THR New Here- THR 8/22/22- Muscle Atrophy (maybe)

[hopnfox]

Oh Boy did I have the nerve zaps!! It would come from nowhere and I felt like I'd been struck by lightening. Thank goodness it doesn't last long, but sometimes it can be quite painful. Hang in there, and it's a temporary thing. You will be zooming around like normal before you know it.

 

[Layla]

Hello SweetV,
Sorry…just reading this now, but thankfully my colleagues relieved your fears. Following is a bit of info I found recently on both topics, which helps explain the origin of these odd, but normal sensations.

Small sensory nerve fibers are cut with the incision. These nerve fibers run from the inside to the outside of the hip and cutting them causes the hip to feel numb after surgery. It is a temporary sensation that normally resolves over a period of six months to one year post op.

While healing you may experience sensations of tingling, pins and needles, itching, burning and even the feeling of a minor electrical shock. These are usually good signs that the nerves are spontaneously firing through the regeneration process. This process is not to be confused with the initial post op numbness resulting from anesthesia or a regional block which can produce numbness lasting for up to 72 hrs post op.

I wish you lots of comfort as you begin healing and hope you’ll share your journey with us.
@SweetV

 

[SweetV]

@Layla Thank you so much. Those "zaps" were SO painful! They have subsided for the most part. I ended up taking medication for the nerves, which I don't "want" to do because it makes me so sleepy and out of it.
This one is definitely more challenging than the last one, but I will take it day by day.

 

[SweetV]

@hopnfox That is the perfect way to describe it....Lightening! So painful and no rhyme or reason to when they would occur.

 

[SweetV]

@SweetV Far too early to be back to work - even if it is WFH. You will set your recovery back if you push too hard. All you should be doing at this point is rest, ice, elevation and short walks around the house. Read this article again and give that hip time to heal. Activity progression for THRs

@Jaycey I wish I had another option, but I have to work. My Job is very accommodating, but I have time off scheduled later in the year that I have to take at that time. It's really not disruptive if I find the right place to sit and get up often. I was guilty of not resting when I should though. I have now taken it down a notch and am making sure to get up every 30 minutes and I think I have found the right position to sit in. *fingers crossed.
The great thing is other than a few Teams calls, I don't have a timeline to do my work. I can get it done when I can

 

[HipButSquare]

I’m a year out and still not back to normal. They tell me everything is fine. It is amazing how many friends and coworkers think that recovery happens immediately and that there are no long term effects.

Take it easy.

 

[SweetV]

I’m a year out and still not back to normal. They tell me everything is fine. It is amazing how many friends and coworkers think that recovery happens immediately and that there are no long term effects.

Take it easy.

I dealt with friends and coworkers last year when I had my right hip done. Everyone told me that I would be up and running (some meant that literally) by 3 weeks. Needless to say, that didn't happen. It left me feeling like I had failed and disappointed.
With this surgery, I have set no expectations on myself. You can't do that to yourself. It has been more challenging this time, but I will recover as my body sees fit.
I wish you well and I hope things feel back to normal soon.

 

[SweetV]

Update- I am now back in my apartment with just me and my daughter. It is taking some adjusting. The first day was rough. I don't really have a comfortable place to sit other than my desk chair. I get up every 30 minutes and walk around and ice a few times a day while laying down. I can make small meals and have managed to take showers with the assistance of a bath seat. My problem is I drop things A LOT! I have a reacher tool....but some things just can't be picked up with the the reacher/grabber! I have learned to scoot things over to a convenient place where I can leverage a wall or something. I cannot put on my compression socks on my own, and it is difficult for my daughter to help with this, but we have managed so far. (I have a sock tool coming via delivery in the next day or so)
I had my first outpatient therapy and managed to snag the same therapist as last year! I love him!! This year I have all 20 of my visits covered by insurance, (last year I had used a lot before surgery) so he suggested I start out once a week and do some walking at home when I can, and then build up to 2 a week once I am a bit more healed.
It's so easy to be discouraged and frustrated post surgery...and it DOES happen. I highly recommend finding little wins each day and celebrate those. They will eventually lead you to the bigger picture.

 

[HipButSquare]

Thanks for your kind words. I’m back to celebrating being able to walk just a few minutes on my desk treadmill every day.

I am trying to ignore all those stories about people who ran marathons after double hip and double knee replacements, lol.

I hope you recover in your own good time. Please post updates.

 

[Solar7]

Yeesh, some of the comments here hit home so much as far as family and friends go. It's constantly "why don't you think about the best case scenario instead of the worst" and "you'll be fine, my friend's aunt Myrna won the East Valley Karate Tournament three days after her surgery, and she's 97!"

I like to be conservatively prepared for what to expect, and it can almost be demoralizing to hear people who have never had this tell me what I should be expecting.

Best wishes in continued recovery!

 

[Layla]

It seems you’re doing well, SweetV! Keep up the good work.
Great news you have a PT you like, that’s half the battle. Think how good you’ll be doing / feeling by the time your 20th visit rolls around.
Thanks for sharing your progress. A great weekend to you!
@SweetV

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary! I hope you're doing well.
Have a nice weekend, SweetV
@SweetV

 

[Mr.fun]

hello @SweetV I had Anterio RTHR. Zingers and Zaps. i Had those for the first 5.5 months consistently. Im at 7 months now and im still numb on my hip flexor. Its rock hard under my insicion and still will get those electrical currents. Not as frequent but when they hit. I can legit feel them exit out of the hair on my head. My recovery has been long and tiring. Hang in there your rounding the bases to home.

