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

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Thanks Charlie. I'll do my best to resist the temptation!

And I look forward to having soft, soft hands!

Right now, of course, I'd love to be fast asleep. However, I still haven't got this sleeping lark properly sorted yet. I seem to have one ok night, followed by a pretty poor one. As last night was ok (about 8 hours in bits), tonight looks like it's going to be a poor one. I think I've managed a few hours sleep and a few hours doze but it doesn't seem to be happening...

2.5 weeks. You'd think I would have got used to sleeping on my back wouldn't you!?!

I am sure it is in my head - but I am far more uncomfortable on my back than I am on my side (yes, I've had a small experiment - please don't shoot me - I tried resting on my side taking a lot of care with the position of my legs and it was sooo much more comfortable).

How long is this going to last!?!
 
While you were on your side, did you keep a pillow between your legs? You probably should. You can contact your surgeon and ask if it's okay to try sleeping that way.

As for the crutches, do keep using them until you get to a pretty good gait. They will help you get there faster.
 
Jamie said:
While you were on your side, did you keep a pillow between your legs? You probably should. You can contact your surgeon and ask if it's okay to try sleeping that way.
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Yup, I have one of those shaped pillows that you attach to your leg and keeps your hips etc in a neutral position. I was using it before the op as it kept the pain to a minimum at nights. I will mention it to my surgeon as it looks like I'm just one of those people who cannot get used to sleeping on their back!

Promise I will use those crutches!
 
Yikes......hello yellowgopher,

I'm sorry I've never said hello sooner, it's odd because I've been reading your posts. No excuses just missed hitting the reply button!

Congratulations on your two new hips.

Sorry you are finding it hard to sleep on your back. I found surrounding myself either side of me with pillows, under my ankles too helped settle me into a very comfy mode then pop pains Meds and dose off.

Sweet dreams!

Sarah
 
Hi YellowGopher,
Sorry to hear you're still having trouble sleeping. I too had trouble for about 3 weeks post-op because I never slept on my back before. It will get better! I am 6 weeks post-op BTHR now and for the most part, I get 5-6 hours sleep at night. I'd say about once a week I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. Usually those are the days that I overdid my walking or PT.
I know how easy it is to overdo it. It feels so good to walk that you just want to keep going. There's no reason to go a mile or miles. As you know, if you go too far, you pay for it later. My PT told me to be careful of that. I try to incorporate some hills in my walks now. Even though I am at 6 weeks post-op, I still get those days where my body gets exhausted.
Have you tried walking with a cane instead of crutches? I used a cane and it really made it easy when I transitioned from the cane to walking unassisted. The PT would have me just pick the cane up and walk, and I would walk as far as I could, then start using the cane again for stability.
I started driving a couple of weeks ago. It was like starting PT all over. At this point, I can only drive about 15 minutes before my right hip starts throbbing like crazy. I guess because driving uses different muscles when you're pushing on the brake and gas pedals. It's really frustrating because I'll be driving somewhere, then have to pull over and walk a bit before continuing. I know it's just a matter of time and it will get better. Heck, it seems like just yesterday I started PT and thought there was no way I was going to get through this!
The bottom line is that I still have no regrets of doing BTHR because this sure beats the bone-on-bone pain!!!
 
Yellowgopher said:
2.5 weeks. You'd think I would have got used to sleeping on my back wouldn't you!?!
Click to expand...

Yellowgopher, I am at around six weeks and I still wouldn't be able to sleep an entire night on my back. If lying on your side allows you to get a good night's sleep and your doctor approves it, go for it.
 
Jen, Scott and Sarah, thanks for your comments.

It's nice to know I am not alone when it comes to struggling to get a decent night's sleep.

I'm slowly learning that there's no point in lying there getting stressed - better to get up and do something and then try again an hour or so later. Slowly learning mind; just spent a couple of hours stressing trying to drop off!

Had a chat with my GP today. He thinks I'm doing really well and that I shouldn't worry about the sleep - it will eventually come back. One of the advantages of being signed off work of course is that if you have a number of naff nights, it doesn't really matter!

I can sleep on my side but, to be honest, it can get a little sore after a while. I suspect I will end up mixing and matching a bit.

So, my biggest challenge may well be getting the sleep cycles sorted out. Everything else is going ok - even the burning pains in my right hip are now subsiding.

Talking about everything else. I noticed today that my walking is getting better - my gate has improved. A few steps without crutches showed that I can now walk with less of a limp than before the op. I have a PT session in a few days so will talk to the physio about the best way to keep this progressing - maybe a cane is a way forward. I was well chuffed I can tell you.

There is no doubt about it, going for both hips at the same time was the best decision I could have made. People I meet are still in awe when I tell them - especially as it was only two and a half weeks ago (why they are in awe never ceases to amaze me - I am by no means unique) - but the whole thing, the postive outcome I seem to be getting, is testament to the work that has gone into developing these implants and, most importantly, the skills of my surgeon, his team and the team of nurses, physios and OTs who have helped me all the way through. Oh, and Bonesmart members too - what would I have done without you lot? Absolutely brilliant.
 
Yellow Gopher,

The people you meet are right... I do not know how you Bi's do (did) it . I know you do, but I sure relied on that "good" leg a whole lot in early days.

You should feel good...it's a big deal....

Z
 
Yup you double hippies are pretty special...seriously!!

