THR Lynne54's Recovery Thread

[Lynne54]

Thank you so much for all your kind comments. I have just had x-rays and they look pretty good. The oxycontin prescribed causes hypotension and laboured breathing, both of which I have had, so I do wonder why they prescribed it in the first place?

But hey who am I to question the medication prescribed by a doctor?? Thank goodness for Google.

If anyone can prove to physiotherapy that I can manage stairs sometime soon they will let me go home. I will live upstairs next to the bathroom. All I need is a mobile and a pile of good books, food and water. Sorted.... fingers crossed...

 

[Layla]

Lynne, since you‘ve had these episodes with your blood pressure, as did, Klassy, who posted in your thread, please keep her helpful tips in mind if you’re recovering alone at home. She offered some sage advice through her own experience. I’m also going to assume that the medical team caring for you is aware that you have dealt with the side effects of the prescribed OxyContin. If not, please discuss this with them before you’re discharged. Just a reminder in case you’re feeling a little forgetful or foggy brained, as I was for a time post op, even so once I was back home.
@Lynne54

 

[Layla]

Also, while you’re still there and have their attention, don’t forget to talk to your care team, Physio, or your surgeon about the compression socks and your concern with getting them off and on once you’re back home since you live alone. I recall that was something you were wondering about pre-op.
@Lynne54

 

[Klassy]

I’m not in any way qualified to give advice, but there are studies which suggest that compression stockings do not improve your chances of avoiding PE. See eg

The use of graduated compression stockings in association with fondaparinux in surgery of the hip | Bone & Joint

The use of graduated compression stockings in association with fondaparinux in surgery of the hip

online.boneandjoint.org.uk

But if you do choose to wear them, I believe some patients who lived alone had a district nurse come daily to change the stockings. Would that be possible?

Have you asked for codeine? It caused no problems with my low BP, and I had it after both hips, combined with paracetamol. Worked well for pain. It did cause constipation after the first hip, but I was better prepared diet-wise the second time round and avoided the constipation, with the help of the stool softener that was prescribed with it.

 

[Lynne54]

The surgeon apparently does not recommend the use of compression stockings, which is fine by me. If I do have any swelling then I may have to rethink. I have been given codeine tonight plus paracetamol in tablet form, and will be given IV paracetamol later, and blood thinners etc. I have been up and about to the bathroom and my hip does feel rather strange but it's early days and I am only shuffling along on a walking frame.
The ice works very well and once home I will use it as and when I want to.
I have seen physio once to help me get out of bed. If I am okay walking and clambering up and down the stairs tomorrow they will probably discharge me I suspect.
I do have some aids at home already, and should be okay I hope.
Best wishes to all.

 

[Klassy]

That’s sounding a lot more positive.

If the surgeon doesn’t recommend the stockings, that’s great news, don’t wear them. They made my calves unbearably itchy, and my husband had a real struggle getting mine on, even with an assistive device. I’d worry that you’d be risking a dislocation to try to get them on by yourself. They are not intended to deal with swelling, so whether you have swelling or not shouldn’t affect your decision.

I hope you feel even better tomorrow and can go home.

 

[Layla]

Hey Lynne, it seems things are looking up!
Was about to wrangle up a posse and cross the ocean blue to get you some help.
Things were sounding pretty dreadful earlier. I hope with your pain under better control you’re able to get some restorative rest and leave that place tomorrow for the comfort of home and freedom to ice when you want. Aaah you’ll be so happy.
I hope tonight brings sweet dreams!
@Lynne54

 

[CeeCeeMac]

I’ve been following your thread and am so happy that things seem to be turning around for you. I also had that pesky low blood pressure so they gave me lots and lots of IV fluids. It’s scary but it resolved within a couple of days. Hope that your recovery goes much more smoothly now!

 

[Jamie]

@Lynne54 .... I'm so sorry to hear of your problems in the hospital. There are patient advocate services with the NHS that you can take advantage of if needed. Here is a link to read more about them. Since you're by yourself at home, don't hesitate to take advantage of the home care services you can receive. Ask about them and make sure things are set up for you before you leave the hospital.

Don't hesitate to be the "squeaky wheel" while you're still in the hospital. You can always ask to see someone higher in the management chain if you are not receiving adequate care.....and that includes use of ice since it helps and pain medications.

