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Melissa's New Hip

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YoungM

graduate
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
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Hi ! I'm in the hospital right now still, but figured I'd post to tell everyone I'm ok! My boyfriend brought his laptop to the hospital so I'm able to get online. The surgery went well -I was in a lot of pain the first night. It is night 3, coming home tomorrow! I will post more later on.
 
Hi Melissa,

Congratulations - you made it to the "other side"! So glad you are feeling well enough to post and that your surgery went well! Looking forward to hearing more from you as you progress through recovery.

Karen
 
Congratulations Melissa!! How wonderful for you and I'm so happy it is over and now you are on the road to recovery. I shall keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Jayne
 
Hi Melissa, Glad to hear you are ok. Let us know how you are doing after you settle in at home. Tell your bf that he might want to get you an inexpensive body pillow at a place like Sears. Is a great help during the first few weeks when you have to sleep on back or gingerly on the side.

Laurie
 
Great, Melissa!!! Welcome to the other side. Now you can get going on that healing. Here's hoping things go well for you.
 
Melissa!!!! YAY!!!! You did it! I was wondering how
You were getting on! Let the healing begin!!!!!
:)......hope they're upping your meds! :)
 
Hey Melissa
Congrats for joining us hippies!!! Sorry you were in a lot of pain. I am glad to hear it is all figured out for you. Remember to take those pain pills on time and stool softeners .
REst for now
judy
 
Hi Melissa! Well done..........you've made it to the "other" side! :) It's wonderful to hear from you! Hang in there - once they get the pain meds sorted you will be okay! It's all downhill from here..........! :) Looking forward to hearing from you soon,

Peta
 
I am so happy for you Melissa!!!
How did everything go in the hospital? I am on day 9 post-op, the days are going fast!
 
Hey Melissa! So happy to finally see a post from you! I was checking this site and your blog everyday for news. Glad all went well for you and hope to hear your story soon. Just rest, relax, elevate and TAKE THOSE PAIN MEDS (just like everyone said) It takes TIME.

Happy Healing!
Carol
 
And definitely remember to take those
Stool softeners! Gee! I really wished I
Found this forum to be reminded! Trust
Me, Melissa! How are you feeling today?
 
good Morning Melissa
I imagine you are getting settled at home. I hope you woke up feeling a little better today. I think the first 4 days were the toughest. So actually tomorrow will be a little better.
I am going to start rambling so I'll just say here's to comming home!!!
judy
 
Hi all. Day 4 here! I'm home and in bed/ walking with walker/ doing my PT. I am feeling as though the operated leg is longer than the other. It's still very stiff and swollen so it feels weird walking on it. Has anyone else experienced this?
 
Hi Melissa, welcome back home! A number of folks have reported on the forum about feeling like one leg was longer than the other. This normally resolves itself with some time. Your body has been out of realignment for some time and things have to settle in again. It will feel stiff and swollen too. Be sure and take your pain meds and ice/elevate frequently. You're on your way to feeling better!!!
 
Welcome home Melissa, Day 4 is about the time when you turn the corner and everything is uphill from there. Just curious, when you go straight home, do y ou take the vibrating booties with you? (Forget the real name for them) Just remember at the rehab facility, the nurses were obsessed with keeping them on you at night. The slight vibrating actually helped me get comfortable. Of course a pain to take on and off when had to use bathroom.

All a dim memory at almost 7 months. How are you feeling? At your age, bet you will recovery in record time.

About leg length--my right leg (operated one) had been so much shorter before surgery that afterwards it was still a little shorter (only about 1/4 inch). To this day it feels that way but know from the way I stand and walk, not to mention the length of my pants, that all is so much more balanced. I'd ask your Dr about the actual difference, if any, as your body does need time to get adjusted.

