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THR Moms4tne's Recovery Thread

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Hi @moms4tne , good to catch up with you after your 6 week check :) I have mine tomorrow, though I will be 6 weeks and 5 days then!

Just to let you know that my knees are bothering me a bit too, especially the knee on my operated leg. I have arthritis there with osteophytes behind the R kneecap, so I expect some trouble... The physio (PT) did a thorough assessment of my legs resting and walking a couple of weeks ago, and identified that my knee muscles on the R side are particularly weak - which isn't surprising. She gave me a couple of very simple exercises to do ((1) squeezing a cushion between my knees and (2) pushing outwards with them). Then on Weds this week she did another assessment and told me to ease up on the squats. My R knee has an interesting habit of clunking very loudly when I squat - and hurting - and the lower I go, the sooner it clunks - at a regular time each repeat... So she said not to go so low and hold it until just before it clunks and hurts, and after a few days, she says I should notice myself being able to go lower. I admit I haven't done the squats as conscientiously as the other exercises (I haven't done them at all today), so that's probably why I haven't noticed whether she's right yet! I do like her approach, though, of telling me never to do anything that hurts, and helping me to check positions and move very slowly for maximum control. It makes sense to me to do the movements slowly and very deliberately, because paying attention helps me break the bad habits I developed over the past couple of years.

I still feel like my leg is 'twisted', but she assures me it isn't... And it doesn't much like driving yet either! Are you driving yet?
 
So glad you doing great. Tomorrow will be 6 weeks for me. I walked without my cane or any aide for 1.5 miles. Then had to use my cane. It seems like we are on a roller coaster. One day doing great then the next day not so great. I did start driving, but not crazy about moving my leg like that. How is your driving?
 
@TTBONE - I'm with you. Saturday I never would have known I had my hip replaced three weeks ago (except me taking precautions) then yesterday and today - aches. Roller coaster it is!!! But I guess if this was too easy people would do it everyday - oh wait, haha they do.

Some on here are super humans and resume life as normal in weeks - others months. I think I am an "in betweener" - but that's okay by me. I don't need to be a poster child - just need to regain my life and ability to move and enjoy the world around me.

Keep up the great progress!
Tee ((LTHR 5/28/14))


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There are good days and bad. Try to stay positive and know the bad days are just a bad day. Right after PT the next day I feel like I was hit by a Mack truck and then it is gone.. No one goes through this without aches and pains, limps to overcome . It is more of a mental challenge than even a physical one.. Seeing your eye on the prize and working towards it. I still use cane on and off. It gives me stability and without it I tend to go back to bad walking habits that I do not want to have. It takes a while before those muscles, even if you were active, as you are now using different ones due to your walking wrong before surgery.. Be patient but keep your head in a good place.
You are headed in the right direction @TTBONE




LTHR Direct Anterior May 19, 2014
 
Hey Guys! @FionaW @TTBONE @frieds @psychteach On my computer so I can tag! Well, a couple of you asked whether or not I was driving yet, and the answer is No. I don't know that I trust myself to be able to brake fast and hard in an emergency - and considering the fact that there are four licensed drivers in this house and only one operational vehicle (at the moment), I'm happy to let the others do the driving for now. Honestly, hubby works from home, and we like to spend as much time together as possible - so when there's somewhere to go, we usually go together and he drives. But we're hoping to take a road-trip home to California within the next month, and that will involve everybody in the car (including me) taking shifts so we can get there ASAP! It will take us several days, but I think I'm more up for that than the three hour drive to the airport, plus 5 1/2 hours flying time, plus however long a layover, plus another hour's drive once we're there to get from the airport to my Mom's . . . those trips are exhausting and planes are so cramped. And this way we can bring our dog - a chocolate lab who is too big to fly!

Doing pretty good on my cane now - except hubby took it with him to a trade show this morning, and I think he left it somewhere! I'm not seeing it around anywhere since he got home, but I won't ask yet. He'll feel terrible, but we can always go out tomorrow and get another. Maybe I'll drive! :wink:
 
Your trip to California sounds good, and you are doing well, too!


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Moms - love the update. Thanks. So glad to hear its going well and the family trip sounds awesome!!!


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Nine weeks post-op today. The past week or so has been rough. I ached all over and my knees were killing me. Not sure what the deal was - but yesterday I finally gave in and took a Tramadol that I had left over from kidney stones last October, and it helped a lot. Wish I'd remembered I had them the first few weeks after surgery when the Hydromorphone every two hours wasn't doing a bit of good. So I'm feeling better today, and also managing to get around the house without cane or crutch. Limping a bit, mostly if I try to take a longer stride, but my chiropractor told me last Thursday that I'm walking better without a cane than with it, and to try to practice more without it. Energy level is still quite low. We've had friends over twice, and went to dinner at another friends' house last week and I'm always exhausted after - but I am feeling more normal. As tired as I get, it's a different tired - glorious in that it's no longer the excruciatingly painful tired of just trying to stand, with my weight on only one foot - twisted to one side with back spasming! I'm still amazed when I realize it - now that there's really no more pain, even from the surgery after effects! My next goal is getting my grand baby into her stroller and taking a walk. I wasn't able yet to push a shopping cart around the garden store a week ago, but the handle to the stroller is a little lower, so I'm going to practice indoors first and, hopefully, it'll be okay. I was able, twice now, to go to the park with her, though - helped her climb the slide and pushed her on the swing!! Such a joy! My life is coming back to me :)
 
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Glad you are still moving forward, and doing things without pain.
You are still healing at 9 weeks out, so don't feel too upset with aches and pains.
Hope you get to go on that walk with your grandbaby soon!
 
