THR Donnybasbl THR Recovery

[JoeKnows]

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.

This was the hardest part for me as well. I started coming in a few hours a day last week, and the energy drain would hit me like a ton of bricks very suddenly. For me at least, I feel like getting some of my normal structure back helped with my sleeping pattern. This week I'm back to normal hours (though "normal" is very flexible for me), so we'll see how it goes. It sounds like you have flexibility as well, which is good; knowing that if I don't feel up to it, I can either work from home or just leave and take a nap helps me avoid the self-doubt I'd otherwise feel. In other words, instead of stressing and thinking, "I don't know if I can do this," my brain knows I don't HAVE to push, so I can be more relaxed (hope that makes sense).

 

[Layla]

Wow, that's some history you listed above.
We'll trust you don't need any guidance or old women (I'm speaking for myself) telling you what to do
With that said, just a suggestion....check out the benefits of Magnesium, if you haven't already, in an effort to aid with sleep -

Magnesium supports the following:
Bone health
Healthy blood sugar
Cardiovascular health
Muscle relaxation and nerves
Promotes healthy sleep (falling asleep and staying asleep)

An article on Magnesium -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/magnesium-is-a-star.20301/

I hope you have a great day!
@donnybasbl

 

[Barbaraj]

Good grief, @donnybasbl, you have had a number of painful surgeries to deal with so dealing with hip replacement, while a different kind of surgery, has some of the same elements like managing pain and the various options available for doing so. And you have a good sense of what works for you and what you can handle. If you can manage with just Tylenol and can quickly wean off narcotics without significantly slowing your recovery or forcing you to deal with out of control pain, then I get why you are following the path you’ve chosen. And if you feel you can return to work sooner rather than later, due to work demands and/or your own personal determination, that is your decision absolutely.

I don’t have a bad reaction to my narcotics so far. I opted not to use the oxycodone when I got home, finding it made me feel too doped up, but the 2 nightly Tramadol have allowed me, for the most part, to get a semi decent night’s sleep. But if narcotics make you feel wretched then I get your urgency to get off them as soon as you can.

I wasn’t so much comparing our recoveries, as I agree that is foolish, but just expressing my surprise that you feel you are able to make the choices you are making (which you have the absolute right to make!) and expressing concern that you might be experiencing a tougher recovery than necessary. But it is obvious to me that you are very clear and focused on the path you’ve chosen and I wish you the very best! You are one strong dude!

 

[Mojo333]

There Will be "setbacks" just will they be large of small.
It seems to be the name of the game.
You have this...just don't cause yourself chronic issues.
I did one step forward and two steps back until I got it figured.
Now, I can do this with two new hips!

 

[donnybasbl]

Wow, that's some history you listed above.

@donnybasbl

Layla.....I would have mentioned the AC joint scrape on the other shoulder, meniscus repair and microfracture knee repair, but then I would just be bragging .

Finally ventured out on Thursday. Went the bank and bagel store (I needed my bagel fix) and went to my daughter's soccer game in the afternoon. Probably a bit too much activity, but i'm really none the worse for wear. I was definitely tired after the game and my ankle and foot are a little achy, but it was nice to get out.

Nothing much going on over the next 3 days, so i'll be taking it easy.

The best news of the entire post-surgery period is that my new recliner arrived an hour ago. My wife finally relented after 20 years and has allowed a recliner to come into the house. It's actually going to go up into my office eventually, so it will be mostly out of sight, out of mind for her, but the furniture they make these days looks so good, she doesn't mind this particular style that I picked out. I made sure that the foot rest part is wide and fully intact so that Loki dog will have a place to hang out while i'm reclined.

 

[Layla]

Brag! That is funny!

Happy to hear you got out and are none the worse for wear.

Haha! I'm with your wife on the recliner. Part of the reason I didn't want one was because I told hubs that thing will NOT win a permanent spot in the living room. It didn't either. It's down in the lower level of our home. I sit on it and recline once in awhile for old time's sake while I'm down there cleaning, lol. I will admit they are getting better looking than the ones of old. I'm not quite there yet though. Maybe one more joint replacement and a few more years on my aging body and I'll cave, Haha!

I hope you gave a relaxing weekend....you're doing great!
@donnybasbl

 

[Mojo333]

My dog loved his new resting spot on the footrest of my recliner.
He did hog it a bit as my legs needed to readjust positioning from time to time..
I finally would just have to make him Get Down!
Loved my recliner...still do!

Have a great weekend!

