THR New Right Total Hip on July 1st

[LoyalD]

Please Excuse me for the pic. I assure you offense was not my intention. I will try to be more conservative next time.

Don't worry about it....lol....after childbirth and hip surgery, I have no physical humility!

 

[wwadeson]

Hello All,
Day 16 now, had doctors appt. 2 days ago and he feels the recovery is progressing normally. They removed my staples an gave me an OK to shower after 24 hrs. I am waiting 48. I cant wait to take a shower. I sure have missed it! The physical therapist(s) have given me the OK to use a crutch and a cane. I am doing stairs and many exercises targeting all the muscles that have atrophied in the right leg. I certainly do feel these muscles ache when I exercise them. The degree of atrophy is really disturbing to me, in that I did not really notice it, or all the range of motion issues that I don't have now. The therapist seems particularly concerned with strengthening the muscle/tissue that the incision resides. The most discomfort/pain that I have now is the incision area, because of the PT. I have no swelling now and still feel generally well.
I have some new photos I wish to post, where should I do this? Here or in the badges section?

 

[wwadeson]

Hello all just checking in. All is well have now gotten clearance to drive and shower. That feels wonderful. I am at 4wks. 03 days. I now have just moderate discomfort in the area of the operation and some slight swelling still in the incision area that comes and goes. I am out of in house rehab and the therapist did not recommend any outpatient therapy. I can walk fairly normally and can stand for a good time at once. I am not pushing this too hard though. Still doing the exercises left by the PT Guys. Being cautious of the three rules is becoming difficult because of the increased range of motion and no pain feeling. Most of the muscle stretching from the surgery seems to have normalized also.

 

[bottomshollow]

@wwadeson, so pleased for you that things are progressing so nicely. Another 4 weeks and you'll be feeling just about "normal".

Keep up the good work and keep us posted. We care.

 

[wwadeson]

Hello all,
Have been following many posts and experiences here. This forum and all involved is an invaluable resource. I find all the experiences here unique and invaluable. It makes a person feel not alone in this, what I call, journey. I am at exactly 2 months now and have a doctor visit on sept. 08. Physically I feel great. Very little pain or discomfort. Still taking aspirin and I am walking at least a mile most days, and doing my exercises, Maybe not so much as I should be! I have been mowing lawn in moderation and doing some maint. work on my own POVS to stay busy. I have some very minor swelling in the lower part of the incision still. It does not hurt and appears to be getting less and less as time goes. I do notice sitting produces no discomfort, but when I get up and move there is some discomfort initially, but it goes away as I walk a bit. I am expecting this is normal. I do not fear dislocation so much anymore, and have been doing exercises to get up and down from the floor, as my job demands this. I am hoping to be able to return to work after this up-coming appointment. I don't know what criteria the surgeon bases ready to work or how much lifting restriction I will have. He promised me I would be able to continue in my chosen profession with out difficulty. Thanks for the encouragement bottomshollow.


Good Luck to all!

 

[lthr63014]

@wwadeson I had surgery the day before you so we are about the same point in recovery. I still have trouble reaching my feet and need assistive devices to put on socks and shoes, but can walk and do most other things ok. Am still taking pain meds (norco) 1 in the am and 1 pm since I am still really stiff and sore in the morning and by night the pain/stiffness returns. Same as you when I first stand up and start moving too but I find that sitting/driving for a length of time gets uncomfortable and since I so a fair amount of sitting and driving for work, that probably explains why I am sore by the end of the day. I also have some swelling around the incision with minor pain and even some numbness still. I have some house project's I am working on but can't figure out how to get on the floor or ground to work at some of them. What exercises are you doing to get up/down from the floor?

