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THR Hitch & Get Along<

@Alitm - I am so guilty of derailing a thread without meaning to. I need to go to your thread to find a post about your upcoming #2 hip!!! I didn't respond at the time as we were headed out the door but I keep forgetting to go look for it. My apologies!

I think you are spot on about the 2nd hips holding us back from a full recovery with the first. I am very nervous about the entire procedure again. I just recently started to think about all of the restrictions I have placed on myself the last several years (without acknowledging WHY).

It definitely sounds like your other hip is ready to be worked on. Did your OS give you a timeline for a full recovery (or estimate)??? I believe in positive thinking but I do feel like some surgeons aren't realistic in terms of time to resume "normal" life.

That is quite an interesting 'take' on the cane vs. crutches. I think I have seen this in person in the grocery store. I told my husband today before I left to come home that I am going to use the crutches on these painful days!!

Keep on trucking - there's light at the end of the tunnel!
 
Hi again @NanaKP I don't meant to derail either, but it happens. If we are chatting, we should just stay on either my or your thread!! LOL. Maybe that way we'll be safe! No worries about not responding....life is busy, even if we are moving slowly :heehee:...or at least I am!

My second hip is either just before or just after you I think. I'm booked for #2 hip on Nov 8, four weeks from Thursday, but who is counting! Are you having the same OS again? Anterior approach correct? I'm having posterior again, with the same surgeon, who I am quite happy with.

I'm doing my best to get my right hip in as good condition as I can for the left hip surgery! Walk, ice, rest, walk, ice, rest, repeat! I'll be 7 weeks and 6 days post op #1, when I have #2.

Yup, just keep on trucking is right! Have a good evening!
 
I AM going with the same OS (though we have heard from many people, including our daughters to seek another surgeon out). My husband and I have faith in him and I think after what happened the first time around, he will proceed with extra caution. He does call me fairly often just to check in and see how I'm doing. I'm scheduled November 5th at 7 a.m. I told the scheduler that I wanted the first surgery of the day so that's what she did - his second surgery will be at noon that day. I feel a teeny bit bad asking specifically for that but Hipster (the OS) gets where I'm coming from.

I'm glad to read that you are happy with your surgeon as well. It really is important that you have a good relationship with the entire medical team. You're going posterior again and I'm going anterior. It will be interesting to see how both of our second time around's go. I keep reading that no two hips are alike, even on the same person. Though I had those complications occur, I do know that things could have been MUCH MUCH worse. I'm thankful I have something that can be fixed.

Will you stay in the hospital overnight or for a few days? I am planning on going outpatient again so hopefully home by that late afternoon. Have you been able to manage your pain thus far? It really is a learning curve, stay on top of it because that chasing of pain is exhausting. Speaking of exhausting, are you still dealing with those "pop up from nowhere" bouts of fatigue? Nap while you can, so important for your body while it's healing.

We are getting some light snow so my husband lit the fireplace and we're settled in with our laptops, watching the news. We usually FT with the grandsons every night (they live a mere 12 miles from us) so I'm sure we'll spend some time doing that. We sure do enjoy those boys!

Have a great night!
 
HI @NanaKP im so sorry about all your THR complications but just wanted to say I'm glad you and @Alitm will be recovery partners on both your #2 hips, the "forgotten hip" that rears its ugly (femoral) head just as the healing hip is starting to gain some traction. You couldn't find a better hippy partner to heal with (and if you're nice she will do horse impressions for you at your post-op celebration!) :) So there's that to look forward to!

Here I was thinking I'd gone through this rough recent run of inexplicable pain and turned a corner today then I read your story and feel so ....wimpy! You've had some real challenges, but it sounds like you're on the road to correcting everything now. I admire your courage and wishing you the very best with your November surgery. I had the same issue of the second hip declining extra rapidly during first hips recovery period, by the way. Mine, like most, started to ping around one month post op of first hip. It's very common it seems ...but it also seems none of us were aware of just how common it actually is ...until it happens.

