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THR Moms4tne's Recovery Thread

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@moms4tne I have groin pain too. I think it's normal. It hurts when I walk and sometimes when I am lying down. I figured it was just from the trauma of surgery. I'm not worried about it. I think if it's bothering you at 6 weeks out, maybe it's something to look into. Sounds like you are doing great! :)
 
@Fiona yes, I typically go back to bed at least once each day for a nap and over the past 24-36 hours the swelling has decreased significantly. I put it down to my actually elevating the entire calf/foot now during the night - just a few inches. I had been under the impression that wasn't allowed until I started asking around here. Much better now, thanks.


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@younghippie I had almost a week where I felt I made very little progress, and then turned a corner on Day 8 where suddenly everything started to come together. I'm now Day 12 and I feel like I've stalled again. Been dealing with some pretty painful washroom visits, and that's taken a lot out of me. Not all clear yet, but I think we're getting closer - yet now my hip just aches sitting on the seat. I should mention I stopped my pain RX in favour of X-Strength Tylenol - couldn't take the constipation problems anymore. I think I probably need to up the frequency of icing and Tylenol and I'll probably feel less achy. Otherwise, I feel normal and strong and keep imagining I should just be able to get up and go. Sitting in bed or in this modified (meaning uncomfortable) recliner on a hard wedge cushion is really tiring.


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I am having the same experience. I kind of wondered today if I am slow to progress, but then remembered that I'm off pain meds as well. Also, my husband saw me walking (with walker) and said he couldn't believe how much bigger my stride was than a week ago. When I thought about it, it's true. I was inching along a week ago and now can take bigger strides. I think it's easy to forget how hard things were right after surgery. We have to also remember that we are off pain meds, so we are going to feel some aches and pains. Just think of what has been done to us! Ha ha!
 
LOL, I try not to :)

I agree, as I mentioned in my PM, I need to be more disciplined about taking my OTC pain reliever(s) and not just ignore the little aches and pains until they're limiting me. I start PT on Tuesday, so better get myself set before then or I know I'll be compromising my progress. The days just have a habit of drifting by, yet when I count my post-op days, I can't believe it's only been 12! I feel like it's been weeks already and I've only been home a week yesterday. In that context, I've come a long way!!


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@shrinkette. Thanks for the advice re: constipation. I finally got desperate after two days feeling like I was blocked with a baseball and drank two 10 oz servings of prune juice about 4 hrs apart, followed by a hot green tea. That was Wed night, I think, and that certainly helped the problem. I liked doing that over a laxative - no cramps or urgency, or long sits. It's been two days and I still evacuate some each time I visit the loo, but it's manageable and understandable after 9 days of nothing. I told hubby I'm going to start a regiment of Metamucil 1-2 x per day now, until I'm regular again. My body typically responds well to that, so it should help out.


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I started having spams in my groin today, and my foot wants to turn the other way. But also started going out, went to dinner tonight also PT today. I just think its healing, try ice like I did. Hang in there.
 
@Josephine I don't seem to be having much success tagging you with questions - sorry if I'm maybe not following proper protocol. I saw your pain location chart and had a question about groin pain/discomfort I'm having on the operated side, almost exactly at the + where C,D and R2F,R3F intersect. This is the exact spot where my original pain/catching was that I thought was due to labral tear, but I don't have a labrum anymore, right?

This pain is most uncomfortable when I am flat on my back with operated leg outstretched, or when I sneeze or cough - even with leg flexed a bit at the knee. I know this muscle was very tight prior to surgery - my chiro was using acupressure to try to stretch it - but I just want to make sure I've not done anything to the hip that's causing the pain. My right foot has a tendency to "fall" off to the right and this stretches that area. Didn't know for several days after surgery that I was supposed to keep my toes pointed forward. Just a bit worried. Thanks for your excellent advice.


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I think many of us had 'wonky' gaits and bad habits pre-surgery, because of the joint damage and problems that made surgery necessary. Now our joints have been fixed, the mechanical 'deformations' have been corrected, but our muscles are used to holding our joints and limbs in the wrong positions, not the right ones, and need to be re-trained. Meanwhile, the right positions feel wrong, IYSWIM! I know I have been leaning to the left and putting more weight on my left leg, for example, and my whole right leg twisted slightly outwards. Now my right leg feels too long, and like it's twisted in! I am assuming it's actually in its correct position, and it'll feel more and more normal as my muscles get stronger.
 
