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THR Life and freedom on the recovery side

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LeeApril26...love the heat and humidity. The older I get, the more I dislike winter. Someday, when I am retired, which will be never, I would love to live someplace warm. Someplace good for long walks, hikes and one with nature
 
Mamarey. Don't think I would ever permanently leave NYC, but sure do like warm weather breaks when we can do them in January or February. Thought when my son moved to LA we'd have a natural place to go, but when we visited in late December, it was warmer and nicer in NY. Disappointing on the weather front. Will have to convince him to meet us somewhere warmer. We are officially retired but I consult occasionally, and also help in a small business our family started.

Where would you go?
 
Mamarey Suzanne, I'm sorry I haven't visited in too long! I'm sorry you've been having troubles getting your activity level stabilized (how's that for spin?? LOL) I can't believe you're only taking meds every 12, but somewhere did you say that you're ultra-sensitive to drugs? Hope you're back on a good schedule now, taking them preemptively. I have had my own pain med adventure, so you are not alone for sure!
So nice your folks could visit :)
and also LeeApril26 we live in a warm humid climate, which you are both welcome to every drop of water and speck of mold of. I never conceived just HOW moldy a house could be till we lived here... I would go on a cruise for my getaway, and it wouldn't have to be a warm weather one. Just one where I didn't have to deal with the cats or any housekeeping at all. I guess that's more my issue -- "taking care of stuff" is what I want to get away from.
Youralls turn!!! :)
 
zauberflöte. I get the wish to get away! My mom had Alzheimer's and lived with me for seven years, while I had two kids and a job. disappointed to hear about the mold. Used to enjoy cruises- now can't get the image of the Costa Concordia out of my head.
 
Mamarey You're really smart to slow down because then you're recovery will end up being quicker and better.
I was a big exercise person before the OA hit and still kept doing as much as I could, right up to my surgery. Once I had surgery, I was knocked out for 2-3 weeks, but by week 4, I felt better and had alot of MD appts., so I walked, drove, did alot. By week 5, I was having groin pain. So I rested, and whenever it felt better, I'd do something, and get hit with it again. So here I am at 12 weeks, still recovering. :sad: I'm just sharing this because I don't want that to happen to anyone else, where they do too much too soon, and their recovery takes longer than it would have otherwise.
So, good for you that your going to give yourself some TLC! You deserve it and it's just what you need right now.
Take care, and keep us posted. We're all in this together. :flwrysmile:
 
I hate to upset y'all, but after 3.5 months, I still hurt if I overdo it. I exercised hard yesterday and spent the afternoon running after my grandchildren, and walked about 2-2.5 miles today -- it was a gorgeous day, and I am icing and have taken ibuprofen and acetaminophen. I guess it's all a process.
 
ByGosh. My groin pain began last week. It began as I began to have more activity. Walking on the treadmill. Pretty much walking 100% without my cane. Where is the right balance. Is groin pain a part of healing? If I spend all my time using my cane, then my leg will not become strengthened and stronger. I go to the OS/PA today for my post surgical check-up. I will tell him exactly how much I am doing and see what he says. I feel quite discouraged. Spent so many months with a cane and walker, just want to get on with the healing and get back to feeling normal.
I go back to work in July, and certainly do not want to be using a cane. I want to feel strong. I hope to go back in July on a 3 day schedule, which will be 7-8 weeks, then in August full time, which would be at 12 weeks. Hopefully it will all be approved. My job entails driving 800 miles a week, in and out of the car 30+ times per day, and a lot of standing when not in my car. I still feel like there is so much that I cannot do. I want to take the dogs for a walk, go bike riding, go to a baseball game or concert...all of which would not be possible at this time. So sick of feeling confined.
 
Mamarey Please do not feel discouraged I feel you are right on track. You need to remember you are only 3 weeks post op sweetie. I will be 7 weeks tomorrow post op and everyday I notice something new even tho it may be a small change but those small changes over the course on just a week are very noticeable. You have gone through a lot more with your surgery than probably most of us. I remember getting in and out of a huge pickup truck about 10x's (traveling 4 hrs. round trip) when I was at 3 weeks. It was doable but a killer at the end of the day but I made it. Having said that, I was driving 2 weeks after that sliding the driver seat back and forth to get in and out. Now I am entering and exiting the car like normal.

I am sorry to hear about your groin pain and do ask you OS/PA about that. Please know it does get better and look back at that gentlemen that noticed the change in your face shortly after your operation. I believe you are approaching going back to work the right way. Just remember we'll help you through it!
 
Mamarey Groin pain on increased activity...only 3 weeks out and LOTS of activity-- how was your OS/PA visit today? Liveringer is right, you had a whole lot more traumatic surgery than many/most, and I think I've learned on here that it's your hip that will set the pace for your recovery, despite any plans your brain may have proposed :) Perhaps your hip would rather walk the dogs than go on the treadmill? Very similar activities? I don't think discouragement is what you need-- hope and the memory of that gentleman who noticed your face being pain-free...
I'm learning to say, "not now, but this time next year for sure!" for some summer activities...
Keep us posted :) :)
 
Mamarey, please try to get some perspective. You were in agony from the arthritis and walking with a cane for how long? All the surgery does is replace your arthritic hip, and it does it by totally traumatizing your leg and, to a lesser extent, your entire body. You need time to heal from the surgery, and more time still to rebuild the strength and flexibility that you lost as a result of the arthritis. It's understandable that you want to be active again, but I think that your body is sending you a message--too much too soon. After 3.5 months--yes, months--I've resumed most of my normal activities, and when I have a really active day, I still pay for it with soreness and achiness. Your goal is to work part time in July and full time in August, and I think you are jeopardizing that goal by doing too much now. Groin pain is a warning. Slow down. You could get tendonitis, and that could be really difficult to heal from. I hope you get the answers you need from your physician. Meanwhile, look at this as your yoga--how can you treat yourself and your boy with ahimsa (non-harming)? What can you learn from this time? 3 months, 6 months from now, you will be able to get your strength and fitness back. Breathe. All will come. XO
 
