THR Double Hippie Now

[Mojo333]

Poor Kikki!
I've heard many bemoan post op knee issues. Most noticeably, @Layla
Not so for me, thankfully.

 

[BeBe]

@Kikki
Checking in with you! How is your knee? I had some muscular pain around knee but not knee joint pain.
The knee takes a lot of leverage in some THR procedures when the docs dislocate the hip. Depends on the approach you had?
Then again that old OA can get into knees as well as hips. Hopefully yours is settleing down now.
Tell us how your doing.

 

[Layla]

YES! To the knee. My knee has annoyed me since surgery. Would love a video to see how he maneuvered my poor knee. Mine bothered me enough to get x-rays 6 mo post op to learn I have arthritis. They said it was mild. It may be now and I hope it stays that way but my instincts tell me otherwise. Mine has ONLY bothered me since surgery

Hope you're doing well otherwise. Your knee issues may very well settle as you heal. It's still early days.
I hope you have a nice holiday weekend!
@Kikki

 

[Kikki]

@BeBe. @Layla
Thanks for the feedback. I’m hoping it goes away. I guess that is what I was worried about if this is the new traveling OA.

I would cry- well, no but I’d probably throw an adult tantrum. Lol.


So I’m doing ok. Nothing spectacular, I feel weak and just blah. I know this will pass, but I’m tired of feeling tired.

So here’s my latest wrinkle. This happened with the first hip. I am having an acute case of gastritis. I can’t believe it’s a coincidence, as I haven’t had this prior to hip replacement. Could be... I was reading causes of gastritis and one was trauma or surgery. Sigh. So I’ll take the Pepcid ac 40mg twice a day and hope it will go away like the first. It is really painful.
Sheesh. I feel so down about this. Silly I know, but I feel like what other shoe is going to drop.

I think it’s gets you thinking how life can change quickly and there’s this out of control feeling. Wish the ole body would just shape up and fly right!

Then I think back to this time last year, and I was out laying on the ground beside my tomatoes in the garden flat on my back for 10-15 minutes because I hurt so bad I couldn’t move. So i need to be mindful of how far ive come and be grateful.

I think I just haven’t been sleeping well and this hip surgery is so close to the last one. That I’m simply not strong and feeling well.

@Layla sounds like you have a lovely weekend planned. Good for you!

@BeBe- I’m counting days down til June 22, last hip! OA pain is relentless and wearing-nothing really takes edge off of it. I hope you will have a nice holiday weekend in spite of it.

I’m going to make an appearance at dear friend annual Memorial Day weekend bbq. Not staying long but will feel nice to get out.
Cheers all.

@Kikki

 

[BeBe]

Aww @Kikki
Hope your knee issues just go away! And yes traveling OA I'm sick of it!

Gastritis. Yeah mine seems to be directly related to pain medication.
For sure any of the narcotic types only used them for a week or so after my surgery, I have IBS anyway and anything sets it off. I have issues with Aleve but have to take 2 every morning.

I hear you about the "laying out I'm in pain" in the tomato patch. Today I went down to our flip house that needs to be emptied before my next surgery. Packed up 14 boxes of junk, sorted and tossed. That was two bedrooms.
About 3 hours.
I am home in my recliner with the "ice girdle" on. My old hip is horrid. My new hip is ok but weak.
No big holiday weekend plans, just have my daughter home so trying to get that house sorted.
Next year by this time there will be no laying in the mater patch for us!!

Please take it easy and be extra kind to yourself Kikki. These days are for healing. Each surgery is different I hear, one just has to take it all one day at a time.
Nice you have an outing to look forward to!

 

[Mojo333]

I hope you feel better, poor Kikki.
It's not even one month yet so you better take it easy lady!
It is going to get better, you double hippy!

 

[Kikki]

@BeBe.
Thank you for mentioning that your pain meds were causing your gastritis.

I believe that’s what is causing mine. Duh. I didn’t realize that it is a side effect, but sure is. Thank you thank you for mentioning that

Wow is gastritis painful. So only extra strength Tylenol now.

 

[Layla]

Hi there,
Wondering how you're doing? @Kikki
Hopefully your knee is feeling better. Gastritis too.
I'll bet by the end of Summer all issues will be resolved and you'll feel like a new woman.
Prayers to that end. Hope you have a great week!

 

[Kikki]

Hi @Layla,

My Luxating knee has resolved itself. I’m done with hydrocodone, so no gastritis. Yeah! I am released from all restrictions. And I am so incredibly weak muscle wise. At 4 weeks, am still using a cane.

So the really fun thing is the very large concave dent in my right butt. My incision runs right down the middle. This is the RTHR from March 14. I asked my OS about this dent(my teenage daughter went with me and was mortified I asked about this, lol) if this is how it was going to stay. Well, he told me it’s just muscle atrophy. You could have knocked me over. I mean it’s significant. But the good news is this is something I can correct. Who da thunk a huge monster dent in the side of my butt is strictly from loss of muscle tone. Wow.
Sharing this so that others will be aware. He said abducting excercise is the one excercise that will bring back the muscle. Not running, walking or riding a bike. But a lateral side walk with a slight squat.
Or use abducting machine at the ymca.