@FionaW Again, our stories are so similar. I actually had a bigger thigh muscle on my left leg because I carried all my weight on that side for so long. Never thought that my right foot twisting out might have been due to the joint degeneration. My experience is that my right leg finally feels long enough - I was constantly standing on the ball of that foot trying to keep my back from spasm. I am amazed that I haven't seen my chiro in 2 weeks and my back isn't out. That alone feels like such a miracle :)


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Two weeks Update: Hey All! Two weeks ago today I became a Hippie! I've been reading around, as usual, and noticing the diversity in terms of recovery timeframes for THR. I think I'm progressing a bit slower than others around my date, but I'm not letting it bother me. Wanted to let everyone know that my staples come out tomorrow morning, I have my first at home physio tomorrow afternoon, AND this morning I felt I had a major victory in just being able to roll, by myself, onto my side to sleep :)

I hope I will encourage some who feel as I do - that maybe we lag a bit behind the pack. I don't have anyone to impress - I just want to be (and especially STAY) strong & healthy on this new hip. I have lost so much time already - waiting to get to this point - and I intend to do everything I can to ensure a full recovery . . . no matter how slow-pokey I am at it. LOL. Cheers!


2014May5 - RTHR Direct Lateral Approach
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Glad you get your staples out tomorrow and starting PT! You are doing great and will continue to see improvement! Your attitude is excellent.
for others who worry they are not "progressing" as fast as others, there is no way to compare recovery time frames...we are all different, had different surgeons and they have different techniques with different precautions and recovery protocols. You can't compare apple to oranges...
 
@moms4tne, I bet getting the staples out will be a big step. Though I have just glue now, I recall how happy I was to have staples removed from my back surgery in 1976. A milestone, so it was onward and upward. And I got a good 25 years out of that back surgery. I'll be so glad to be able to get down on the floor to do back exercises again.
Like you, I feel like I am lagging behind in recovery but I am going to get there as will you. Best of luck with your physio. Mine started the first week I was home. Yesterday we went outside - lucky break it was the first day I got dressed - and walked about 150 feet. Tomorrow he comes again and then twice next week - frankly, I can not wait until it is over. I know the exercises and do them if it does not hurt. I think my guy is going a little too fast. Today and Friday the nurse comes and the 28th I see the OS for my first check up. I told PT that I was not using the cane - he had me on it 7 days after the surgery. The doc had told me walker for 2 or 3 weeks before the cane.

I was interested to read about your right foot twisting out. Mine does too and the right knee falls to the side when I sit. PT does not like that and wants me to keep it straight. I'll work on that later - right now I am going for pain free walking :)

You are making real progress if you can roll on your side. Could you sleep that way? Even with help I could not get comfortable - tried the pillow between my legs as PT advised but there seemed to be a pulling sensation on my operated hip. Maybe in another week. Sleeping flat does get tiresome though.

We will all be interested to hear about your physio.

Keep on keeping on!

Chris
 
Hi Chris @old grey mare Pillow (maybe even two) is a must for side sleeping - all the way from crotch down to between your feet if you can manage. I use a king, to get the length. Wouldn't even attempt without it! Still I've managed only twice to nap on my side. The first time was the morning of Day 6 for about two hours. But when I tried again that evening, it was extremely uncomfortable for the reasons you mentioned - just pulling and pressure on the incision - and I actually kind of hurt myself trying to get back onto my back without calling hubby to help. So then I was scared. I only tried once in between, unsuccessfully. Yesterday (Day 15) was the first time I was actually comfy to sleep that way again, and I got about 3 hrs - but this morning, no go. This time it's just more about not being situated - couldn't relax, so now I'm on my back again, wiggling and squirming trying to catch a few more zzz, but I've given up. Nervous about the Dr in a couple hours. This'll be my first trip out - getting into the car again, long walk in to his office from parking lot, and I know the waiting room chairs aren't 90 degree friendly, nor high enough. And I'm going over and over how I will manage to get up on the exam table :( Then later today - PT! Big day ahead. I'll be glad if I can nap this afternoon! LOL


2014May5 - RTHR Direct Lateral Approach
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Another Update :) Saw my GP for staple removal - he felt it wise to remove only half of the 28 (revised from 26!) staples today, and the rest Friday. I'm good with that. Only one "hurt", felt like just a bit more tender spot along the incision, rather than the staple actually hurting. The rest, more of an itchy sensation for a second or two. Home now with leg elevated. Had to stand throughout as the exam room chairs had no arms and I wasn't confident trying to manage the step up necessary to get up onto the table. Maybe Friday I'll be even stronger!


2014May5 - RTHR Direct Lateral Approach
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Day 17 - Man, am I ever wiped out this morning! I guess a car trip, visit to the Dr for staples, and PT yesterday was a lot harder on me than I anticipated. Just illustrates how much energy out bodies are needing just to heal!


2014May5 - RTHR Direct Lateral Approach
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@moms4tne,
Look at the bright side - half the staples are gone :) Was it a long car trip? What was your PT like?

You are right - we need a lot of energy to heal. I took a 3 hour nap after dinner last night. And today I am assisting with the laundry - mostly setting dials and selecting cycles. The washer and dryer have worked flawlessly for 12 years - it took less than a week for husband to break one of the dials.

Right now we are waiting for PT to arrive and then it is afternoon nap time. Still can't do side sleeping - maybe next week.

Chris
 
@old grey mare That's funny. My husband managed to break our nearly new coffee pot trying to make me a cup of coffee. Somehow, it just quit working. Hmmmmm. :shrug:
 
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