Good evening all! Surgery today at 7:15 am and back home at 4:30 pm. Left hip, anterior approach. Would have been home sooner, but had a small bout of general anesthesia induced low blood pressure and wooziness. Slept it off, walked the stairs, etc. and headed home. So far, no detectable swelling, a tiny bit of bruising sticking out from the dressing, and no pain - some stiffness and discomfort, but nothing I would call “pain.” I anticipate that WILL change in the upcoming days. Plan for the worst, hope for the best, and call it a win if I land in the middle. The OS said I can do the right hip in 8 weeks pending a successful post-op follow-up on the left. I hope to share my experience pro and con so maybe someone can glean something from it, just as I learned from others’ experiences and insight in this forum. For that, I thank you.
What Is Working: 1. Lift chair recliner. Fantastic for sleep (just did 4 hours) and ability to fine tune my position for comfort. Only slight issue is I’m 6’3”, so my feet go off the end, creating a pressure point above the heel around the Achilles tendon which seems less than ideal for mitigating clot risk. Two fluffy pillow under my knee and calf seems to fix that while creating elevation.
2. Grabber/Reacher: have only used it twice, but can see it is good to have.
3. Pain meds - take them. Your femur was sawed off, the socket reamed, and muscles were cut or stretched unnaturally to the limit. No way that’s not gonna hurt. I’ve not experienced real pain yet, but it seems taking meds as prescribed is the way to at least dull the edge - I suppose I’ll soon test that hypothesis!
What Is Not Working: aside from my other hip, TBD. Hopefully will be a short list when it’s all said and done.
What Is Working: 1. Lift chair recliner. Fantastic for sleep (just did 4 hours) and ability to fine tune my position for comfort. Only slight issue is I’m 6’3”, so my feet go off the end, creating a pressure point above the heel around the Achilles tendon which seems less than ideal for mitigating clot risk. Two fluffy pillow under my knee and calf seems to fix that while creating elevation.
2. Grabber/Reacher: have only used it twice, but can see it is good to have.
3. Pain meds - take them. Your femur was sawed off, the socket reamed, and muscles were cut or stretched unnaturally to the limit. No way that’s not gonna hurt. I’ve not experienced real pain yet, but it seems taking meds as prescribed is the way to at least dull the edge - I suppose I’ll soon test that hypothesis!
What Is Not Working: aside from my other hip, TBD. Hopefully will be a short list when it’s all said and done.