Halfway there :)

[Diane]

I haven't posted in a while - so here is the scoop.

Slated for bilateral hip on 9\22, however, my Doc. found the right hip reconstruction much more complex than originally thought (very shallow cup) and I suffered a fair amount of blood loss so he backed off the 2nd hip. It is now 9\27 and I am going in this morning for the left hip.

I am moving well on my new right hip with a walker and anticipate the same once the 2nd op is complete.

I am only experiencing post-op discomfort on the right hip - NO hip pain - WooHoo! Right now the most annoying thing is the itch associated with the incision healing (approx. 4") and the slight pull of the dressing tape. Wow, does it feel good to complain about "normal" stuff!!

i will post again after the 2nd surgery.
Diane

i am emailing from my hospital bed - cable TV, internet and music combo.

 

[Diane]

Hey Everyone,

Well, I have turned into the classic study of going with the flow

2nd surgery went just as well as the first. Then 1 1/2 days after the 2nd surgery my INR count spiked from 1.5 to over 5. This means my blood was way too thin and there was danger of internal bleeding. Well, that put an end to moving around :(. Basically I was allowed to go from bed to the commode or chair. Just very basic exercises once in the chair. So I immediately stiffened up. Anyway, long story short they drew blood every day and the count came steadily down. Today it was 1.8 so was allowed to go back to active walking. Amazingly, the legs unstiffened just as quickly as they had stiffened and I am back on track.

The hips feel incredible and my X-Rays have been described as classic. Incisions have remained completely dry throughout the healing process. My implants are Dupuy S-ROM modular pressed fit and already feel a part of me.

How is everyone else doing?
Diane

 

[Diane]

What an amazing journey

I am now home after spending 5 days in an acute rehab hospital getting great PT every day. I am completely off pain meds and am motoring around easily on crutches. I am getting stronger every day and even though I am still experiencing some post-op soreness in the left leg (only 2 weeks post-op) there is absolutely no hip pain - as I am sure many of you have felt - it is my own mini-miracle.

How is everyone else doing?
Diane

 

[panamfe]

Hi Diane,

J.R. from Delaware here. You sound like your doing great. I myself had right THR on 9/27 and am pretty much pain free with a little bit of incisional pain. Walking with a cane and for the first time in 4 years no limp!!!!! i have my home exercises to do on my own and about week six when all the tissues are healed I go for therapy to get range of motion back. So all in all i'm doing good and so glad to hear that you are to! keep up the good work!!!

 

[Diane]

J.R.

Your surgery was on the same day as my 2nd (left hip) surgery.

Sounds like you are doing great. I am still on 2 crutches because of the bilateral but am pretty comfortable I will be able to go to one crutch or cane very soon.

I too am still experiencing some residual soreness on the left (right is completely pain free even after a 25 minute walk outside) but I feel a little stronger each day so remain very happy with my decision to move forward with the bilateral surgery. To be successfully rehab'ing rather than in horrible pain continues to amaze me

Good Luck moving forward,
Diane

 

[panamfe]

Check this out-----I had my 3 week follow up appointment this afternoon and asked the doc when I could drive again. Straight faced he looked me dead in the eye and told me if I wanted I could drive as long as I tried it in a big parking lot and could panic stop without issue. So guess what----I'm mobile again woooo, hoooo!!!!

 

[Diane]

panamfe - great minds must think alike

As my hospital/Doc's don't dictate when you can/can't drive (their guidelines are - you shouldn't drive until you can safely control your car) - I took my car out for a test spin yesterday. I have an automatic and my right leg is 4 weeks post-op today so I felt pretty comfortable just around the block. I will continue to "venture forth" carefully as I am sure you will. It is one of the milestones I am sure we all are happy to get to.

Everyone keep up the great work -
Diane

 

[ripanco]

Hey Diane,

Welcome to the other side!! I don't get here too often to check the boards so I was delighted to see you are done! Sorry to hear about the glitches along the way, but sounds like you are doing great and moved past them now. Getting mobile is such a big step, more for the spirtits than anything. You too, JR!

Remember, time is your best friend now. You will continue to improve so much over the next few months, you are gonna love it. May be a few plateaus now and then, but for the most part, you just keep getting better and better. Take things slow but steady and keep working.

Diane, because of the trouble I had with my left side, it was behind the right side for a long time. I was worried it may be permanent. But eventually, it caught up and both hips are just great now.

I have some news, not really hip related but sorta I guess. I am just so excited I have to share! I finally have a horse of my own! Kinda fell in my lap, but I now have a gorgeous registered firey red chestnut, Hanovarian mare, named Willow. She is very green and will need lots of patient training, but she is extremely athletic with all kinds of potential to be an outstanding hunter/jumper/dressage horse. The only reason I am able to ride now is because of my marvelous new hips. Man do I love my hips, my OS and my new girl (not to mention the wonderful DH who makes this all possible)!!!

Take care everyone!

Andrea

 

[Diane]

Andrea - Willow sounds amazing - Congratulations! Besides all the wonderful positive surgery related messages I find here, it is also inspiring to hear stories about people "getting on with it" because after all, isn't that why we have all made the decisions we have made?

I am working hard on my daily exercises and walking. My townhouse complex is built within a semi-circle that is all sidewalked so getting out and walking has been easy and safe. My walks are now up to 40 minutes a pop and for the most part Mother Nature has given me some beautiful fall days. I am still using 2 crutches as I walked with a limp when the PT and I tried to drop one (walking smoothly with 2). As my surgeries were more on the conventional side with muscles being cut I have to be patient and let them heal. Also, the sugeries completely changed my leg alignments so all the rest of the muscles have some work to do as well, but no complaints from me as the knees are no longer knock kneed and the feet are no longer pigeon toed - woohoo! I know that I will continue to progress and very soon will drop to one crutch or a cane and soon after that be able to walk with no assist. Even taking into account the "stuff" that has happened along the way and the concern with the healing of the left leg - I continue to see this as my own mini-miracle. The other day when my visiting PT asked me what my pain level was - I was honestly able to say zero (no pain meds). I couldn't even tell you when the last I could have said that prior to surgery even with the help lots of OTC pain meds.

Well, I need to get off the computer and get my butt out the door for a walk
Later, Diane