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THR Hopefully Hippy Recovery

Thanks both and have great weekends too! I have been practising walking outside without crutch just in our front drive which is concreted and flat. I had my headphones on and was walking around in time to music. Did this for 10 minutes just twice a day and concentrated on heel to toe as advised here. Iced straight afterwards and caught up with series 2 of Mad Men which I am watching for the second time round! Seems to have gone ok. Very confident walking with one crutch so all good.

Lovely sunny day today so possible bbq when things warm up.
 
SurreyGirl said:
Each exercise session twice a day. I stopped all of these last Tuesday after physio and just concentrated on walking.
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Well, I'm pleased to hear that anyway!
SurreyGirl said:
Each exercise session twice a day
1) Sidestepping to the left about 10 steps and then to the right
2) swinging left leg out to the side - small movement whilst clenching buttocks 10 times
3)Swinging left leg to the back 10x small movement
4)Small squats 10x Clenching buttocks and keeping back straight

5) Small lunge with left leg stretched to back and bending right knee then reverse
6) Swaying from side to side transferring weight
7) 15 steps of stairs once a day. Was doing alternate legs as normal but PT told me to go back to the previous way of stepping up with right leg and then bringing up left
8) Knee raises from standing 10x can get to 90 degrees.
9) walking forwards and backwards 4 steps each way adjusting balance from heel toe forwards and toe heel backwards.
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These are all responsible for your pain. Totally and unequivocally!
Didn't you see this in amongst your recovery guidelines?

Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.
SurreyGirl said:
1000 mg paracetamol 4x a day
1x Codeine 30mg in morning and one at night
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You can take more than that. Try taking 30mg codeine with each dose of paracetamol. Or you can take a second codeine night and morning too. Just make sure you take something regularly to keep your bowels regular!
SurreyGirl said:
I believe the Consultant status is higher than the Registrars
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Of course they are! The consultant stays put for years and is the boss of his department! The registrars go from consultant to consultant for training in the hopes of eventually getting a post as a consultant!
 
@Josephine

Thanks Josephine! And welcome back.

I was cutting down on the codeine as will be going back to work shortly - hopefully phased return. also about to run out so if codeine will try to get another prescription off my GP. If I get more will up it again as long as it doesn’t affect my concentration.

I have four more pre-paid physio sessions but will concentrate on massages rather than exercise but will keep up with the walking. At work that is how I intend to spend some of my lunch break. I do feel over the last 2 weeks I have started to make progress again.

So in this whole process over the 9 months since referral I have seen my consultant for 20 minutes total (the operation doesn’t count ;-)

Hubby and I were listening to the radio version of Doctor In the House - currently on Radio 4 extra. The episode re the operation had me crying with laughter. I wonder really how much things have changed sometimes.

I was told I was weight bearing but nothing about restrictions but have been following them anyway.

Thanks for the encouragement and will let you know how it goes next week. Btw have also lost 3 kg since the op which I need to do. I have a target for next year I intend to meet!

Best wishes Surrey Girl
 
Well my “exercise” today was shopping for one hour at the supermarket using one crutch. 20 minute car journey each way. Nope I wasn’t driving.

The first thing I noticed was people paid far less attention to “crutch-girl” on one crutch than when I was on two last week! A little girl nearly sent me flying and her lovely mother had the grace to apologise..well this is Waitrose (!)

My meal of the week which I am cooking Wednesday is going to be Penang Duck Curry.H out at rehearsals for a few nights so have bought fish to cook for my evenings alone. Nice and easy with ready to go vegetables.

After the shop and the drive home rested up with ice as a bit tender but not as tired as was post shop last week.

Sorry to have missed an all day “orchestra day” at my uni where we rehearse a piece from scratch in the morning and early afternoon and then perform it. Last year it was “Rite of Spring” which was great fun as I had not played it since music college days.
 
The Big Day as arrived!

After the disappointing postponement last week I saw a lovely Registrar - about 35 years younger than my Consultant.
He was very helpful and answered all my questions but I forgot to ask about a Discharge letter doh!!

1) The X-rays showed a very deteriorated left hip and he said he was not surprised I was in so much pain beforehand. The really GOOD news is that my right hip shows a very small amount of arthritis and he doesn't think it will cause problems if any. So it does look as if my spectacular fall into a swimming pool after I slipped on some suncream started this whole thing off re Lefty!

2) The operation was "very successful". The implant used is an "MS 30" with a ceramic head, polyethylene cup and stainless steel stem. Cup uncemented, head cemented. Know as a hybrid. Tagging @Josephine for any comments on this when she is not too busy :)

3) Re post -op pain - he said the scar had healed but the area was still quite tender but would improve. He advised to cut pack on the codeine but keep on with the paracetamol as and when needed. He suggested not sleeping on my operative side for now.

4) ROM. He was very pleased with this and said I was doing well 10 weeks out. He was pleased when I said I could do 1/2 mile on crutches on a regular basis. He expects me to be able to come off the one-crutch completely in the next few weeks.

5) Letter for security at airports. This was interesting. Apparently they no longer provide them. If I go through the electronic gate and set it off he said that most security would then use the wand and it would be fairly obvious I had had a replacement. We shall see!

