Bilateral THR Jwadds Recovery (2 hip to be square!)

[Mojo333]

Sure it has to go away, cant have you getting fixed up just to have other things going on with you.
Get it together, there @jwadds
Hope today is a good day, my double hippy compadre.

 

[Fit4Family]

I have had similar issues @jwadds PT has worked on it some. I’ve noticed it’s worse when I first wake up. Pretty sure it’s nerves. Nerves take awhile to heal. Something like a millimeter a month. I’m 3 months out and have less issues now with hand, wrist, elbow. All from walker.

 

[mikeycat]

I would like to know if and when you had your visit to the OS? Were x-rays taken and what exactly did they do? I am having my 6 week visit July 16 and want to know what to expect. I am having bile in my throat now for the thought of it as mentioned before I really don't want to go back to the hospital. It is where his office is.

 

[jwadds]

Good morning @mikeycat, my first (and only) followup with my OS was at 6 weeks. It was at VGH as that is where the clinic is. They took several X-rays and an intern OS checked my leg length, range of motion and gait. I had a list of questions that I went over with my OS. She told me all looked good, I could ease back on the hip precautions and to see her again in 2 years. I hugged her and thanked her for giving me my life back.

I also got a card for the airport scanners saying that I’ve had major orthopaedic surgery that will likely set off the alarms.

 

[mikeycat]

Ok thanks jwadds. I am looking at the card but it is useless in the states--here and UK it appears better. I may forego US travel as I am loathe to be patted down etc. and all the paranoia (with good reason of course).I have questions but may I ask what were yours in case I have missed any. Whether or not my OS will answer is another story as he did not see me post-op. I know he is liberal as he said I would be running in 6 weeks=not. His rate of success is 99.8 so I am not worried about that but at 4 weeks I wish I was more advanced and do not have this in my frame of vision yet.When there were recalls on certain devices years ago-he sent letters and there were no comebacks from his work.
How is your gait? Do you walk with a cane? Are you stiff and or sore? Can you walk independently? Want to know what is in store for me.

 

[jwadds]

The card was just an after thought from her assistant. Not necessary and not official. I don't care about being patted down, I know it's for everyone's safety and I'm glad they're doing their job.
I walk with a cane when I go out, mostly just to feel safer on uneven pavement, I don't really need it and I use nordic walking poles when going for a walk. I find they help me walk without a limp, which I do after sitting for awhile, but goes away in about 10 steps, if I make a concerted effort to walk heal to toe. I am still stiff and sore, but not always. At 9 weeks, I struggle to bend down to pick up things off the floor and to dry my feet and to walk up/down stairs. My OS said it will be about a year before I feel like I haven't had hip replacements. I think for me, I'm so much better than I was before that even though things aren't perfect, I'm 1000% better than I was. I sleep better, I can walk and move without pain, so I'm very very happy. I see slight improvements every week so I know I'm getting better and the trend is good. I've attached my questions... I was glad I had them written down.

 

[mikeycat]

Thanks for that. Some of those questions are answered for me but there were a couple I will ask as they are also important to me. He did mention pre-op that I would have to take antibiotics if having any dental work done at least for the first year. And I want to know re advil as it is my drug of choice for inflammation. Did you get the responses you needed?

 

[linette333]

What a great post, @jwadds ! So motivating for those of us following you, especially bilaterals of course !
I am interested in the questions list - what was the answer given to the one about weaning off Tramadol? I ask because I am having real problems with this right now.

 

[jwadds]

@mikeycat I think I asked my family doctor about the antibiotics before dental surgery and he said it would be up to the dentist to put me on antibiotics. @linette333 my family doctor told me, at 2 weeks, it was too soon to wean off. I agreed because you need to be pain free to be able to walk and do rehab. As you get better, you require less pain meds. I'm now at 9 weeks and I'm down to 2 tramadol/day (from 4/day) with no ill effects, supplemented with 1 Tylenol Arthritis twice/day. For the Tramadol, I'll probably go down to 1/2 twice/day next week. I'm doing that on my own and not on the advice from family doctor as I feel I'm ready. The weaning for Tramadol is really for the antidepressant component. I googled it and the recommendations were to reduce by 20%
I found the OS really was only focused on your actual hip surgery and deferred to your family doctor for your overall health care.

