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THR Hip replacement March 22

Indigo
So scary to fall & then couple that with excruciating pain & not being able to move & you know this can’t be good.
I went outside to bring some animal food out & slipped on small patch of ice. My partner was in the house & realized I had been out there longer so he looked out the window & I was on my hands & knees crawling back to house. Crazy. Now I never step a foot out my door without my phone in pocket.
 
There stories of falling send shivers down my spine! Must be very traumatic to deal with the accident and then go through hip replacement unexpectedly. I take my hat off to you all. I at least had some time to contemplate and prepare... In my case more time to get anxious and panic to be truthful but still, I did also get time to prepare people around me and the house.
 
IndigoKnee said:
I wanted to ask if anyone else found that the operated leg has a tendency to flop inwards at rest - if sitting the 'good' leg is a straight line from hip to knee then another straight line to the floor but the operated side the knee wants to swing inward and so does the ankle.
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I experienced this, but only in the opposite direction, just as Deni444, mentioned she did. My OS referred to it as external rotation and told me surgery would correct it. I was rather dismayed afterward when I noticed it was still the same, but found him true to his word, and given time, it eased. I believe how quickly it resolves has a lot to do with whether you had long standing stiffness pre-op, surgical factors and your rehab. Yours sounds like internal rotation and I believe it will likely improve over weeks to months as your soft tissues adapt to the prosthetic and your leg regains strength. My mom, not a medical professional, used to tell me to consciously turn it inward, but I typically don't listen to her, :wink: gave it time, and it eventually aligned with my non op leg.
Have a great rest of the week, IndigoKnee!
 
myglasshalffull said:
Indigo
So scary to fall & then couple that with excruciating pain & not being able to move & you know this can’t be good.
I went outside to bring some animal food out & slipped on small patch of ice. My partner was in the house & realized I had been out there longer so he looked out the window & I was on my hands & knees crawling back to house. Crazy. Now I never step a foot out my door without my phone in pocket.
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@myglasshalffull Yes it can happen so quickly! I was just walking back to my car from my Tai Chi class when I tripped and fell heavily. Initially I thought maybe in a few minutes the pain might improve but my leg was at an odd angle and when I tried very carefully to move it I actually screamed very loudly and realised something was very wrong. I did have my phone with me, but it was deep in a pocket of the side I was lying on. Fortunately some passers by called an ambulance.
 
Deni444 said:
There stories of falling send shivers down my spine! Must be very traumatic to deal with the accident and then go through hip replacement unexpectedly. I take my hat off to you all. I at least had some time to contemplate and prepare... In my case more time to get anxious and panic to be truthful but still, I did also get time to prepare people around me and the house.
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@Deni444 It gave me less time in a way to fret about it as there was no choice but go ahead whereas with the planned knee surgery I got really nervous the day before and was panicking about the surgery. Mind you I wouldn't want to go through the pain of the fracture again and then to wait two days before surgery. :hairpulling:
 
A belated Happy One Month Anniversary, IndigoKnee!
I just noticed you are not on the monthly team thread for March. We'll get you added to the group.
Take care!
@IndigoKnee
 
Two days!! I honestly can't imagine it. Must have been like torture. For me, one of the surprising things was the lack of pain post surgery. Obviously it's because you are on medication but still... I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I was. Stiff, strange and uncomfortable at times but not what I'd call pain. Was it the same post surgery with a fracture?
 
@Deni444
Initially they had hoped to operate the day after the fracture but unfortunately it wasn’t done until the Saturday (fracture was Thursday midday) so was pretty grim even with painkillers and I was unable to move. After the op I was still numb for a few hours (bliss, no pain) as it was a spinal anaesthetic but then the pain kicked in later evening and I was given morphine. The whole next week the pain often seemed to get out of control and I remember begging to see a doctor to get better/ stronger painkillers. I assume this was because of the fracture. It didn’t help that often the drug round was an hour or more late so the spasms of pain took hold. After the morphine I was mainly on Oxycodene which seemed to work fine after that first awful week. I was sent home with some but being very wary if it’s addictive problems I gradually reduced the dose during my first week at home. Actually I'd forgotten quite how awful the pain was but I had made notes on my phone and looked at them just now. :hissy:

On the positive side I managed to walk to the village yesterday (on crutches) and had an ice cream at the cafe then popped into our whole food store to say Hi to people. Shattered today though. :yahoo:(Of course can only move like the emoji in my imagination!)
 
