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THR Donnybasbl THR Recovery

donnybasbl said:
Tomorrow i'll probably start some short walks to the end of the block and back (walking with my wife when she walks Loki) to get my steps in.
Click to expand...

What you mentioned above really isn't "taking it easy".

Cane...no walker? :yikes:

Wondering what steps you are wanting to "get in"? Like Fitbit steps? Please don't lose sight of the fact that a mere 24 hrs ago you experienced major surgery. Your flesh was cut, muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue all disturbed. Your leg may have been jerked aggressively in an effort to dislocate your hip. Your bone was sawed and reamed out. Power tools were used. If you sustained these same injuries in a car wreck would you be concerned about getting your steps in? Your body is trying to heal. Please help it along and give it the rest it needs.

Check out the Activity Progression below to use as a rough gauge -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/activity-progression-for-thrs.13187/
All you need to be doing over the next week is taking a five minute walk every couple of hours.

You can choose to do it your way but I fear you'll be in the ODIC (Over Did It Club) in short order if you don't take the time your body needs to heal properly.

Don't forget the power of ice. It's great for pain and swelling.
Wishing you a quiet peaceful evening as you begin to heal.
@donnybasbl
 
Glad to hear you're home, @donnybasbl--I am quite sure NOBODY sleeps well in hospitals, ever. There will be challenges at home, I'm certain, but the comforts of home and all familiar surroundings will be a relief. Hoping I'll be "sprung" on Thursday after my surgery tomorrow. Best of luck as you start on the healing journey, and do take it easy. I know your age and relative good health will try to prod you into overdoing it, but don't--just don't! Slow and steady really does win the race.
 
@donnybasbl
You know that a team of carpenters disassembled and rebuilt your hip, right???? How many weeks does it take to disassemble and rebuild your bathroom or kitchen? I think 3 weeks is a reasonable transformation timeline. Easy cowboy! You are gonna hurt yourself if you don’t rest. 7-14 days is NOTHiNG compared to your long term health.
 
I haven't posted in a few days, so here is an update. I am on my fifth day post-op. Lots of good and a little bad, listed below:

Good
- sleeping at least 6 hours a night and getting in a nap during the day as well. I've been able to sleep both on my back and the non-operated side, so can't complain.
- using one cane to get around the house.
- pain levels are extremely low, so I am mobile around the house and able to go up and down stairs easily. We'll see how the pain is as I begin tapering off the tramadol, but i'm not anticipating anything too terrible, as I take my last daily dose at 7pm and wake up in no more pain than I was when I went to sleep.
- my wife took the dressing off on Wednesday and i've showered each day since, which is great. Incision looks fine. No oozing or leaking, etc. There is a good deal of bruising around that area, but hardly any swelling anywhere on my leg.
- Today I went on a walk with my wife and Loki. Well, I walked to the end of the block and came back and my wife continued with Loki's 30 minute walk. Loki wasn't happy that I turned around, but soon enough i'll be bouncing around the yard with him, which he'll love.
- Going to make my first trip out to my daughter's soccer game tomorrow afternoon. She has her learner's permit, so she'll drive both ways and one of the other parents is bringing a nice, high, sturdy chair for me to sit on during the game. Looking forward to spending a couple of hours in the fresh air.
- Planning to work from home this upcoming week (i have an office job in Finance/Healthcare, so it's all work on my laptop and phone calls).
- Depending on how I feel, I will look to go back to the office, week after next, for 2 or 3 days for 6-8 hours each day. I'm not having any trouble sitting in various types of chairs around my house, but i'll have to see how the leg handles my office chair.
- i'm doing the 5-7 exercises that PT from the hospital gave me and I have to admit, I love it. I've been a workout nut for years and haven't been able to work out for over a year due to my hip. The muscle soreness in my quad is a reminder of younger, more mobile times and I love the feeling. Honestly, my leg feels so much better after doing the exercises. That being said, I will likely forego outpatient PT. I love my physical therapist, but I don't think i'm going to need it. I'm motivated and I have an exercise bike and elliptical machine in my basement for when I get to that point.

Bad
- they gave me a dose of Colace in the hospital, right before i left, so for about 12 hours from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, I felt like I was prepping for a colonoscopy. I really could have done without that. Not fun.
- My knee is sore. I'm assuming that's from a combination of the torque they put on it during the hip dislocation and the fact that I already have bone on bone condition in that knee. It's feeling better today. I think that pain will calm down as my gait improves down the road.
- the thing that hurts the most is my wrist. They placed an arterial catheter in my wrist for the surgery to monitor my blood pressure and my wrist and forearm is extremely bruised and very sore, still.

My meds schedule is 1000mg of Tylenol three times a day and 50mg of Tramadol twice a day. I'll taper down to Tramadol once a day by Wednesday of next week and then just the tylenol by next weekend.

I have to say that I can't imagine this going any better than it is. My pain levels are 2-3 as i'm walking and I can go for hours at a time where I have zero pain and just feel the numbness around the incision site. For the first time in 18 months, I feel no joint pain in my hip and i'm grateful for that.
 
