kimbarella
new member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2020
- Messages
- 12
- Age
- 73
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
Hi,
Day 7, postop, diminishing pain and no death grip, sharing experience
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SUMMARY I'm 69, F, here's a summary long read, 1 week postop from THR of the right hip, anterior approach. I'd spent the previous year with PT, NSAIDS, and increasing isolation and inability to walk without a limp and a cane. The experience so far has been, quite frankly, more than I'd hoped for. Some rough days of course, trying to get and stay comfortable. I was in the hospital overnight after the operation and went home the next afternoon. Very gingerly. Pain pills included Narco 10/325, which I used as sparingly as I could (I think there was only 2 times I took 2--I think my my max was 5 over a 24-hour period, day 2). Yesterday, postop day 6, I used only a tylenol instead of the stronger stuff. Miralax was helpful in the you know what department. I had ordered a 5-inch toilet seat riser but used it only once. I selected bed in our house that was a little lower than the other, with access to bathroom right there. To avoid fumbling around in the night, I kept the bathroom light on and used an eye shade.
PAIN Pain in the night is more common, I'm told, and that's what still gets me. It's not the hip area itself that hurts, though there can be some deep boring pain, as much as the muscles that were stretched this way and that, and the knee that had been compensating and now needs to to settle down a bit.
PROCESS My surgeon has done more than 2000 anterior approaches as of 2008, when he stopped counting, and I was very confident in the team and the process. I really couldn't walk much in the evening after the operation or the next morning, but I probably went 100 steps. Home PT came 48 hours after the surgery, and we adjusted to the fact that there was no way I could raise my right leg even an inch--or half an inch-- from the bed, knee bent or not, or move it to the side, but I keep trying everyday. I had lots of bone spurs to "clean out" and these sideways movements, and moving to the back while standing, were ones I've had trouble with for at least the last year. So things will take some time to adjust. I'm trying to be as kind as possible to myself and eat healthy. It's as if I've had a mind and body split, and I'm trying to bring them back together, as gently as possible.
PROGRESS The only precaution I received was DO NOT FALL so you would think I can remember that much. I went for 1-week follow up today, my first outing, and I used the walker. I didn't have a death grip on it, though, and I'll try cane when PT comes tomorrow. No limp!!!!! Yay! I must be half an inch taller. The doctor advises that walking is the best form of PT and, with the PT's help, that some discomfort is fine to push through. But agony and increasing pain: don't push through it, back off and rest. The basic exercises from the hospital post-op instructions are very helpful. I just keep at it.
I was told today to expect some good days and bad days, which is why I'm trying to enjoy the good days and keep pain pills back for the others. Last night I couldn't sleep much (normal) and was uncomfortable, but before grabbing something for pain I instead did a 10-minute "body scan" meditation (youtube has a ton) and I was out by the end. My doc could prescribe some stronger sleep meds if I wanted. I've been using a benedryl (hits sleeping and allergies at same time) a night or two and was told I could throw over the counter melatonin into the mix.
FOOD AND OTHER TIPS For my birthday (the week before), my husband said his gift was to be my faithful manservant for two weeks--hah. So far, pretty good. If I didn't have a helper, I'd hire one for a day or two. My husband likes to cook , but I ordered some healthy premade grab/go meals(he likes pizza and such) in addition, and these have been helpful but pricey. I put out oatmeal the night before, soaking, so that I can heat/eat it quickly the next morning, with some fruit. don't have many plans for the next 6 weeks or so except to not overdo it and take it one day at a time. There is a lot to consume on "Dr. Google", different advice about exercising, etc, and I had some dark moments in advance about what was going to happen. I'm sticking with steady, gentle, and kind, and hitting up my fave PT person for outpatient therapy in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to regaining some semblance of exercise. I cleared away some carpet runners. Some say to keep the animals away but no problem with our kitties...they see the walker and run screaming away.
I hope it goes well for everyone out there. I was so often anxious about what to do, in advance, but increasingly anxious with things as they were, so wanted to share this.