 

[donnybasbl]

Update since my last post -

Friday - a little incident that caused a bit of pain. My daughter was taking the new recliner for a test drive and when she was lowering the footrest, didn't realize Loki had snuck under there to do God knows what. Instinctively I lunged from the couch to grab him and pull him from under there because she was pushing the wrong button. Cut to the chase.......I jarred the hip a bit and it was very achy the rest of the day. It was fine the next morning when I woke up, but taught me that I need to restrain myself. Obviously, I'm not going to let our 10 month old puppy get crushed in a chair, but........

Saturday - a pretty laid back day. We had nothing on the schedule, so I relaxed all day and watched soccer, football, baseball, golf and whatever other sporting events I could find. My wife was out for a while, so I took Loki on a couple of walks to the corner and back. Uneventful day, which is just fine.

Sunday - we had an hour session with Loki's trainer in the morning. It was nice to get out and participate. When it was over, I was glad to get back to the car and drive home as standing around for an hour (with my cane) made my leg fairly achy. The rest of the day spent watching football again.

Monday - had a lot of work to do today, so I was at the dining room table. My wife worked and the girls were off from school. Drove my older daughter to and from soccer practice (actually, she drove) and took Loki on a couple of short walks. Watching the NYY-BOS playoff game as I type this and will switch back and forth between this and the football game in a few minutes.

A couple of observations:

- I don't think i've mentioned it in any of my posts, but I ice my hip (and foot and knee if they're achy) every 3 hours for 30 minutes. Having a 30 year history of taking care of my body with ice for sports, any more icing than that doesn't work for me. It creates more stiffness, which I don't like.

- Still taking 1000mg of tylenol, 3 times a day (I don't wake myself up in the middle of the night to take a fourth dose because my pain levels are very low), aspirin twice a day, meloxicam once a day and pantoprazole (protection for my GI system from the aspirin and meloxicam) once a day.

- I've begun walking around the house unassisted and it has happened very organically. A few times over the weekend, I stood up and started walking and didn't even realize that I wasn't using my cane. I didn't intentionally decide to forego the cane. It just happened. So i'm always using the cane when I go up and down stairs and when i'm outside, but for the most part, i'm walking unassisted around the house, being very careful to avoid the landmines of dog toys and blankets laying around.

- My sleeping patterns are getting back to normal, which should help as I phase myself into going back to work. I'm going in for half a day on Thursday, but other than that, i'm working from home this week. Next week, i'll probably work 2-3 days in the office and the rest from home and then i'll increase as my endurance allows.

- My first follow up appointment is on 10/30. Looking forward to seeing the x-ray of the new hip.

 

[Layla]

Your recovery sounds like it's progressing really well!
You're doing great. I can see how / why you lunged for Loki, it could have been worse, I'm glad you're okay. Keep doing what you're doing....it's working.
Stay in touch, it was nice reading your update.
A great week to you!
@donnybasbl

 

[Barbaraj]

How do you manage the sitting at the table @donnybasbl? I think of all the activities I engage in, sitting in a chair is the hardest. Lounging in bed doesn't seem to bother me (I am a slug at heart, I think) nor does getting up and moving around moderately (like you, I am mostly ambulating in the house sans any assistive device, using the walking pole when I'm outside). But I spent a mere 1-1/2 hours last night in a hard wooden chair and after the first hour I was very twitchy and uncomfortable. I couldn't imagine going back to work if I had to sit for long periods of time--ugh! I guess with your imminent return to work you need to get used to sitting for extended periods but that would be really tough.

 

[Mojo333]

Sounding great!
Not even one month out!!
Glad you saved Loki with no big damage to hip!
Hope today is a good day!

 

[donnybasbl]

@Barbaraj For whatever reason, the sitting hasn't bothered me, all that much, from the beginning of the recovery. I was pretty much able to sit in any type of chair without too much discomfort. That being said, i've found that the office chairs that i've had really bothered my hip (obviously, pre-surgery), so i'll have to see how that goes.

Standing in one place is the thing that bothers me most, I think. I was just troubleshooting a printer problem in our house and my leg started aching to the point where I got my cane for some support. Then again, it could just be that it's the end of the day and the leg needs t

 

[Layla]

You're lucky with the sitting. It bothered me also, hard chairs and the drivers seat.
Driving was difficult for a couple months. Thirty-Forty minutes and I'd get pretty wiggly jiggly miserable.
Hope today is a good one!
@donnybasbl

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary!
I hope you're having a great week so far. You're doing great.
Best wishes as you continue on your healing journey!
@donnybasbl