6) Restrictions lifted and he recommended swimming. Bath ok if I feel confident getting in and out. "Lifetime Restriction" of not bending and twisting but bending straight down ok. I would welcome other people's comments on this.

7) Sailing and Diving should be fine. However he was concerned about my sports car because of having to twist leg to get in and out and said that the highest risk of dislocation I had in the future was this. He said to think very carefully about whether I should keep the car :-( (First World Problem alert!)

8) Driving. Apparently that is "up to me"…. I will still see if I can ask work to let me work from home for some of the time over the next month as the stop start driving 40 minutes each way is going to wear me out pretty fast right now! Fingers crossed (rather than legs). Appt with Occupational Health next…but expect to be fully back to work in a very short space of time now..

So, in conclusion, all good and I have been Discharged. Wonder if I will get a letter?!!

Thanks to all on Bonesmart for your encouragement, publicly and privately.

Break out the Champagne!

Mojo333, Layla, Apricot, Bionic, JoeKnows, Jaycey, Cassidy
 
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Excellent.
:surfer::surfer::surfer: :surfer::surfer::surfer::surfer::surfer::surfer::surfer:
Sounds much better than you would have got from the august superior one. Congratulations. Great to read your report.

Manchester Airport Security staff told me that if I had a hip replacement I would have to go through the first security gate and always have one of those cubicle full body scans. What they would do at an airport like Nice, which I use often, I can't imagine. It would be a minimum of a pat down as even an underwired bra causes a big fuss with wands and all over pat downs including inside trousers and once into the top of knickers.
 
ewww! I have all that joy to come :-) I have a story about setting off a security alert in Barbados… Later ;-)
 
SurreyGirl said:
Letter for security at airports. This was interesting. Apparently they no longer provide them.
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They have not provided these for many years. Too many people could counterfeit a letter and pass through security. My strategy is to always arrive early. If they don't have a full body scanner you will need a female security guard to use the wand. If a female is not available you will have to wait. Best to arrive early.
SurreyGirl said:
"Lifetime Restriction" of not bending and twisting
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Hmmm.... can't say I would be able to follow this. Your hip will tell you when you turn wrong. Your surgeon sounds ultra-conservative.
SurreyGirl said:
he was concerned about my sports car because of having to twist leg to get in and out and said that the highest risk of dislocation I had in the future was this.
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If you put the seat all the way back as far as it can go do you still have to twist to get into the car? Have you tried to get in the car yet?

I totally agree with your needing to work from home in the first weeks. A long commute is very hard at first. Take the article about a phase return to work to the OH meeting.
 
Hi @Jaycey - that is a very good idea. I think they will be sympathetic to a phased return. Just wish I had something in writing from the Consultant to back it up.. I am not going to try to get into the car for another few weeks as it is then I will probably be expected to go back full time. Best not to push it as yet. My father in law, 80 at the time and with two hip ops behind him managed to get into the passenger seat some years back when I first bought the car. We went out for an hour and he loved it! Bless. I miss him.

PS on my hunt through the internet about the MS30 hip joint - I found an article written by my surgeon did a study about the effect of THRs on ability to work for under 60s and recovery rates. In the article he recommended a 10-12 week return to work and then a phased return. I will be printing that out too!
 
Hi @SurreyGirl that all sounds good? As far as a note for phased return, get your GP to do you one, mine did and to be honest just tell them what you want!! Mine is open ended but financially I will do 2 weeks then go ft. Going back is a step to full recovery so don't worry about going back
 
SurreyGirl, it sounds like you are making great progress with getting out and about and the weight loss is just going to make everything even better! Good job...
 
Nice visit with the Registrar. Thanks for sharing.
It's great your questions were answered and reassuring to hear that Righty is in good shape. :yes!:
You're going to feel a lot more independent without the crutch. Great goal to work toward.
Consider some shorter drives before heading back to work. Test it out with hubs on your outings.
At 10 weeks post op you'll do fine :driver:
A great night to you!
@SurreyGirl
 
Thanks @Bevlah . I have an appt with Occupational Health in two days time. Don't know if I need to get confirmation from the GP or if I can go with them. They seemed to be amenable to a phased return last time I spoke with them.

@Wave Hog Thanks! Must make sure I get a decent walk in tomorrow if the weather holds.

@Layla Sadly "owning an old sports car" is not an excuse not to be able to drive to work - my boss told me before the op I should buy an automatic (!) but I can manage other options if they will let me work from home some of the time… If they don't I can't see myself lasting for long before going off sick and I don't want to do that as have a rather busy time coming up… and need to get back to "normal"…

About to go and cook my evening meal - Jerk Salmon with a few small potatoes and some steamed courgette (Zucchini)… Nice and healthy.. .Maybe yoghurt with figs for pudding..

Bye for now :-)
 
Ooh.forgot to mention that the Registrar also recommended I now massage the scar and could use E45 cream if needed. Good. I know what I am going to ask my physio to do next time I see her.
 
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It seems to help those bumpy areas smooth out.
Maybe it's just time though that takes care of that :shrug: You feel like you're being pro-active at least :heehee:

Sounds like you're into cooking. Dinner sounds yummy. I hope you enjoyed.
Sleep well tonight! :yawn: :sleep:
@SurreyGirl
 
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