OP
OP
THR Let's make it a matched set!
- Thread starter gertie
- Start date
Krista
post-grad
Hoppy Nanny
big-cheese
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
- Messages
- 3,847
- Age
- 72
- Location
- Bognor Regis
- Country
United Kingdom
- Gender
- Female
Hello @gertie
I found you!!! Sounds like your recovery is just about normal... ups & downs.. stiffness & pains.
Do hope your ‘blues’ is fading each day..
Officially... now... you are my Poster Girl for joint replacements... how you do all this on your own I don’t know.. but I salute you & want to be like you.... I’m going to read your knee posts...
from cover to cover....[emoji23][emoji23]
Thanks for finding me.. I’m glad you did...
Take care... Chrissie xx[emoji3590][emoji3590][emoji3590]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I found you!!! Sounds like your recovery is just about normal... ups & downs.. stiffness & pains.
Do hope your ‘blues’ is fading each day..
Officially... now... you are my Poster Girl for joint replacements... how you do all this on your own I don’t know.. but I salute you & want to be like you.... I’m going to read your knee posts...
from cover to cover....[emoji23][emoji23]
Thanks for finding me.. I’m glad you did...
Take care... Chrissie xx[emoji3590][emoji3590][emoji3590]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
@Hoppy Nanny Here's my knee thread: https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/put-the-right-knee-in-and-then-the-left.41988/ A smooth recovery although more painful than the hips--I worked w a PT that I like and made a good start on regaining strength and stamina after the knee ops but I never got back to the distance walking I wanted to do because of the right hip acting up. I'll look for you on the knee side.
Edited to say that I should have read the most current posts!
Edited to say that I should have read the most current posts!
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
I'm very fortunate to have good health (except for those pesky joints), a one-story, recovery friendly house, good friends, good health insurance that pays for in-home services post-op, and a local Meals on Wheels program that operates out of an award winning kitchen so the food is really good. But I do wonder if doing this as a single person adds to the post-op blues--lots of time to ruminate!
You are sounding like you are progressing right along! I like that you are so inspirational for others on here going for multiple joint replacements. You have a very practical and good attitude and that is so helpful. 
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
Is this the end of week 7 already? Yowza!
--Met with my peer writing group today. Up 'til now they've been kindly coming to my house but today I drove 35 minutes to another member's house. I felt some mild consternation when I walked into the living room and saw only low, soft couches but I managed to build up some height with cushions. Not the most comfortable seating arrangement but I was able to stand up with minimal trouble
--Walking inside the house mostly without a cane--then when I do feel tired and want the cane I have to search for it! Walking some outside without the cane but walks of any distance I use it.
--Gradually increasing distance on my walks but still not setting any records.
--Got close to 5k steps on Saturday--an errand, a grocery store stop, a couple of short walks, etc. Felt OK that night but slight increase in achiness on Sunday so backed off a bit on activity that day.
--Fatigue still hits suddenly. Did a couple of errands Sunday--felt fine setting out but mid-way through my second stop I felt like I could lie down in the store's aisle and take a nap.
--Met with my peer writing group today. Up 'til now they've been kindly coming to my house but today I drove 35 minutes to another member's house. I felt some mild consternation when I walked into the living room and saw only low, soft couches but I managed to build up some height with cushions. Not the most comfortable seating arrangement but I was able to stand up with minimal trouble
--Walking inside the house mostly without a cane--then when I do feel tired and want the cane I have to search for it! Walking some outside without the cane but walks of any distance I use it.
--Gradually increasing distance on my walks but still not setting any records.
--Got close to 5k steps on Saturday--an errand, a grocery store stop, a couple of short walks, etc. Felt OK that night but slight increase in achiness on Sunday so backed off a bit on activity that day.
--Fatigue still hits suddenly. Did a couple of errands Sunday--felt fine setting out but mid-way through my second stop I felt like I could lie down in the store's aisle and take a nap.
