Newbie to the board, THR planned for August 4

[Jaycey]

So, should I practice sleeping on my back or just enjoy my last few days of side sleeping?

@muckingabout , I had spinal surgery several years before my THR and had to sleep on my back for several months. It actually made the THR restriction a bit easier to handle. Having said that - sleep while waiting for THR is precious - you might want to take Judy's suggest.

 

[muckingabout]

Yes. I think you're right

It's kind of strange thinking how severely manhandled my hip will be next week when I can barely tolerate finger pressure now.

 

[grnplatebrd]

Hi muckingabout. I am scheduled for right THR tomorrow, but just found this forum today. There were other resources that I was following and also the information from my surgeon. I am not sure how fast I will be feeling like being online, but I will surely give input as I can. Looks like we are really close in our scheduling and expect we will have similar anxieties and experiences. By the way, I grew up in Rochester, so it is nice to see you are in Buffalo

 

[muckingabout]

Oh good luck to you. This place is a great resource. I try to focus on the recovery stories that are along the lines of, "surgery took 15 minutes, doctor put a band aid on it and I jogged home."

 

[WaterGirl12]

I agree @muckingabout , I would enjoy your last few days of side sleeping. I know it took a few weeks to get used to the back sleeping. Using "staggered" pillows under my head and a body pillow under the leg has made things much easier for me. I the past few days I have been able to sleep on the operative hip. The OS said I could do this as long as it was comfortable. Since the swelling has gone down in the past week it has been. Can't do it for the whole night but it's amazing to sleep on the right side. Haven't done it in 14 years!!!

I'm 8.5 weeks out now. Walking without a cane; most of the time. Have good days and bad. Walking seems to be the best thing for cramping. But we're all different.

Think positive! Sounds like you're doing great!

 

[muckingabout]

Question: after the first week or two, why do you need a cane or other walking aid? Is it for balance, pain, weakness or something else I may not have considered?

 

[WaterGirl12]

@muckingabout

I used a walker for the first week. Many folks do not. At week two I used a cane but was directed by my PT to use it on my non-affected leg out to the side, not close to my body, for balance and weakness.

But remember I waited 14 years, yes 14 years, before having this surgery. What a mistake!

So I have a lot of weakness from years of compensating with the rest of my lower body. From weeks 3-6 I used the cane mostly for the first few steps upon standing and when walking outside and practicing on uneven grounds like grass. I also took it on walk "just in case". Really meaning if I walked to far and needed a little help getting back.

I have found that three walks a day, not long ones, is the best thing for me. Taking care to extend in the back with the top of my leg and not my pelvis. This is the direction my own OS gives the PT's he works with.

PT is also important but for cramping and pain (not like the pain you're having now but the post operative pain) but for me walking short walks is the best.

But again I have been off balance and weak for many years.

But the walker and the cane have both been mainly for balance and weakness.

Rotating ice around the operative area not leaving it on for more than 20 minutes in one spot has been very good for me. But my OS doesn't want ice on any one spot for longer than 20 minutes right now.

Remember you will have swelling in the area after surgery so that limits you a little but that varies with everyone.

Set up your side table though. I like a basket. My meds, a water bottle, TV remote, book, pens, phone, computer and charger near by etc...I like a basket because nothing falls to the floor and make sure you get one of those picker upper things. Even if you only use it for a week. Also the body pilloe which I got a target and a few pillows for you head/shoulders

You really have to rest your body in the time immediatley afterwatds. So do it. Rest, ice, little walks, elevation

 

[WaterGirl12]

And @muckingabout ...please ignore those silly promises that you will be riding a horse week two. Silly!

 

[NoraJ]

Hi @muckingabout. .. I am still using crutch at 9 weeks as I have a poor gait and rather than learning to walk poorly I use it. At the beginning it is for all of your suggedtions. I would suggest holding on to a walking aid for as long as you need to feel secure and safe. I found when out people around you are more cautious if you have a walking aid and that makes it easier. It just depends on the individual.... I would happily ditch mine if I could now but I can't at the moment..

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

@muckingabout Those if us that had the posterior approach had to use one crutch because of restrictions on weight bearing (12 weeks for me). Also if you have developed a bad gait or limp it really does assist in getting the gait just right....it's worth persevering...I walk perfectly now! X


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[alexthecat]

@muckingabout Those if us that had the posterior approach had to use one crutch because of restrictions on weight bearing

Many people, myself included, had no restrictions on weight bearing, following posterior THR. Weight bearing restrictions are a matter of the surgeon's preference and are not related to surgical approach.



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[Hoppy Nanny]

Thanks @alexthecat shouldn't have generalised.... My surgeon insisted on 12 weeks but you're right to point out that it is up to the surgeon...I had an ultra cautious one!


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[WaterGirl12]

@muckingabout

One day closer to the big day and might I be so bold to offer a few suggestions.

If you start to get nervous try to take between 4-8 deep breaths. Breathing in to the count of four and out to the count of 8. This relaxes your diaphram and distracts your thoughts. It is also an excercise the nurses wlil likely give you post operatively to avoid complications like pnumonia......but they get you out fast, you are young and just take some nice relaxing breaths.

