Life has destroyed my hips; surgery August 26, 2013.

[marcopollo]

They told me the risk was minimal, but they did mention some. There is always risks with anesthesia. I think almost everyone on this forum had a spinal. Some with general, some without.

 

[Josephine]

Oh please don't get yourself in a twizzle, roofman! They do these things several times a day every day of their working lives and they are pretty safe. They don't inject into the cord, in fact, they're nowhere near the cord. They inject stuff past the end of the cord where it will bathe the nerves endings in local anaesthetic and make you numb from the waist down. It has absolutely no comparison to the injury your brother suffered.

The article kneeper referred to is this one Anaesthetics - spinals, femoral blocks, GAs and everything else.

 

[BeckyR]

Roofmaster, I am so glad that you are planning on getting off the roof and transitioning into a new career. "Inkmaster" sounds wonderful! Even though we have some people on the forum who have had bilaterals, I would be VERY concerned about having both hips done at the same time. The demands on the body are so much greater, and you don't have a "good" side (so to speak, since both are bad) during recovery. I like your surgeon's approach, and having them a few weeks apart won't make a difference in your long-term recovery. I think it will be easier on the body. Your doctor's background sounds good. Doing his residency at Shriner's would have given him a world of experience with very difficult cases. Being team physician for Massachusetts Maritime Academy also sounds good. Temple is near Philadelphia, so they got all kinds of cases coming in. Better days ahead!

 

[Butterfly]

Josephine Thanks for the graphic and explanation of the spinal you posted on Roofmaster's thread. It makes me feel a lot better about the spinal, as I had been worried about the spinal cord as well.

 

[Roofmaster]

Well thank you Josephine that makes me feel better about the spinal procedure.14 days to go and I will be reborn.This phoenix will rise from the ashes of life.And you know BeckyR Inkmaster has a nice ring to it.I'm also kinda glad to have a slight gap between surgeries,I guess I have no choice but if I had to choose I would do them together but I definitely see benefits from doing them separate.14 days,oh I can't wait.I have so much to get done before hand.10 more days of work and still moving stuff into storage unit daily.Have to secure a place to stay for recovery.Whats the realistic time before I'll be completely independent?I'm more worried about having a good place to recover than the actual surgery.Right now anyway,that might change the night before surgery.

 

[Josephine]

You can do recovery on your own, specially if your surgeon doesn't have restrictions. You should be almost independent as soon as you leave hospital. Trick is to prepare your home with most used items in the kitchen at counter level so you limit the amount of bending you have to do. Also stock up on microwave meals and canned good that you can heat up quickly. All being well, you should only need to stick with this for about 5/4 weeks at most. That's as long as you ignore things like cleaning, laundry and yard work! As for PT, hips really don't need all that much. Just walking to the bathroom and kitchen as required and following the Home physio (PT) and activity progress: suggestions article.

 

[Butterfly]

I've been avoiding cleaning and yard work for some time now! Not much choice. I can do laundry if I do it VERY SLOOOWLY and using my grabber. No one will die if my house is untidy -- took me a while to get that through my head, but it finally sunk in. My DIL or grandsons run the vacuum every week or so to keep the dog hair from burying me and I can pretty much clean the bathroom and kitchen surfaces, again SLOOOWLY. Other than that, it sort of is what it is. If it falls on the floor and I can't get it with my grabber, it just stays there until the kids come. Martha Stewart doesn't live here, but I am managing. One thing I've learned from being in this boat is to ASK FOR HELP when I need it.

 

[Butterfly]

Roofmaster -- how are you holding up, what with having to move your stuff and all. If I had to that on top of this hip pain I would probably just wind up in a puddle on the floor. I just can't imagine!

It takes me FOREVER to do just about anything nowdays -- even getting dressed takes forever. I cannot even imagine having to pack up stuff to move or store or throw away or whatever!

Anyway hangin there.

