Horseshoe
graduate
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2016
- Messages
- 617
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
Hi everyone, I haven't posted here in awhile and wanted to write an update as I remember how helpful it was during pre-op. I'm about five weeks from my last RTHR and seven mos from my first LTHR. Both THRs were spinal with sedation, anterior approach and uncemented ceramic on polyethylene, performed at the same hospital. Staples for the first, dermabond (glue) for the second. Aspirin twice daily for blood clot prevention.
Good news is that THR surgery wasn't bad at all! Pre-op pain and nerves were much worse than surgery and any post-op pain can be managed -unlike pre-op pain :(
There's also a magical moment to look forward to after surgery when you first stand up and realize there's no more grinding bone on bone OA pain! It's gone, it's history.. it's been cut out -yahoo!!
I def had a case of pre-op "THR terrors" along with horrid unrelenting pain from severe end stage OA in both hip joints. By comparison, the aftermath is very do-able, it's more of a nuisance. I had no problems coping either, was not bed ridden at all. I was very mobile, almost too mobile and found patience I never knew I had.
As on bonesmart, OS said each recovery and speed of recovery is different and not to compare scars. I found the super quick recovery stories very positive and inspiring and was glad to read them. I am having two satisfying typical recoveries and wanted to put it out there too. First hip is responding well to this second new hip.
Thought I'd have super fast recoveries as I recover quickly but my hips had other plans. First hip was worse than my very bad second hip. Pre and post-op, I had severe muscular contracture and tendinitis in both upper legs.. top, side and groin muscles were angry. Recovery from first THR was good at the beginning and then somewhat slow, second has been great. OS seems very pleased and assured me this is all very normal. In the beginning I'd see positive changes daily, then weekly then none at all and then it would advance again, kind of ricocheting around.
For me, post-op is like going through life in slow motion and becomes rather boring. My main challenge is to not overdo *anything* despite wanting to get back in the game. Bonesmart moderators and advisors correctly advise to do half of what you think you can. As for PT, I didn't do any the first few weeks except ankle pumps as they wake up my legs before standing. Just did gentle stretches that OS prescribed, may use PT for future gait training. I resigned myself to a long recovery if needed for the second THR, having learned a few lessons from the first.
I can write more details and tips learned in a later post, just wanted to spread some cheer. Looked around here and noticed there are a few people in between surgeries from two bad hips. I remember the frustration of waiting in limbo and recall the day when recovery from the new hip was getting hijacked from pain in the bad hip, no respite to be had! New hip was doing great, bad hip had slowed its progress.
Lastly, I'm solidly in the "don't wait, do it now" camp. It took time to wrap my head around it but the benefits have been great, both mentally and physically. I found the mental drain of chronic pain is not to be underestimated, it affected many aspects of my life even things I was unaware of and thought I'd covered up with a happy face. It didn't do any good either to have sick hip joints physically wearing down my body as it tried to heal from a progressive disease that would never get better on its own. Thankfully, surgical intervention offers a permanent solution.
*edited for clarity/typos
Good news is that THR surgery wasn't bad at all! Pre-op pain and nerves were much worse than surgery and any post-op pain can be managed -unlike pre-op pain :(
There's also a magical moment to look forward to after surgery when you first stand up and realize there's no more grinding bone on bone OA pain! It's gone, it's history.. it's been cut out -yahoo!!
I def had a case of pre-op "THR terrors" along with horrid unrelenting pain from severe end stage OA in both hip joints. By comparison, the aftermath is very do-able, it's more of a nuisance. I had no problems coping either, was not bed ridden at all. I was very mobile, almost too mobile and found patience I never knew I had.
As on bonesmart, OS said each recovery and speed of recovery is different and not to compare scars. I found the super quick recovery stories very positive and inspiring and was glad to read them. I am having two satisfying typical recoveries and wanted to put it out there too. First hip is responding well to this second new hip.
Thought I'd have super fast recoveries as I recover quickly but my hips had other plans. First hip was worse than my very bad second hip. Pre and post-op, I had severe muscular contracture and tendinitis in both upper legs.. top, side and groin muscles were angry. Recovery from first THR was good at the beginning and then somewhat slow, second has been great. OS seems very pleased and assured me this is all very normal. In the beginning I'd see positive changes daily, then weekly then none at all and then it would advance again, kind of ricocheting around.
For me, post-op is like going through life in slow motion and becomes rather boring. My main challenge is to not overdo *anything* despite wanting to get back in the game. Bonesmart moderators and advisors correctly advise to do half of what you think you can. As for PT, I didn't do any the first few weeks except ankle pumps as they wake up my legs before standing. Just did gentle stretches that OS prescribed, may use PT for future gait training. I resigned myself to a long recovery if needed for the second THR, having learned a few lessons from the first.
I can write more details and tips learned in a later post, just wanted to spread some cheer. Looked around here and noticed there are a few people in between surgeries from two bad hips. I remember the frustration of waiting in limbo and recall the day when recovery from the new hip was getting hijacked from pain in the bad hip, no respite to be had! New hip was doing great, bad hip had slowed its progress.
Lastly, I'm solidly in the "don't wait, do it now" camp. It took time to wrap my head around it but the benefits have been great, both mentally and physically. I found the mental drain of chronic pain is not to be underestimated, it affected many aspects of my life even things I was unaware of and thought I'd covered up with a happy face. It didn't do any good either to have sick hip joints physically wearing down my body as it tried to heal from a progressive disease that would never get better on its own. Thankfully, surgical intervention offers a permanent solution.
*edited for clarity/typos
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