THR LTHR Day 6 Surgery 2/2/23

[3dognight]

Hello, I am back after a 5 year absence. History: March 2016 I fell down 8 stairs and broke the femoral neck on my RH. Surgeon pinned, slowly recovered until developing AVN and had a RTHR January 2018. I joined the forum late 2017 and you all helped with my recovery.
On Wednesday, February 1 while hand walking my horse he spooked, came down on the outside of my right shoe (no breaks) and bumped me. I landed hard on my left hip and left elbow. ER confirmed mild LH femoral neck fracture and elbow laceration (6 stitches). Surgeon said I could either pin or have total replacement. I am almost 74 so opted for THR. Surgeon agreed saying easier to recover from THR because of total weight bearing from the start.
Surgery late Thursday 2/2 -- anterior approach went well. Walked the hospital floor with walker the next AM (2/3). That afternoon did 16 steps up and down because I live in a 3 story home. Discharged Sat. 2/4 climbed to our 3rd floor with hospital bed, canes, walker, kitchen (ICE), and TV. My two dogs (Standard Poodle and Toy Poodle) plus two cockatiels are with me as is my husband. Meds: acetaminophen (650 mg every 4 hours), Celebrex (200 mg) & baby aspirin (2X daily), stool softener, 5mg oxycodone, generic Lyrica (PM only).
As of today: 500 mg. acetaminophen every 4-5 hours, Celebrex (AM only), Aspirin 2X, no stool softener, no Lyrica or oxcydodone (never needed). Icing often, resting, elevating and walking heel toe with walker around our small 3rd floor. Minimal exercise (slides, ankle pumps, butt and thigh isometrics). My surgeon believes walking is the best therapy, he is not big on PT. Today my husband will help me take a shower with the shower chair.
My worst pain is burning, stinging around incision. Feels like a hot poker at times. Ice helps and from what I have read on the forum this is normal healing. All in all I feel I am doing fine taking it very slow.
Follow up appointment next Tuesday 2/14 with physician's assistant.
Thank you to all the wonderful moderators who contribute their time and expertise. Some of you are still here from 2018!

 

[Jaycey]

@3dognight Welcome back to BoneSmart! Sorry you had that accident and needed surgery. Our equine friends are not always as mild mannered as we would like.

Yes, some of us have been on BoneSmart quite awhile. I just realised I passed my 12 year anniversary here. Yikes!

Welcome to the double hippie club. I agree totally with your choice to go straight to THR. Much easier when you can weight bear immediately.

My surgeon believes walking is the best therapy, he is not big on PT.

Where have I heard this before? If you remember from your last hip, we have been suggesting this approach for years. Worked great for me - twice.

Just in case you need a refresher, here are the latest recovery guidelines:

Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
We are all different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for YOU.“ Your doctor(s), physiotherapist(s) and BoneSmart are here to help. But you have the final decision as to what approach you use.

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of this BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for THRs
6. Access these pages on the website

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

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
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[3dognight]

Thank you. Great protocol!

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!
Please leave an update next time you're on the forum, if time allows. We'd love to hear how your recovery is going.
I hope all is well and we hear from you soon. Take good care!
@3dognight

 

[asburymike]

My fellow 2/2! I told my surgeon, if I wake up and have to do this again....

Good luck on your recovery, look forward to your update

 

[3dognight]

Hi, thank you Layla and Mike. 11 weeks tomorrow and more pain than I expected -- overall leg pain/ache. Limp without my cane. Saw surgeon mid March and he was pleased with hip flexibility but, significant pain around the knee. He thought it might be as a result of what they have to do with the leg during surgery. Told me to see his PA in one month if not improved. I saw her last week, she did x-rays (normal), told me not to get discouraged (still early in recovery), use ice, use my cane, take pain meds if needed. She also thought some of my pain could be coming from my lower back. I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis several years ago. Got a PT script for hip/leg and back which I have not used yet. I sleep but pain this AM was awful -- yesterday I was on my feet for a few hours and I forgot to ice.
I took a pretty good fall when my horse knocked me over so, maybe that is contributing plus I just turned 74 and am not recovering as quickly as I used to. I sleep (only on my back but, have always been a side sleeper). Pain is worse in the AM -- we need a new mattress, any suggestions?
Again, thank you for being there. What a journey!

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary!
I hope you're feeling better now that a couple weeks have passed.

I sleep (only on my back but, have always been a side sleeper). Pain is worse in the AM -- we need a new mattress, any suggestions?

If you're still struggling with this, my best suggestion is pillows. Bed pillows that is, of varying firmness. I find it comforting to surround myself with them so that I can rest an arm or leg on one. An inexpensive Body Pillow from Target approx $10 is one of my faves. So go gather up the bed pillows and give it a try if you feel it may help.
Good Luck!

 

[3dognight]

Thank you Layla, may try the body pillow but, getting used to sleeping on my back with pillow under my knees. Have always slept with a cervical pillow.
I went to PT once and decided to just continue walking for therapy. The therapist brought out a band that I didn't want to do. Also, I got on a horse the other day, just at the walk, and it helped. If only I could write off a horse as a medical expense.

 

[Jaycey]

If only I could write off a horse as a medical expense.

I think all animal care should be "prescribed" post op. I found my animals to be the best therapy during my recovery. They just seem to know that something is different.

No falling off that horse now!