THR Gamma on the go

[JanetLynn]

Thanks @Cynthia777 You are such an active participant! I've been taking a much smaller dose of Trazadone so I will definitely ask about increasing the amount. I'm trying to mentally relax and not stress over the lack of sleep. Right now I am trying 30 mg of Belsomra and in two more nights will increase it to 40 mg.

@Jaycey I have lessened my activity, not even walking as much as I was. But every night I wake up with intense pain, usually on the top of the thigh, but also the groin. I dread going to bed as I have to lift up my leg and that hurts. It hurts getting in and out of the car.

I'm getting cranky. I see my massage person on Tuesday so I'll have her pinpoint the exact pain areas. I need to also get a pain med refill. Have finally got through all my 50 pills of Norco (since May 6).

Thanks for all your advice

 

[Hip Hip Hooray!]

Sorry to hear you're in pain. Your first hip replacement went so well. Did you use the same surgeon for the second one? It sounds like the moving and strenuous activity aggravated it. I hope that it heals soon.

 

[Josephine]

Well, JanetLynn, let's see if we can pinpoint the cause of your problem.

I'm going to ask you some questions and it would be very helpful if you would answer each one individually - numbered as I have done - in as much detail as you can then I'll come back as see where you are ....

1. what approach did you have for your surgery? Anterior, posterior, lateral? You can look here to see the various types THR approaches or incisions

2. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't compare this with the bone-on-bone pain you had before surgery!

) Also don't forget to include other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness

3. what pain medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

4. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

5. what kind of PT exercises and exercises at home are you doing? How much and how often?

Can you detail it like this

Exercises done at home: 3 sessions a day
Heel slides x10 (reps)
Strait leg raises x10
Steps x10

At PT
Squats x5 (reps) x2 (sets)
Wall slides x5 x2
Clamshells X5 x2

 

[JanetLynn]

Thank you @Josephine

1. I had a posterior and the healing went well.
2. I have an ache in my groin every time I move it, pain about a 3-5 during the day. I also have an ache just behind my hip bone, which goes on constantly (pain level 3-5). Several times a week, I am awaken with pain on the top of my thigh (pain level 6-7).
3. I take Naproxen, 500 mg, twice a day AM & Bedtime. (I have been taking this for years). I just ran out of Norco which I was taking 1/2 tablet as needed with night pain. Sunday night I tried Hydroco/Acetam 5-300mg (Vicodin). Two and 1/2 tablet did not help at all Saturday night, plus then I had to use Benedryl to help with the itchies.
Sleep is still the hardest as I wake up every time I turn because of the groin pain.
4. I'm working 4 10 hour days, and usually come home and do nothing except rest and elevate. I drive to and from work, 7 miles each way. Mostly I sit at work but get up hourly to walk to ease out my stiffness. I use a cane at work so that I'm not thought to be malingering. On the week-ends I do light housekeeping and laundry and some shopping so I can get out and walk.
5. I have stopped doing exercises several weeks ago when the pain settled in. I just concentrate on walking and even have cut that way down. I do leg stretches, hanging my legs off the bed. I am unable to left my leg off the bed as it is extremely painful.

I am now seeing a massage therapist to work on my painful areas. The outside of my knee is less painful now. But my muscles are extremely tight. What can a chiropractor do?

I have also been using my vacation and sick leave time to leave work early when an ache settles in and ice doesn't help.

I feel wimpy and cranky. The groin pain makes it difficult to get in and out of vehicles, and to get in and out of bed.

And I feel I aggravated it when I went to San Francisco for a week at week 7 and was walking 5 miles a day; and then helped my kids move for 10 days at week Week 15 (which involved lifting and stairs).

Thank you so much

 

[Josephine]

Thanks for your answers. I'm sorry to do this but right now I'm in a hotel and the connection's not really good. I'll be home Thursday and get to your answers then.

 

[JanetLynn]

Now at 19 weeks. Went to massage therapist on Tuesday, and will continue that weekly for an hour until the pain lessens. I find it really helpful as she massages and moves my leg around, gently stretching and pulling to loosen my muscles up. She says it's not deep massage but she does use her elbows in the glutes. The pain does lessen for the next few days. I am only taken Naproxen 2x day.