 

[ceezee]

I found the OS really was only focused on your actual hip surgery and deferred to your family doctor for your overall health care.

This is my experience as well.

I was told I needed the antibiotic before any dental work, even cleanings, for the rest of my life.

 

[mikeycat]

@jwadds How long and how far can you walk?Is it fatigue, stiffness, or pain that makes it prohibitive? Are you able to walk further each day? Do you walk each day?How far were you able to walk pre-op? I ask to gauge what I can expect as a bilateral. I am so analytical.

 

[jwadds]

@mikeycat. here are my answers to your questions. I hope this helps.

How long and how far can you walk?
Right now, about 4-5 blocks or about 20 minutes.
Is it fatigue, stiffness, or pain that makes it prohibitive?
All 3, but less so pain, if it’s painful I don’t do it.
Are you able to walk further each day?
I see progress every week
Do you walk each day?
No
How far were you able to walk pre-op?
Barely out to the car

I think everyone progresses at a different rate, and even each of my hips progress at different rates.

 

[mikeycat]

Thank you for that. I realize we are at different rates but it is more of a barometer of at least what one can hope for at any given time. i have more difficulty with my left as it is the one which needed replacement 12 years ago.So if I may recap. It is rather like training one day on one day off to give the body recovery time. Do you get stiff the following day after doing say 1 day of 4-5 blocks?

 

[jwadds]

I don’t purposely not walk, like 1 day on/off. If I’m tired or have lots of gardening to do I may not get to a walk too. I find I do get stiff/sore if I’ve over done it. Just rest and take Tylenol in that case. My left hip is worse than my right which is weird because it was my good hip pre-op.

 

[Mojo333]

Tomorrow will be two months and I think you have done splendidly!
I did the exact same way as far as activity went...
It will just get better and better!
4 months out was my biggest turnabout!
Hope you have a great evening, @jwadds

 

[jwadds]

@Mojo333 I know we can’t compare, but looking forward to the 4 month mark!
Thanks for the encouragement

 

[mikeycat]

Good for you 2 months. Thanks for answering all my questions as this seems to reduce my anxiety. Sometimes I feel I am on a backward trajectory.My left hip was my worse pre-op and it still is although strangely enough I could cope with it much better than my right pre-op--go figure.

 

[jwadds]

@mikeycat you're welcome. I'm the same, need to know what's ahead to reduce my anxiety. You're still in early weeks and are healing bone, muscles, tendons, ligaments. Any aches and pains you feel now are related to healing and not arthritis! You'll feel better once you go to your OS and can see on the x-ray that everything is healing and in place. My OS said that your hips are like kids or pets, you can provide the same environment and they will act differently. My left side post-op is still more achy than my right and my right was worse pre-op. My OS said during surgery everything was tighter on my left side... not sure what she meant by that but I assume it was more difficult to get things in place.

 

[mikeycat]

Thanks. My PT advised me to get those nordic rehab sticks for walking outside. Said it will provide a lot of support and correct my gait. I just got a letter from the hospital with a survey they do and I submit 6 weeks and months afterwards--a bunch of questions re pain, walking ability, how far how long, what I can accomplish, if I can use public transport, also a list of meds/ antibiotics 1dosage to be taken if I have any surgery or dental work within the next year, also where do get my x-rays, confirmation of apt.You are right I will feel better after seeing the OS on the 16th. I had requested all my surgical/medical records and am awaiting them. I remember my first night home I thought they had put the prosthetic in backwards ( my left leg only) because of the feel of it.
How are you managing now? Do you have to get back to work or do you have as much time as you need?

 

[jwadds]

Going back to work week after next. I’ll be 9 weeks tomorrow so will go back at 11 weeks. I’ve been very lucky to have sick time to be able to recover fully.

I received the same questionnaire @mikeycat, i believe it’s probably for research.