THR FAI + 2 scopes = THR

[aprilc]

@LoyalD I feel ya. Everytime I start to feel good I do something to mess it up, get cocky about meds, walk too much etc. I started PT on Tuesday and my therapist (whom I've worked with forever!) told me to do my exercises 2x/day but that leaves me a bit sore. So recovery is all about balancing increasing movement and decreasing meds but oh so slooowwwly! I think I've definitely turned a corner though, may be due to some decrease in inflammation and I'm at day 8 so I think that is a good barometer for others just post op - you will feel a little better after a week BUT as @waterman1 said, you almost become dangerous to yourself the better you start to feel. So be careful out there!

 

[waterman1]

Hey April, you are so right. We are far, far, from healed even at two weeks post op. I let go of my crutch today, grinning hey I can walk again. About two steps later, my hip reminds me to put the crtuch back under my arm and stop this foolishness, no crutch ha, ha stuff, get real

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

Oh yes @aprilc....it's a fine line between doing enough and overdoing it.....glad things are getting better for you....it's slow for sure but worth the journey! Xxx


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart®

 

[insexec]

Hang in there, @aprilc!!! The recovery is a slow but very rewarding experience. Wishing you all the very best!!!!

 

[aprilc]

@LucyG @mollyjump @Michka5 We all had surgery on the same day. How you feeling? I read where one of you was walking a mile? Did I read that right? I can't imagine walking a mile right now but I'm wondering if I'm babying myself too much? Went out yesterday to a friend's house to watch the World Cup. Mostly sat (in a nice reclining chair) but it was great to be out amongst friends. Once I got home though I was very tired!

So where are ya'll in your recovery?

 

[waterman1]

I went for a walk using my crutch Sunday and not very far. I am so out of shape. My back hurts, my knee hurts, my incision hurts, my shoulder hurts, so take it easy...

 

[MajorHeidi]

@aprilc @waterman1 I found that several short walks are better than one long walk. It gets your muscles moving again over different hours, and helps on stiffness.
Each day add a bit more distance on each of the several walks.
I still do it this way, breaking up 3 miles into three 1 mile walks or two 1.5 mile walks, etc.

 

[aprilc]

Do you remember how far you were walking at 2 weeks? The recovery info on the library says about 5-10, which isn't very far considering how slow I'm walking. But I'm on one crutch so that's cause for celebration!

 

[MajorHeidi]

April, I went back to my thread.....
At 14 days, I was doing a 1/4 mile walk, and then another 1/8 mile walk with cane.
At day 17 I saw that I did a 2/3 mile walk with cane. I think with trial and error and hindsight
I found that the multiple smaller walks were most useful.

 

[aprilc]

That's helpful, thanks. Definitely don't want to overdo it but also don't want to baby it. I'll figure out what 1/4 mile is and see how it feels. This would be a great time to get a pedometer or fitbit, since you can't use them in pools I've never gotten one, but I could use that now!

 

[MajorHeidi]

I love my Fitbit!
It doesn't give me credit in the pool except for some walking movements in there, but I wear it
anyway in the pool and its fine. (some other models they make you can't wear in the pool)

 

[waterman1]

@aprilc @waterman1 I found that several short walks are better than one long walk. It gets your muscles moving again over different hours, and helps on stiffness.
Each day add a bit more distance on each of the several walks.
I still do it this way, breaking up 3 miles into three 1 mile walks or two 1.5 mile walks, etc.

You are so dang smart, why didn't I think of that?

 

[aprilc]

I just did a little over 1/8 of a mile, felt good! I came back before I got myself in trouble. While I was in my kitchen I tried walking a bit without my crutch, man that feels weird!! Small doses of that for sure!.

My knee felt a bit weird though, never had knee problems. It didn't really hurt, I guess kind of swollen and mushy? Do you guys have any idea what I'm talking about? Sound familiar? Do our knees get swollen after this type of surgery?

 

[waterman1]

OK April, you are two weeks post op so yes knees and legs and feet will probably swell a bit if you are on your feet too much. See there, your post is telling on yourself. My right knee is a little sore, but I believe it's because my leg muscles atrophy was pretty bad before surgery and the leg muscles need strengthening. All in due time, I'm gonna cool it for one more week, just one more week if I can stand it and I am one week ahead of you post op.

 

[aprilc]

Hey @waterman1 I took it easy, promise! I was going to do 1/4 mile after reading @MajorHeidi 's post. But I was good and decided to start slow...so there! I probably have muscle atrophy as well. I have up on working out a couple of months before surgery. Used to muscley legs...one day I will again.

I was just reading another list and you mentioned you were an ex pro athlete. What sport?

 

[waterman1]

I am an ex-pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. I had a 90 mph fast ball. Now, I can hardly raise my right arm over my head. Man o man, how our bodies change...

 

[aprilc]

I'm amazed you can swim! I've had torn shoulder labrum and Tommy John surgery (ulnar nerve right?) so I can feel your pain ;)

 

[waterman1]

You have had as many surgeries as I have, maybe more! The water is where I belong ever since I was a child. Just a few more weeks and we can get wet again, yay

 

[aprilc]

Yes I'm a fish as well, in fact I'm a pisces!

Well ya'll i'm officially 2 weeks post op. Movement is much better, feeling less stiff for sure. My PT yesterday told me to stop hobbling around the house without my crutch unless I can do it without limping so yes I stopped that because yes I'm doing a limp hoppy thing. I've had back surgery and SI joint problems and she doesn't want other things to start acting up and things getting out of whack - she's smart that PT!

So I'm working on walking correctly with my one crutch - full extension on the 2nd part of a step when my operative leg is behind. Getting my glutes to wake up and it's interesting b/c in alot of PT I did before THR I could never seem to get my glutes to activate the right way. The deep glutes just would not turn on so I was only using superficial glutes that are kind of to the side. Now I can actually feel myself engaging those deep glutes - and they are soooo weak. We're also working on a little strengthening of my quads and hams doing seated quad extension with like a 2lb ankle weight and then standing ham kickbacks - no weight because my hip flexors and quads are so tight I have to concentrate on keeping my pelvis neutral and weight makes that much more difficult. OK, I may be getting too PT geeky, I"ve been in PT for so long that I feel like i"ve practically earned my credentials! If I wasn't so young I would go back to school and become a PT but at this point, especially needing a Doctorate degree, I'd have about 12 years of work before I retired! I'll stick with school social work and my state retirement.

Can't wait until I get my stitches out Monday and hopefully fingers crossed I'll get cleared to get in the pool soon thereafter. I'll start off doing some water walking - I learned from my scopes that this is great rehab. Refused to do it at first b/c couldn't bring myself to go to the pool and not swim - I know I'm an idiot! And hopefully some pulling sets - just pulling and I'll be happy.

PS These little emoticon things are too much fun!

 

[waterman1]

April, it''s about time PT straightened you out. I'm on a crutch also and you gotta stand up straight and walk. I have been limping about and now have a sore knee from a weekend of not doing what I am told, so listen to PT, so sorry My knee hurts to rub it on the inside of the knee, what can that be? If you had anterior surgery, I bet you don't have stitches, maybe just glue like mine, but yahoooo to get off your bandage. Mine is getting closer to pool time everyday, but I want it all healed up before jumping in, right?