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THR FAI + 2 scopes = THR

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@aprilc @waterman1 I dug this up out of my thread, since you asked....
Day 20 Post Op:
This morning getting up out of bed at 6am was painful due to stiffness.
It doesn't seem the pain pills work on stiffness (?!)
After about a half hour, things normalized....

Today I walked four quarter mile segments --> 1 mile.
I also did single round of PT exercises.
Rest of time just chilled literally with ice on leg in recliner. ha
:ice:
 
waterman1 said:
You feel so good to be out of pain that we forget that we must be so careful the rest of our lives.
Click to expand...

These implants are quite rugged, you know. It takes a lot to damage them and it's really not necessary to be so careful about them forever. Once we are fully recovered, our artificial joints are very much like healthy, natural hips. It's hard to remember that they are even there, much less to worry constantly that something may go wrong with them.



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Alex, this is the second time you lead me to believe my post is drawing your scrutiny. Maybe you come from a more passive, less physical lifestyle, I don't know. Our artificial joints are fragile for the rest of our lives according to surgeons. What I say is what I am told by surgeons. Yep, two surgeons for two hips. They both said I should give up being a USCG Captain because rough sea conditions can dislocate and/or fracture a femur bone. They both said I should give up surfing for the same reasons. They both said I should give up jogging for the same reasons. If you feel I am out of line in discussing being careful with our hips, then tell me so, please.
 
Waterman1, of course, you will want to follow the restrictions placed upon you by your surgeons. Understand, however, that not all surgeons are as conservative as yours. My surgeon has said nothing to me to suggest that he considers my hip implant to be "fragile". Rather, he has encouraged me to pursue any and all recreational activities that interest me.

As for your speculation that I have a "more passive, less physical lifestyle", my artificial hip and I are competing in an Olympic distance triathlon in less than two weeks. That level of activity is typical of my post-THR lifestyle. Have you read the Amazing Hip Stories in the Library? There are lots of active hippies out there.

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You're not worried about wearing out your hip faster? We're about the same age and I've heard we can do a lot of the same things we used to but since we are at risk for needing a new hip eventually I've been told to avoid running as a form of exercise. Do you love running and it doesn't matter or have you heard that running doesn't wear out the hip parts faster?

We definitely are all told different things by our surgeons. Just today I was reading a post where a hippie was, IN ALL CAPS, warning everyone that's had anterior or anterior lateral approach to not to front leg raises b/c her surgeon told her she risks popping the joint out of place. That's not what I've heard at all - I have no restrictions just recommendations to progress as pain allows and recommendations for ways to keep this hip as long as possible ie avoid high impact activities.
 
@waterman1, both your surgeons sound really ultra conservative. I don't think you're any more likely to damage these new man made hips once they are completely recovered than you were your natural hips for all the years they served you. I think by this time next year, you will hardly even think about your hips 95% of the time and will have found that you can do pretty much what you want to do. I can certainly understand that at the moment erring on the side of caution is probably the best thing.
 
If you are running triathalons, there is no question that you believe your implants are not fragile. Do you believe that hip implants will not last forever? What is your plan if yours wears out? Have you ever heard of the study that proves runners are addicted to endorphins? I was a trained professional athlete. I ran and jogged for miles from age 16 to about your age now, 47. I quit jogging at the advice of physicians. I switched to swimming and free diving for my adrenaline and endorphins. Best wishes to you, and I hope you do well in your triathalon and I got to say it, please be careful.
The difference between the opinions of hip surgeons is quite large it seems. Maybe that is due to the lack of history in this field, with the ever evolving implant, the implants recently recalled, the new cases of ion poisoning, and on and on. The difference of opinions regarding 'what we should and should not do' between surgeons just proves to me there is not enough facts or data to substantiate if we are fragile or not.
 