To sleep, I've started taking 10 mg Xanax and 50 mg Trazodone. For the third night, I've been sleeping through the night, but according to my FitBit, I am still very restless, but now at least I go right back to sleep.

I come home after my 10 hours at work (mostly sitting, with hourly walks) and lay down except for taking care of the dog.

I'll be glad when the groin pain is gone as that is the most irritating. Will call the doctor next week to see if I can get medication that would be more beneficial than Norco or Vicodin.

Thank you for your thoughts

 

[Cynthia777]

@JanetLynn

I'm so sorry you're still experiencing groin pain! Hopefully it will resolve very soon.

Your bedtime cocktail has worked exceptionally well for me for many years now. Like you, on occaision I will awaken in the wee hours of the morning, but am able to fall right back to sleep. Hopefully you are like me and will never need to increase the dosage (however, if I drink coffee late in the day or I take a late nap, I do increase the Xanax by .5 mg and return to my regular dosage the following night).

Btw...I'm happy to hear you're off the Belsomra, as I've heard some pretty negative safety issues and that it doesn't work that well anyway.

 

[Josephine]

I have an ache in my groin every time I move it, pain about a 3-5 during the day. I also have an ache just behind my hip bone, which goes on constantly (pain level 3-5). Several times a week, I am awaken with pain on the top of my thigh (pain level 6-7).

I should have also asked you to tell me the exact site of your pain using this chart
Please note the instructions in the smaller image

I take Naproxen, 500 mg, twice a day AM & Bedtime. (I have been taking this for years). I just ran out of Norco which I was taking ½ a tablet as needed with night pain.
Sleep is still the hardest as I wake up every time I turn because of the groin pain.

I understand. I am very dubious about you taking naproxen for so long - read this acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) and NSAIDs, differences and dangers.

Sunday night I tried Hydroco/Acetam 5-300mg (Vicodin). Two and 1/2 tablet did not help at all Saturday night.

I'm not sure I quite understand this. you took 2½ tablets of Vicodin?

I think part of your problem is you're not taking pain meds on a regular schedule. If you have peristent pain,you need to take persistent pain meds. Try taking 1,000mg Tylenol 4 times a day and see if that helps.

I'm working 4x10 hour days, and usually come home and do nothing except rest and elevate. I drive to and from work, 7 miles each way. Mostly I sit at work but get up hourly to walk to ease out my stiffness. I use a cane at work so that I'm not thought to be malingering. On the week-ends I do light housekeeping and laundry and some shopping so I can get out and walk.

But do you use the cane at home as well? I think you should. And be moderate in your activity whne out and about. Use the electric mobility cart in the supermarket. Split your household activities into small bits and rest inbetween.

I have stopped doing exercises several weeks ago when the pain settled in. I just concentrate on walking and even have cut that way down. I do leg stretches, hanging my legs off the bed. I am unable to left my leg off the bed as it is extremely painful.

Jolly good! Hips actually don't need much exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess. IN your case, I would not recommend much walking when at home. Your almost 20 weeks out and should be forgetting all about therapeutic walks as you don't need them! Plus quit the stretches and leg hanging. All that does is aggravate an already aggravated situation.

I am now seeing a massage therapist to work on my painful areas. The outside of my knee is less painful now. But my muscles are extremely tight. What can a chiropractor do?

Probably not much more than she does though he might do it a bit deeper and with more emphasis on the certain structures that are causing the problems. Might be a good idea to have a couple of sessions with a chiro to see what the difference is. The quality and training of masseurs varies greatly unlike that of chiropractors who undergo training not unlike that of a doctor. Big difference.

I feel wimpy and cranky. The groin pain makes it difficult to get in and out of vehicles, and to get in and out of bed.

I can only imagine. I feel for you.

And I feel I aggravated it when I went to San Francisco for a week at week 7 and was walking 5 miles a day; and then helped my kids move for 10 days at week Week 15 (which involved lifting and stairs).

Well those kinds of activity certainly will cause problems and oyu already had some to begin with.

Tag me when you've got the answers to the charts for me.