Oh and it burns. Feels so nice to start back exercising gently. AND I spent many hours in the pool today. Life is good. Well I’m so stiff and gimpy, but grateful that the joint pain is bye bye. Muscle tone and stiffness will go away in time. Still can’t sleep on either hip for more than a few minutes as it just burns and hurts. Sigh. That will get better too. Back sleeping really stinks. I wake up all night long. Still!!


So that’s all my news. I will get better and be able to walk and hike again. All in good time.

 

[Layla]

So you mean you're not sportin a Kim K backside?
Oh well....things could be worse, lol!
Silliness aside, that was a nice update @Kikki
You're doing really well and have direction in addressing your issues.
I agree, life is good and it's going to get even better as you continue to heal.
Thanks for touching base. It was nice to hear from you. Hope your weekend is great!

 

[Mojo333]

Two months out on new hip Kikki.
I haven't heard about the atrophy but I have indentions around my incisions...looks like I have backward parentheses..as mine was anterior.
Not a terrible price to pay for good hips.
Hope you have a Good weekend.

 

[Kikki]

Lol. No Kim k backside. ....yet
Ha ha. I’m working on it!!

 

[BeBe]

@Kikki
Great update! You sound in good spirits!
I have the dent. Significant dent. Kinda bugs me because I could use the extra padding there. My new hip prosthesis feels like it's trying to escape sometimes ;)
Also still using the cane too but mostly due to the bad left hip.
I get it about the weak muscles.. Guess it's a goal to get back to strength!
Have a great week!

 

[Kikki]

@BeBe.
Less than 2 weeks for you! I’m thinking about you soon to be double hippie! Yeah, it’s hard to feel and be chipper when you are in so much pain. Not much longer.

I knew I’d be fine after I got my second done and gone. Can’t say I’m always Susie sunshine, but it is a choice. And I’ve been given this great reset gift. I’m not going to waste it being an Eyore. (Donkey in Winnie the poo).

Keep us updated miss Bebe. Hugs.

 

[Kikki]

Hi all.

I pop in here and there to read about
everyone’s journey. Glad so many are doing well. I feel so much empathy for the ones struggling or having problems. Hugs.

Thought I I’d give a post 5 and 3 month hip update. I’ve been really blessed in that I am finally feeling more normal. I thought the severe stiffness would never go away. I am still stiff in am until I move. But that improves quickly. I started riding my bicycle again. I’m not a road biker, just a tool around kind of biker. It feels great! Took my daughter to Rocky Mountain National Park and went hiking. The altitude killed me, but we hiked 2 miles up a mountain. It was so shocking how there was NO pain. It made me giddy. Couldn’t have imagined this prior to both THR.

It wasn’t the fastest recovery on second hip. It took a good 2 1/2 months. So when you read people chucking their canes and walking solo after a couple weeks, don’t worry. You’ll get there. Maybe not as fast as some, but as long as you get there what is a couple months difference?

I’m still weak in the muscles. So now that I feel so much stronger and feel somewhat normal im starting back at the gym. Still can’t sleep on the latest hip side and it’s been 3 months. But I can live with that.

Wish everyone smooth sailing on this hip journey!!!

 

[Jaycey]

Great update @Kikki ! So glad you are already seeing the benefits of this amazing surgery. Long may this continue.

 

[1stSurgery]

Thanks @Kikki Reading your journey has helped me prepare for number 2 THR next month. My only concern is the second one maybe being harder or longer, since I have some pre-scheduled work events I need to be at 4 weeks after this next surgery. Involving long hours. 4 wks is not very long and I'm nervous since we never know how the outcome will be. Hip #1 has been nearly perfect and trouble free but her early healing weeks took a serious toll on poor hip #2, which is why I had to up the surgery date a few months sooner. I'm glad you've made it through so well and are back to regular activities. Thanks again for your postings!

 

[Kikki]

@1stSurgery. As my OS told me, each hip is different. It may take a week longer OR shorter. I’m glad he mentioned that. You’d think it would be easier/ quicker with the second. Not so with me. However, mentally it was a breeze. I had no fear or anxiety. I knew exactly what it would take and how I’d feel. So that’s a consolation!! I was really surprised why the second took me so long to feel better. But no matter. I’m feeling super these days. I also wanted to wait longer between hips, but the second wasn’t having it!!

Wishing you a smooth and easy recovery on your second!!

 

[Layla]

Hi @Kikki
Thanks for the update. It's so nice to read how well you're going.
And with two new hips, no less. And to think it will only get better.
Please don't be a stranger here. Wishing you a great rest of the Summer!

 

[BeBe]

@Kikki
So happy you posted an update! And a good one at that!
Hiking up mountains? Wow!
Don't be a stranger here -- I like hearing positives.