Alex, If you are running triathalons, there is no question that you believe your implants are not fragile. Do you believe that hip implants will not last forever? What is your plan if yours wears out? Have you ever heard of the study that proves runners are addicted to endorphins? I was a trained professional athlete. I ran and jogged for miles from age 16 to about your age now, 47. I quit jogging at the advice of physicians. I switched to swimming and free diving for my adrenaline and endorphins. Best wishes to you, and I hope you do well in your triathalon and at the risk of upsetting you, please be careful.
The difference between the opinions of hip surgeons is quite large it seems. Maybe that is due to the lack of history in this field, with the ever evolving implant, the implants recently recalled, the new cases of ion poisoning, and on and on. The difference of opinions regarding 'what we should and should not do' between surgeons just proves to me there is not enough facts or data to substantiate that we can participate in all recreation without risks. I do believe without question, we hippies are safer participating in water sports than most impact sports on land.
 
I don't so much think our hips are fragile as they are made out of material that may wear out especially if engage in activities that are harder on them. Ya know, kind of like our original parts. It's funny that the plastic is what wears out in the implants and it's whats working as the "cartilage" in the real hip. So same parts wear out no matter what they're made of! :)
 
Now for an abrupt topic change. I like what Claire did with keeping track of her progress, although her thread is like 27 pgs long so I had a hard time findng her posts, popular lady! If for no one else but me I'm going to try to do this but Claire seems much more organized than me so we'll see how long this lasts!

So here's me:
Day 22
Got my 13 staples out Monday, wound looks good.
PT on Tuesday, she recommended I start trying to use a cane around the house, as long as I'm not limping, it is definitely more stabilization work when using only a cane. Didn't think that fore arm crutch was supporting me that much.

My quads are still super tight. She used a Graston Tool to try to get rid of a big ole knot and now I have the oh so lovely Graston bruise! She needs to work on that spot and another some more - then hopefully the knee pain will be gone.

She did some scar mobilization and then she got me doing a a "march" after heel slide while lying on my back. So basically heel slide the pick up that leg. Can't quite get to 90 degrees but close - 83. I was really trying to, just wouldn't go. Besides the bridges she also has me doing some ham curls - no weight or resistance and leg lift while laying on side.

Did .4 mile walk this morning and later went to to the grocery store with my husband. Saw a bunch of people I know and unfortunately they wer3 all in the produce aisle so I was distracted and about 1/2 way through the store I realized I didn't grab one of the little store buggies. Then I started getting a sharp pain in my butt. Hobbled quickly (thank god I was smart enough to bring both my crutches) trying not to put much weight on my leg and got the buggy. Been on ice and pain meds since. Yup, I overdid it, and didn't even mean to! Brought my hubby and 2 crutches.
 
@aprilc I figured I should document most everything, as I 'know' I will have to do the second hip soon, and
wanted to be able to go back and have a journal kind of thing.
You are doing great!!!!
 
@MajorHeidi noticed in your thread that you had a fitbit. Does it keep track of cycling activity as well, or just steps? I've been debating between a swim log watch or a fit bit. Don't really need to keep track of my yardage, I can do that on my own, looking more for something to track intervals, stroke rate etc. Still researching swim watch but a fitbit sure would be nice as I feel I will be walking for a long time to come. Right now I'm using, map my walk app on my phone. How does the silent alarm thing work?
 
@aprilc On the fitbit....
I have found on the recumbent bike ( no arm movement) that in order for it to register on the fitbit
I need to do arm movements like I am jogging.
No big deal, and actually I have found I get a better workout by manipulating the arms instead of just
sitting on the bike and pedaling
I found today in the pool, that if I move my arms like jogging it does kinda track the walk/jog pool stuff.
 
Yes, the Fitbit is waterproof, but you really won't get any credit for swimming. Pool walking, yes.
The alarm is changeable via settings, but I only did it once to set up a 8am daily alarm. It vibrates
on your wrist and does wake you up if you are asleep. It keeps vibrating til you tap it several times.
I do like it, as I seem to do more to try to 'make the number'.
 
