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THR Let the recovery begin!

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girlienerd said:
Now for a little update. Everything is going pretty well here, just a little deep joint pain in the replaced hip.
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Hi Buffi,

Are you doing ok with your pain medication management? You mentioned that your boyfriend was gone -- he wasn't the one that was keeping up with your med schedule for you was he? Just asking because that's how it worked here for a while with my husband, as I'm not a good pill taker.

Hope the pups are keeping you good company and that all goes well with your upcoming visit to the OS next week.

Take care,
Cardie
 
Buffi.....I'm a nut! I just wrote you on my thread just one more thought for your OS appointment, write a list of questions, print and take with you. My OS appointment would have been very quick and brief, when you hold out questions it slows them down to answer everything LOL
 
Cardie - Just an FYI on the pain, talked to the PT and they said where I was indicating my pain sounded like nerve pain instead of joint pain. A branch off of the sciatica ran exactly where I placed my hand and they advised no home exercises and taking it super easy for a few days. I did just that and low and behold I'm feeling much better. I think I may have over done it a little the days before I talked about my pain. Gotta remember that patience thing!

Sarah - LOL. It was a great post too, you're so right about taking a list of questions with me. I've been formulating a few in my head over the last week or so but your suggestions on using partial days and possibly more time off if needed are great to add!

Day 42 (I think). I'm feeling pretty good, down to using the cane only, no more walker at all. I use the cane only part of the time also, most of the time around the house I am free handed! I do have a slight issue that others have talked about. After sitting, even if for only a few minutes I have some muscle pain in the top of my leg, right where the hip pieces should meet up. It takes me a minute to get completely straight and I limp pretty good for several steps. I know this will all work itself out in the end but it's a pain for now.

Tomorrow I go to the OS for my 6 week check up. I figure I'm probably going to be released to go back to work, I have mixed emotions about that. I've told my immediate supervisor and office manager that I will probably need to do half days for a little while but I don't know how seriously they took me. We'll just have to see. Getting up early and doing the whole get ready and dressed up thing does not appeal to me very much at the moment, I mean I've spend 6 weeks in gym pants!

Hope everyone is enjoying great recoveries!
Buffi
 
I'm laughing Buffi.....

I'm still in my yoga-sweat pants and still haven't worn any knickers hahahahah oh this is funny! Yes I walk my dog with no undies!! Miles doesn't care :)

I would say your to boss, team etc that the Dr suggested you take it nice and slow returning to work even if you go back full time let them know HE said it is normal for your energy level to run high and low for a few weeks, months would be expected. This way you at preparing everyone at work and your not saying it......it comes from dr :)

Your doing so well, it's a very exciting time too! Looking forward to hearing how OS trip goes and yes write questions down and have handy on a sheet it helps, it's easy to forget to ask!

Night night...

xxooxx
 
One question for the evening...anyone having any issues with restless legs at night? I had the issue occasionally before surgery but in the last two weeks I've really ramped up the issues. I'm basically turning over in the bed for several hours before wearing myself out and sleeping.

Any thoughts or other sufferers remedies?
Thanks
 
This is a common problem after surgery. You can try taking pain medication at bedtime (something like Tramadol). Or you can try drinking about 8 ounces of a good brand of tonic water (that has actual quinine in it). Or you might even try a heating pad at the small of your back. Each of those things has worked for some people.

Sometimes when I get them, I'll do about 15 minutes of normal speed turns on my exercise bike. That can help.

I also recently discovered that when my restless motions were primarily in my foot, ankle or knee, it helped to put my foot at a right angle to my leg and leave it there. I have braces that were used back when I had plantar fasciitis that will keep my foot in that "neutral" position, so if you don't have something like that, it might be difficult to maintain that position. But I was quite surprised to find that when I put the brace on, the uncontrolled movements of my foot and ankle stopped immediately!!

If all else fails, there are drugs for restless legs, but I would certainly try other things first.
 