 

[Roofmaster]

Well Butterfly Im doin alright all things considered.Im kind of on autopilot now with 12 days and a wake up left.Same routine as Ive been doing.Broken sleep all night watching the clock dreading get out of bed time.5 am says the clock thats my cue.Grunt groan grab my legs swing em over the bed grab my cane and veeery reluctantly get outta bed.Well first fifteen minutes to get dressed while Im hangin off the edge of the bed then get up prepare my cooler for the day head out.About 30 minutes before gettin to work take my first pill,pull up on the jobsite take my second and put 2 in my pocket.Stumble outta my truck walk around where noone can see me to warm up the old hips a bit then start the torture chamber...roofing.Pain pain and more pain later and another pill later and its lun htime.Now Im walking bent over and shuffling steps to my truck where I colapse in a pudxle of sweat and pain.Struggle through the rest of the day and maybe a pill or two more and its ober till tomorrow.Oh except for now Im going home to finish the moving stuff into storage.Now even my weekends are consumed with work mobimg stuff out of the house.The thing that drives me is 12 days left for 1st new hip and 3 months of rest.Oh man I cant wait

 

[bottomshollow]

The thing that drives me is 12 days left for 1st new hip and 3 months of rest.Oh man I cant wait

Roofmaster, I plan to remind you of this statement about 3 or 4 weeks post op when all of a sudden you're complaining about all the sitting around and doing nothing . All joking aside, you'll be amazed the first time you stand and walk after the surgery. Even then you'll know the difference.
Hope this next 12 days pass rapidly for you.

I have found an avatar that I thought you might like to use. It is already sized to fit perfectly as I have tested it. On a PC, just right click on the attached picture and "save image as" in your picture files. Then hover your mouse of your user name at the top of the page and from the drop down menu select "Avatar". The click the browse button and find the picture in your files and double click it. Then click "Okay"and you are done. On an iPad, hold your finger on the image and you will be presented with the options to copy or save the image. Choose 'save the image' go to your user name, top of screen and select Avatar and then choose 'existing choice' and apply and bingo you have your new avatar.

If you are not interested, my feelings will not be hurt. I just enjoy doing this when the opportunity presents itself.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Butterfly]

Roofmaster I am pretty much in your same pain boat, but at least I don't have to go to work with it anymore. I only had my same old desk job, but I just couldn't do it anymore with the pain, I could hardly get up the steps to the office any more and I was constantly afraid I would fall. I couldn't focus because of the pain, either. So I retired. Now I just stay in my recliner or at my computer here in the house most of the time -- I still have awful pain, but at least I don't have to put such demands on my body like you do. I just didn't have your courage or stamina any more. Being 67, I didn't see much point in struggling to hold on, and then having to be off work for so long anyway. They would have replaced me long before I was ready to go back.

Sending you prayers for peace and healing.

 

[marcopollo]

Roofmaster, I was amazed at how quickly mobility came back to me. I just past fifth week anniversary and I am getting around fine without any aid. I can pickup things from the floor (use golfer's bend with operative leg extended) though picking up weight is trickier. I am always careful and abide by the three restrictions.

I have been this way for last week or two. I think the key is doing exercises, not over doing it, staying aware of my body and how it feels, and resting when I can. Everyone is different and recovers at different paces. DON'T OVER DO IT! But also don't baby yourself. Be reasonable and your body will respond.

The key is the hip pain will be gone from that side and then the other. Your life will be yours again if you take the time and allow your body to heal yourself. I'm excited for you and look forward to your being with us on the other side!

 

[Jaycey]

"Your life will be yours again if you take the time and allow your body to heal yourself. I'm excited for you and look forward to your being with us on the other side!"
Could not have said it any better! Well done for following the tried and tested mantra marcopollo!

 

[Roofmaster]

Thanks @bottomshollo for the avatar its perfect.Although I hope its only temporary as I plan to be Inkmaster after surgery.I cant imagine ruining my brand new hips doing what destroyed my original ones.Or risk another fall and possibly worse damage.I already have a 9 inch rod and 13 screws in my left shin from the 1st fall.Im ready to come down on the ground and stay there.God willing.Oh and I dont have a PC or i-pad,I do this on my phone.Peace

 

[Roofmaster]

I feel your pain Butterfly,and I know what you mean tough to focus through it.marcopollo how long do you have to follow the 3 restrictions?Do the muscles surrounding the new hip get stronger to the point where there are no longer any restrictions or are they for life?

 

[Poppet]

Tic Toc Roofmaster... Not long now and you will be on the road (not roof for a while) to recovery

 

[Roofmaster]

Horrible nights sleep.Whats new.Goodmorning

 

[Roofmaster]

7 days and a wake up.OMG I cant wait for this to end.I was talking with a friend of my boss the other day and he was telling me about his hip replacement he had 33 years ago.really amazing.I never knew he had it and wouldnt have believed him if he hadnt showed me his scar.And this guy is far from in shape and drinks like a fish.Amazing.

 

[Roofmaster]

Do fish drink?I dont know.

 

[bottomshollow]

Well, apparently these do!

Got a chuckle out of this. Sorry you're not able to get some restful sleep---but you're in the short rows now as we rurals say.