Day 26
So proud of myself! Thanks to @psychteach I got the idea to use my spinning bike that was serving as a dust collector for the past year or so. Can't believe I didn't think of it myself! So I just did 10 minutes no resistance and it felt great! Little sore on the buttocks even wearing padded bike shorts but whatever, I'll take it. So I'm adding this to my workout routine. Not quite sure how and when to increase time and/or resistance but I do see my PT on Tuesday so I can ask her. I'm also walking with the cane no limp and beginning to walk around the house without a cane with minimal limp. @psychteach got me majorily motivated (and woke up my competitive ego) she was cycling at 2 weeks and walking with a cane around that same time. I can do more but I will be careful...promise! Still on pain meds though - I'm not going to get competitive on that front. I'm too afraid of pain at this point.
 
Anybody know what is going on when we try walk without an aid? I'm on a cane at this point, very nice gait, if I do say so myself, and feel like I'm barely putting any weight on the cane. But take that cane away and try to walk without anything and my gait goes to hell. What is up with that? Is it a particular muscle or group of muscles that got incredibly weak in the past 4 wks? No matter how I try I can't get whatever to turn on so I can walk without a limp.

BTW - In one of my stir crazy moments I decided I would finally start Crossfit when I'm better. (something I've always wanted to do) Started googling crossfit after hip replacement and started reading some forums where crossfitters did crossfit right up until the day before their surgery and then were back in the gym at week 3. What??? Talk about a blow to your confidence! I think they're lying.
 
ITS THE ADDUCTORS STUPID!!

Happy Happy Joy Joy! Just started thinking about what muscle group I wasn't working and what I needed to wake up so that I could walk without a limp. ADDUCTORS!! So I got a yellow theraband ( I have every color of the rainbow thanks to multiple years of PT!) and connected it to a table leg then around my ankle and did an adductor pull like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3fYugNDzV0 not many, like 2 sets of 10, didn't even really feel it but I didn't want to overdo it. A little later on after icing (I did 10 min stationary biking very very minimal resistance and the rest of my PT) I was up and about and started to walk, which I thought would be a hobble, to where I had left my cane and low and behold I could support myself!!! I am beyond happy!!!! It really was like a miracle, just this morning I was asking how to get my body to support it's weight and voila! I just did a short walk around the house no cane, no nothin' and I did not limp!! I'm not going to overdo it though. I will be using the cane for most of the rest of the day. :happydance:
 
Wow @aprilc sounds like you dialed up the right number today!
Way to go with the walking now......
I agree with you on the crossfit. they are probably lying.... :heehee:
 
1 month!!!
I'm feeling so much better. I have really found how important PT is for me. If I don't do it one day I find it harder to walk and I feel much weaker It's like the muscles immediately default to shut off mode if you don't keep them awake. I'm glad I'm still off work (school social worker) so I can really dedicate time to my rehab. I want to get back to high levels of activity so I have to get my strength back. Today I did PT exercises (heel slides and bringing foot up(march), leg raise while laying down, butterfly with red theraband (laying on back knees together and let both legs drop to side with the resistance), bridges, leg lifts to the side, leg lifts while on stomach, adductor with resistance (red theraband) and ham and quad extensions with 2 lbs ankle weight. Then I rode on my spinning bike for 15 min with some resistance at varying speeds (just cycled to some music). A little later I went swimming for the first time!! Finally!! Wasn't much, walked a 50 then pulled around a 500. Just felt so good to be in the water!! I tried a 25 kicking no board, but it didn't feel great so I stopped that.

After all that I'm tired but I don't feel like I did too much. Can't even express how happy I am to be DOING stuff! God I missed working out, not that this is exactly working out but I did sweat a bit on the bike :) no endorphins yet but that will come when I can really really work out.

OK @waterman1 @MajorHeidi you better watch out, I'm officially in training...well maybe in pretraining!
 
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