Barbaraj
supremo
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2018
- Messages
- 2,391
- Age
- 74
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
Well, @gertie, it sounds like you're doing well for 7 weeks out. I, too agree that taking a little nature walk (nice accessible trail) must be lovely, both physically and mentally. My back yard has a gravel pathway which spans from one side of the yard to the other. Before surgery I walked it daily every morning. It is very short stroll really, but lush foliage and trees on all sides, and it felt like getting away even for a brief while, and a quiet, contemplative walk. And I totally get the energy drain suddenly smacking you upside the head without warning! I have days where, for me anyway, by 8:30 PM I am practically gaga with fatigue although I've not done much that day. I think you just have to roll with it, understanding that you'll be dealing with this for awhile but it will end. Taking it slow and steady, that's what we all need to do. Have a great day!
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
@zauberflöte You posted on another thread about a foot scrubber, like a big strap on sandal, that you bought on amazon. There are a lot of those on Amazon, with very mixed reviews. Do you remember the brand or name of what you got? Thanks!
zauberflöte
alpha
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Messages
- 5,540
- Age
- 72
- Location
- Central Virginia
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
@gertie I am very sure it's the one in the pic I attach. Oddly, it doesn't show in my orders! Maybe I ordered it someplace else? Aha! My records show I got it at Footsmart.com, but they don't seem to carry it now. And the name matches that of the Amazon one.
I'll review it further: the suction cups didn't stick well in the tiled stall shower with the 1" tiles on the floor, but my hip notes seem to indicate that it did stick to the enameled bathtub available for hip#2. If you're sitting down, even if it runs away from you, you could grab it back with your grabber, which you will handily have left in easy reach.
The soft bristles lather up very well (I use Ivory), and feel really good on my feet. The bristles easily scrub between your toes!
I'll review it further: the suction cups didn't stick well in the tiled stall shower with the 1" tiles on the floor, but my hip notes seem to indicate that it did stick to the enameled bathtub available for hip#2. If you're sitting down, even if it runs away from you, you could grab it back with your grabber, which you will handily have left in easy reach.
The soft bristles lather up very well (I use Ivory), and feel really good on my feet. The bristles easily scrub between your toes!
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
Thanks @zauberflöte I'll look at Amazon again. I will be standing to use it and my shower has a slightly textured bottom so might not stick. hmm...but those bristles sound heavenly.
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
I took my first standing shower today since mid-May (tub/shower setup)! My THR was originally scheduled for late May so I had a friend set up the shower transfer bench prior to that date. I then injured my wrist and my op was delayed until late June but I kept the bench in place--I felt like I needed to wrap myself in bubble wrap during those weeks leading up to the op and had an image in mind of a friend who broke her wrist and then broke the other one when she lost her balance getting out of the tub. No, no, no.
On the last day the in-home Pt was here I practiced stepping in and out of the tub--doable but not easy so I kept the bench in place until this week, when a friend took it out and put it in the garage (it makes a great gardening bench).
I'm tall with long legs. I still have some furniture up on risers and will keep that in place for a while and I might keep the raised toilet seat a bit longer but slowly my house is looking less like a recovery palace.
On the last day the in-home Pt was here I practiced stepping in and out of the tub--doable but not easy so I kept the bench in place until this week, when a friend took it out and put it in the garage (it makes a great gardening bench).
I'm tall with long legs. I still have some furniture up on risers and will keep that in place for a while and I might keep the raised toilet seat a bit longer but slowly my house is looking less like a recovery palace.
Hoppy Nanny
big-cheese
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
- Messages
- 3,847
- Age
- 72
- Location
- Bognor Regis
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Gender
- Female
I use a sponge that has an exfoliating side to wash my feet with... put shower cream on it & put on floor with grabber... rub feet on it & then pick up & rinse with grabber again... works great!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Barbaraj
supremo
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2018
- Messages
- 2,391
- Age
- 74
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
I'm tall, too, @gertie, and I love my toilet seat riser. I will almost feel sad when I have to put that away. It is such a blessing in the middle of the night when I stagger in for a pee break. But I am lucky that I've never had a problem standing in the shower and, although it was tough, I was able to almost reach down to my ankle fairly soon so washing wasn't too difficult nor was the ever so important shaving of my legs. Husband had to try my feet for the first week or so but then I was able to squirm my toes around so I could get them dried before having him help me put those dreaded compression stockings back on. It sounds like you're managing well, each day a little easier perhaps, and the journey continues. Happy Friday!