Laurie
 
Welcome home Melissa! :) As Laurie said - about day 4 was when I started to feel it had ALL been worth it! As for the feeling of your operated leg being longer - I felt EXACTLY the same after my op. My OS assured me it was a temporary feeling - and 4 months down the track he was definitely right! Good luck with your recovery - post often! :)

Peta
 
Melissa
Day four is the turning point Melissa. I am glad you are there. It only gets better from here on.
My surgeon told me after the surgery that my operated side will feel longer. My legs were totally equal. He was correct. Also a crazy amount of swelling is totally normal. My legs (yes, both of them) looked as wide as my whold body. It was very settled down by 2 weeks though.
Ask away , we are here for you.
I am really happy it is over for you and you are on the road to recovery.
judy
 
Hi Melissa,
Happy to see you are home and have begun your healing process. I am 3 weeks post op and remember freaking out about the leg length discrepancy after my first day home. Even my PT noticed it but he assured me in most cases the legs even out over time. I have notice a huge improvement after I got the ok last week to put 100% of my weight on the operated leg and switch from a walker to the cane. Still a little off but I am confident that all will be well eventually. This is such a trying time in the process. Take the advice of all the other "hippies" and relax, rest, ice, elevate and do your PT. I did and was better off for it. I had to get out of my own head as far as where I thought I should be at a certain time. Had a hard time being patient about the healing process. Trust me, very soon you will be seeing improvements every day so keep the faith!
 
I bet you are happy to be home Melissa!
I'm 10 days post-op and today both legs are starting to feel equal. I actually noticed that for the first time ever I can stand flat on both feet comfortably. It might mean that he corrected a legnth discrepency I have had all my life.
I took my last Lovenox shot today YAY!!!
How does it feel when you get into bed, and have to lift the operated leg up? That was/is my worst pain. My PT had me take a belt from my robe and make a slip knot to slip the foot into, to use the belt as a leg lifter.

Each day gets soooo much better than the last. Today I walked out of the room and realized I forgot my crutch after I got into the next room; A good sign that I am less dependent on it.

How is it going so far?
 
Hi everyone! Thanks for all your responses. I'm noticing that the days are much better for me than the nights. I'm actually not in much pain during the day -just taking tylenol for the pain. At night is when it acts up and I need to take the percocet. It's really tough sleeping on my back and getting comfortable. I tried going on my side a couple times with the leg wedge or a bunch of pillows, but I get to nervous that I will accidentally flop on my stomach or do something wrong, so I'm just avoiding side sleeping right now.

I have to say, what is so amazing is that I do not have the usual pain anymore -it's great. I used to have a lot of groin pain, and that was instantly gone! Now, I just have thigh pain and pain on the oustide of my leg where the inscision is.

Laurie -they didn't send me home with the vibrating booties. Since I was walking to the bathroom quite frequently and moving around in my house, and doing the PT, they said it wasn't necessary.

Question -did you find it uncomfortable to sit? Since my incision is swollen and on my butt cheek, it's difficult to sit and be comfortable -it's like I'm sitting on a puffy butt! hehe.

Regarding the leg discrepancy -I really hope that is straightens itself out. It still feels like my operated leg is longer than the other -I know it's ony day 5 right now. The PT said I was walking as though the leg was longer -I can't help it, that's how it feels. I'm trying to bed the knee and walk heel, toe. I have been doing my exercies, resting, icing, eating, watching lots of TV and just hanging out with family, friends, and the boyfriend. I may actually miss all of this attention :)

One thing I am concerned about is that my heart rate is elevated quite frequently. I know this can contribute to a blod clot somewhwere. Before leaving the hospital, they checked for blood clots and I was clear. Maybe we just happen to check my heart rate after I have been up and walking? Did anyone else experience this?

The other thing I am nervous about is the "sqeaky hip". I REALLY hope and pray I do not develop that since I had ceramic on ceramic. My OS did not use Stryker, but am still nervous.

I will post soon!

~Melissa

Looking forward to our get together eventually :)
 
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