Hip Arthroscopy FAI Surgery Round Two—All Done!

[Sammy-Am]

Day 3 is here

Overall my pain is pretty well managed. I have the most pain when I’m up and walking with the crutches. Otherwise, my front hip bone and groin have been so incredibly tight and sore . I have one more dose of the Percocet and figure I might as well just finish them off as long as my stomach is on the mend.

Speaking of my stomach, I’ve gotten better with eating bread and a couple of “heavier” based foods. I can at least feel what my body’s trying to tell me and try to eat accordingly.

My little Maggie was BEYOND happy when I dropped a turkey burger last night—she even let me sleep in for an extra 20 minutes past her breakfast time as a “thank you!”

She’s still not happy that I can’t pick her up. She’s slowly been inching her sleeping spot more towards me and likes to check up on me when I’m on the crutches. She’ll walk over if I’m making too much noise or if I haven’t hobbled in a while and need a break LOL.

I’m off to catch some more sleep and watch Supernatural on Netflix. I’m on season 11 of 15! And hopefully one of my girlfriends can help me around the apartment this afternoon.

So long for now

 

[myglasshalffull]

Sounds like you are coming along, it's great to have our furbabies around to keep us company!
Have a wonderful day!

 

[Sammy-Am]

It’s Saturday!

I just woke up after getting a pretty decent sleep last night. Overall I’ve been sleeping better, but my hip was incredibly stiff. I still have some aching around the front hip bone and my incision’s/around the hip flexors are feeling very “tight,” almost pulling. Today, I’m officially switching over to just Tylenol, so we’ll see how that goes.

Yesterday afternoon one of my friends came over to help me and to help get the house settled. She helped me clean the kitchen, prepped a couple of meals I was thinking of making, and helped set everything up so I could FINALLY shower, which felt AMAZING! I washed my hair, put my piercings back in, and was so grateful that my leg wasn’t orange anymore LOL.

Today’s pretty uneventful. I might order in some coffee or breakfast to get a real meal in me, but we’ll see. I’m just counting the days until I can drive again LOL!

Have a good one!

 

[myglasshalffull]

Nice friend! So good you got to shower, it's a game changer, makes you feel human once again.
I was so happy once I could drive again, nothing like having your independence back.
Enjoy the day!

 

[Sammy-Am]

Hippie Friends,

I forgot to ask during my numerous posts if anyone has a good recommendation for a neck pillow.

I’m sleeping on my back and forget exactly at what time frame I was allowed to sleep on my stomach and side again. My poor neck seems always twisted one way or another .

Thanks in advance!

 

[myglasshalffull]

I just used my regular pillow and propped them up, it took me awhile to get used to back sleeping cause I am a side sleeper especially fetal position on my right side and that's the side I had my surgery.
But I did get used to it with my my pillows propped and pillow under my legs helped as well.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Happy Sunday!

I forget how many days post-op I am now. All the days are blending together LOL.

I’m glad I slept a lot last night because I did a lot of unexpected hobbling this morning on my crutches!

I decided to treat myself and order a breakfast sandwich and an iced coffee, my first one in days! I wrote on the instructions for everything to be brought to the BACK of the house, a few feet outside my apartment. The app said my order was delivered and my order was nowhere to be found

So, I threw on my shoes and hobbled through the grass to the front of the house. No order there. So I hobbled back to my apartment to re-check my phone (yes, I should’ve brought it with me) and almost tripped not realizing how deep my two steps are. Whoops.

Delivery person said he thought that I meant the SIDE of the house when I said “back door.” Insert eye roll. But, rest assured, he left everything on the side porch . At that point, I tried to calmly explain that I am on crutches and can he please come back and bring the order to the correct entrance. Luckily he did and I enjoyed my delicious sandwich and even more delectable blended coffee.

I still have to ice for the morning and take my Tylenol, but does anyone remember how tender the hip is, especially after a scope? My surgeon did 2+ hours of work on my hip and while I don’t feel “pain,” any off movement makes me paranoid. Working in a PT office I guess I’m just overly cautious about the different post surgical restrictions and how gentle you have to be after a massive repair. My right side even feels more vulnerable than my left and maybe that’s because it’s my dominant side by nature (?)

Anyhow, it was nice to get outside for a moment or two this morning. I feel like a hermit being mostly on bed rest and watching Netflix. And considering I had my left hip done on 7/15/22, I’m hoping I can get off the crutches before the summer heat really becomes “too much” in NY.