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2017
- Messages
- 39,305
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
Isn't that the truth! Especially after that run of bad luck.
First showers are wonderful. First unassisted shower even better. Getting rid of those assistive devices one by one is so freeing! I borrowed all my stuff from my dad who had both hips replaced and throwing it all in the car one day to return it to him ranked right up there with one of the most fulfilling moments of early recovery.
I hope you have a lovely weekend, Lynn
@gertie
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
@Layla This wasn't my first shower or first shower on my own, just my first shower without sitting on the bench. But I haven't been showering a lot (lots of sink baths) because it was such a production with the bench getting everything positioned so I didn't get water all over the floor. Freedom to just step in, wash off, and step out.
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
Yes! If it weren't such a pain to put on and get tightened just right I'd take it off during the day and put it back on at night.
I wish I had a walk-in shower but don't want to spend the $$$ to convert to that and having a tub is probably good for resale value (only 1 bathroom). I never use the tub for baths--not long enough for me to be comfortable.
Our local senior center has a nurse who comes in once a week to do footcare so I have an appt with her next week for toenail clipping and foot massage--seems like it would be more hygienic than going for a pedicure someplace.
Last edited:
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
Great idea! I have one of those "balls" made of netting that are used with bath gel--thought I'd try holding that down with the grabber and moving my foot around on it--the lengths we go to!
OP
OP
gertie
post-grad
Here I am at week 8! A last blast of summer weather this week--hot and humid predicted but it's lovely right now out on my back porch. I'm groggy and sleep deprived--not from recovery insomnia but from cat shenanigans. I got up for a 4 a.m. bathroom visit and woke the cat who thought it was time for fun and noisy games. I finally escorted him out onto the screened in back porch and closed the door so he could frolic by himself but I wasn't able to go back to sleep.
--Walked on my easy trail again yesterday and this time extended the distance further into the woods on slightly rougher terrain. Moved slowly, used my cane, and it was fine. No hip pain but left knee was a bit stiff. I'm contemplating getting some hiking poles, which might work better than the cane.
--I haven't been going for walks as much as I'd like--need to tend to some foot things--get new covers on my orthotics because my current ones have worn spots that rub, get toenails clipped, etc. Hope to get that all taken care of this week. I will be so glad when I can bend down and tend to my own feet again but it's too soon for that degree of flexibility.
--I'm walking more and more without a cane and hip feels stronger, lasts longer before fatiguing. I leave the cane in the car when I go to a store or restaurant and just use it for longer walks or walks on uneven terrain like that woodsy path.
--I have the first visit with Jen, the PT, tomorrow. I've worked with her before--she's gentle, let's me set the agenda, focuses on function. I'll report back after I meet with her.
Slowly, slowly recovery inches forward.
--Walked on my easy trail again yesterday and this time extended the distance further into the woods on slightly rougher terrain. Moved slowly, used my cane, and it was fine. No hip pain but left knee was a bit stiff. I'm contemplating getting some hiking poles, which might work better than the cane.
--I haven't been going for walks as much as I'd like--need to tend to some foot things--get new covers on my orthotics because my current ones have worn spots that rub, get toenails clipped, etc. Hope to get that all taken care of this week. I will be so glad when I can bend down and tend to my own feet again but it's too soon for that degree of flexibility.
--I'm walking more and more without a cane and hip feels stronger, lasts longer before fatiguing. I leave the cane in the car when I go to a store or restaurant and just use it for longer walks or walks on uneven terrain like that woodsy path.
--I have the first visit with Jen, the PT, tomorrow. I've worked with her before--she's gentle, let's me set the agenda, focuses on function. I'll report back after I meet with her.
Slowly, slowly recovery inches forward.
leejaa
Former BoneSmart staff member
Have you tried hiking poles when going on trails. I found mine on amazon for around $20 - there were more expensive but I wanted a trial and they work great. I found the two poles lightweight were great for trail walking and gave me better balance and better smooth even gait. I used them regularly even after hip got stronger - extra arm exercise also. I am using them now to get into our pond to go swimming and found out that they actually float. I toss them to the bank once I am in deep enough and then my husband will toss them to me to help in getting out.
