THR Merrimay's on the other side now THR

[K8 Orlando]

The energy drain from THR is not something I anticipated. I can feel great one minute and happily start some little chore, then exhaustion sets in and I have to crash for a while. It’s upsetting until you realize it’s just part of the process.

 

[Yogini]

Agreed. Sometimes it feels like you have run out of gas. But activity also aids healing. We more than ever need to listen to our bodies

 

[Layla]

The energy drain from THR is not something I anticipated. I can feel great one minute and happily start some little chore, then exhaustion sets in and I have to crash for a while. It’s upsetting until you realize it’s just part of the process.

Energy drain is real. Neither you, Merrimay, or K8Orlando are alone in experiencing it, many do.
Our body's energy supply isn't limitless. So when we're in healing after major surgery
our energy will be used for healing first, not leaving a great reserve for all of the other activity of daily life. It is completely normal to feel tired for quite some time. How long....most likely relates to your body's rate of healing. Making our best effort to get adequate sleep and rest is beneficial. Our body does it's best healing while we're sleeping.

A great Wednesday to you, Merrimay, and best wishes to our friend K8Orlando

 

[Merrimay]

Today is a great day for me, Layla! And a milestone. Three Weeks post op today! Right now, I feel more energized, perhaps because when I compare my abilities to those I had preop, I have to call this surgery a success. Three weeks ago, I'd spent many months unable to rise from a seated position without crippling thigh and groin pain. Three weeks later, my biggest problem is standing up so quickly that I risk pulling a muscle. Three weeks ago, I often woke myself crying out in pain and upsetting my little dog. Those days are gone! So if you'd asked me preop what my goals were, I'd have said losing this disabling pain being able to move from a seated to standing position and being able to drive again. Mission accomplished at only three weeks on items 1 and 2. The driving part will come in just a few more weeks. I call that a great result!

What I've been dealing with yesterday and today is pain in the rear of my knee on my surgical side. My neighbor the PT theorizes that this is temporary and a result of my weight shifting more onto that side after years of compensating for a bad hip. What do you all think???

 

[subie2021]

I think you'll experience all sorts of aches and ouches as you recover. Some of it is from all the jacking around the surgical teams does to dislocate then place the implant...it is not a gentle process. Some is the result of muscles complaining when they've just gotten comfortable with the early recovery R&R. Then of course there's all the realignment that goes on (and on, and on ) as our bodies adjust to new weight bearing. And don't forget the just plain muscle soreness from activity that we aren't as used to as we used to be.

I stopped thinking about it early on. There was the post op soreness, which I knew is normal, then other random aches that came and went. I figured that unless pain levels hit 7 out of 10 and lasted more than two days, it was nothing to worry about. I'd take note of any aches, accommodate them as necessary, and they sort of just took care of themselves. Reading other recovery threads here on BoneSmart was so helpful with getting into that mindset. Otherwise I'd have been my usual worrywart self

But I think if anything really hurts to the point of not being able to function or concentrate on something else, and lasts more than a day or two, a call to the OS office wouldn't be out of order. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Merrimay]

I think you'll experience all sorts of aches and ouches as you recover. Some of it is from all the jacking around the surgical teams does to dislocate then place the implant...it is not a gentle process. Some is the result of muscles complaining when they've just gotten comfortable with the early recovery R&R. Then of course there's all the realignment that goes on (and on, and on ) as our bodies adjust to new weight bearing. And don't forget the just plain muscle soreness from activity that we aren't as used to as we used to be.

I stopped thinking about it early on. There was the post op soreness, which I knew is normal, then other random aches that came and went. I figured that unless pain levels hit 7 out of 10 and lasted more than two days, it was nothing to worry about. I'd take note of any aches, accommodate them as necessary, and they sort of just took care of themselves. Reading other recovery threads here on BoneSmart was so helpful with getting into that mindset. Otherwise I'd have been my usual worrywart self

But I think if anything really hurts to the point of not being able to function or concentrate on something else, and lasts more than a day or two, a call to the OS office wouldn't be out of order. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Merrimay]

Agreed! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, sibie2021!

 

[Hip4life]

@Merrimay So glad you're having a great day. There will be more and the bad ones will be fewer. It does eventually normalize. You've discovered the key to your sanity in this recovery: perspective. It's so much better to compare week to week than day to day. As your body continues to heal, regaining its strength and proper alignment, you will have various aches and pains show up even in the next few months. The improvements may get less dramatic as the weeks go on, but they are still there.

The biggest challenge, besides patience, is to not overdo because you are feeling better. Slow and steady increases in activity are your best choice in avoiding our ODIC (over did it club.) This is one club that your only reward is an ice pack and having to cut back again. Lol. Hopefully, this day is the sign you're turning the corner. We're happy that you can see now how life changing this surgery can be. Continued healing blessings.

