EditorER
junior member
I had my right hip replaced two days ago. I was very apprehensive about this surgery because my left hip replacement 5.5 years ago left me with some collateral nerve and muscle damage. So far, so good with this one! I can do the quad sets and modified leg lifts—even in the recovery room. What a relief. It took me 8 weeks to do that last time.
I was surprised to have spinal anesthesia this time. It was very comfortable and so much easier to come out of. I had the option to stay awake and hear the saws and chisels—no thank you! I was instructed to speak up if I came to and heard anything. At one point, I did hear voices and noises and in my head, I emailed the anesthesiologist to ask him to put me back under. Three times I mentally sent the email, before realizing I should communicate by voice. He told me they were almost finished, had five minutes to go, and were putting glue on my leg. Then they transferred me to a gurney and wheeled me into recovery.
I felt fine in the recovery room. I did not have blood transfusions this time (had two last time), so my color was good and I felt clear-headed. They had given me some opioids in the spinal so I had good pain control. The wait for a room was long and the nurse gave me a little bit of fentanyl to hold me over. I instantly got woozy and she declared me a lightweight. I think I already knew that. Then she offered me apple juice and I was very thirsty so I took it. Big mistake. It upset my stomach terribly. By the time I was wheeled to my room—about three hours post op—I was vomiting. Nausea persisted throughout the evening and I sipped soup and tea for my dinner. And ate lots of saltines.
During the transfer from recovery to my hospital room (with a pretty garden view!) they stopped the gurney in the hall outside my room and had me use a walker to get to the bed. That, too, was unexpected. Last time, I didn’t walk until the next day and sobbed and sobbed from anxiety and emotion and anesthesia after-effects. This time I was calm and amazed that I could walk so early! I only tiptoed on my new hip though. Wasn’t ready to put the heel down.
I did not have much pain during the night (2-3 range) and I kept calling for the ice. Advocating for myself was another difference with surgery #2. I did not hesitate to use the nurse call button, but made sure to say please and thank you. It’s always hard to find a comfortable position for sleep, but I did manage to doze off and on.
The morning after I was up early, knowing the drill of blood draw, OT, PT, and surgeon visit. I was doing pretty well and just taking a bit of pain meds. Catheter came out and I made my second walk, to the bathroom. That was fairly painful, with all the stiffness in limbs that I held very still throughout the night. The OT, Pierre, was super sweet and helpful. I also had a sweet student PT, Natalie, who was very kind and soothing. She took me for a lap around the ward and we practiced the step. The lap was difficult, but I made it.
Everyone was so positive about how I was doing that they decided I should be discharged. I had expected to stay two nights, so I was surprised, and frankly, not ready to go. I didn’t have confidence that my husband could handle the transfers, etc. with the gentleness of the hospital staff. So I bargained that I stay through the afternoon and he could come in for some training after he finished teaching for the day.
I enjoyed the rest of the morning, texting and receiving calls, reading my emails, ordering my lunch, etc. Then the inevitable slump hit. I tried to take a nap and the position was so uncomfortable and painful (4, 5, 6). The nurse calculated the time between doses wrong and gave me my meds (NORCO) an hour later than she should have. Then PT showed up for another session and the training with my husband and the med had not kicked in yet. I made a lot of grunting, moaning sounds and held back tears. And yet, I was discharged. By the time I had real clothes on and the meds had kicked in, I was more comfortable with the idea.
It did feel good to be home and my husband took good care of me. He made homemade French Onion soup, which was delicious and nourishing. I settled on the chaise part of the sofa and we watched a favorite TV show. But I found getting up from the sofa difficult and decided to try sleeping in our bed. Again, the positions I tried were very uncomfortable and I quickly abandoned the bed for the recliner I bought on Craigslist a few weeks ago. To my delight, I could find a comfortable position there and it was easy to place the ice pack. I decided to spend the night there and chose to take the NORCO, Tramadol, and Celebrex at full doses so I would sleep. It worked fairly well. I am so grateful for the chair. My husband slept on the couch nearby and was able to help me get up to the bathroom once during the night and to bring fresh ice and tuck the blankets.
This morning, he helped me get ready for the day and then went to work. I am alone until home health comes mid-morning. So far, so good. I made sure my nest was ready.
I still have some nausea with meds and nibble on crackers every time I take them. My appetite is low, but I am eating small meals. Overall, everything is easier than the left hip surgery, and that is HUGE!
A 77-year-old acquaintance had hip replacement surgery with bone grafting, just like me, with the same surgeon, right before me. She was in the next room. We texted and called a few times. She was struggling with the top-of-the-chart pain (9-10) and felt miserable that she was not doing as well as I was. I reminded her that it is not a competition and every recovery is different. She has not had many medical procedures in her life and her expectations may have been different. Her pain got out of control early and was hard to rein in. I know a 40-year-old woman who had hip replacement a few weeks ago and she is pain free, traveling, playing with her kids on the playground, and back at work as a wedding florist. I make myself crazy looking at her Instagram feed. Comparisons are rarely helpful unless one keeps the spectrum of experience firmly in mind.
