THR Hip Hip Jeffraaaaay! Hip Hip Jeffraaaaay!

[2 for Jeff]

@craftdee I must say I do love your style of writing, (kind of all over the place) just like mine I usually read your posts a few times to make sure I don't miss anything. Now I think I feel more comfortable calling you Donna. Your one funny gal.

Seriously, it's good that you saw your situation in a realistic light; wasn't disappointed or anything just accepting of the fact that 'now' is not quite the time for hopping in the ol' all wheel drive sleigh (Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation, in case you don't recognize the reference, you being so young and all!)

I don't think I'm that much younger than you. I do remember all of those great movies from the eighties. Christmas Vacation might have been the 90's I'm not sure. But im a big Chevy Chase fan. My favorite is Spies like Us.
Being that I was a teenager in the early days of music videos, one of my favorite groups was from Austraila " Midnight Oil" remember them? I can still sing their song Beds are Burning, Opooops! Look at that Dahm cat, he's looking at me like I'm crazy Hey! Don't look at me like that! that's 80's music I'm singing
So many talented people from Austailla are making it big here in the states. There was a time all we knew was Paul Hogan, and Olivia Newton John, but not no more.

Anyway, I'm struggling here right now trying to strap this pad from my cold therapy machine to my shins ( not having much luck) there's got to be an easier way.

 

[CanukTriMom]

:dancing:@2 for Jeff

Jeff

Welcome to the ups and downs of what is loosely known as recovery! I can tell you from my experience that it will be that way until 6 weeks and then as you are able to do al those things without thinking about them first! Things such as sex, drive your car, walk around for more than 30 minutes without feeling winded, sleep all night on your surgery side, oh yes did I mention the sex......

I think you are doing great but no driving until cleared to do so! Just follow the rules and learn to ask for help,more often......get drivers for all appts lined up a week in advance if you can. Your neighbours want to help but you have to ask

Hope all is well and tell Chloe, my birthday is Monday and I turn 51! Think I will buy some new shoes for the gym. Which reminds me......wearing new shoes is a good idea as the old ones have old wear pattern from pre surgery.

Hugs from snowy Canada:reindeersleigh

 

[toohip]

Hi @2 for Jeff - I know what you mean about the shopping cart...that was me for WAY too long...It is a great feeling going shopping now and not having to use it as an aid. Regarding your foot 'straying' outward...that is muscle memory or brain to muscle memory...i sometimes have that where i raise my heal...sorta like when my one leg was shorter than the other...it takes a while to all get 'normal'...it also depends on how long you had the hip deformity or how long your foot pointed outwards (the longer it was, the longer to adjust). Will you eventually be doing physical therapy in a facility? If so, they will really work those muscles to get them corrected. I am glad all is going well for you. You've come such a long way from your first nervous post! PS, Australia does have great bands...i also love midnight oil!!! and i've been dancing and it feels great...but i still can't sleep on my operated side, i get a sharp pain by my hip...I also get that sharp pain if I sit or hit directly on the hip (near a point on the incision)...don't know what it's all about...I'm going to ask my doc when I see him in Jan/Feb. I just think for me it'll be a long road to a complete/full recovery. One thing is for sure, i no longer get depressed when i see my reflection walking, the limp is almost all gone!!! And I could just about tie my shoe on that side. Next goal is to go ice skating with my daughter this winter...soon, she comes home from school next week!!!

 

[2 for Jeff]

@CanukTriMom Looks like I have a lot to look forward to at around 6 weeks post-op

What a wonderful Birthday it's going to be for you on Monday. If you were to look back at where you were a year ago, Monday truly is a new birth, and new beginning for you

I hate to think of myself as hard headed, but I tend to learn things the hard way. With all of the information on this site, I continue to drop the ball and not follow advise.
So what happened now? Here I am thinking I'm doing a great thing by weening myself almost completely off of my pain meds at just 20 days post op. Not a good idea folks.
The OS said every 4 to 6 hours as needed, and I would stick my chest out and tell myself I don't need it
Like I said... I learn the hard way
My silent thoughts of the day.. Things can, and do, get better. Follow your routine.