I will say that I’m not one for self-care. While I love my shopping trips, yoga, and pedicures, I’m not one to really enjoy “stillness.” Isn’t it kind of funny how the recovery phase of surgery forces you into that? I thought I would be losing my mind with cabin fever (which may come considering I still have 10 days off of work), but really I’m enjoying nurturing my body—resting in not only the physical sense, but emotionally and spiritually also.

And on that note, I have a puppers who is DYING for my leftovers!

 

[Jaycey]

I still have 10 days off of work

Very early to be returning to work. Can you rethink this? You are only days out of major surgery!

 

[Sammy-Am]

I still have 10 days off of work

Very early to be returning to work. Can you rethink this? You are only days out of major surgery!

I have a desk job so I’m going to follow up with my surgeon on my post-op visit to see if going back to work is okay. Last year, I took about the same amount of time off, so we’ll see what he says.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Happy Monday!

I just got done feeding the baby her breakfast (which she’s learned to demand at 5AM) and am laying down with a pack of ice.

In all honesty, I completely neglected my hip yesterday. I think I only iced one yesterday morning because I was having SO many stomach issues all Sunday .

I’m not prone to having the best gut health and I really thought that I was preparing myself after my horrible go around after my last surgery. With my left hip, I was incredibly nauseous, couldn’t eat, had horrible vertigo, and had to make a trip to Urgent Care and the ER for being so disconjointed.

With this hip, I haven’t felt too nauseous just incredibly “backed up.” And I’ve also been much less active given my inability to drive.

I tried to prep myself before surgery with healthier foods, upping my water, having Miralax on hand, but yesterday I was just miserable .

I’m already feeling better this morning, so we’ll see how this week goes. Fingers crossed I can rest today and continue to find some continued relief.

Sam

 

[myglasshalffull]

It's certainly a day to day recovery. Early on in my recovery I just let my body decide what we were going to do each day. Never made a solid plan cause I might wake up and Miss Hip would decide that today was not the day to do whatever I had planned. I just gave into it and it all worked out but rest assured I've had many bumps on the recovery road.
Visited a friend yesterday that's 2 weeks post op, he's getting around with cane, feeling better, went to sit at table in kitchen where they have stools and he said "I can't get up there." Oh yes, I remember those days!

 

[Sammy-Am]

It's certainly a day to day recovery. Early on in my recovery I just let my body decide what we were going to do each day. Never made a solid plan cause I might wake up and Miss Hip would decide that today was not the day to do whatever I had planned. I just gave into it and it all worked out but rest assured I've had many bumps on the recovery road.
Visited a friend yesterday that's 2 weeks post op, he's getting around with cane, feeling better, went to sit at table in kitchen where they have stools and he said "I can't get up there." Oh yes, I remember those days!

Ahh, yes. I’m trying to remember these “bumps.” I think we all forget that undergoing this process, whether scope or replacement, is so much more than just the actual surgery. I’m incredibly grateful so far, just always have to remind myself that I deserve the grace that’s much needed in recovery. Every day is another day closer to “full recovery.”

Today is a resting day. I’m very excited about my post-op appointment on Thursday. I’m really curious to see exactly what he found in there. I also noticed today that the scars on this most recent hip are a few inches higher on my thigh. I wonder how they determine the positioning.

Best of luck to your friend on his recovery journey. One of my good friends who’s been helping me is having her hip replaced at the end of July. As tough as these recoveries are, it’s so nice to be able to see the relief when everyone gets to the “other side.”

 

[myglasshalffull]

Let us know how your post op appt goes.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Hi!

Can’t believe surgery was one week ago!

I have a quick question for all of you arthroscopy/replacement folks. Has anyone struggled with muscle pain down the anterior hip post surgery? Almost if you drew a straight line from the hip bone (ASIS), down a few inches.

I’m finding this pain to be the most aggravating, but don’t really remember it last surgery. My hip feels pretty good, most of the pain is in my quad and thigh. I’ll follow up with my doctor when I see him Thursday.

Have a great day!

 

[JusticeRider]

Sammy, I did have that with my first hip surgery. I now believe mine was nerve pain. It was absolutely the worst, but if I had realized it was ‘only’ nerve pain I think it would have helped…I kept thinking a muscle was tearing or some other awful thing. I don’t know if yours is the same, but mine was a kind of intense burning tearing feeling down the front of my hip and upper thigh. I didn’t have it all with my second op, maybe because the approach was different.

