THR July 13 Rebirth

[EAW]

Thank you, @Layla, for your constant words of encouragement, advice, and support. I'm following your advice to look at my progress from weekend to weekend. This weekend, with the PT stuff mentioned above, put me back a few days. Still, I am strong enough to launch out of bed on my own with no cane or walker. I can walk short distances with no limp and no cane, and my stamina and endurance are returning. I have returned to work from home and feeling more confident each day.

 

[An54]

...The next day, I was very sore and I had only done these in his office just once. I cancelled my PT forever and have not done ANY of those exercises since August 3. My body has rewarded me for listening. I stopped having deep pain and my muscles are healing. I say this a lot but I am so fortunate to have found this forum. I would have followed that advice and ended up with horrible consequences. Anyway, you may be fine during but afterwards it is telling. I hope this helps

Good for you! If I were a moderator on this forum, and had to copy & paste the "Hips Don't Need Exercise" instructions for the 12,000th time, I would go barking mad.

Thank you moderators for your incredible patience with your patients.

 

[Newhip_Pol]

Thank you,All, for your kind and encouraging repli s. I am very thankful to have a place to go when I feel blue. I do have lovely friends and family but they have not been through this before.

As to my souvenir , here are some pics. Notice the marks where it was scraping on bone. Routinely, I would become stuck in a position, or, my hip would catch as I walked, causing me to lose my balance. Now I can see why!

Great photos - as veterinary pathogist I am now deeply regretting that I did not ask for mine! I never got stuck in a position but the catching I can identify with - often accompanied by shooting pains!

 

[Layla]

Hi there,
Thank you for your kind words. It's my pleasure. I received support and encouragement here myself.
The best part about giving and receiving support here is we all understand. It's not just "words" you feel you should say to someone who's in pain or feeling down. You're always going to find people who can truly relate.

I think you're doing great. Getting out of bed on your own unassisted, walking short distances unassisted without limping and increased energy are all positive signs. I think you had a little set back or were cracking the door into the ODIC but stopped yourself in time.

This recovery biz can have its ups and downs early on. Best thing though, it's all temporary. Even those crazy blue moods that can suddenly wash over you are usually short lived. I used to feel better just laughing at my pathetic self.

Thanks for the update. Stop by often, we'd love to follow your progress and support you along the way.
Wishing you have a peaceful evening!
@EAW

 

[EAW]

Hello All!
Yesterday I went to my annual appointment with my retinal surgeon with my sweet son. Afterwards, my son and I had pizza at our favorite place. We left home at 8:00 a.m. and didn't get back until 2:30 p.m. I wasn't exhausted like I was last week or even pre-surgery. My new hip was sore from the walking and standing but since I used my cane, it wasn't too bad. I also made a point of sitting down often. I admit to loving my temporary handicap placard It made getting out and about much easier. I didn't need any painkillers until later in the evening. One thing though, my hip is still very sore at night. I have to make a point of getting up to walk around and icing it around 2 or 3 a.m. It must be the muscles recovering.
Today, once I finish up with work, I may venture out again to help my son school shop.

 

[Layla]

Hi,
It's nice you were able to get out and spend time with your son at your favorite pizza place.
Time spent with our kids is so precious. They grow and leave the nest so quickly.
It sounds like you handled the lengthy outing well.

I don't know if you're taking an OTC any longer but I think you may benefit from something during the overnight. If you're not taking anything, I'd consider it. You could either consult with your OS, or tag Josephine for her opinion. Just something to think about. It may help you sleep through the night without waking in discomfort and finding the need to ice.

Aside from that it sounds like you're doing really well. May it only get better.
A wonderful weekend to you!
@EAW

 

[luvsibes]

Hello @EAW- Thanks for finding me on my thread. You are doing quite well for just 1 month post. I know for me the first 3 weeks were a blur but that was a turning point where I started going out in the world. The energy drain resulted in naps each afternoon and I'm not generally a napper. Now, at 2 months, it seems to be getting better along with I can sleep in more positions now after a year on my back even pre-op!

It's great you can work some from home. It sounds like you work for CA DHCS? I worked in health care (community social worker not in the hospital) for years and had contracts with DHCS. I'm retired now and volunteer doing AARP health care advocacy and teaching adaptive yoga.

I glanced at your bone photos. Wow! I'm wound phobic and never wanted to know much about how the surgery would look. I totally trusted Dr. Klapper (the Heal Your Hips) doctor. I know I had bone spurs, cysts, no labrum, etc. Dr. K. told me post-op my hip bones looked like someone poured battery acid on them. I'm sure photos would have not been pretty! I'll bet you are a nurse or MD!

You are doing very well in your recovery it appears. You are young so I know it's likely to be challenging to pace yourself but it's my best experience advice. Slow and steady wins the race. I've seen my BS friends over do and join the ODIC group. It's easy to do and so far I've avoided it but I'm heading into the last month of restrictions and I feel like I'm at the starting gate ready to take off!

I am sending some good energy and hugs your way!

 

[Layla]

Hi @EAW
I hope you're having a nice weekend.
It's a hot one in my area. Too hot for me anyway. I'm finding things to do in the AC today.

Wondering how you felt the day after the activity with your son? Hopefully you handled it well.
Sometimes in those early weeks it's difficult to gauge how much activity it takes to set us back a little.
Thankfully it gets better and better. Hopefully today is a good one for you!