 

[2 for Jeff]

@toohip Hi I'm still learning over here.
I think I had a late start with my recovery as far as in home PT. They didn't start coming to my house until 8 days after being discharged. I had to keep following up with the visiting nurse. I think they dropped the ball on the scheduling. It realy didn't slow me down much but I think I should have already been in a facility working with weights.
Anyway, today or tomorrow I will take a tour of a PT facility when my daughter gets out of school. I'm realy looking forward to it.

And you are so brave!! Ice Slating! This winter? Is that safe? You must be a good skater. I've never tried, but it sounds like a YES! I DID IT! Moment for you
Do you have any restrictions now that your 4 months out?

I wish you can get to that point when you could sleep on your side. I'm a rare ANY Position sleeper. On my back, stomach, even at the dinner table my wife and daughter has several cell phone pictures of me fast asleep at the dinner table. But that was back in the day when I couldn't sleep at night because of pain.

I know you must feel good with that new gate of yours. I still look at the home videos and shake my head. We must be in so much pain to walk like that.
Well I'm right behind ya, let's keep doing what we're doing

 

[CanukTriMom]

@2 for Jeff

So excited.....Big a News!!!

Last night we went to our son's High School Christmas concert (he played with 3 of the school bands including the senior band and he is in Grade 8). Anyway, I realized after sitting in the really hard wooden chair for 2.5 hours straight that I had no pain..there was no having to get up and stretch, no shifting around in the chair...truly a Christmas miracle

Then today, I went Christmas returning for 4 hours all over the city.....back, feet, hip all fine and dandy! Oh the way I shop is I buy what I think or know my family would like and then after wrapping everything, if there is too much for one person, stuff gets returned:reindeer:.

Looking forward to my bday and I hope Chloe is able to sleep with Christmas so near!!!:chris-win:

Hugs

Cheryl

 

[2 for Jeff]

@CanukTriMom Wow! That's a lot of stuff to get done, and it still sounds like you had more energy.
Way to go Cheryl. I've been thinking about my daughters Christmas play that's coming up and the first thing on my mind is those horrible wooden or plastic low to the ground chairs
I'm glad you made it through with your sons play. And congratulations to him for being selected to play with the big kids
You continue to inspire us with all that you can do.

Cheryl I've just started using my bicycle at home, and now I go back and forth from treadmill to bike 20 minutes each. And Monday is my first screening at the out patient physical therapy facility ( Yes on your Birthday)
Just incase I'm unable to go online Monday, Happy Birthday Cheryl and Treat yourself to something special

 

[craftdee]

Hi @2 for Jeff Thought I'd check in with you while hubby's having a shower ready to go out.

I do remember all of those great movies from the eighties. Christmas Vacation might have been the 90's I'm not sure

It's a 1989 movie... it's full title is "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and if you like Chevy Chase you've GOT to get hold of it, it is "our" Christmas family movie; my kids are in their 3'0's now and they still come over the week before Christmas, we have the "first cut of ham" and watch it. Honestly it's still funny, manages not to be dated and is full of family values... in a Chevy Chase fashion... you may want to watch it without Chloe the first time, to check if you think it's 100% suitable; I don't know how you roll with such things

I have to agree that Australia has produced some great bands, and some not bad movie stars either (I'm thinkin' of Hugh Jackman, but you're probably not... if you are, not in the same way ) We actually were at our cabin (regular renter, not owned sadly) in Margaret River (gorgeous area in our South West) a couple of years ago and had to wait while they filmed some scenes for the movie Drift with Sam Worthington... he is pretty hunky too, but as he's only 5 years older than my eldest son it seems really creepy thinking of him that way

The lead singer of Midnight Oil, Peter Garrett, went on to become a politician ... he was Minister for the Environment, for which he was very much an advocate throughout his musical career. He had a few controversys in his time...Let's just say that as a Minister he made a good Musician I actually liked him because he was a bit of a klux, but he just couldn't "talk the talk" so he faded out of politics... and now you've got me singing 80's music, getting it into your head is SO much easier than getting it out