 

[Biffo]

Hi utter rubbish 3 weeks! I was 58 and very fit when I had RHR I had it done Dec 22. I was told 12 weeks but it took me exactly 6 months. I was inpatient as well and expected too much of my body. I did too much at times and set myself back. Everyone heals differently. Give yourself time and rest when you can. Only do what you need to do and rest in between. You will get there but it takes time. I found this forum useful and comforting at the time I needed it. Good luck.

 

[spaniel]

Oh dear I’m hitting the wrong things on the keyboard. SweetV-yes desk chairs-there has to be something easier… anyone have a better idea? And yes thankfully a good year of PT covered by insurance helped my very long unexpected recovery.

 

[SweetV]

Update- I am now back in my apartment with just me and my daughter. It is taking some adjusting. The first day was rough. I don't really have a comfortable place to sit other than my desk chair. I get up every 30 minutes and walk around and ice a few times a day while laying down. I can make small meals and have managed to take showers with the assistance of a bath seat. My problem is I drop things A LOT! I have a reacher tool....but some things just can't be picked up with the the reacher/grabber! I have learned to scoot things over to a convenient place where I can leverage a wall or something. I cannot put on my compression socks on my own, and it is difficult for my daughter to help with this, but we have managed so far. (I have a sock tool coming via delivery in the next day or so)
I had my first outpatient therapy and managed to snag the same therapist as last year! I love him!! This year I have all 20 of my visits covered by insurance, (last year I had used a lot before surgery) so he suggested I start out once a week and do some walking at home when I can, and then build up to 2 a week once I am a bit more healed.
It's so easy to be discouraged and frustrated post surgery...and it DOES happen. I highly recommend finding little wins each day and celebrate those. They will eventually lead you to the bigger picture.

@danelady

Iike @lanstan , I don't check in here as much anymore but one of the reasons I do is to check in on you and your progress. I just want to thank you because your courage, perseverance, grace and attitude have been, and continue to be, an inspiration as to what an an indomitable spirit can and should resemble.

Keep on keeping on wonderful lady!
With gratitude and love,
Mark

Update- I am now back in my apartment with just me and my daughter. It is taking some adjusting. The first day was rough. I don't really have a comfortable place to sit other than my desk chair. I get up every 30 minutes and walk around and ice a few times a day while laying down. I can make small meals and have managed to take showers with the assistance of a bath seat. My problem is I drop things A LOT! I have a reacher tool....but some things just can't be picked up with the the reacher/grabber! I have learned to scoot things over to a convenient place where I can leverage a wall or something. I cannot put on my compression socks on my own, and it is difficult for my daughter to help with this, but we have managed so far. (I have a sock tool coming via delivery in the next day or so)
I had my first outpatient therapy and managed to snag the same therapist as last year! I love him!! This year I have all 20 of my visits covered by insurance, (last year I had used a lot before surgery) so he suggested I start out once a week and do some walking at home when I can, and then build up to 2 a week once I am a bit more healed.
It's so easy to be discouraged and frustrated post surgery...and it DOES happen. I highly recommend finding little wins each day and celebrate those. They will eventually lead you to the bigger picture.

@danelady

Iike @lanstan , I don't check in here as much anymore but one of the reasons I do is to check in on you and your progress. I just want to thank you because your courage, perseverance, grace and attitude have been, and continue to be, an inspiration as to what an an indomitable spirit can and should resemble.

Keep on keeping on wonderful lady!
With gratitude and love,
Mark

@danelady thank you so much! I havent been on here in a few weeks. Its easy to get discouraged, but i try not to. As of yesterday, I have almost like those zaps...but around my knee. Not sure what is going on, but I am pushing through.
Thank you for the wonderful words!

 

[SweetV]

Happy One Month Anniversary! I hope you're doing well.
Have a nice weekend, SweetV
@SweetV

I'm doing well. Some days aren't great, but I know it will be okay in time.

 

[benne68]

Hello @SweetV

A suggestion: when you want to reply to someone, instead of quoting the whole message, just go down to the reply box and type your reply. You can also mention the member you want to address by using the @ sign in front of their username (no space) and type your reply.

Not quoting whole messages saves a lot of space on the page, and also saves duplicate reading!

If you want to quote just a line in a post, highlight that line.

At the bottom of the post you will see:

Like/ +Quote/ Quote this message.

Click the +Quote

When you get to the reply box, you will see where it says “insert quotes” Click that and it will put your highlighted area into your reply.

Happy Posting!

 

[Layla]

Hi SweetV,
Thanks for your response. I'm sorry for the not so good days, but they will decrease over time.
I'll bet by the holidays, you'll be feeling a lot stronger and steadier on your feet and hopefully little, if any, discomfort.
I'm glad you stopped by today and hope you'll stay in touch. A great week to you!
@SweetV

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!
Have a wonderful week!
@SweetV