Also try to think very positive. I am very very happy that you have chosen to do this now. And think about how great it is you are doing it at the right time of year. I imagine icing and walking outside and just about everything would be harder in the winter. Pack the smallest of bags for the hospital. I was exactually embaressed at the amount of stuff I packed. I didn't need books or magazines or any of that stuff. I didn't need three pairs of shoes...you get the picture. In retrospect all I really needed was a bunch of underwear!!!

Get your house set up now. You will be happy you did. There are so many folks giving you such great advice here.

The day of the surgery I did a little thing I like a lot, being a nurse. I tried to remember the names of every person I came into contact with. Nurses, doctors, kitchen staff, CNA's. It was distracting and polite.

We are all different but in a sense all the same.

Finally, @muckingabout , you have many followers here that will be thinking of you on you BIG DAY!!!! I know I will be.

 

[WaterGirl12]

@muckingabout

Also, yesterday I went to a park nearby. When I walk I time myself, I don't measure miles. I walked without a cane for 1.5 hours; 8 weeks out (remember I was a life long body builder so I have some muscle memory but have been very inactive in the past three years) Anyway..... I carried a walking stick that I used only on very uneven ground. I was (and am always) VERY VERY aware of standing up straight (when I walked with walker/ cane and alone) and sucking in my stomach. I do this by pretending there is a string at the top of my head pulling it up and lifting my rib cage off my spine....this developes good posture. I guess that is a visualization that works for me. I do know that if I start to walk side to side...like a penguin.....I use my cane. I really do not want to develop bad habits.

I have also developed a bad habit in the past 14 years of looking directly at my feet when I walk. This is a habit my home PT and out-patient PT has tried to discourage...I think I am doing pretty well with this.

So even though we are all different I never expected to be doing so well so quickly.

Maybe start a little journal and write some of the things down you read here so you can refer to them post-op. I wish I had found this site. And @MajorHeidi somehow made me feel better....sorry major!!

 

[muckingabout]

Thanks so much. That's is all so kind and helpful! I'm surprised to hear I won't need books. I have three I'm planning on bringing, plus my iPhone. My doctor allows weight bearing from day one. I also do a lot of (very modified) yoga, so hopefully the breathing and strength building will make a difference.


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[beachgal]

@muckingabout, you don't have much longer to wait now!! I'm so happy that your day is almost here and you are ready to move past the old hip pain to a new way of life!! See you on the other side!!


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[muckingabout]

Thanks! I'm really nervous, but really ready to get this done. Any hesitation can easily be cured with a walk of more than 50 feet



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[Zebra]

@muckingabout

So I can understand that if one thing wasn't right or safe at home, a rehab center would be a Godsend (maybe people were happy their insurance companies would pay for it because their homes weren't set up right) or they didn't have support. You really do need a lot of support for the first month because if you don't have it you end up doing to much or not resting enough or paying attention to the rules or managing your pain well.

And hey, my friends cooked for me. So I had good nutrition the first week as well!

@lee0605, I am hoping my insurance will pay for a Rehab Center at least for 10 days or so, as I live alone and do not have any support or people who will come live with me or even come by on a daily basis. Not happening.

I can buy all the raised toilet seats and equipment in the world, but don't want to be stuck in the house with "log leg" and not able to get out of bed. Cooking seems like a stretch first week with posterior.

Haven't seen any recovery threads of people doing their recovery solo. Everyone seems to be married and takes it for granted they have tons of support. I would prefer doing the recovery on my own, but it just doesn't seem realistic.

I have heard that the insurance companies may not pay for in-patient rehab centers for THR. I even asked my OS to do bilateral (both hips at once) to 1) get it over with 2) get access to a rehab center. But he declined.

 

[WaterGirl12]

hi @Zebra
Are you having an anterior or posterior approach? My understanding is that this is the side for the anterior approach folks.

Yes I can understand why you would be nervous. Iwould be more nervous about maybe being exposed to pathogens if you stay in a rehab center for to long. Can you request some home PT afterwards? Idon't think you will have a log leg and would really suggest you not have a negative view of your brand new fancy hip. In fact my PT doesn't like me to say my "bad leg" he likes to call it my operative leg. If you take time to make your house safe
no throw rugs
good shoes or sandles
no electrical cords hanging out
the raised toilet seat also comes with a handle model
a place you always keep your meds. and vitamins
the phone and computer near by in a place where you don't have twist
a hard backed chair that is higher (no low couches)
i think two picker uppers are good if tyou can afford them
A placeto hag your cane next to your bed

That kind of stuff

 

[NoraJ]

Hi @muckinabout.. its good you have support and if you'll only be in hospital for a day or so @lee0605 you won't need too much. I was in for three days so I needed more entertainment and had a kindle and smart phone ect to pass the time and some magazines. I just changed into pj's on day 1 but got dressed on day 2. What I loved was my I pod. I'm not a great sleeper at the best of times and I found music drowned out the hospital noises especially at night and let me sleep.

@Zebra I am single too so I ended up back with my parents for four weeks.... that was tough but it would have been difficult otherwise. There are several other threads post op where members are on their own having had different approaches. I don't recall the individual names but if you start a thread on the pre op forum I am sure there will be replies and advice offered!