THR Jan 14 update

[MajorHeidi]

@firstimer you are doing great! Congratulations!

 

[firstimer]

If all things go well with pt healing etc. do you guys think it is doable to do a 2 week trip at the end of April down the oregon coast with truck and travel trailer me driving with lots of rest/stretching stops.
this is the only time we can get away before our business picks up again.
Any advise is appreciated.
Cheers Heinz

 

[bottomshollow]

If all continues to go well with your recovery and there are no unforeseen problems, I see no reason you couldn't make the trip taking lots of rest/stretching breaks. And you should be able to enjoy it. You will be 3 months post op by then, and things should be feeling pretty "normal". Just be careful not to do too much because you're having so much fun!

 

[firstimer]

Thank you for the encouragement bottomshollo i will work on it hard!

 

[Poppet]

Hi there @firstimer, I was back at work at 7 weeks after a very complex THR (my signature block says it all) - add another 5 weeks to that and I was feeling great, still had some energy drain, but then I was working 9-10 hour days. You won't be having to do this. We are avid caravaner's (31 foot) and usually 5-6 hours a day is enough traveling before finding somewhere to set up for the night - at least that is our experience in Australia - take it slow and easy, and when you start traveling see if you can throw some ice packs in your trailer freezer - always a good standby - happy traveling!

 

[firstimer]

Hi there @firstimer, I was back at work at 7 weeks after a very complex THR (my signature block says it all) - add another 5 weeks to that and I was feeling great, still had some energy drain, but then I was working 9-10 hour days. You won't be having to do this. We are avid caravaner's (31 foot) and usually 5-6 hours a day is enough traveling before finding somewhere to set up for the night - at least that is our experience in Australia - take it slow and easy, and when you start traveling see if you can throw some ice packs in your trailer freezer - always a good standby - happy traveling!

Great advise thanks Poppet that is about the amount of time i like to travel in a day then set up and enjoy the evening with a glass of wine and a fine dinner!

 

[Poppet]

Sounds wonderful @firstimer, I'm with you on the glass of wine and fine food, of course with my background it has to be healthy food... lol.. We have been known to take a planter pot with salad greens growing and my trusty sprouting trays.. just can't help myself really!

So much to look forward...

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

@first timer sounds like a great trip...I'm sure all will be well for you by April.

@Poppet. Great quote and love the idea of taking fresh sprouting salad with you...we are going to Somerset in June, self catering, definitely going to do that....Chrissie xx


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[Poppet]

Good for you Chrissie, @Hoppy Nanny xx

 

[firstimer]

Hi all
2 weeks to the day! Had my stitches taken out yesterday the scar looks great and talked to my surgeon re:PT I told him I made an appointment with our local PT on Wed Jan29th. He said that it would be ok to go for an assessment and see what they think. I have been doing 7 different PT exercises 3 times a day 10 reps each and they have become easy to master without much effort or pain.

I have great range of movement still a bit of pain in the groin area when I move certain ways, I am down to 2 Tylenol extra strength a day after my walk and 1 Oxycodone for the night hope to cut that out the next few days. Not rushing things wearing compression stockings for 6 weeks and 2 crutches for 6 weeks I had cement less implant.

I hope things proceed this way and I am looking forward to a pain free hip until the next one acts up!
I will keep you posted on my progress.
Cheers Heinz

Good luck to all those that are going in in the next few days and you really can't believe the improvement after the Surgery.

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

Good for you @firstimer.....hope you good recovery goes from strength to strength. Take care ..Chrissie xxxx


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[firstimer]

Hi all,
Here I am 3weeks to the day things are going smooth this far, I am walking outside in minus 5 celsius cold!!!
Walking for about 45 minutes weather permitting.

My pain levels are pretty much at 0-2 at the worst after walking. At that time i lay down raise the leg and ice all over
that seems to ease the discomfort I am experiencing. I only take the occasional Tylenol extra strength dose for sleeping I am having a hard time sleeping on my back. I get the best sleep on my non op side but still wake up every 2 hours or so. Don't know why just feeling fidgety. Has any one slept on their OP side as of 3 weeks post op?
Just curious if that is a good idea.

I had my PT assessment and was told to carry on on the way I have been and got a few added stretching exercises .
The PT was happy with my progress but still wants me to stay on 2crutches until I see the Surgeon at 6 weeks.

I am looking forward to driving again but don't know when that is going to happen it says in my hip manual that with RTH you can drive after 4 weeks, I will phone the surgeon and ask him or do you just go and do it?