Just reading your posts re Physio (PT), don't sweat it (see what I did there?!) you really don't need much "formal" PT (we only have one or two sessions scheduled here post op, to show you what NOT to do in the first few weeks if you have restrictions, as much as anything else) ... you won't do any harm by NOT doing PT but can easily do harm by doing too much, too soon or the wrong thing so I've had a couple of sessions, but I can honestly say it's the general moving around that's the real recovery... the one good thing about the PT sessions is that they've shown me the right way TO move around (correcting gait issues I didn't know I had, giving me stretches that relieve the pains I'm getting from moving differently than before my surgery, and from the trauma OF surgery) So the message I suppose is to build your strength and stamina without exhausting yourself, then you'll be ready to go for it in your PT sessions - whenever they arrive

I'm still on restrictions so I can't sit on low chairs... we went to an Industry function last night - yup, venue FULL of low sofas, sigh. I ended up standing the whole time, perched on a bar stool for about ten minutes, that wasn't working, then we decided we were too old for the noise level anyway and left after about an hour... took longer to get ready than it did to get bored

Now for my last "mummy message"... TAKE YOUR MEDS! You're not ready to be off them, you're "allowed" to be on them and I'm sure it's better for you and everyone else in the house if you ARE on them You've increased your activity level, so you're not comparing apples with apples if you're thinking "I shouldn't need as much pain relief as I did" just be nice to yourself.... pleeeez. And you are so right - it DOES get better, I was starting to think that my recovery had stalled, then the last few days have been SO much better
Sending hugs from a very Sunny Australia

 

[Jaycey]

TAKE YOUR MEDS!

When you start forgetting to take doses it's a sign your body is naturally weaning of your meds. For now - you need them to increase your activity levels. You are doing great @2 for Jeff !

 

[CanukTriMom]

@2 for Jeff

Jeff

Take a pillow to sit on when you go to Chloe's Christmas play...along with water and a few tylenol

Cheryl

 

[xtina16405]

@2 for Jeff i just got caught up on your thread. You are doing great my friend. Don't worry about the play. I went out week 2 to my sons football game. I just made sure I had an aisle seat so when I needed to stand I could. It is amazing how our bodies tell us. I think at week 4 I went and saw my nephew in his play. Same thing aisle seat and made sure I had leg rom so I could sit with leg straight out. You will be fine.

Please don't fret the PT. I did and it was so good. My PT even gave me a massage at the end. It was awesome and really worked out the soreness. Tomorrow make sure you take your pain meds before PT so they are working when you are done. Keep pedaling. You have come along way.

All my best,
Kristina

 

[2 for Jeff]

@CanukTriMom HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cheryl !
I hope every member wishes you a Happy B day wouldn't that be awesome?
We have a tradition ever since I was a little boy to have a Carvel ice cream cake for all Birthdays in our house.
They are so good.
Anyway, I hope you have GREAT day

 

[Poppet]

Just checking in with you @2 for Jeff - sounds like you are doing very well - good for you

 

[2 for Jeff]

@xtina16405 Hi And thanks for your advice. Yesterday was my first session at a facility for PT. My first impression was not good " No hip chairs for people who had hip surgery" my wife was so angry it's cold here in NJ so we took off my jacket, my daughters jacket, and my wife's jacket, balled them up and I sat on them.
Besides the rough start it was a good workout for me and new learning experience.
My muscles are very weak, so I still have a long way to go.
My insurance covers 20 visits of PT per calendar year. I'm hoping to get about 8 visits in before the end of this year, Then I have to be careful with my 20 session next year because I don't want to exhaust to many of them on my right hip alone because my left hip is getting replaced in February.
Oh well things are coming along for me. Except for NJ temporary disability process. Wow! I've been out of work since November 17th and they are still processing the forms. As of today they said upto 14 more days before seeing any benefits. Amazingly slow... I've been at the same job since 1985 paying into the government my share for these benefits and first time In 29 years that I call out to them for assistance and BAHM!
Thank God my wife and I planned a little for this and we are prepared. But for those who didn't plan and need that money to survive, it's a bumpy ride.
Oh yes,,,, the facility will be ordering new hip chairs...NOW

 

[PhatTxDiva]

Oh yes,,,, the facility will be ordering new hip chairs...NOW

Love it @2 for Jeff! You went in there and started regulating thangs!! Haha! Glad to hear that overall you are doing well.

