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THR JoeKnows Recovery Thread - Round 2

JoeKnows said:
Between that and my intent to go to physical therapy in a few weeks, I know it's against the consensus here, but it seems to be working for me, haha.
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Whatever works for you, Joe and doesn’t stall your progress. It’s not your first rodeo. It’s a blessing that you have that freedom when it comes to work, it removes all the pressure. You're doing great, keep it up!
 
You are coming right along and you have youth on your side!
I'm still on cane outside for stability but in the house I can get around no issues.
I'm 16 weeks into my journey and getting stronger each day. sometimes I have a little limp other times I'm fine.
Yesterday managed 3 loads of laundry, weekly bed changing and a host of other household chores.
It feels good to be independent once again.
I'm getting ready now for my walk, I'm up to a little over 2 miles and I find the more I walk better hip feels.
I can't wait to go back to work!!!
Stay well
 
I’m one of the posters on this forum who started at home PT immediately after surgery, switched to outpatient after two weeks. I’m continuing with that through the end of June. I’ve found it to be extremely helpful. My therapist does about a half hour of massage of the soft tissue in the affected hip and thigh and then we do about thirty minutes of strength and balance work, my place has a very well equipped gym. I’ve been a gym rat for my entire life, so I’m comfortable with the routine, and have total confidence in my therapist. I do agree that if something does not feel right to you, don’t do it. I’ve been doing some step ups on a platform to work on both glute strength and balance, and yesterday I had my therapist give me a lower step, the higher one was too much for me. On the other side, I had him increase the weights on quad press machine. Effective PT requires a rapport with the therapist.
A quick note on balance, which is not my strong point and something I work on anyway because it’s so important as we get older. I’ve been doing a series of calf raises in the morning while waiting for coffee maker to do it’s thing, just lightly using kitchen counter for finger support. Then a short series of 15 or 20 squats. Then I try standing on my affected right leg, left leg bent at the knee, no hands, 30 second count. Do that three or four times. Trick is to focus eyes on one spot. By then coffee maker beeps. ☕️
 
Sohowarrior said:
A quick note on balance, which is not my strong point and something I work on anyway because it’s so important as we get older
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I’d like to share one on this that I try to be mindful of. I’m 65 and about 4-5 years ago my then 79 or 80ish dad shared that he always stands in the middle of the room to put his pants on. I didn’t think much of it until next time I dressed and realized that I usually placed a hand on my dresser as I pulled anything on. Since then I’m mindful to stand away from the furniture depending upon my balance alone. This may sound scary or risky to anyone with balance issues, but if it doesn’t sound threatening, it’s just one more little drill to put yourself through as aging, which we all are. :wink:
 
NO, No, no:xmark:
Please don’t, Joe. :heehee: It is a good one from an older gentleman though, don’t you think?!
Just a little challenge to add to your day at some point. It is for me anyway, but I have some years on you. :)
@JoeKnows
 
Your doing great !! I haven’t drove yet and will be before the weekend is over … they got a 6 week rule here but I’m off the meds so idk why I can’t. I can’t go far my car isn’t working right anyway. I do need to get my mail and go to the corner store. Plus I miss driving lol.
I also found myself without my cane earlier today but I stood there in horror :heehee: didn’t remember how I did it without it. I will be more careful I’m not feeling that brave yet.
It’s awesome you can go to work when you feel you can. The benefits of having this done when you did!
 
Brief update: the family is out of town, I backed out of going because I'd either be a bummer or I'd overdo it and hurt myself. So it's just me and the dog.

I'm doing fine, other than his surprise jumps onto me when I'm on the recliner - he always lands on a sensitive place, whether it's the incision area or... other places (he normally bugs my wife or kids, since I'm the disciplinarian).

The dog (Charlie) is also doing fine, but is clearly frustrated by the fact that I don't want to take a hyper, surprisingly strong for his size dog for a walk while I'm using a cane and it's close to 100 degrees outside. Hence the surprise jumps onto me when I'm trying to relax.
 
JoeKnows said:
Brief update: the family is out of town, I backed out of going because I'd either be a bummer or I'd overdo it and hurt myself. So it's just me and the dog.

I'm doing fine, other than his surprise jumps onto me when I'm on the recliner - he always lands on a sensitive place, whether it's the incision area or... other places (he normally bugs my wife or kids, since I'm the disciplinarian).

