THR New guy with new hip

[Mollyb]

Glad to hear u had a better day. I am 9 weeks post op and things are coming along pretty well. I was in ICU for my entire stay in hospital and so they did not know about elevating my leg or the benefits of an ice pack. I think that did delay my recovery. Also I couldn't get out of bed for the first 2 days. They did give me pain meds on a regular basis and more if I wanted it so that was good. I didn't find this site until about 4 weeks post op but I was certainly glad I did. It has really helped me to get through some of the rough spots. Following the advice I was given was huge. Make sure you ask questions. Take care.

 

[Jaycey]

I remember when I asked for ice my second day in hospital. They looked at me like I was from outer space. When I suggested they go immediately to the physio area things seemed to click! Staff are really stretched and are trying to run things efficiently. They naturally try to do the same things with every patient. Glad you are getting things under control. Keep us updated!

 

[Poppet]

I spoke to my surgeon and asked for him to write ice packs 'when required' in the orders.. That way they had to get them for me.

 

[Goody2Shoes3]

Glad to hear you are doing better. Keep in touch! There are lots of experienced people here ( not me yet) who can help you over any rough spots.

 

[atavanhalen]

Yeah ice packs were something that they were very good about. You could definitely tell that the staff was stretched pretty thin, although I blame that more on the bottom line of the hospital and not on the nurses themselves. One day it was very apparent because the Urologist ordered bladder scans after I urinated and the second time I needed the scan, it was close to an hour before the nurse showed up and by that time I already had more urine in my bladder. Each day has been better than the last since Thursday, just trying to take things one day at a time per the suggestion of my wonderful wife . Here is a picture of my two nurses, life would be rough without them. Oscar is used to laying in the crotch of my knee and obviously he can't do that at the moment so instead he gets as close as he can on the couch next to my chair . Here he is doing just that...

 

[tikipadre]

Looks like you have some great support.. take things slow and don't be stingy with the ice packs, I am just over a week post op and I still use them. Keep us posted.

 

[atavanhalen]

Well tomorrow is day ten after surgery, I had a hiccup with P.T. but we got it all figured out and things have been goin ok. I am a bit nervous that hard part has only just begun. Before my surgery i had been walking with a limp where I would keep my foot rotated outward and would land on my entire foot instead of the heel. This has been a habit that has engrained itself into my life for literally a third of my life. The PT has been trying to correct the issue and I am focusing hard on every step that I take but it is still really tough. Not sure if I mentioned this before but when I had my initial accident, I ended up doing major nerve damage and lost 100% of the feeling on the top of my foot, this also caused a foot drop, no matter what I did I could not lift my foot up, I could press down but not up. Over the years the nerve damage has gotten much better and I can now lift my foot, the PT says that it is at about 70%. I feel that now that I can walk with my foot facing forward like it is suppose to, now I will be able to really strengthen and stretch the muscles involved with lifting my foot. Overall this is really a great thing, I wish that this was something that could've been fixed by having the hip replacement but I need to be grateful for what is fixed and for the fact that I WILL eventually be able to have a totally normal gait. I just know it is gonna take some serious hard work.

 

[LeeApril26]

atavanhalen. Do you have access to a pool? Once you are cleared by your surgeon, in a few weeks (?) you may find walking slowly and carefully across the shallow end of the pool is very helpful in improving your gait. I also throw my leg out to the left from a congenital problem, and had always had uneven legs. The surgeon evened them in the surgery, which was great, but between the surgical recovery, the floppy left foot that also pronates in as it flies out, and my suddenly even legs I had a hard time. I held onto my cane so tightly that I screwed up my entire right "good" side. Once I was cleared at six weeks, I walked in a pool whenever I could. It was hugely helpful. I started with five minutes, and worked my way up. Also did a bicycle movement sitting on the side of the hot tub at the gym.

 

[atavanhalen]

Unfortunately I do not know anyone with a pool but we have lake access, obviously not very sterile but I assume once I am all healed up, that won't much matter. I am seeing the surgeon Monday so curious to see how he thinks I am progressing. I feel like I am doing well, I stopped taking my norcos because I am not in much pain and just changed over to Tylenol 3 times a day, but I am also still taking the Celebrex as well. I can't wait to lose these stupid stockings, I swear they make the nerve damage in my foot much more irritated. I assume the blood thinner may be partially to blame for that as well but that is just a guess. I started walking foot over foot and that is going fairly well, it is a lot easier practicing a proper gait when you are making full steps rather than walking foot to foot. Starting to get excited, but I still know that I need more time to heal so I am trying to take it easy.

 

[LeeApril26]

atavanhalen. The biggest challenge is not to overdo it when you start to feel better. You can do serious soft tissue damage. But walking in the lake will be fine, as soon as your cleared. I was at six weeks. I hated those stockings which my poor husband had to pull on me every morning cause I couldn't bend. The surgeon will probably show you your new X-rays, and if the I plant is doing well and the incision is healed you'll be free to do much more.

 

[atavanhalen]

Hello Everyone, Sorry that I did not follow up with my recovery but I got really busy doing all the things i couldnt do before surgery ;) I just had my one year anniversary last month and all is going well. The pain in my actual joint is obviously completely gone although I have had some blips with major groin/hip flexor pain although that was over 6 months ago, the only other blips of pain I have had is a minor irritation near the greater trochanter, but it is hardly even worth mentioning because it is miniscule. In the last year since my surgery I have gotten into the best shape of my life, I do body weight exercises 5 days a week and am down to 5% bodyfat. I go bike riding, kayaking, take the dog on walks ect ect. It is such an amazing thing to be pain free. I am so grateful to my surgeon and to this forum for helping me through when I was having a hard time. The only problem with recovering from a hip replacement is that I no longer have an excuse to be in bad shape ;) I even did some jumping jacks yesterday(probably wont make that a habit). I still have significant atrophy in my surgery leg but I have shrunk the difference between legs quite a bit and am continuing to work on bridging the gap. I hope everyone is doing well, thanks again for the support.