 

[EAW]

Hello and @Layla, I am still taking painkillers in the evening, as needed. I have not been able to sleep through a night without pain in years due to my hip. The sleep I’m getting now is fabulous by comparison. Pre-surgery, I would nap in my car at lunch and sleep a lot on weekends. One of my dreams is to have a normal sleep pattern once I have recovered. The second one is to have pain fre intimacy with my hubby

@luvsibes, I agree about going out in the world. I did my longest outing so far yesterday. Another shopping trip with my son. We spent 4 hours at the mall! I did sit whenever possible but we walked a lot. I didn’t need a nap afterwards but I needed my ice.

Actually, I work for the Emergency Med Services at the state level. I’m responsible for overseeing county trauma plans and making sure legislated mandates are met. I’m not a nurse or an MD. I think a nurse or MD would be bored because there are no patients to see. It’s more about having administrative experience to do what needs to be done at the state level to help trauma centers treat patients more quickly and efficiently. Also, a lot of data management and translating it into meaningful information to present at meetings. I also develop a trauma conference anch year. Fundraising and the whole bit.

As to returning to work and travel, I will put my foot down if I need to scale back. I’m never putting a job before my health. I’ve done that before and it’s not worth it. In fact, I could be much higher n my career if I was willing to sacrifice family time and my health. Nope, not worth it.
Thanks for the advice. It’s so good to be reminded to slow down. Just today, my hubby asked me to go boating. I said nope, not ready!

 

[EAW]

@Layla we were thinking of each other at the same time! I saw your note after I wrote about my outing!

 

[Layla]

While your sleep isn't the quality you're hoping for, at least it's improved.
Sleeping in your car and catching up on weekends sounds pathetically sad. So sorry you had to endure that.
Temporarily, we were old before we were ready, lol.

If you haven't already, try using a heating pad before falling asleep at night. I found it brought me relief in the weeks leading up to surgery. My nights consisted of going to bed before dark and watching tv until I could fall asleep. Sad memories. Thankfully with this surgery we're able to move past that. I'm sure intimacy will soon return to normal, followed by some sound sleep, if you're lucky.

It sounds as though you're handling your outings well, pacing yourself, taking in adequate rest and icing preventatively afterward. Jumping back into life feels so good once you've lost that horrid pre-op pain.

Your work sounds interesting, involved, challenging and I'll bet fulfilling. Hopefully you're able to phase back in slowly. It's refreshing to hear you'll not sacrifice your health or family time for career. You have your priorities in order.

Boating...agree! Not sure of your reason for declining but my hubby has asked me also. I'm not up for thumping up and down as he cruises the water like a maniac No desire to do it yet and I'm 13 mo post op!
Oh well, there's always next Summer.
Have a good one!
@EAW

 

[Alitm]

@EAW Thank you for your posts. Really helpful as I prepare for surgery next month.

 

[SurreyGirl]

Also finding your posts very useful. I went from walker to crutches quickly and painfully (!)...as I had a bad limp before the op I am using this opportunity to try to get my gait and walk right using two crutches as will make it easier in the long run and lessen the chance of pressure on the right hip thus delaying an op on that one..

I am very happy to be seen on crutches when out and about as people do tend to give you more space than just a stick.

 

[SurreyGirl]

Actually “out and about” for me means a slow stroll for 10 mins in the grounds of the recovery home... being discharged into the Great Outside tomorrow.

 

[luvsibes]

Good Morning EAW -

One of my dreams is to have a normal sleep pattern once I have recovered. The second one is to have pain fre intimacy with my hubby

-

These are goals of mine, too! Sleep for the past couple of year pre-op was so poor. I threw pillows around and tossed all night often ending up in the living room sitting up and trying to sleep. This continued for about the first 6 weeks post-op. I still at 2 months, don't sleep through uninterrupted but once I have been able to sleep on my surgery side which is my original natural position, I've done better! Two years on my back and right side just didn't come naturally to me. I still take 1/2 tramadol before bed.

I agree with the intimacy goal too! In spite of the limited hip movement and pain pre-op, we figured things out. Also, aging requires some adjustment in general! I'm waiting for my 3 month marker, restrictions to be lifted on movements, the wound to be a bit less sensitive and my 9/11 post-op appointment for "permission"!

In the early recovery, hubs would suggest activities trying to cheer me and many I had to reject as well. I was afraid of simple things like what kind of seats a place would have, how would the bathroom be set up, how far would I have to walk, etc. At 2 months now, I'm ready for most anything and then apply the "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" test!

Hang in there! This first couple of months is all about pacing yourself! This is my "lost summer" but I can tell now that the new life will be so much better than enduring the last four years of pain!

I'm sending hugs and healing energy your way!

 

[Layla]

Stopping by to say Hi!
Noticed you're a few days over your One Month Anniversary!
I hope you're having a good week and feeling a little progress.
Slow and steady you'll get there.
Wishing you comfort and a peaceful end to the week.
@EAW

 

[Layla]

Hi
Best Wishes on your Two Month Anniversary!
Hope you're doing well in recovery.
A great weekend to you!
@EAW

 

[Mojo333]

Hope all is going well...this recovery business can be slower than we'd like but we'll worth the payoff!
Keep the faith!

 

[SurreyGirl]

Hope it is continuing to go well!

 

[MrDIY]

I never talked much about it to friends.

I’m the same way. One of my peers at work was walking next to me about 6 months ago and asked, “Are you limping?” I instantly replied, “No.” I’m scheduled for October 11th but still have only told my boss.