I love the natural progression of walking better, I'm only a single hippy and am amazed how daily and weekly the improvements come! Also it's nice you have your own thread here to keep a mini journal as you get better and stronger!

One other thought the more you become active you will eventually want a good nights sleep. I struggled for weeks on the bedtime deal. Now I'm back to work, doing Lots of walking and PT and no longer taking naps during day I sleep pretty well.

All the best!

Sarah
 
Hello all.

Firstly, sorry for the time since my last post - life is starting to zoom by again!

Things are going well. I now have the mindset that I do what my body allows me to do, rest when it wants me to rest and I feel that I am now getting to the stage where I am starting to recharge my batteries. I felt this Wednesday morning (3 weeks post op) when I woke up feeling I had had a reasonable night (5-6 hours) and felt capable of doing things for really the first time. Wednesday seemed to me to mark the end of my initial recovery from the trauma of the operation and the beginning of proper rehabilitation. And I have felt that way since...

Of course, I get days where I am more tired than others (Friday was an example) but things are definitely better than they were.

And sleep, even 5 hours, is WONDERFUL!

Physio has gone really well. My Physios were amazed at the progress I have made but told me to take it easy still as it is early days. They have started me on some resisitance training - basically the same exercises I came out of hospital with but with bands so I have to work harder to carry out the movement. I'm not working at range of movement yet but I am working on my gate. My Physios have told me to walk like Mr Soft (broken link removed: https://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1238496241108506429#) from the Trebor Softmints advert (UK guys will remember). It's a bit strange but it seems to be working.

Just had a morning out in town today and it's all good. I will have an easy day tomorrow though just in case my body decides this morning was too much!

Take care all.
 
Sounds like great progress and your doing the best thing by listening to your body!!

I do believe a video of you doing this Mr Soft walk would be most helpful, ya know since its helping out so much and all, it could really help out another hippy:wink1::wink1:
 
I just came by to say "hello". I just read a few of your posts and I see that you have trouble sleeping on your back. what I did first was put pillow around me so I wouldn't turn over. I got the body pillows from a inexpensive store because i knew that I would't need them when I got better. However when i got my knee done my dog thought they were so cool she sleep on them and made me and her sleep so much better. Now I know everyone has there own opion on should a dog sleep with you but they are such great company and when you are down they are so great. by the way cats are great too. Please remember every day puts you closer to full recovery. :doggieshmooze:Tashia:loll:
 
Hi all, many apologies for not posting recently!

Things are going well. I am allowed to sleep on my side (properly supported by pillows) and, although I still wake up a few times each night, I get 6-8 hours sleep which is great!

It seems I am just not a back sleeper.

Post-op pain is pretty much gone. The incisions are slightly tender still so I have to be careful not to rest on them too much, but the scars are healing well. I get slight tenderness in the muscles sometimes but, again, it's very minor and only really noticable when I prod them.

Exercises are going well. Mr Soft has helped me with my gate and, yes, I will sort out a video at some point!

As I continue with my lower limb strengthening exercises I have noticed one thing - my knees click and are sore! Only when I bend them fully and, then, only when they take weight. I'm kinda thinking that it's down to a reduction in muscle tone and support over the last year or so (I have tended not to bend my knees to their most) as the soreness goes away very quickly after I rest and normal walking has no pain whatsoever. Just wonder if anyone else has come across this?

Anyway, generally all good. On very limited painkillers as and when I feel I've had a busy day or am aching a bit too much. I'm targeting mid April for going back to work (making the most of my time off to recuperate properly). Taking my time has really helped.

But then, I'm only just over a month (4.5 weeks) post op... so things have progressed amazingly well.

Hope everyone else is doing well. take care.
 
Hey Yellow,

You sound really well. My operated side knee was an issue for a while, once my restrictions were lifted then it seem to go back to normal. It just felt very stiff and swollen...just above my knee.

Maybe you are pushing to hard at therapy to make it sore?

You are doing amazingly well!

All the best,

Sarah
 
Wow! you Bi lats always impress me!! Sounds like you are doing wonderfully.

I had knee pain but all is well now, just takes some time to adjust to your wonderful shiny new hips!
 
Hey buddy. Welcome to five weeks post-op. Just had to let you know that Mr. Softy creeped me out a bit (and made me laugh so hard at work that my workmates crowded around to see what I was looking at -- they were a little creeped out as well). That said, I'm intrigued and must try this out! This may sound a little perverse, but I was glad to read about your knee clicking as I've been having something similar. I’ve chalked it up to being pretty weak in the muscles. I’m looking forward to having muscle tone again sometime in the future.Sounds like you are doing great! Keep it up, my friend.
 
:thumb: Wonderful report, YellowGopher! I am delighted to see you are doing so well!

I have had some knee stiffness - but they clicked and complained much more before surgery than they've done since the surgery. Hopefully your knee issues are just that they are getting use to normal gait and just need a bit more time to strengthen and adjust to these changes.

May you continue to thrive and enjoy your new hips!
 
Just wanted to let you know that I tried out the Mr. Softy walk today during my every-30-minutes walkabout. I can TOTALLY see why your physio person told you to do it. Looks funky, but I can really feel it (in a good way) in those areas that I know that I'm really week. So much better than just the usual heel-toe around the office. Of course, now everybody at work points and laughs...but I'll get past that! :snork:
 
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