 

[Sammy-Am]

Sammy, I did have that with my first hip surgery. I now believe mine was nerve pain. It was absolutely the worst, but if I had realized it was ‘only’ nerve pain I think it would have helped…I kept thinking a muscle was tearing or some other awful thing. I don’t know if yours is the same, but mine was a kind of intense burning tearing feeling down the front of my hip and upper thigh. I didn’t have it all with my second op, maybe because the approach was different.

Hi JusticeRider,

Makes sense. Mine feels similar. It’s an intense burning ache from my ASIS and straight down my quad.

I actually called my surgeon because the pain was so bad. He explained that using the crutches, in combination with keeping my foot elevated (toe touch weight bearing) was aggravating and inflaming my hip flexor, which I’ve always had problems with on the right side. He reassured me that I’m doing everything right, but we just have to get through this “angry period” where the hip is healing and the muscles become happy again.

I’m still seeing him in the office on Thursday for my post-op, but he prescribed Meloxicam to calm the hip flexor and said it was okay for me to start 50% PWB with the crutches. I just have to keep icing, take Tylenol as needed, and focus on keeping the pain down.

I have to tell you, this hip has been completely different from my left side! My left side was much stiffer after surgery and I felt almost immediate relief. While I feel relief on my right side, it seems to be aggravated much more easily and the pain varies more. My surgeon said the surgery was basically the same on both sides, just a lot more shaving on this side, which could also be aggravating the hip flexors.

I think at this point, I’m just trying to stay mentally focused. I was definitely down at various points yesterday when the pain was on the higher side. And I’m not convinced that I’ll “feel great” in a matter of weeks or months.

But, I have to be grateful. I was able to have the surgery, I have another week off work to rest, I have an incredibly supportive doctor. Things will all be okay eventually.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Patience...you just had your procedure on the 6th, 8 days ago...much healing to go through.
It will work out and it's very normal to feel a little down especially when you are in pain.
I wish you good news tomorrow with your appt, let us know how it goes.

 

[Sammy-Am]

It was post-op day today!

I had my appointment at 10:15 this morning. Doctor said he felt bad seeing me back on crutches hobbling down the hall LOL. Luckily we’ve gotten to know each other enough where we can laugh/make fun of my horrible hips . He took out the stitches and mostly we just chatted about this hip and how the surgery went.

By and large, the impingement was worse on this side. I just picked up my Meloxicam today and we’re going to try to see if that calms the inflammation down. If not, we’ll test the Percocets again just to keep the pain at a comfortable level. I start physical therapy on Monday and I have to see the surgeon again in 3 weeks.

I did get clearance for driving and it felt SO NICE being able to have that freedom again. I was able to drive to my old office and see se friends and even drive to my favorite crystal store to poke around. I’m a short girl in an SUV so normally my seat is extra high. I’ll have to shop around for a comfortable cushion where the hip doesn’t feel so “pinchy.”

I’m also technically cleared to go back to work next Wednesday, but my doctor wants me to see how I’m feeling. If the hip says it’s too early, I might take all of next week off and start again the following Monday. My office manager wasn’t thrilled with me when I suggested that option, but we’ll take it day by day.

I’ll pop in again after my first PT appointment on Monday

 

[myglasshalffull]

Great, tell your Office Manager you will be back when you and your hip feel like it, honestly I can't believe some of these employers. Let them go through surgery and see how quick they come back!
Good luck at PT, don't overdo!

 

[Sammy-Am]

Hi All,

Oof!

I feel like that word is the theme for this recovery process so far. I know I’m only 10 days post-op, but I’m really surprised at the level of pain I’m having. The best it gets is a 4 with the worst being a high 6 .

My pain is the worst when I’m up and walking. I can get relief when I’m laying down, no real issues sleeping, and my hip usually calms after a few minutes of sitting (being mindful of flexion limitations). It’s a very strong ache at the ASIS and iliopsoas and almost a burning sensation in the lower groin and slightly under the butt. I’m icing, taking Tylenol and my anti-inflammatory, and just need to work on elevating my hip more.

I just got my op report sent to my email today and WOW. The report seems similar to what was done on my left side, so no big surprises, but the sheer amount of work done is crazy.

I know FAI surgery is a b****. I have complete confidence in my doctor and am hoping that things will begin to settle once we get past this first month (at least!). I’m also hoping that PT will help loosen up some of the tightness and get my muscles coordinating happily again.

Here’s to another day at a time