Day 7, postop, diminishing pain and no death grip, sharing experience
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY I'm 69, F, here's a summary long read, 1 week postop from THR of the right hip, anterior approach. I'd spent the previous year with PT, NSAIDS, and increasing isolation and inability to walk without a limp and a cane. The experience so far has been, quite frankly, more than I'd hoped for. Some rough days of course, trying to get and stay comfortable. I was in the hospital overnight after the operation and went home the next afternoon. Very gingerly. Pain pills included Narco 10/325, which I used as sparingly as I could (I think there was only 2 times I took 2--I think my my max was 5 over a 24-hour period, day 2). Yesterday, postop day 6, I used only a tylenol instead of the stronger stuff. Miralax was helpful in the you know what department. I had ordered a 5-inch toilet seat riser but used it only once. I selected bed in our house that was a little lower than the other, with access to bathroom right there. To avoid fumbling around in the night, I kept the bathroom light on and used an eye shade.
PAIN Pain in the night is more common, I'm told, and that's what still gets me. It's not the hip area itself that hurts, though there can be some deep boring pain, as much as the muscles that were stretched this way and that, and the knee that had been compensating and now needs to to settle down a bit.
PROCESS My surgeon has done more than 2000 anterior approaches as of 2008, when he stopped counting, and I was very confident in the team and the process. I really couldn't walk much in the evening after the operation or the next morning, but I probably went 100 steps. Home PT came 48 hours after the surgery, and we adjusted to the fact that there was no way I could raise my right leg even an inch--or half an inch-- from the bed, knee bent or not, or move it to the side, but I keep trying everyday. I had lots of bone spurs to "clean out" and these sideways movements, and moving to the back while standing, were ones I've had trouble with for at least the last year. So things will take some time to adjust. I'm trying to be as kind as possible to myself and eat healthy. It's as if I've had a mind and body split, and I'm trying to bring them back together, as gently as possible.
PROGRESS The only precaution I received was DO NOT FALL so you would think I can remember that much. I went for 1-week follow up today, my first outing, and I used the walker. I didn't have a death grip on it, though, and I'll try cane when PT comes tomorrow. No limp!!!!! Yay! I must be half an inch taller. The doctor advises that walking is the best form of PT and, with the PT's help, that some discomfort is fine to push through. But agony and increasing pain: don't push through it, back off and rest. The basic exercises from the hospital post-op instructions are very helpful. I just keep at it.
I was told today to expect some good days and bad days, which is why I'm trying to enjoy the good days and keep pain pills back for the others. Last night I couldn't sleep much (normal) and was uncomfortable, but before grabbing something for pain I instead did a 10-minute "body scan" meditation (youtube has a ton) and I was out by the end. My doc could prescribe some stronger sleep meds if I wanted. I've been using a benedryl (hits sleeping and allergies at same time) a night or two and was told I could throw over the counter melatonin into the mix.
FOOD AND OTHER TIPS For my birthday (the week before), my husband said his gift was to be my faithful manservant for two weeks--hah. So far, pretty good. If I didn't have a helper, I'd hire one for a day or two. My husband likes to cook , but I ordered some healthy premade grab/go meals(he likes pizza and such) in addition, and these have been helpful but pricey. I put out oatmeal the night before, soaking, so that I can heat/eat it quickly the next morning, with some fruit. don't have many plans for the next 6 weeks or so except to not overdo it and take it one day at a time. There is a lot to consume on "Dr. Google", different advice about exercising, etc, and I had some dark moments in advance about what was going to happen. I'm sticking with steady, gentle, and kind, and hitting up my fave PT person for outpatient therapy in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to regaining some semblance of exercise. I cleared away some carpet runners. Some say to keep the animals away but no problem with our kitties...they see the walker and run screaming away.
I hope it goes well for everyone out there. I was so often anxious about what to do, in advance, but increasingly anxious with things as they were, so wanted to share this.
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