Well happy you made your way to get some ice cream & enjoy time out. So now today you can rest & ice.
You will find a good balance.
 
Fantastic progress! That sounded like absolute bliss to walk to the village and get ice cream. Then to have a wander around a shop like an everyday person. It's a milestone for the diary!

I'm not surprised you felt a bit exhausted after. After a day of rest you can do it all again and more.

Great news!
 
It's wonderful you made it out and about and enjoyed some ice cream and visiting with others. Such a mood booster! I hope you're not suffering for it too badly today. You know the drill if you are. Lots of rest and ice and you'll be back in biz soon. :ok:Happy Wednesday!
@IndigoKnee
 
Thanks everyone for good wishes. Yes a quiet day today - some time sitting in the garden reading and some time lying down.
BTW I was surprised that after the fall and subsequent hip replacement I was feeling a huge lack of confidence, not simply a fear of walking and rejoining physical activities but a reluctance to go back to non physical groups such as the poetry group I belong to. Interesting that my shock affected my view of those things. Starting to come round to thinking that of course I will go back once fit and driving, but find it strange how easily I was thinking I would give things up. I didn’t feel feel like that after my planned knee replacement two years ago, that time I was just itching to get back to things.
 
I think a serious fall or injury can really shake your soul. So, it’s not surprising to me that you have to re-enter your normal life all over again both mentally and physically. It’s good that you’ve recognized this so you can actively work on it. This was a huge shock to your entire mind and body, so your feelings are certainly understandable. Sometimes we just have to hunker down and wait for everything to settle out. You’re on your way to doing just that!
 
Thanks @Jamie That does make sense. I’ll need time to readjust and certainly I can’t consider rejoining things until I have clearance to drive. Also need time for my brain to be capable of contributing to discussions again! :what:
 
You’ll get there….don’t worry. Just take baby steps and normal will return to your life again.
 
Indigo
Very normal after this type of accident to feel very cautious about each & every move you make. I get it.
You will overcome that in time.
Best thing is to socialize when you are up to it.
It took me close to 2 months to even tell some of my friends what happened to me. No clue why, I just shared it with my youngest son who lives close by & a couple of close GF’s. I hate a lot of attention if I’m not feeling good so I guess that’s why & then they all want to visit & I just wasn’t up to sitting & making small talk. After about a month one couple did visit & I told them I can’t sit for long so come by 4 & by 7 I’ll need to lay down. I managed to cook a nice meal & I did enjoy the company but right to bed once they left. You need to advocate for yourself, I wasn’t rude just explained that sitting for long period was like sitting on a tennis ball & uncomfortable.
 
Thanks @myglasshalffull - I'm the same, hate being fussed over if unwell. I also told minimal people and my daughter was surprised that I hadn’t even told neighbours.

I find even lengthy phone calls tiring and if after an hour I say that I really must go now the friend on the other end seems a bit put out. I’m learning through that I need to do what is best for me!

I had told people at the Poetry and other groups that I had an accident and it might be some time before I was able to return whilst initially thinking to myself that I might not go back. I will return I think, just that initially my poor brain didn’t want to think about anything needing more ‘serious' reading and the effort of getting to the groups seemed too much.
It’s so nice to share with people that understand.

:)
 
That’s why we are all here cause recovery can be a lonely road to travel alone.
I find folks that have never had any type of surgery, let alone a part of their body replaced to be well meaning but there is no way they could understand the challenges of recovery as well as the loss of independence.
But good news is we do recover.
 
I think many of us have come across well meaning people who have often never even been in hospital let alone had surgery who are surprised we are not 'back to normal' a few days after surgery, often with tales of people who were doing amazing things immediately. Certainly that was the case after my knee surgery two years ago and also with this hip surgery. So it’s so useful to 'talk' to people who have actually been through it! :console2:
One friend was surprised I had not driven to and attended a group several miles away a few days after surgery!
 
IndigoKnee said:
I find even lengthy phone calls tiring and if after an hour I say that I really must go now the friend on the other end seems a bit put out.
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Consider mentioning at the beginning of calls that you want to catch up, but the call will likely be short as you're still in early recovery and you're getting ready to rest for a time.
Hopefully they will be understanding without feelings getting hurt.
IndigoKnee said:
One friend was surprised I had not driven to and attended a group several miles away a few days after surgery
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:heehee: So crazy!
Wouldn't you love to send them a video of the surgery so they have a better understanding.

Check this thread out, if you haven't already. Happy Friday...I hope its a good one!
 
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