 

[Lynne54]

Thought I might have been going home today as I transitioned from walker to crutches but leg has swollen badly and pain off the scale. BP was 137/70 but now 102/51. Back in hospital gown and in bed. They said I am not going home today. Will try again tomorrow.

 

[Layla]

I’m sorry, Lynne. Hopefully they continue to be generous with the ice.
Ice and elevation should help with the pain and swelling. Fingers crossed they discharge you tomorrow. Whatever they’re providing for pain sounds inadequate. I hope they get that under control soon. You need decent pain management at home so you‘re comfortably mobile.
@Lynne54

 

[Klassy]

I am very sorry to hear this disappointing news. But I guess it is safer for you to be in hospital while they get things under control. I hope that you will turn the corner soon.

How are you coping? Do you have anything that can distract you from your situation?

 

[Lynne54]

I have been given extra codeine (half of one very small tablet) which when added to what was already given, has eased the pain. It's very easy to tell when the medication is wearing off though. They have decided I am allergic to ibuprofen, naproxen and general anaesthesia. Tests have shown that my cardiac, respiratory and endocrine systems are all okay. On the plus side, that awful nagging hip pain is subsiding.

It can only get better. Fingers crossed.

 

[Klassy]

Hooray for some better news. Hang in there Lynne.

 

[Reanda]

Hi Lynne, thank goodness there's more control of your pain, swelling can be quite nasty at first, being allergic to some pain medication - crikey! No wonder you've had some issues but sounds like they're doing good checks on you and nothing untoward found, so that's good.
Good that you've transitioned to crutches, so you'll be able to get up stairs at home and settle in your room with bathroom nearby.
I'd offer to come by and assist you, but got few issues myself so wouldn't be much good!

All the best for tomorrows improvement.

 

[Jamie]

Lynne....start requesting another dose of your pain medication at the very beginning of when you feel it wearing off. If you stay on a regular schedule with pain meds, say taking one dose every 4 hours consistently, you'll actually use less of the medicine and your pain will be better controlled. Even though this procedure works, hospitals will usually not do this. They make you ask for the pain meds before they'll give a dose. So, fudge a little with your pain numbers and try to stay on a regular schedule with the doses.

It is possible that your high pain levels contributed to getting your blood pressure up to a more normal range and then it dropped back again once you had the pain somewhat under control. Don't be in a rush to get home. You want to be as stable as possible when you leave so you don't have any problems once you get home.

 

[Hip4life]

Oh, my goodness, Lynne, what an ordeal. A whole lot of mostly forgotten memories came flooding back reading your updates. I literally and figuratively feel for you. My care team and I struggled finding a drug regimen that worked. It finally dawned on me that the recalcitrant pain reminded me of some of my ankle injuries when I had terrible swelling. I noticed that swelling in my thigh post op. Some is normal but this seemed more than that especially with the compression stockings on. As soon as I was able to get the swelling down, I became much more comfortable.

Elevating and icing were really the things that worked best for me as the pain meds didn’t help much. Do those two techniques as much as possible especially when you get home and perhaps you’ll start finally feeling this surgery was a good thing. Blessings for comfort and prayers you’ll get to go home tomorrow.

 

[Layla]

Tests have shown that my cardiac, respiratory and endocrine systems are all okay. On the plus side, that awful nagging hip pain is subsiding.

Wonderful news, Lynne! So happy to read this. I hope you get some sleep tonight.

 

[Elf1]

So sorry you're going through all this @Lynne54 . Sometimes you definitely have to be the squeaky wheel to get done what you need. And it sure doesn't hurt to send a letter to the hospital when you get home and are feeling better. Detail all the areas, like rolling you in no side , not giving you ice when it was needed, etc. I did that after my THR as there was just some unacceptable treatment and was going to make sure the hospital administration was aware.

 

[Mojo333]

@Lynne54
So glad to see you getting some relief. And hopefully some rest.
- It will be nice when you can get stabilized so you can go home.
I know even that can sound scary when you are alone, as you mentioned, but if you can rally some help the first day or so, then you can take things super slow, and be in charge of your own ice and med schedule.
All temporary...and it gets better, as you said.
Keep the Faith, friend.