Your surgeon sounds as if he has a vested and very human interest in you and your healing, which I'm sure is comforting especially when you're going back to retrace steps. You have to go with your gut and who you trust since its your body and not your daughters that will be wheeled into the OR. And just having that trust going in, IMO, is physically helpful towards having a better and more successful surgery. Wishing you well!!
 
@NanaKP It is important to like your surgeon and feel comfortable with him. The fracture thing is one of the risks of anterior, and that is just the way it goes. You just happened to be one of those statistics unfortunately. You know Hipster will be extra extra cautious next time. Great that he calls and checks on you! Yes, I like my surgeon very much. I was scheduled for first thing last time, and hope to be again.

I am a bit nervous about the second time around, as there seems to quite a few folks here who have had a really hard time with the second hip, more painful etc.

My surgeon wanted me to be able to go home the day of surgery, but my blood pressure (which is normally quite low) was very low and my O2 levels were also a bit low and I had to have a some oxygen. I went home the next day. I am hoping this time around I won't have the same issues, and as soon as my OS says I can go, I'll be out of there.

It will be interesting to hear what the OS has to say about the pain meds this time around...I'll ask him at my six week check up....when I'm clear headed. I managed to keep ahead of the pain this time around, but hate the brain fog and not being able to process, focus or remember anything while on them! I was off the Tramacet by two weeks, but do take a full complement of Tylenol. I tend to forget doses, but do better when I take them regularly.

The fatigue I had in the second week was from doing too much too soon. I was so excited to be on the crutches and did small outings (nothing exciting, but to my check up, pharmacy and physio...one each day) and did walks on the farm, and I was SO tired. Learned my lesson and paced myself a bit more. So far I haven't done it again, yet! I do get tired and know I need to rest, but not that crazy energy drain. Sleeping back in our bed now and have figured that out.

Sounds like you had a cozy and pleasant evening :)
 
Hi @1stSurgery - I had no idea that Alitm could do horsey impressions (though I love to read about their farm) and would LOVE to see pictures of those beautiful creatures (hint hint @Alitm). I know I've had a do-over time with this first hip but I still feel very fortunate that I'm not dealing with things much worse. @Fractured comes to mind every time I dare to complain and get the "woe is me". He (& his wife) have been through he** and back!!

We have talked to both of our daughters about our decision to stay with Hipster. My husband and I both feel confident in his ability and that he'll stick with me to see it all through (even the plastic surgery they are going to have done on my scar on the first hip - the dehiscence and infection left quite a crater in my thigh).

I have been following your thread and don't discount anything that you have been through. I think there is a small part in most all of us that thinks we can grind our way through recovery only to discover how much it truly takes out of us!

I'm really hoping I don't have a built-in weather station with this first hip. Our weather can (and does) change really fast and although we have very low humidity, this cold snap has me all achy.

@Alitm - I'll be looking forward to those horsey things (& pictures)!!!! LOL! Happy Wednesday everyone!
 
Haha @NanaKP - I believe you can find some horse photos at @Alitm s page but as for the now famous horse impressions... You'll just have to wait and see if she will give it up!

I hear you about the measuring of each of our valleys during recovery and feeling bad each time we see someone with a worse case scenario. It's never an easy haul to have major surgery so we all get our share of new challenges to cope with, but what I took away from the worst of it is that it has taught me to no longer be in deep fear of some things that I'd never experienced before this. Of deep pain, of surgery, of hospitals, meds, blood loss, illness, disability, dependence, vulnerability, weakness and even walkers and canes! I got a first hand chance to experience all of it in a years time and ...survive ok. Actually by 2019 probably survive excellently and be well again 100%. So it was a rewarding educational journey in that way!

Best of luck going forward and I'm so happy you're settled in and so comfortable with your OS. That's really important I think
 
@Mojo333 Can one of the Administrators please change my thread name from "Popping" to "Hitch & Get Along"? (Pretty please and thank you). I have decided that my new hips should have those names - the first one "Hitch" because it definitely did NOT go off without a hitch and "Get Along" because I am praying that hip #2 "gets along" just fine and dandy with zero complications. I'm trying to be as positive and upbeat as I can at this point but my nerves sneak in every so often. I try to remind myself every day that I have so much to be thankful for despite those setbacks.