Hi Buffi, yes going back to work is a big thing after sitting at home for 6 weeks, It took me two weeks to get back in to work routine. Bit too much info in some of posts, ( as to how you dress). I had that problem with the restless leg, it drove me up the wall some times. I found by lying on my back with bent knees helped a lot.
 
Hi Buffi,

Interesting theory about the nerve being involved in the hip pain that you are feeling -- do mentioned that to your OS when you chat today. Wondering if you take an anti-inflammatory now and if that might help with any inflammation that might be pressing on that nerve?

I did not experience official "restless leg" syndrome, but have had some twitchy muscles around the same time in my recuperation period. I think Jamie has some great suggestions! As time progresses you'll be better able to stretch out all those leg muscles and that helps too.

It sounds like you are doing great making progress on walking with your cane and experimenting without it. Those first few steps upon getting up are sometimes the best time to stay on the cane to work through that gimpy start. That muscle weakness is pretty normal, but will improve!

Hope all goes well with your appointment today,
Cardie
 
Buffi, I'll be eager to hear what your dr has to say about what you are experiencing. Although your recovery sounds like it's going well overall, maybe you need a couple more weeks before you return to work even for 1/2 days??? If you can afford to do that, I would--don't worry about your employer--they will manage. I can't imagine working and not feeling well ... after all that's one of the reasons why we had (or are having) the surgery in the first place.

Take care,

Dorothy
 
Hi Buffi,

I have the restless leg thing too! So weird. I get it every night around 10 or 11pm. Usually I politely ask my sweetie to rub my legs and feet for a bit and then take my bedtime oxycodone and am then able to fall asleep. It's a very agitating feeling. Does anyone know why this happens?
 
Saw the OS today and all was great! My restrictions of 90 degrees had been lifted after 2 weeks so there wasn't too much to remove today. I did find out that my restriction of not crossing the center line of my body will really be a lifetime thing. First 12 weeks being the most important. I had no idea that would be a lifetime thing :DOH:

Here's the low down on my visit....
I was recommended to go back to work 4 hours per day for the next 3 weeks and if I feel I need a work from home day, take it. Driving, I'm good to go with that. There are not really any sort of activities I should avoid at this point and that's great so let's schedule the bungee jumping :hate-shocked: (maybe not) I asked for an additional 4 weeks with PT and he was ok with that, I like the formal help of PT and think a little more will help. My OS said to just let him know what I feel like I can do or not do and he will write the order to work or PT. I also asked what the lifetime of my replacement should be and he said he hoped to be retired by the time i needed another, one note, he's just a few years older than I am.

I did ask about the pain in the top of my hip and the restless leg issue but my OS did not have any real solutions for me. He suffers with a bit of the same thing and there seems to be no real tie in to anything, getting up and walking a bit is what he suggested and said if I wanted a Rx for the meds he would be happy to prescribe for me. For now I'm going to hold off and try the tonic water remedy Jamie suggested.

In all I'm feeling really good with the visit and going back to work tomorrow.

Take care everyone, I'm off to iron some clothes for work :thumb:
 
Hi Buffi...

Sounds like a good OS visit, good news! Glad they recommend the scaled back return to work now you have this information you can go back and hey maybe you will be feeling strong next week and work more, it just nice knowing you have that kind of support. Nice!

I never thought about the crossing the legs, don't cringe I've been lifting my legs and twisting inwards to slide a sock on not sure if that visual makes sense it's a normal position on my other leg just a little odd on my operated one but I can do it gently. bungee jumping OK ms hot pants LOL you better focus on ironing your clothes for tomorrow hahahahahaha! Be sure to check the rope doesn't break like that lady ewwwwwww how scary!!

Have fun going back to work tomorrow! Be good and listen to your body!

xxooxx
 
Hi Buffi

Just checking in with you to see how you went going back to work?

