Revision THR My RTHR journey and the road back to an active life.

[CPH]

Glad all went well! I am on day 4 following a posterior LTHR, and have the exact same aches in same places (rear and thigh). Hope your healing continues smoothly!

Thanks for the heads up on pain....looks like we are close in age, surgery date but just opposite hip. Tonight in my own bed should be interesting but hopeful to find a good position. No restriction, except crossing legs, so will have to see if I can sleep on my good side with a knee pillow. If not, they did send me home with the leg wedge. How is it sleeping at home?

 

[CPH]

Take it all slow and roll with the tough spots, for now.
Healing hugs...xxx

Can’t imagine doing a bilateral...you are one tough cookie!

 

[Fit4Family]

Hello @CPH Looks like you are doing very well. Those first few days are rough. I had lateral approach and found getting in and out of bed, chairs the most challenging. Hope you have found a method that works for you. Sounds like you have a very thoughtful hubby! Coffee from the outside world made my day when I was at hospital. We did the same thing with bed warning device. LOL. Scary! Just sending healing thoughts your way.

 

[Ptarmigan]

Sending you wishes for as much restorative sleep as possible as you settle in to your recovery at home!

 

[Cecropia]

@CPH
Nice that you are home and the surgery is behind you. Your restrictions are like mine. I was told I could also try sleeping on my good side right after surgery. Did you try that last night and how did it go? Hope the next few days are not too painful for you. I'm a little worried about that myself.... The sun is out this morning here in MI was surprised as the forecast said rain. I'll take it if only for a few hours before the rain comes back... Bet you are glad to be home again....

 

[Carriemay60]

Getting settled in at home is a bit of a learning curve but once you have things figured out, it is wonderful. I hope you had a decent nights rest.
To avoid medication confusion, we got a 7 day pill reminder box. It had 2 rows of 7 boxes and we put stickers on the top with times written on them. My husband stocked it every 24 hours. Worked like a charm for us. We picked it up at the dollar store.

 

[HipsterKat]

How is it sleeping at home?

I’ve actually been sleeping pretty well, even with the 2am meds alarm. I usually wake with zero pain level (of course that changes once I get up and start moving around). I got these great memory foam leg risers which keep me in a good position — pm me if you would like the link.

 

[CPH]

Day 3: slept all night (10pm to 6am). Last night I took 1 10mg oxycodone at 10pm with 1000mg of Tylenol, then 200 mg Celebrex. Must have been the perfect cocktail. I’m a side sleeper on non operative side, and tried, but side of butt and incision site was too sore to stay there so we propped me up with 3 pillows and put the hospital wedge between my legs and I was golden. Woke up this morning and while still in bed had zero pain. As I started to wiggle my right leg to get out of bed I noted my leg muscles were still sore, but only about 50% of the pain I felt yesterday. I have a stinging/burning/pulling sensation at my incision if I flex to sit, so just being careful with sitting. I managed to let the dog out by myself and will attempt a shower later today if all stays the same. Been doing all my ankle flexes, thigh tightening and butt tightening exercises and think they are helping. Hubby says I am walking better with the walker and transferring less of my body weight to it and using it more for stability. Been icing/elevating since day 1...interesting they didn’t offer ice at the hospital, I had to ask. Anywho I think it’s been very beneficial for me. So far no bruising anywhere. Took 5mg oxycodone, 1000 mg Tylenol and 200 mg of Celebrex this am. Gonna see how I do with less oxy during the daytime.

 

[ForumUser]

I’m gonna advise to evaluate the need for any oxy, assuming you are not in pain that can be handled by Tylenol ... if you are not in significant pain, please try Tylenol only to determine if it makes discomfort manageable.

If you find you need the oxy, you can easily go back to it ...

 

[Hip4life]

So early in your recovery, don’t hesitate to use the oxycodone if you need/want to. Sometimes trying to get back on top of pain is very difficult. Cutting back on the mgs is okay if it works for you. Like a wise nurse told me “Take the meds when you need them. I don’t expect to see you on a corner downtown looking for a dealer.” I’m not minimizing opioid addiction but I only got enough oxycodone to last 5-6 days and then could contact OS if I needed more. I almost needed to then things started getting much better. You’ve suffered enough, don’t at this stage if you don’t need to.

 

[SE Florida]

@CPH, I totally agree @Hip4life. It's way too early to let go of the pain meds. I believe the forum mod's recommend you stay on top of the pain.......so don't wait until you're in really bad pain before taking them! And your first few showers, make sure your husband or someone is close by in case you need them. Sounds like you're doing good for 2 days, just keep the ice on!

 

[Ptarmigan]

I was so happy for @CPH to read about the incredible sleep, that even though I am not a doctor I would say, “don’t change a thing!” Best possible news

 

[CPH]

Day 4: today marks the beginning of post op day 4 and so far so good. last night I managed to sleep well again with one short wake up from dog and hubby snoring in tandem. Got them to stop and fell back asleep. Big feat for yesterday was getting myself into bed unassisted (except for wedge placement) and completely out of bed and dressed unassisted this morning. Managed to pull my right leg up in bed this am which made getting out so much easier, but also putting on my sweat pants. Took a 10mg oxy last night but only had 5 mg all day yesterday and Tylenol. This morning only feeling a little tightness in my muscles, no pain, so may wait to take until I need it. Yesterday I was cleared to take a shower, but decided to wash my hair in the kitchen sink instead. Managed to blow dry standing unassisted with walker in front just in case. Back and forth through the house for bathroom breaks and to swap ice gel packs in fridge. Did 2 laps around sidewalk track in the back yard with no issues. Still icing and elevating. Muscles in right leg are getting stronger no pain at incision site so far today. This morning home health PT shows up. Asked Dr, why home PT since he really doesn’t think anything more than walking is required. He said he wants to make sure his patients are able to get out of bed, dressed and out of the house by themselves if there were an emergency, especially since most people will be alone at various points during recovery...makes sense to me. Have a great day everyone! Feeling so blessed that I have done well so far! PT, shower and attempting to sleep on my good side are on the agenda today!

 

[SE Florida]

@CPH, way to go! You're moving along quite well with this recovery, you are definitely blessed!

 

[ChrissyW]

@CPH sounds like you are doing fab. I'm hoping the sleep dairy comes and waves a magic wand in my direction soon as lack of sleep is my only real issue, I'd even put up with being woken by my husband snoring because as it is I'm serenaded by it all night rather than just woken by it!

 

[Layla]

Hello,
It sounds as though you're doing really well. Getting in and out of bed unassisted, dressing yourself and standing while blow drying your hair...all great for 3 days post op! I like your surgeon's idea for the home PT visit. Sound reasoning. I hope you have a great day.
Happy Sunday!
@CPH

 

[Jaycey]

This morning only feeling a little tightness in my muscles, no pain, so may wait to take until I need it.

The trick at this stage is to stay ahead of the pain. Take your medication as prescribed until you start forgetting doses. That is the sign you are weaning off.

 

[CPH]

Shower was easy peezy, felt great. Tool off bandage as was prescribed....incision looks fine and smaller than I thought. Only ugly part is from the purple pen they used to mark the incision, but saw on line in video where that comes off with the Dermabond. No bruising, or no noticeable bruising so far. Waiting for PT to arrive.

 

[ForumUser]

Yay!

Doing the right stuff!

 

[HipsterKat]

Glad to hear all the good news!! Yay showers!