THR Morgan Le Fay's Recovery

[Layla]

Wonderful news Morgan!
Yep, those strange zaps and zingers are fairly common, but can feel alarming in early recovery. I often felt like one odd sensation was quickly replaced by another! Glad to read you had some solid restorative rest, hopefully you slept well again last night.

Hope for the best, but be prepared for some ups and downs and IF you experience them, know that it's normal.
There can be inflammation fluctuations due to your activity level and on good days we can easily overdo it because we're feeling great...and anxious to get back to "normal". Those instances can lead to a trip to the dreaded ODIC (Over did It Club) Healing isn't linear, so good and bad days are normal.

The scribble below was consoling for me if I was having an off day.
Happy Weekend! I hope it's a good one.

@Morgan Le Fay

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

Thanks @Layla!

I am a member of the ODIC as of yesterday!

Went out for a casual walk and ended up doing thousands of steps resulting in a limp and pain "sigh".

Lesson learnt - keep crutch handy at all times during outdoor walking

 

[mendogal]

A day of rest and ice should be the easy fix.

With my knees I was careful to record all distance walking - not the daily around the house, room to room, but my designated "real" walks.

I used maps to compute quarter mile increments and - after a couple of visits to the ODIC - increased in small increments after several successful walks at a given distance. You can use distance or time, either works.

I haven't ever used one crutch (front wheeled walker progressed to walking stick), but some hipsters here have noted a tendency to lean with one crutch. If you find yourself doing that, you might try a walking stick or cane.

 

[Deni444]

So pleased to hear you have progressed to ODIC, Morgan . Having read so many recovery stories, it seems to be a positive thing in a bizarre way. I guess you felt physically motivated to do more and that must mean you're emotionally stronger after all the stress of surgery. You'll be hanging up that crutch in no time

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

@Deni444

Thank you so much!!

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

Hi
So I managed to get out of the ODIC but I am back there again. I am getting inpatient with this journey at just under 5 weeks post op. I know, I need a slap. Mentally I am ready to get on with it but my hip rules the roost and won't allow it. I managed to do 10,000 steps outdoors sans crutch the other day and was so happy with myself that I attempted 7,500 steps yesterday but am now in pain. More a dull ache really. I actually haven't been bothering with my exercises as I do enough around the house plus walk outside. Ugh. I know it's early days but I am so eager to live again.

 

[msart]

@Morgan Le Fay- i completely understand this!! Hang in there-we will all get there!! ‍

 

[Hip4life]

@Morgan Le Fay It’s so hard to be patient but your hip is telling you it’s not ready yet. We can’t change its healing timeline only roll with it. The time for all the “getting back to life” is coming soon. We all understand. Just don’t be moving the goal line before you get there. Rest, ice, elevate on those sore days and back off a bit on the step goals for a few days. Your new hip will thank you.

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary!
I'm sorry you're hurting again today, Morgan. It can be difficult to find that perfect balance. I hope all the usual remedies, resting, icing /elevating bring speedy relief. With the holidays quickly approaching you don't want to be in the ODIC, so...BEHAVE...orders from headquarters.
@Morgan Le Fay

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

Haha @Layla oh my gosh you made me laugh. Orders taken. Loud and clear lol. Thanks so much everyone. At this very moment I am icing and elevating.

 

[myglasshalffull]

You said it correctly, the hip rules your days in these early recovery times.
I'd make a loose plan of things I'd hope to accomplish & maybe get 1/2 done & then Miss Hip would say "that's enough!"

 

[Deni444]

@Morgan Le Fay
I've just sat down exhausted after about 30 steps. Wow, 10,000 sounds like a marathon . You're doing so well! I'm pleased for you but take care of yourself. It's really great to hear you're managing so well without walking aids though. Exciting times

 

[Eman85]

One of the best things to get you permanent membership in the ODIC is to count steps. The first thing I always tell people is to throw away the Fitbit or step counter. The number of steps means nothing, it's all about quality. Walking like the old movies showed with a book on your head would be the right thing to do.

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

Thank you everyone!
I have noted all of your amazing wisdom. I took the 6 week recovery as literal and wondered why I wasn't getting there. It's amazing how I always know what to say to others with clarity but fail to advise myself. Hope you are all well. Stay as beautiful as you all are. What a special bunch of people you are. Gold.

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

Hi there

I am 6 weeks post op tomorrow and am generally doing well. I saw the surgeon last week and he said that I had an abnormal hip and that the implant has balanced me out. He is happy with my progress thus far.

Apparently my right leg (bad hip leg) was slightly shorter pre op. I don't have the feeling of having a longer leg now on my operated side as others have reported. I didn't even notice that my leg was slightly shorter either though. I can bike ride in another week he said as I love to bike ride. Should be interesting.

I still take ibuprofen most days as I can't sit still and am quite active but I have learnt to stop and rest as soon as I feel achy. If I chill out I am pain free. I even kneeled on both knees the other day. My right knee did feel a bit weird when kneeling. Like a sensitive slightly swollen feeling but I didn't worry too much about it.

I use one crutch if I plan to walk more than 20 mins at a time as my leg starts to ache and I end up limping. This is now what I am truly hoping to overcome.

I am happy to be able to share my journey and to share in yours.

Happy holidays

 

[mendogal]

Great update!
Yes a crutch or walking stick is great to provide a bit of stability when out and about and avoid the fatigue limp.

 

[Casey13]

Hi there from across the ditch. I had my THR the day after you and it sounds like we have recovered well. I also walk unassisted and I am free from restrictions.
So happy to be at nearly 6 weeks and almost feeling normal.
I had to be ready for my husband at 3 weeks as he has a robotic prostate removal and needed looking after. He had done such a good job looking after me for the first three weeks.
So we have both been on a bit of a journey together and we hare happy its coming to an end.

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

Wishing your husband all the best @Casey13 .
Happy to hear that you are also doing well.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Morgan & Casey,
So happy to hear you are both doing well & Casey you can now assist in your husbands recovery. It's great to have a supportive partner during recovery. I don't know how I would have survived w/o my partner & of course bonesmart!
Happy Holidays

 

[Morgan Le Fay]

Hi there

Just an update on me ....

I am 7 weeks post op today and spent the last 2 days in Torquay, Victoria. I did a lot of walking and didn't use my crutch once. I even walked on sand and uphill through dunes.

I am still taking ibuprofen now and then but I can see a future for myself post hip pain as my hip has consumed the last few years of my life.