Regarding the crossing the midline for life, my OS showed me a position, peculiar, where he crossed his legs over the midline and said 'don't do this ever!' I was in hospital at the time and not up to asking why.

But I have just found that it has become natural to me now..

I am sure others will have more input ?

Take it easy though Buffi xx
 
I am curious about the crossing midline thing. I would be doing that a lot if I return to martial arts. Seems like such a minor thing that most people could do without thinking about it! Makes me very sad but I do know of many who have returned to martial arts after hip replacement so my fingers are crossed. Glad to hear your restrictions have been lifted and all is going well!
 
I never knew work could be so exhausting! I finally got there around 8:30, the commute was good but getting ready was tiring. Everyone seemed ready for me to return which was really nice. After work I ran some errands and got some dinner with Dave and by the time I got home I was completely exhausted!! :sleep: I got in the bed around 7 and took a little pain med so that helped. Today I got there at 8 (on time) and then had PT today, thinking I was already exhausted I commented to Dave that there was no fear of me over exerting myself at all! Low and behold I went in and the first thing they wanted me to do was get on the treadmill at 2.5 mph from 2 :hate-shocked: I told them next week they were all going to have me jogging!! All of my exercises were upped. Sheesh, now I'm super tired!

As for the crossing midline thing I wonder if that is just a posterior procedure thing? I say that because I believe that the posterior procedure cuts a lot more muscle on the back of the hip where the midline cross might effect it. Just a thought....

Take care everyone and have a great weekend!!
 
Your a Rock star Buffi!!

Wow you did good, plus therapy too....you just rock!!

It is exhausting isn't it, thank goodness the weekend is here now. Good news it will get easier and easier.

I'm not sure about the crossing the leg deal, I'm sure Josephine would know. I sometimes also wonder if it's a surgeons preference too, not sure. My biggest concern before surgery was crossing my leg over, when I lay on bed I would always cross one leg over the other, now don't miss doing it. I guess it's called creating some new habits.

Have a fabulous weekend!

xxooxx
 
Hi Buffi,
Just caught up with your thread. Sounds like things have progressed reallty nicely for you! Congrats on the return to work. I also found that while I felt up to it, the actual return was exhausting for the first couple of weeks - but by 6-7 weeks out I was no longer feeling trashed by the end of my workday. What was that word you used? Oh yeah, Patience! It will all even out in the end.
 
Hi Buffi,

I hope you have a nice quiet, long weekend before the return to the work! Your stamina will return gradually as time progresses but try not to work to complete exhaustion too many days in a row...

If you don't feel up for an increase in your PT activity do voice your preference to your therapist. We all like to "perform" for our therapists, but you are the one that will feel trashed at the end of the day if you've gone beyond your limit.

There seem to be lots of different opinions given on the crossing the midline issue by PTs and OSs and everyone else as well. It's probably a good thing to be cautious about that movement for the first months if your doctor has recommended avoiding it as that's the time that your hip is weakest from the surgery and still healing. You can always revisit it in 6 months with your OS. Just my 2 cents...

Take care,
Cardie
 
Hello Buffi

Wow, you did have a busy few days back at work and with PT - go girl!

I think Sarah is right with creating new habits. I never would have dreamed that I would actually get to enjoy sleeping on my back!

Good advice from Cardie, it certainly does seem to be up to a surgeons preference. They all have different opinions. I don't think it is a bad thing to be aware of crossing the midline and for me I think that has now become a habit. But Cardie is right check it out with your OS in six months.

Have a great weekend :) xxx
 
Buffi, PT and work is alot to take on your first week. Are you working a phased return to work? Please take things a bit easy. As you say - just getting ready and then commuting can wear you out!

My OS told me to never cross my legs again. Not because of the midline issue - just that it is not good for circulation. But after 18+ months I find I am starting to do it again. Got out of the habit - and I guess that's good.

Take care Buffi. Hope you are resting this weekend!
 
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