 

[wwadeson]

lthr63014 I have been doing just basic exercises. I do some in bed before rise and before sleep. These are simple leg lifts from all positions @25 reps each, followed by simple stretching in all directions. The stretching seems to help with the mobility and comfort. The exercises I have been doing to get up and down are simple squats to strengthen my leg muscles. I also have a staircase with 15 steps I have been making tracks up and down. From the squat position I kneel then on the floor. I also put my good leg forward to aid in getting down, then roll on my side. This keeps the 90 deg rule. I am putting on all my own clothes and shoes at this point without any asst. I may be getting close to the 90 in these endeavors. I noticed when I first started with the squats there was a lot of discomfort when I reached the bottom of the squat. I used a couple of chairs on each side to steady myself. It was muscle tightness, and this has gotten better also. I have been working on this for about a month now, slowly going further every time. Now I can get comfortably to the floor and back. The problem for me was the shortness of the leg from the deterioration of the joint. All the muscles in the affected leg were weaker and adjusted to the length. The new joint put stuff closely back to its proper position and that really made stretching it even more difficult. You just have to take baby steps and stay steady with it. I take no pain meds because I feel these may hide pain that would cause me to over do stuff. I only take the aspirin for blood thinning/clots, as I havent been told otherwise. Hope this helps.

 

[wwadeson]

Question for all,

In the time to my next OS appt. I have been wondering if anyone has gone through any like, return to work anxiety? I have been hoping that I will be able to return and be functional. With this thought, I have read some posts where people have returned to work, and also returned to pain. In some cases more pain than they were in before. My job is very demanding physically. There is lifting, standing, stretching, pulling, pushing etc. There are also many hazards like tripping/mis-stepping. I feel now physically able to return, I guess I am just worried about the possibility of a injury/accident. There is another individual locally who has returned to work early and has had a noticeable terrible time of it.
My OS had initially advised me I could return to work at the 8wk. mark. I asked at the time if this was wise. I was told 12wks. would be better if I could swing it. I am now over the 8wk. mark and will be 9wks. at next appt. I certainly did not anticipate feeling as well as I do now though. I feel that I can physically do the work. With maybe the exception of very heavy lifting.

Any Thoughts?
Bill

 

[NoraJ]

Hi @wwadeson. Have you the option if a graduated return to work or doing short days for a bit? I just returned to work after 13 weeks leave post RTHR. I have a desk job but can be on the road a bit too so not physically demanding. But I was tired after the first few days... I was lucky to have a graduated return and was grateful for not having a full week. I am a good bit further on so my issue currently is my gait and LLD but I don't have a lot of pain...certainly not enough to prohibit me from working. But you will need to be cautious in hos much you are able to do and ease into the work....it would be great if you could have the option of finishing early if you need to...if you don't great!

 

[wwadeson]

NoraJ
I think I could negotiate a shorter day. My pre surgery schedule was a 9hr. straight thru day. I could break it up with some breaks or maybe a midday rest. Certainly would be worth considering. One of my co workers has been assigned to help me with lifting as required. He did help prior to surgery also. This will help. Thank you for your input. I noted that you state you have an issue with your gait?


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[MajorHeidi]

I had 12 weeks off, and appreciated all of it. I am amazed at those who go back to work in only a short
amount of time; although I do understand it depends on insurance and various factors.

 

[NoraJ]

Yes @wwadeson. .. I have a what I call waddle but really a limp. It's getting less noticeable with PT and exercises but I have an LLD although officially I'm not sure how much of a difference to me it feels like 1.2-2cms but I attend my OS in two weeks so it may be clearer on the follow up x ray. I need to know whether to get a heel lift or not. But at the moment in practical terms I need to use my crutch when out walking. It helps stop the limp and people walking in to me... I have to get my left hip replaced too at some point so I should be level then!

Shorter days would definitely help you recover somewhat before going back in the next day. If you don't need it great but having the option if a graduated return isn't feasible would help you readjust. .

 

[wwadeson]

NoraJ,
An LLD is a light duty chit I am gathering? When you say heel lift, is that something surgical or orthotic in nature? I don't feel quite even either. It does not seem to affect anything. I was just curious.



Thanks for replies!