Any way this is all I have to report at this time, wishing all other fellow hippies all the best and a speedy recovery!
Cheers Heinz

 

[scubysteve]

We're close together on Surgery date @firstimer I'm just on the third week anniversary today. Glad to hear you're doing so well, like you I occasionally take a couple of paracetamols to help me sleep but that's it for the pain killers. My surgeon said I could drive when I could control the car properly, he recommended at least 3 to 4 weeks. I thought I'd try the car for size this weekend with a view to taking it out next week if alls well. I'm teaching this Friday, I'm hoping that I cope all right.

 

[firstimer]

We're close together on Surgery date @firstimer I'm just on the third week anniversary today. Glad to hear you're doing so well, like you I occasionally take a couple of paracetamols to help me sleep but that's it for the pain killers. My surgeon said I could drive when I could control the car properly, he recommended at least 3 to 4 weeks. I thought I'd try the car for size this weekend with a view to taking it out next week if alls well. I'm teaching this Friday, I'm hoping that I cope all right.

Hi Scubysteve,
yes we are pretty much at the same time did you have anterior or posterior surgery, I had posterior, I tried walking without any aid and do not feel safe on my legs just one or two steps. I guess my body is telling me not to be doing what it is not ready for. I am walking for about an 1 hour a day now and feel great afterwards I walk around the house on 1 crutch still trying not to put more then 70lb on the op leg. I hope the surgeon gives me the ok to drive when I call him next week.
Keep me posted how you are doing Scubysteve.
Cheers Heinz

 

[scubysteve]

Hi Scubysteve,
yes we are pretty much at the same time did you have anterior or posterior surgery, I had posterior, I tried walking without any aid and do not feel safe on my legs just one or two steps. I guess my body is telling me not to be doing what it is not ready for. I am walking for about an 1 hour a day now and feel great afterwards I walk around the house on 1 crutch still trying not to put more then 70lb on the op leg. I hope the surgeon gives me the ok to drive when I call him next week.
Keep me posted how you are doing Scubysteve.
Cheers Heinz

@firstimer
Hello Heinz, I had the posterior approach, wedged on my side like a piece of beef on a butchers slab (carpenters bench more like ) I'm using a treadmill in the house twice or three times a day now, ten minutes at a time. I'm on one crutch as well, they didn't give me a weight target, just said "don't put all your weight on that leg". I feel safe standing without the crutch and I'm moving around in the shower without it but that's just shuffling really. It sounds like we both had an un-cemented insert, I know from the post op x-rays that I've got two titanium screws through the cup into the pelvis. (Wonder if I'll set of the alarms in the airports, I'll find out next month, I'm off to Italy for a business trip)
If you don't mind me asking, where are you in Canada? I've been to Goose Bay a few time in the past, Edmonton Toronto and near Halifax.
Steve

 

[firstimer]

Hi Scubysteve,
I got the same op posterior as well 2 screws as well for sure we will be attracting some attention! lol
I am from the west coast of Canada, I live in the beautiful Okanagan the wine region of Canada beside The Niagara Region the east coast.
We were in Italy last year for my wife's birthday we had a wonderful time My Mom was from Parma, I had the advantage of learning to speak italian when I was very young so I was able to communicate quiet well with the italians when needed. We will go back next year for my brothers 60 birthday celebration.
Cheers Heinz

 

[firstimer]

Hi all,
4weeks tomorrow and feeling great this far,
the only thing giving me grieve is I have a gout attack in my op leg big toe and it kills!
My fam. doctor prescribed prednisone which I reluctantly filled the prescription for today! I could not handle the pain any longer. See what happens tomorrow.

How many of you are driving a vehicle at this stage? I am not sure if I have to ask if I am allowed to drive or do you just go ahead and do it. I have great range of movement with my feet and lots of strength to lift and move foot from gas to break pedal. Doing lots of exercising and stationary bike riding for strengthening.
I am not on any oxy meds any more just tylenol extra strength for sleeping.
Any feed back is appreciated!
Cheers Heinz

 

[nettie]

@firstimer, the main considerations for driving are whether you are still on pain meds, and which side was operated on. If you are off narcotic pain meds, and your car is an automatic transmission, then you should be able to drive, especially if the surgery was on your left side. If the surgery was on the right side, then it depends on how much strength you have in that leg. I was able to drive at three weeks when I had my right side done. Everyone is different of course. If you have a manual transmission car requiring both legs to drive, then you may need more time. This is from my experience, which could be different than yours. You will be the best judge of when you are ready. Good luck!!!!

 

[Poppet]

In Australia, we are not permitted to drive for six weeks post a THR as we will not be covered by insurance - interesting how different the regulations are country by country - I find it fascinating..

 

[nettie]

Excellent point Poppet!!! I live in the U.S. and there are no such regulations. Certainly local regs would apply, and that can vary country-to-country.