Feeling a little frustrated...had my appointment with the PA. He said XRay looked good. I begin physical therapy next week and is scheduled for 3X per for 3-5 weeks. I asked about the treadmill, elliptical, yoga, etc, but said to get through the physical therapy first. My OS, has said prior to surgery, that after the three weeks of restrictions, that I should be good to go as far as getting back to my normal routine....however, today, is definitely not the day for that. Having a lot of pain since last night when woke up with terrible pain and spasms. Did ok for most of the day, but once the afternoon hit, and after going to my appointment, I can barely walk, even with my cane. Feeling very discouraged, and this is another example of two steps forward, and another step backward. The groin pain is horrible, and goes into spasms. Icing and elevating, and just took a Lortab, which I have not had to take one during the day since the week I got home from the hospital. Why is my leg and groin rebelling so much. Everything I read, says that walking around is the best therapy, and that is all I am doing??? What healing is going on at the three week point in the groin area? He did say that it was ok for me to begin putting vitamin E on my incision to help with the healing and scaring.
 
Mamarey Honey, I really think you might hurt yourself if you don't heed the warning signs your body is giving you. I've found that OS's can be quite cavalier about doing things really soon, and I don't think they're on target. Your body has inflammed, angry, tender tissue that has been traumatized during surgery, all around that joint and hip area. The more you sress it by over-activity, the more angry and inflammed and injured it will get. If you have more pain NOW, it's simply because you've over done it. You're aggravating an already aggravated area - like picking at a scab, or a wound. It's trying to heal. Try to stop thinking about what you want to do, and think about letting your body repair itself. It's foolish to be your own worst enemy and push yourself to the point of incredible pain. If you let nature take it's course and allow your body to heal, you'll be able to do the things you want to do in the future.
I agree with everything BarbaraR said. You don't want to cause a problem that will be hard to heal from. Treat yourself like you're fresh post-op, because you basically are. Rest, ice, keep your leg elevated and take your meds on schedule still. Walking is good, but unfortunatley it sounds like you overdid it, and you really should back off and start over now. Ok, hon? Let's see what Josephine thinks. Maybe she can explain it better to you. Good luck, Mamary. I hope you feel better soon!
 
Mamarey Here is a part of what sharonslp said to someone back in Jan. when they were about 2+ weeks post-op. I think it's simple and what we're trying to say to you:

"more activity can cause more pain. It's a balancing act, and you'll have to try and figure out how to gradually increase your activity without raising pain to unmanageable levels. But it's hard to balance perfectly, so if you find yourself doing too much too soon, your body will tell you pretty quickly. You pull back....rest, ice, stay consistent with pain meds....and start fresh."
 
Mamarey said:
My OS, has said prior to surgery, that after the three weeks of restrictions, that I should be good to go as far as getting back to my normal routine
Click to expand...
Yes, but he said 'getting back' to it, not 'back to it'. BIG difference!
Mamarey said:
Why is my leg and groin rebelling so much.
Everything I read, says that walking around is the best therapy, and that is all I am doing
What healing is going on at the three week point in the groin area?
Click to expand...
Mamarey I went looking for your recovery articles and found you were never given them. I am so sorry. Everything you are experiencing here would have been addressed if you'd had them. I'll leave them for you now so please read them carefully.
Mamarey said:
just took a Lortab, which I have not had to take one during the day since the week I got home from the hospital
Click to expand...
Having read all the rest of your post, I was aghast to then read this! You are only 2½ weeks and should still be taking pain meds to enable you to function better. You probably don't need hydrocodone but you do need something! You could do worse than start with Tylenol 1,000mg 3-4 times a day and if that still doesn't help, ask your doctor if you can have something like codeine instead. It's about half way between Tylenol and hydrocodone but every bit as effective. Take it with the Tylenol. You will probably find it better to stay on it for another month.

Here are the articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Activity progression for THRs
Home physio (PT)
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
 
Josephine thank you for the articles. How do I know if I have tendonitis, or simply have over-done?
I do not want to do any permanent damage, when I waited so long for my new hip Charlotte and have so much to look forward to in time. May all the others bonesmart friends out there learn from me. I really did listen to my body and as I said was doing ok until suddenly everything went the opposite direction. I am sitting in my chair now icing and elevating my leg.
 
Because you are only 3½ weeks out! Overworking muscles that are already sore from surgery just makes everything worse. If by 'permanent damage' you are referring to the new hip, forget about that. The hip implants could care less what's happening to the soft tissues about it! You'll not damage them unless you take a sledge hammer to it!

No, what you need to be careful of are the soft tissues which are all raw and trying to heal. The worse thing you can do now is to just slow your recovery down. I know it's hard to learn patience and easy to think :yahoo: it's all done now and I can get going with my life again! But things don't work like that. Healing is a slow process, a marathon, not a sprint. Read the articles and learn how to slow down and get better more quickly! And no, that's not a typo - it's a fact!
 
Mamarey. Prior to surgery, doctors are speaking generally. Before my surgery, my OS said precautions would be in płace for four weeks. Afterwards he said the surgery was more difficult than anticipated; I see him at 5½ weeks (Monday) and he will decide. It was disappointing, to say the least.

I had spasms in my piriformis muscle pre surgery, and that was ghastly. I ignored them as much as possible and "pushed through." Bad move. Most of the other hip muscles joined the piriformis in spasm, and I had to rest and take painkillers until it was time for my surgery. You don't want to do that.
 
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