OMG, what a fabulous update, @donnybasbl! You are making great progress--we all need to be you this morning. I feel I am much the same, although 2 days behind you. Medication regimen pretty much the same, and pain levels pretty low. Still having a hard time hefting my swollen and stiff leg up onto the bed, but was able to do it twice this morning. Looking forward to my first shower and a good meal tomorrow. Your return to work, even part-time, seems a bit ambitious to me but maybe you can manage if you are careful and can back off if needed. You are giving me hope, so keep up the solid, steady upward progression!
 
Thanks Barbara. I hope your progress continues as well. Today has been the easiest as far as swinging my legs in and out of bed, so hopefully that will continue to become easier for you.

Wanted to add that my family has been incredibly supportive and helpful. My son who doesn’t live with us came and stayed with me on Thursday and Friday while my wife went back to work. Loki is just a pup (10 months), so he has limitless energy and my son took him on walks and helped me by carrying things for me.

I’ll play the return to work by ear. Clearly, I don’t have a crystal ball and can’t predict how I’ll feel 10 days from now.

Admittedly, I’m taking it very, very easy today. I went for the short walk and since then and for the rest of the day, just laying around watching football.
 
If I loved football the way my husband does, I am sure I could spend every hour of my recovery when I'm not sleeping glued to the TV set--we have so many sports channels! I watched the first half of a football game with him this evening, with my leg tucked up with an ice pack. It was "his team" UW Huskies, but frankly I was bored a few minutes into the game (when I first met him, I didn't understand that there was a defense and an offense--I thought the two teams just ran back and forth on the field--wonder he ever married such an ignorant woman!) I came back upstairs, and will just dither around until bedtime. Recovery is SOOOO boring, although thus far (knock on wood) not excruciatingly painful. Yes, I know...patience
 
Not to threadjack, but @Barbaraj you could always watch the Ryder Cup... Oh wait, golf is more boring than football. I enjoy both, so I have a long day tomorrow. The Ryder Cup is in France, so coverage starts at 3 am my time, and then football will go until bedtime. Ahhh, new recliner...
 
Joe.....huge golfer and fan here as well. I already got up early, showered and i'm settling in for the Ryder Cup and then some NFL (and hopefully a couple of hours watching my daughter's soccer game depending on how I feel).

My recliner is ordered by will not be here until 10/6. I'll make due until then.
 
@donnybasbl I had a weird pain wake me up right at 3 (not in my operated leg, just a random getting older pain). I'm in California, so coverage starts at 3... I'm taking it as a sign. Just killing time on here while it records for a bit so I can fast forward through commercial breaks. I'll definitely be napping though, 5 hours sleep won't cut it for very long.
 
@donnybasbl Very early to be thinking about returning to work. Please go slow. You have just had major surgery. Even a desk job may be too much. Layla left you a good article on a phased return. The recommended time off work is between 8 and 12 weeks.
 
Update - Day 7 Post Op

Surgery was a week ago yesterday and the easiest part of this entire process has been recovering from someone hammering a prosthesis into my femur.

First an undesirable reaction to the stool softener 2-3 days post op and yesterday, it appears that I contracted a 24 hour stomach virus, which I can only describe as horrific. My boss (Pediatric ER physician) said that these types of things happen when you've been in a hospital and you're immune system is otherwise occupied. In addition, without realizing it, I was suffering from severe caffeine withdrawal by the time I reached this morning. My stomach felt better today, so I showered, had a little breakfast and then a cup of coffee. As soon as I was done with the coffee, the buzzing in my head and dizziness went away. Feeling much, much better now. I had my last cup of coffee Sunday morning and then again not until about 11am today, so it appears 48 hours without caffeine is quite bad. I generally drink 2-3 cups a day, which now I realize is too much. I'll begin a tapering program down to 1 cup a day in the near future.

My outing to my daughter's soccer game didn't happen on Sunday. She badly sprained her ankle in her varsity game on Thursday and opted not to play her club game over the weekend. So i've still been house bound. My wife just left with her for her school game today, but I have some work to catch up on, so I did not go. I may go to Thursday's game. I'll see how I feel.

Pain levels are down to 1-2 when walking and 0-1 at rest. I'm able to sleep on both sides at night (very gingerly on the operated side), which makes me happy.

I'm taking yesterday's completely bedridden day to begin weaning off the Tramadol. I only took 50mg yesterday and i've taken 50mg today. I'll move to 25mg over 3 more days and then that's it. Will continue to take Tylenol for pain management. Admittedly, I hate opioids. I hate the way they make me feel and the possibility of dependence scares me.

I will probably move my return to work back a week. Was contemplating next week, but i'll shoot for week after that. There is a critical meeting on Wednesday, next week, so I may go in for 2-3 hours. The 2-3 hours in the office doesn't concern me. It's the 30 minute drive each way. Not sure how comfortable that will be.
 