 

[NoraJ]

Sorry it's leg lenght discrepancy. A lot of hippies feel the op leg is longer but the feeling wears off over time. Mine didn't and my gait is off as I had equal lenght prior to surgery. My PT will only with my OS' s approval measure me up for an orthotic heel raise. .. but it may level out.

 

[faster pussycat]

@wwadeson I went to back to work this week after 7 weeks (RTHR). My job is not physically demanding but does involve a lot of travel and a bit more walking than I had been doing at home. I did two days work this week, with about half a days travel on the day before and the day after. I am TOTALLY EXHAUSTED !! If you can negotiate a shorter week or shorter days than usual then I would really recommend it. Everything I used to do is possible now but just loads more tiring ! Good luck whatever you decide.


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[wwadeson]

Hello All,
Thank you all for your replies. I think if the surgeon dude clears me I will return to work. My boss says whenever you want to come back, he is waiting. I feel very good now. I have been mowing lawn with a push machine for some time, stopping when the fuel tank emptied. I mowed for a round 4 hours yesterday, in 2hr increments, and feel well. I have been working up to this slowly. I have been exercising to my potential, and feel that my stamina is comparable to the pre-op painfest I was in. Walking at least a mile every day simulates my work environment. I try to walk in work boots when possible and do hills/stairs also. I have practiced all necessary motions required getting up and down. I have noticed one thing in particular that seems to have done the best by me is stretching. In the AM/PM, while in bed I stretch all muscles on both sides, in all ranges of motion. To be honest I still feel tugging in certain directions. No swelling or major discomfort has been noted thus far. I did have one particular experience on a riding mower, this was 2wks or so back. I sat on the machine for about 3 hours mowing. I was in no pain at all until I dismounted the machine. There was noticeable muscle pain in the general area of the operated hip. It did ease as I walked, but sitting in a chair and then standing/walking would reproduce it. This has gone now for the most part. I must have pulled or stretched something. I do not feel tired or nappy during the day at all. I appreciate everyone's interest and support. I wish everyone the best.

Bill

 

[wwadeson]

Hello all,
Surgeon dude cleared me for work yesterday. He had me demonstrate some of the movements required to do my job and just reinforced the 3 rules. He gave me 50# lifting restriction and another apptmnt. in 5 weeks. Some thing he also stressed was the reality that I may develop new pains from using muscles that cant be targeted by just the exercises. Went back to work today. Worked a 9 hr day with no intermissions. Do feel pretty good. I took a couple Advil toward the end of the day. I do feel a bit sore but I am comfortable with it. My feet are even sore! I am very amazed at the range of motion and the increased strength and mobility I have as compared to pre-op. I can walk freely with out pain! Its so awesome! I am going to stretch well tonite and in the AM. I think exercises are really not on the top of the list now. Maybe try them and see what hurts? I do get plenty of aerobic stuff during the day now. I think if I have any advice to be given, I would be to do the exercises diligently, and to stretch. So far I have done what everyone has told me to do and it seems to be paying off. I have also followed many threads here and gained valuable insight and knowledge.

 

[wwadeson]

Hello all,
Just doing a little update. I have been so busy at work and home that I haven't really had time to post. I have missed several doctor appts. for one reason or another and finally was able to see the representing P.A. She said X-rays looked good and lifted the 50# restriction to a 100#. I am starting a new job today that is less physically demanding to me in the respect of movement and body punishment. The work environment is also much safer. I had taken a couple of spills at my former work place and decided I can't afford the results of a bad fall.
So other than that, I have had the chance to go hunting with my kids and actually walk through the woods. I used to just bring a fold up chair and sit. Going to the Mall and being able to walk a couple miles with my wife has been a blessing also. So being normal again is cool!
I have kept up with the stretching at night and some exercises. I take no more pain stuff of any kind. I do seem to have some aches and pains that seem to come and go, and also a feeling of tightness in areas of the surgery. I'll take this any day over what my situation was prior to the surgery. Good Luck all!