Now that disability situation . . . all I can do is pray for you. My sister has MS and no longer works. She regales me from time to time about that crazy system. [soapbox] Darn shame. This country is bursting at the seams with money. No one should go without when they're sick or disabled. [/soapbox]

 

[2 for Jeff]

@PhatTxDiva Hi Angela That's funny, (Jeff State Regulator)
Yeah, nobody plans on getting sick but my wife and I figured I'd be out of work close to 6 months, being that I need both hips done back to back. It's not easy financially, and the amount of stress on the family is overwhelming.
But my wife and I look at these beautiful new implants as our family investment. And after reading lots of post op recovery threads, the return on my investment will be HUGE.

 

[craftdee]

Oh yes,,,, the facility will be ordering new hip chairs...NOW

...and @2 for Jeff strikes a blow for Hip recipients everywhere... or at least in his PT facility

Glad it went well, I have to say I'm a bit surprised how "weak" or maybe "unresponsive" is a better description, some of my muscles are too. I was in pretty good shape fitness wise prior to surgery, I'm still pretty good considering the restrictions I have hamper my normal routine, but my operated leg glutes and abductors etc feel like they've been anesthetized!! I am still really "aware" when I step up on my left foot, it's not painful but it's uncomfortable and just feels "weird". It's getting better, and now I've got a more flowing gait going (though to me it feels like I'm wiggling my butt in a suggestive manner) there's less general tightness, but "kitten" as in "weak as a" springs to mind sometimes like when I'm going up steps or climbing up into our SUV - hubby should let me drive more often as that side is easier for me to get into... like THAT's going to happen

Hope your finances get sorted soon, it is another stress you just don't need. I suppose you can use it as a learning experience for when you get your other hip done. We didn't have any of those issues... we're self employed so I didn't get paid at all It was one of the reasons I delayed surgery from July though, that is my busiest time (with external clients as well as our own business) as June 30 is the end of our financial year and I have quarterly and annual returns to do then... NOT the time to be recovering from major surgery with the meds fog and Energy Drain! As it was, when I did the Sept quarter figures I put all the figures from one business onto another business's tax form... I used White Out (a big no no!!) but I haven't heard anything back yet so maybe they knew I'd just had a THR and took pity on me... the Tax Office??!! Pity??!! nah

My son had a major accident last year, he was out of work for 17 weeks... he's self employed but has Income Protection Insurance (he's young, he needs it and it's not prohibitively expensive like it is for me!); I have to say they came to the party, he got a lump sum three weeks in to the ordeal, it made it a lot easier to budget... mind you his twins were only ten weeks old, so the budget was a bit of a fairy tale anyway at that stage

Have a good day:cool:
Donna

 

[2 for Jeff]

@craftdee

It's getting better, and now I've got a more flowing gait going (though to me it feels like I'm wiggling my butt in a suggestive manner

I Yi Yi Yi Donna your to much
I'm with you, I so much want a normal gait but I can't say I even know what normal is.
Think back when you, me, and all of us new Hippies would be close to tears with every step we took before surgery So a little wiggle as long as it don't hurt, WON'T hurt
I honestly can't believe tomorrow will be 4 weeks post op for me
My first follow up with my OS is January 5th. I hope we discuss hip number 2 I can't wait to get a definite date etched in the calendar.

There's good and bad people all over this world, and as I was watching the news the other day I was thinking about you and your family. I feel so sad for those people who got caught up in that insident at the mall in Sydney. It's so sad people had to lose their lives Shopping during the holidays. Senseless, Senseless, Senseless

Anyway your restrictions must be coming close to an end by now. That's gona be a big game changer for you.
Stay good down under
...Jeff

 

[2 for Jeff]

YESSSssss! I'm super proud of myself today I put my headphones on, turned on some 80's music and did 30 minutes on the treadmill and then 30 minutes on the stationary bike YESSSsss!!! And it felt good
Big day for me, and to top it off when my wife got home from work we went to the supermarket and I purposely left my cane in the car. I Did it! I Did it!

Don't worry, tomorrow will be rest and lots of ice.
The big thing for me is just knowing I can do it

 

[Poppet]

Yes, you have tested your boundaries, I so agree a day of rest comes next - well done you!