Hi,
Will you be able to phase back into work?
Going back at three weeks post op is really soon after major surgery. If you have a desk job you will most likely be uncomfortable sitting. If your job involves being physical you'll find your energy level low.
Riding in a car can be very uncomfortable. I couldn't tolerate more than 30-40 mins for a few months. I was miserable.

Please read these three articles and give them some consideration -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/activity-progression-for-thrs.13187/
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/energy-drain-for-thrs.12415/
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/phased-return-to-work.5696/

I hope you have a nice week!
@donnybasbl
 
Layla.....I'll have to see how things go. I don't have a job where I can disappear for 6-8 weeks, or more. Even if it's just going into the office for 1/2 or 3/4 days, I need to touch base with my direct reports, as we have tons of initiatives going on. I only started at this company in July. It's a desk job, by the way. Nothing physical about it.

I'll play it by ear. Obviously, I will not do something that i'm not physically capable of doing.

If I need to go in early and leave early, to reduce my commute to 20 minutes, each way, i'll be able to do that.
 
Hey....there ya go! Starting late and leaving early if need be to save time on the commute. Great option.
I completely understand everyone can't be off work for 8-12 weeks. Just hate to see you in a situation where you're tired and in pain. I found bringing an ice pack when I drove helpful for the first couple of months. I experienced posterior approach and the seat buckle landed in a place that caused me some discomfort. The ice pack seemed to relieve that for me. Only problem is I never had one for the return trip home but could have remedied that with a small cooler. If you're able, consider that option for work. A few gel packs in a work freezer or in a small cooler desk side may just save the day on occasion.
Wishing you the best!
@donnybasbl
 
:mcoffee:Coffee is my spirit animal.
Helps my headache and keeps me regular:blush:
I love my first cup of the day!
It has only been ...what? 8 ? 9
days?
You are relegated to housebound, mister!
Behave..
Don't want you getting anxious this soon.
Roll with it...not even time to be concerned about meds.
I took regularly for over a month and didn't have one issue dropping it when time!
You need the rest and pain relief.
Wishing you a good week!:ok:
 
Wow, @donnybasbl, you are scaring me! You are already thinking of a return to work AND you are already trying to get off Tramadol? I am two days after you and just figured out this past Saturday that although I hate the side effects, taking that stuff on schedule at night is critical. I am taking a 50 mg dose at 8:00 PM and 2:00 AM and that keeps nighttime pain manageable. Days I am just doing the Tylenol. I am going to give myself until the end of this week at the earliest before I think about cutting back.

I am actually feeling pretty good, can stand up and balance evenly on both hips/legs, and no real pain—just sore and stiff. But can’t imagine what I would feel like if I had to cut back as quickly as you are proposing to do. Please take care of yourself, and give yourself time to heal. It is going to happen for all of us, but it’s not going to happen any faster by pushing our bodies too hard.

No awards given out for overachievers on this hip replacement journey!
 
Hi Barbara.....I definitely don't think we should get caught up in comparing recoveries. My comments about the Tramadol is my own paranoia more than anything. I spoke to a good friend of mine who is a physician who runs suboxone treatment clinics and he said there would be very little chance of becoming dependent on the small doses of Tramadol we are taking, at this early stage. That being said, he did give me a 5 day taper plan to stop, which i'm following. I don't like the way opioids make me feel. They have made me tremendously ill in the past. So this is just me wanting peace of mind. I've dealt with most pain in my past with either advil or tylenol. I'll do it this time as well.

As far as recovery goes, you may not know my surgical history. I have had numerous orthopedic surgeries over the past 20 years. Here are 3 examples, all with the same surgeon:

- total elbow ligament reconstruction (Tommy John Surgery). My recovery was nothing short of a miracle, at that point in time, according to my surgeon. It was typically 12-18 months before you could throw all ball in a game again, and I was pitching in a game at 11 months.

- Distal clavicle resection (arthritis in AC joint and they shave the collarbone down to make room between the bones) - I was playing in a golf tournament 10 days after surgery. This was 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule.

- Epicondyle tendon repair (tennis elbow tendon was completely torn and needed to be reattached) - this was absolutely the slowest, most brutal recovery process I ever went through. The pain was terrible. The stiffness was terrible. My rehab started a month later than expected due to the tremendous pain. Just a really, really bad, slow experience.

So I went through different recoveries myself, knowing that I tend to be someone who bounces back very, very quickly. My point is that we can't compare ourselves to each other. I'm sure i'll hit plateaus and have setbacks along the way. I hope not, but I won't be surprised if I do.

As far as going back to work, honestly, my concern right now is my sleeping patterns. I'm getting 6-7 hours a day, but that's spread out over a 24 hours period. For instance, last night I fell asleep around midnight and slept until 3:00am. I was awake until 5:00 and then slept until 7:30. If this continues, it will be tough to make that adjustment to spending a day in the office. Again, i'll have to play that by ear.

Best wishes.
 
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