Last night the grandsons were over for a bit and we played a wicked game of 'Sorry' - they looked at Nana like I was certified NUTS when I started doing the "I'm winnnnnnn-ing . . . . I'm winnnnnnnn-ing" dance. After dinner they played "Operation" with my husband (Poppy) and though the little guy is afraid of that buzzer, he decided as long as he had his toy construction worker goggles on, he was safe and was soon showing off his own "I'm winnnnnnn-ing" dance. They kept saying "is this the bone that is in your bum leg, Nana?"

I'm starting my "thank you for your great care" gift packages for my pre-op appointments and then of course, surgery day. I'm hoping for the same team at the surgical center that I had for first THR. They were AMAZING. The grandsons want to know if they can come hang out with Poppy again (hubs locked his keys in the car that morning when we arrived so our daughter loaded up all 3 knuckleheads and brought over the extra set of keys - I was still in surgery so they sat in the waiting room for a little bit). Hopefully, we won't have a repeat of THAT little incident.

Snow is coming on Sunday (5" they're saying) and a starting temperature of 14 on Monday. Pretty sure this girl will NOT be going in to work until I am 100% sure I can park where there is ZERO ice/snow.
 
:wave:Name change is in the works.
I love love love it.:loveshwr:
I also love your positivity and determination.
Sounds like your grandchildren are loving Nana's new hip too!
Have a great weekend and I too will pray that Hip 2 can Get Along without a Hitch.
(:)well, hope they both get along together...but you know what I mean):ok:
 
@NanaKP I love your new thread name!

I do have horses and refer to my rehab in terms of how I have rehabbed horses over the years :heehee:. I like to know every details of what is going on and the horse vets are good at giving that, as the owners are chief nurse in charge in times of equine injury and illness! My physio, after seeing me on and off for three years, now goes right to the heart of the issue, with no fluff, as he has realized that that's how my brain works. My OS tells me (in the kindest way) I over think things too much, but I still say to him, "...but I have to know about how that (whatever) works!" I like to be an informed consumer regarding what goes on with my body!

The nerves are sneaking in here a bit from time to time. For the most part I push them away, but our surgery dates are coming up quickly.

Sounds like winter has arrived with your snow fall already! Take care in that, I know you are!

Thinking of you and hoping that you are as comfortable as possible. You will be do really well with your second surgery. It will be anterior again yes? That should have you up and about quickly. I'm going with posterior again, but really like my OS and he has done a great job this first time...hoping for the same second time around :praying::)

Have a great weekend! :SUNsmile:
 
Greetings @Alitm -- I actually LOVE how you refer to your own recovery in terms of rehabbing your beautiful horses. It makes perfect sense to me and as far as "overthinking" things . . . . pish posh. I'm betting your OS admires the fact that you are grounded and WANT to understand what is going on with your body. If only more human beings would participate in their own health, hmm? I tend to throw a bunch of humor in when I'm feeling nervous but my husband is pretty stoic and wants the words of truth without any fluff. He and the OS have had their "come to Jesus" moment when we met that Saturday evening to discuss repairing my fracture and NOT moving ahead to #2 until it was done.

The snow hasn't started yet, right now we're enjoying the calm before the storm (typical Colorado). We did a HUGE shopping trip this morning at Costco in order to get everything ready for my husband's upcoming hunting trip. He will be gone for a week, a trip he looks forward to every year. I'm just very glad that I am pretty much self-sufficient right now so that he can go without worrying. It's supposed to start raining late afternoon, turn to snow early evening and not stop until noon tomorrow. All of the trees still have their leaves so I'm hoping it's not that super heavy snow we can get or we'll be waking up to tree limbs down all over the place. Fall and spring in Colorado can be harsh!!!

I can't imagine having an upcoming surgery after just having had the first replacement. Will you have the same restrictions that you had in the beginning with the first or will there be added ones because they are so close together? My approach will be anterior and I am planning on doing it as outpatient (home the same day) providing everything goes well. The surgery to fix the fracture ended up with me having to spend the night at the hospital because my bloodpressure dropped way low and I needed oxygen but I don't anticipate that with the 'get along hip (different surgical centers). Will you be spending the night?