I hope the other mid-November Bone Smarties are doing well. My heart goes out to those whose surgeries were canceled. With all the preparation and anxiety that comes before surgery, it is good to be on the other side, even if that means dealing with pain, discomfort, and limited mobility. The progress curve is on the upswing!
I was surprised to have spinal anesthesia this time. It was very comfortable and so much easier to come out of. I had the option to stay awake and hear the saws and chisels—no thank you! I was instructed to speak up if I came to and heard anything. At one point, I did hear voices and noises and in my head, I emailed the anesthesiologist to ask him to put me back under. Three times I mentally sent the email, before realizing I should communicate by voice. He told me they were almost finished, had five minutes to go, and were putting glue on my leg. Then they transferred me to a gurney and wheeled me into recovery.
I felt fine in the recovery room. I did not have blood transfusions this time (had two last time), so my color was good and I felt clear-headed. They had given me some opioids in the spinal so I had good pain control. The wait for a room was long and the nurse gave me a little bit of fentanyl to hold me over. I instantly got woozy and she declared me a lightweight. I think I already knew that. Then she offered me apple juice and I was very thirsty so I took it. Big mistake. It upset my stomach terribly. By the time I was wheeled to my room—about three hours post op—I was vomiting. Nausea persisted throughout the evening and I sipped soup and tea for my dinner. And ate lots of saltines.
During the transfer from recovery to my hospital room (with a pretty garden view!) they stopped the gurney in the hall outside my room and had me use a walker to get to the bed. That, too, was unexpected. Last time, I didn’t walk until the next day and sobbed and sobbed from anxiety and emotion and anesthesia after-effects. This time I was calm and amazed that I could walk so early! I only tiptoed on my new hip though. Wasn’t ready to put the heel down.
I did not have much pain during the night (2-3 range) and I kept calling for the ice. Advocating for myself was another difference with surgery #2. I did not hesitate to use the nurse call button, but made sure to say please and thank you. It’s always hard to find a comfortable position for sleep, but I did manage to doze off and on.
The morning after I was up early, knowing the drill of blood draw, OT, PT, and surgeon visit. I was doing pretty well and just taking a bit of pain meds. Catheter came out and I made my second walk, to the bathroom. That was fairly painful, with all the stiffness in limbs that I held very still throughout the night. The OT, Pierre, was super sweet and helpful. I also had a sweet student PT, Natalie, who was very kind and soothing. She took me for a lap around the ward and we practiced the step. The lap was difficult, but I made it.
Everyone was so positive about how I was doing that they decided I should be discharged. I had expected to stay two nights, so I was surprised, and frankly, not ready to go. I didn’t have confidence that my husband could handle the transfers, etc. with the gentleness of the hospital staff. So I bargained that I stay through the afternoon and he could come in for some training after he finished teaching for the day.
I enjoyed the rest of the morning, texting and receiving calls, reading my emails, ordering my lunch, etc. Then the inevitable slump hit. I tried to take a nap and the position was so uncomfortable and painful (4, 5, 6). The nurse calculated the time between doses wrong and gave me my meds (NORCO) an hour later than she should have. Then PT showed up for another session and the training with my husband and the med had not kicked in yet. I made a lot of grunting, moaning sounds and held back tears. And yet, I was discharged. By the time I had real clothes on and the meds had kicked in, I was more comfortable with the idea.
It did feel good to be home and my husband took good care of me. He made homemade French Onion soup, which was delicious and nourishing. I settled on the chaise part of the sofa and we watched a favorite TV show. But I found getting up from the sofa difficult and decided to try sleeping in our bed. Again, the positions I tried were very uncomfortable and I quickly abandoned the bed for the recliner I bought on Craigslist a few weeks ago. To my delight, I could find a comfortable position there and it was easy to place the ice pack. I decided to spend the night there and chose to take the NORCO, Tramadol, and Celebrex at full doses so I would sleep. It worked fairly well. I am so grateful for the chair. My husband slept on the couch nearby and was able to help me get up to the bathroom once during the night and to bring fresh ice and tuck the blankets.
This morning, he helped me get ready for the day and then went to work. I am alone until home health comes mid-morning. So far, so good. I made sure my nest was ready.
I still have some nausea with meds and nibble on crackers every time I take them. My appetite is low, but I am eating small meals. Overall, everything is easier than the left hip surgery, and that is HUGE!
A 77-year-old acquaintance had hip replacement surgery with bone grafting, just like me, with the same surgeon, right before me. She was in the next room. We texted and called a few times. She was struggling with the top-of-the-chart pain (9-10) and felt miserable that she was not doing as well as I was. I reminded her that it is not a competition and every recovery is different. She has not had many medical procedures in her life and her expectations may have been different. Her pain got out of control early and was hard to rein in. I know a 40-year-old woman who had hip replacement a few weeks ago and she is pain free, traveling, playing with her kids on the playground, and back at work as a wedding florist. I make myself crazy looking at her Instagram feed. Comparisons are rarely helpful unless one keeps the spectrum of experience firmly in mind.
I hope the other mid-November Bone Smarties are doing well. My heart goes out to those whose surgeries were canceled. With all the preparation and anxiety that comes before surgery, it is good to be on the other side, even if that means dealing with pain, discomfort, and limited mobility. The progress curve is on the upswing!