 

[Merrimay]

@Merrimay So glad you're having a great day. There will be more and the bad ones will be fewer. It does eventually normalize. You've discovered the key to your sanity in this recovery: perspective. It's so much better to compare week to week than day to day. As your body continues to heal, regaining its strength and proper alignment, you will have various aches and pains show up even in the next few months. The improvements may get less dramatic as the weeks go on, but they are still there.

The biggest challenge, besides patience, is to not overdo because you are feeling better. Slow and steady increases in activity are your best choice in avoiding our ODIC (over did it club.) This is one club that your only reward is an ice pack and having to cut back again. Lol. Hopefully, this day is the sign you're turning the corner. We're happy that you can see now how life changing this surgery can be. Coninued healing blessings.






It's funny an

I learned the hard way about overdoing when my sister went home on Day 8, and I became solely responsible for my home, pets, and recovery! First I felt overwhelmed. Then I experimented with self-pity. Then I got up and went to work! The good news was it forced me back toward the independence I'd lost when my hip disabled me mid-summer 22. Bad news is I officially overdid it and had to hire help for a few days so I could calm the increased pain and swelling.
Now im so pleased with my progress that the last thing I want to do is risk undoing it by doing too much. It's a balance act, isn't it?

 

[Merrimay]

Just returned from my first (3 week) postop visit.

Drumroll...surgeon is delighted with my x-ray results. Says I'm healing beautifully. Cleared to begin driving short distances next week and walking my dog on poles 10 minutes three times a day. Is that a return to "normal life"? Well, it feels like a start to me!

 

[Woodstockhip]

Great news, @Merrimay! Probably there’s someone even happier than you — the dog!!! Well done, you.

 

[Layla]

Woohoo! Driving and dog walking, sounds like a return to normal to me. Good to hear all looks well on the x-rays.
Enjoy the dog walks this week!
@Merrimay

 

[Merrimay]

I just cleared the "scariest" hurdle of all...the narrow, rickety wooden stairs to my dungeon, er, basement. My PT had taken one look at the stairs and said, "I'm not going down those steps, and I'm fully mobile." Countless times this past week I peeked down the stairs, trying to muster my courage to do my laundry. Then turned back. But tonight I did it! Easy peasy.

I'm not sure why, but I felt a rush of freedom. Perhaps because if I can manage those stairs, I can manage my house, I can meet nearly all mobility challenges I night face in the wider world.

It's only a few days shy of 4 weeks since surgery. I went into that OR wracked with disabling thigh and groin pain, unable to stand from a seated position without severe spasms. I couldn't drive or leave my home. I was utterly dependent.

Thanks to this extraordinary surgery, my life has turned around, and in less than 4 weeks. I know full recovery is still months away, but my progress thus far is miraculous to me!

 

[Mojo333]

It IS an extraordinary surgery...
Sounds like you are doing very well.
Keep going... slow and steady.
Lots of improvements to come.

 

[Woodstockhip]

The first time down the stairs is so liberating, isn’t it? Like the first solo shower, the first side-sleeping and, though I haven’t gotten there yet, the first time driving. I was terrified of my stairs, but once I got going, it was fine. I just needed to recite the “Up with the good” mantra. You’ll find things get better and better.

 

[Layla]

the narrow, rickety wooden stairs to my dungeon, er, basement. My PT had taken one look at the stairs and said, "I'm not going down those steps, and I'm fully mobile.

I hear scary music playing in the background. That was quite a description affording me a clear visual.
It's good to hear you passed that hurdle and feel confident you can manage your house. Just Be Careful on the rickety stairs to the dungeon. Happy Monday, Merrimay!

 

[Merrimay]

Oh, the saga continues! You're not going to believe the latest. Bit into a Subway sandwich and broke my front tooth in half!
I'd read all the warnings about dental procedures potentially causing infection in the new joint. Long and short is that my OS has sent an RX for me to take an antibiotic one hour before I go in for the crown fitting, which I hope will be within a week. But do you believe it? One thing after another...I am really tired of all this drama!

 

[Yogini]

Too much drama. Good that this situation had a quick fix.

 

[myglasshalffull]

I remember first time I went down to do laundry and how "creative" the attempt was...put laundry in plastic trash bag and thrown down the stairs, presto!
Then my partner came home and asked how I did it, plus he noticed I had unlocked front door for him as well as put light on outside.
Small victories in the beginning.
My dentist made me wait 3 months for my cleaning after surgery and also take 2000 mg of amoxicillin one hour prior to cleaning. I wasn't crazy for taking so much antibiotics but I did do it figured better than getting an infection. I do have an acquaintance that had two hips replaced several years ago now and she developed infection after few years in one of the hips. Gave her a run for her money.
Good luck with your tooth.

 

[Merrimay]

The silver lining of the broken tooth was that it encouraged me to drive for the first time in 4 months so I could get to today's dentist appointment. Tomorrow I'm officially 4 weeks post-op, and I'd planned to wait til then. But what is one day? Got into the car with ease, had tooth bonded, then drove my dog to the national park for a slow walk. Red letter day!!!