I'm 9 weeks today @moms4tne , and I still have major ups and downs too. I think it's normal. I overdid it at the weekend and by Sunday night I hurt a lot and couldn't ease the pain with ice, elevation or over-the-counter meds. I was pretty sure I had bursitis! By Monday morning, after sleep and a swim and sauna, I felt much better. I find swimming, warm water and heat really do help me... It might be worth you trying that too, perhaps? :)
 
I'm 9 weeks today @moms4tne , and I still have major ups and downs too. I think it's normal. I overdid it at the weekend and by Sunday night I hurt a lot and couldn't ease the pain with ice, elevation or over-the-counter meds. I was pretty sure I had bursitis! By Monday morning, after sleep and a swim and sauna, I felt much better. I find swimming, warm water and heat really do help me... It might be worth you trying that too, perhaps? :)
 
@moms4tne Here's something my OS told me yesterday at my (almost) 4 month check up " you will continue to feel better and better for the next year, you won't even realize it." This statement amazed me because I feel so good now! He went on to explain that the relief of being pain free is what I have now but that total healing will continue to make me even better. AHHH - THR the gift that keeps on giving:) Be well - Joyce


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OK guys - so I need your advice. Monday I will be 10 weeks post-op. I can walk without assistance, but NOT without discomfort/limp. History: at 6 weeks I transitioned to one crutch - and a cane soon after. However, it seems using the cane (even though it's been checked by both physio and chiropractor as properly adjusted) is putting my back out, so I've had to abandon it. My chiropractor watched me walk with and without it about 10 days ago and said I'm actually walking better without it - but I don't know. It worries me that I can't walk without limping so badly, and I'm starting to wonder if it's psychological! Why?

Because I can walk along the counter in the kitchen (or anywhere else) with literally just a fingertip of my left hand touching (RTHR) - and no limp/pain. But try to take a step without touching, and it hurts - and I limp. I feel like I'm going to be like "Monk" for the rest of my life - touching every few feet as I walk along LOL! Seriously, this makes no sense to me. I have this "mass" of scar tissue - very sore - on my backside, just below the bend in my hip. It's a bit tender to touch, but from the "inside" it feels like this HUGE bruise. When I walk there is pressure and tightness from there clear around to under my bum cheek, and that's what "hurts".

Maybe I should just be pushing through this? Maybe I should let it continue to heal and support it with assistance? Maybe I really need to be more consistent with my physio exercises, even though @Josephine says hips will heal pretty well on their own? Maybe something is "wrong" in there? I am lost! I wanted to be further along than this by now! What do you guys think? I just really don't know what I should be expecting at this point. Thanks.
 
My guess is that you are becoming more and more active and with less support. You are using new and different muscles that you weren't using before and the muscles are getting tired and sore.
 
kmgraxy said:
My guess is that you are becoming more and more active and with less support. You are using new and different muscles that you weren't using before and the muscles are getting tired and sore.
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You're right, kmgraxy! Hubby and I had a conversation about it today. He was watching me try to walk, and made some observations. Mostly my gait isn't even - I'm still taking full stride with the good leg, and then following with the operated leg. So I'm trying to take smaller steps, and I don't "rock" so much, but it's far from "normal" and I'm really struggling with back pain. Not sure what that's about. :(
 
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@moms4tn-hi I am 6 weeks out. I am starting to have issues myself, which are upsetting. For weeks after surgery my back did not bother me. I was in heaven thinking this was the best thing I did. Now for the past two weeks it has been hurting. Today is even worse. I go to pt 3X a week. Twice in water and 1 on land. They put 2lb weights on me in water and I also use the weights on the table doing the lifts. I go back and forth with the cane. If I walk slow and steady and do the heel to toe I am fine. I cannot go for miles but a little bit is good. I still have a limp but it is better. I have not gone to my chiropracter yet because everyone says I need the OK from my surgeon before she starts adjusting things. My back seems to bother me the most in the morning getting up. The pain is not what it was for sure but it does hurt. PT says it is normal because all muscles are getting used and whatnot. I take tramadol once in a while but this morning I think I need something stronger. Now the weather today is raining bad. It was yesterday too. I didnt know if the weather is contributing to my back and the rest of me hurting. I wish I could get some people to tell me if their back hurt after the surgery. But not like right after. A couple of weeks after. I didnt have a stitch of pain for the first 4 weeks. I do not know if it is something I do or the way I sleep. I do sleep all over the bed. I keep the pillow inbetween my legs. I try not to bend at all but sometimes I do. I dont ice everyday or elevate. My incision is healing fine. I had posterior approach. (I think that is what they call it). Anyway was wondering if you have the same problems as me. Thanks
 
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Brooklyn, it sounds like you are using a cane to walk but are still walking with a slight limp. Is that the case? If so, then you need to be using more support right now with your walking aid. I suggest going back to a walker for a week or so and see if that helps you. It's possible that you are straining your back by trying to walk correctly with inadequate support.

Also, don't hesitate to take something when you're hurting. It does you no good to try and muscle through movement with pain. You need adequate pain management. It can be prescription pain meds or over-the-counter meds....but do take something. Ice is also very good for any pain you have.
 
Brooklyn, I had some back pain, too. It seems to have resolved itself. I will be six weeks on Tuesday. The back pain didn't start until I was using the cane. I tried going back to the walker which hurt more. Now I am just trying to be very light with the cane and concentrating on good form.
 
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