has definitely healed. Both scars are quite "hard" - scar tissue I presume. I guess, at some point, I'm going to have to think how to break that down a bit...

So, all in all, very good! When you consider the op was only 16 days ago I am very positive at how it has worked out so far.

Tomorrow is another BIG day. Tomorrow I move away from being waited on hand and foot by my parents and sister and move home! But I'm ready for that now.

Take care everyone.
 
Good luck on your move home! So glad your parents were able to help out so much. Just wanted to quickly chime in before we have dinner that I have exactly the same walking/shuffling style. It is exactly what I have keeping to my crutches, so I can focus on walking correctly. Isn't this fun? Have a terrific weekend.
 
I once came to the conclusion that the energy and effort required to shuffle is exactly the same amount as to walk properly/normally! But it takes some thinking about.
 
Thanks HipsterSquared, thanks Jo!

HipsterSquared, yes, this recovery lark is fun! But I do feel I am making, at least, small steps forward each day.

Jo, so what you are telling me is that I should walk normally. I promise I will do my best!

Move home was great! I am now sitting, online at home, in front of the TV with daughter and wife having a "debate". Gotta love family life!

I slept better last night as well - it was in bits but I made about 8 hours in total (a lot better than the hour I had the night before!).

Today has been an easy day - just a meal down the local pub and a quick drop into the shops for a few emergency items.

Biggest risk at the moment is not using my crutches - I actually made a couple of stairs earlier on this afternoon before I thought "this feels a bit odd" and realised I didn't have my crutches. Naughty boy.

Hope all are well.
 
I'm glad you're resisting the urge to "walk before you shuffle" ..... patience is difficult especially for us blokes especially when we feel we "could" do something but don't because of the rules!
I may sound like your dad but RESIST THE TEMPTATION as much as you can. There are lots of personal stories on this site of people going backwards when with patience they'd be much further on.... me for a start!!!
My Surgeon recommended massaging the scar(s) with E 45 or something similar and it seems to work ..... my hands are lovely and soft. :hysterical:

Charlie
 
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