I hope your Saturday is going well! Stay warm!
 
Hello @NanaKP I do make a joke or two when I'm nervous! I would be down to brass tacks though if I'd had a fracture. That was an important meeting for you and hubby, on that Saturday evening. Good that the air could be cleared and you are all on the same page. I couldn't remember if they still had to remove hardware, but that has been done. The focus for your surgery is all about the THR on the second hip now, which is great.

Great that your hubby is getting away on his hunting trip. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if my hubs could have a break, but I think we are both wanting to get my other hip done, and get on with life. He has also been going back and forth (twice) out of the country this year to help with his 95 year old Mum. So it has been hard on him. That situation is holding well right now, but could change in an instant...so better to press on with my hip surgery.

Good luck with the weather while your hubby is away. No fun when you get the heavy stuff while the trees still have leaves! I can here the cracking and snapping in my head...:praying: :fingersx: that you don't get too much of the white stuff!

Are you fully weight bearing on your first hip now? How is that feeling? You don't still have any restrictions do you?

My restrictions are until my six week check up on the 29th...just three days over six weeks..but every day counts! I will be mindful of the restrictions even still until three months out on the first hip. I know I won't have the benefit of a fully healed leg this time around....although my left hip is not entirely reliable, it catches etc. and can be quite painful if I do something the wrong way. I started using the walking poles, and they are like magic in terms of getting me to walk. So much has happened with the walking since Tuesday night, when my neighbours stopped by to lend me their walking sticks and showed me how to use them. Each week I have a major shift of some sort in my "ambulation". I think I'll be OK by 8 weeks to be honest. I just have to keep walking! My right knee is bugging me, and I'm getting a twinge in my mid back, where I have some issues. The mid back thing hasn't bothered me in so long. I really focused on my foot placement and heel toeing it with my op leg today when I was walking. I think that is key to sorting out my knee, and my back. I am taller on one side, which will be addressed with the next op, and I have one healthy hip and one really duff hip, so I'm really crooked. I'm sure that is complicating matters. Just need to stay on course slowly but surely until surgery day.

My main focus is to get my current op leg to be as fit as possible without overdoing it. Just do my walking and icing and pray a lot!! :angel: Today we had lovely weather, so walked out to the barn, and did the loop around back to the house, then have iced for quite awhile. I'll do another walk in bit, maybe not as far. I've done a few things around the house too. My neighbours who have let me borrow the walking sticks said I should make my goal to walk them back to their house, once the ones I ordered arrive...we'll see! Walked quite a bit in Home Depot yesterday and was a bit achy this AM, but was overdue for Tylenol when I woke up. It feels really good to be walking again though, I can't believe it. I can walk without the poles, but have a major limp, but I feel that the more I walk with the poles, the better the walking without them will get.

Nice that you can do the anterior and be outpatient. I was out the next day after my op. I have so many issues in my low back now, that I don't really want them messing around with needles back there. I have had two epidurals in the past, with no issues, but they were along time ago! I'm a big chicken and I don't want to hear anything! My OS said that we should stay with what worked for me last time, a general and go home asap. I could have gone home the same day my OS said, but like you with the hardware removal, my PB was super low (I have low BP anyway) and I also needed a bit of O2 as well. I was fine the next morning so I was up and walking, did the stairs and was shown how to get in and out of the car, and home we went. Hoping for the same set up this time. I will go with the flow, whatever happens. It is like childbirth IMO.....have a plan but be really flexible!! Hoping for an easy time and home quickly.
Wishing you a relaxing evening :) :-) (:
 
Good morning Alitm - I hope this one month anniversary for your new hip is a bright, happy day! It's a journey going through recovery, baby steps forward and (occasionally) a step back. I'm so curious about those walking sticks, what do they look like? Can you post a picture? I take my cane everywhere but I haven't been using it much the last day or so - woke up today feeling like I can walk more "even" than I did yesterday. Happy girl here!