The dog (Charlie) is also doing fine, but is clearly frustrated by the fact that I don't want to take a hyper, surprisingly strong for his size dog for a walk while I'm using a cane and it's close to 100 degrees outside. Hence the surprise jumps onto me when I'm trying to relax.
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Haha @JoeKnows don't you just love them though? Nothing like a big goofy dog to have around underfoot when you are at your least stable. I have a yellow lab who loves to sleep in the actual middle of the kitchen or right at the doorway blocking my way to the hallway. I think he purposely does it so I have to step over him to get my muscles stronger faster-who knows?? Wish I could read my dogs mind sometimes:)
 
When I’m using my Lounge Doctor, elevating and icing, my little 12 pound dog loves to sleep up on my thighs, which are covered in a fleece blanket. (It’s been cold and rainy all month).

The first two weeks I couldn’t tolerate her being on me, but now she presses down on the ice packs and it feels great!
 
So I forgot to take Tylenol (paracetamol for those across the pond) since very early this morning. I was fine until I woke up from my nap, and WOW was I uncomfortable. Took the dog for a short walk, followed by ice, followed by a shower, and I'm feeling good. Don't want to take anything now, because of timing - I'd rather tough it out until bedtime so I don't have to wake up.

So my solution is to get sushi, a milkshake, and watch a sci-fi show.
 
@JoeKnows hoping the sushi, milkshake and sci-fi show kept you amused and comfortable until it was time to take your next meds. Hopefully since you took Charlie for a short walk he also gave you a break last night.
 
JoeKnows said:
Brief update: the family is out of town, I backed out of going because I'd either be a bummer or I'd overdo it and hurt myself. So it's just me and the dog.
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That was a wise choice so early in recovery. Not setting yourself back now means being able to do those activities sooner.
 
Elf1 said:
@JoeKnows hoping the sushi, milkshake and sci-fi show kept you amused and comfortable until it was time to take your next meds. Hopefully since you took Charlie for a short walk he also gave you a break last night.
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Haha he did not. If anything, it encouraged him. But now I have him trained to bring his ball to the side of my recliner so I can reach it without moving much, haha. My girls are back now, and exhausted him in short order.

I just realized I once again haven't taken anything since early this morning, and I feel good despite having been pretty active today. I think I'm at the "as needed" phase (or I'm going to be in pain tonight, but I'm being optimistic)
 
Feels so good when you wake up and you are feeling good with no pain! For a time I was writing down when I was taking the meds just to track what I was taking and when. I look back and see that I was on Tramadol every four hours a month ago and now I barely take anything-just the mobic at bed time. Actually today I did take a couple of advils during the day as I went out for a walk with my daughter and husband-didn't take the dog cause he has developed some kind of wacky cough-he is 13 and slowing down some. Still loves to walk and sniff-but his favorite pastime is begging for food:(
 
:wave:@JoeKnows
I'm glad to see you are doing well with this recovery and are able to drop some meds...
I dislike how I feel taking pain meds but understood that they actually kept me more mobile and helped me rest.
Georgia weather is crazy hot this week (real feel in 100's) but I hope Cali weather is more pleasant so you can get some Vitamin D therapy.:SUNsmile:
 
Question for the hip replacement hive mind - is a mild to moderate bruise at the top of my calf normal around 3 weeks?

I noticed it a week or so ago, then forgot about it until a coworker pointed it out to me today (in an industry where business casual is only barely acceptable, I'm walking around in shorts and sandals because nobody can lecture a guy with a cane). Once I looked at it again, it appears to be slightly worse than last week. No surprising swelling or redness, and the only pain is when I poked it with my cane (I couldn't NOT test it), so I'm not particularly concerned about DVT or anything serious... but as they say, always ask strangers on the internet for medical advice first, right?
 
@JoeKnows Bruising in these early days is very normal. Please don't worry unless the area gets read and feels warm.

Surprised you are at work already. At only 3 weeks out that is very aggressive. Hope you can allow healing time for that hip.
 
As Jaycey just noted, it is very common for bruises to slowly work to the surface, even several weeks post op.

I love how you think using a cane gives you free rein with wearing shorts...:rotfl::chuckmarch:
 
@CricketHip - well, the cane and being a partner, but I'll give credit to the cane...

@Jaycey - I planned on starting to ease back into the office tomorrow (at least that's what I marked on my calendar), but something came up that I had to deal with... And then, since I felt mostly comfortable, I just kinda kept going (mostly half days with afternoon naps still though)
 
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