Since you have your right hip done first, I'm curious - have you been able to drive again yet? I was able to drive within 3 weeks of having my left hip done but I don't know how long it will be with the right one. You may have told me already so forgive me for asking again but do you have stairs at home? We live in a 4 story house so it's a given that I have to go up and down on a regular basis. I slept in the recliner the first 10 days with my first hip then we put an air mattress on top of our bed (it's a waterbed, we're old school). That getting in and out of bed, even with the air mattress, was absolutely grueling the first night home (then we realized it was probably from the fracture).

I totally know where you're coming from with the left hip acting up (as well as your knee and back). I think our bodies have been trying to compensate for so long that when one part gets fixed, the balance is thrown again and different requirements are placed on all extremities. It truly is more like a journey of a thousand steps, don't you think?

I'm glad your mother-in-law is doing well for now but that has to be incredibly difficult for your husband. I will pray that her health remains steadfast while you get this next hip done. I totally agree with you in "getting it done and getting on in life". I wanted both of my hips done by late summer so I was totally rehabbed before the snow and ice came. The "best laid plans . . . " hmmm? I didn't want to be laid up through the holidays but since my right hip is not capable of pulling it's own weight much longer, I see the need for just slogging through it and hopefully 2019 will be one of great milestones!! To be honest, I was not even aware of how much my hips were holding me back until I was forced to rest, ice and be conscious of every single step.

You had mentioned that you have 3 children? Twins? Do you have siblings? I have 4 sisters and 1 brother, none of my siblings have OA (or not that we're aware of yet). I'm the youngest of the 6 so we were all very surprised when I was told that I needed THR on both sides.

Time for me to get some more things checked off of my "to do" list. I have never been so thankful for Amazon Prime the last 6 months!! It's a life saver (and dangerous too because it's sooooo easy!!) LOL

Kim

PS
May I ask your first name? If you'd rather not say, I understand.
 
Next Monday (22nd) I will meet with my OS and do my pre-op (once again). My husband won't be here for this appointment as he will be off chasing the big game in the high country! I am so happy and thankful that he will be able to participate in his annual week of hunting, he works so hard at our business and takes great care of me at the same time. His request however, is that Dr Hipster have a CT scan done on my fractured hip to make sure it is well on its way healing before we knock the other hip out of commission. I agreed and have since put the request in to the office to order that up. No sense in completing all of the pre-op scheduled for next week if the first hip is failing is heal. The last scan was read within hours so I'm assuming we can go that route again. My surgeon has been extremely attentive and thoughtful with me after the troubles I've had.

I started taking Magnesium about a week or so ago and I'm also starting Elderberry syrup because I have a cold (thank you grandsons). I didn't give either much thought but since I'm supposed to have a full panel of bloodwork taken next week, will those supplements mess with the results? I do think the Magnesium is helping me sleep so I'd like to continue taking that. Trying to get this cold over with is my next concern.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts on this.
 
:sad:Oh my stars... No Colds!!! Pump up with some good old Orange Juice..vitamin C for sure.
Glad the magnesium is helping you get some rest!
:fingersx: for all to be well!
 
I just wanted to drop by and say hello. Looks like we're scheduled for the same day as long as your surgical plan doesn't change. I did my pre op yesterday and am still on track for surgery on 11/5. Hope your CT scan looks great and you shake this cold quickly.
 
Hi there @SwampHiker - my gosh you are quite young to be having this type of surgery (though I know there are all ages all over the place on here). I, too, hope my CT looks good and that we can proceed. I am filling myself with vitamins and extra sleep to try to get rid of this cold. I want to go hang with the grandsons this weekend but I'm a bit nervous with the cold (that's where I picked it up)!!!!

Are you nervous about your upcoming THR? I see your little one in the picture, I hope you have some help in the early days of recovery.
 
Colds sure are the gift that keep on giving. ...sounds like you've got the key ingredients to get rid of it though. I can understand wanting to see those grandsons though :)

I'm a little nervous about the surgery, but far more excited to be on the path to recovery.
 
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