THR Not again?

[sunnyphoenix]

I am no longer a pre-op person! The whole procedure went well and I'm happy, especially as I'm drinking my coffee as I type. I have one cup a day, within 5 minutes of getting up, and that one cup is priceless. LOL

I arrived on time, moved through all the steps seamlessly, and was in the operating room at 7:30 AM as scheduled. Next thing I knew I was in recovery and when I asked what time it was, it was only 9:30. Minimal pain, in fact I was more bothered by off and on nauseousness, something that I had never experienced before following surgery. I stayed awake and talked a lot, noticing a hoarse voice because of the breathing tube that had been used, and finding it amusing to not recognize my own voice. Around 11:00 AM I was helped out of bed and was accompanied by two nurses, one pushing a wheelchair, and walked quite a distance to a rest room. Immediately peed, turned down the offer of the wheelchair to go back to my bed, and was discharged soon after. My man was informed and ended up waiting outside the entrance for a half hour until I was wheeled to our car. Home in my recliner before 12:30 PM and napped off and on, refusing offers of my man to feed me until a few minutes ago after realizing the nausea had greatly reduced.

Does anyone remember the days when same-day surgery didn't happen? When I was 13 I had a muscle transplant from the side of my leg to my big toe to repair paralysis caused by polio. I was hospitalized two whole weeks afterward. When I returned there in a month for a cast change, they kept me for three days, and a month after that spent two weeks inpatient for one hour a day of physical therapy! Imagine such things today!!

I hope everyone who had surgery today is doing well. And thank-you for the support and understanding I have received from this forum. We are all very special, bionic people.

 

[InkedMarie]

Glad you‘re out, @sunnyphoenix ! I hope you’re still comfortable and doing well.
I worked as a nurses aid on the Ortho floor in the 90’s. People who had hip and knee replacements stayed for days! Hips generally went home in two or three days and knees 4-6 days. I stayed overnight for both of my hips, I think. I know I did for the first but not totally sure for #2. I stayed overnight for knee #1 but really could have gone home. I went home the same day for knee #2.

Marie

 

[djklaugh]

@sunnyphoenix Whoo HOO welcome to recovery ..... now copy and paste your above post and start a thread over on the recovery side!

11.5 years ago having bilateral hip replacements I was in hospital for 5 days and they sort of wanted me to stay longer. Had to beg to go home. Thankfully they did listen and let me leave. Such a relief to be back in my own home.

 

[Jaycey]

@sunnyphoenix Welcome to the other side! Sounds like you are doing very well. Easy does it in these early days. You know the drill!

I'll leave your recovery guidelines here for you:

Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
We are all different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for YOU.“ Your doctor(s), physiotherapist(s) and BoneSmart are here to help. But you have the final decision as to what approach you use.

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of this BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for THRs
6. Access these pages on the website

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery

Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[sunnyphoenix]

Good morning,

It's almost 4:30 AM here in Phoenix and I had a pretty good night. I spent yesterday afternoon and evening in my big recliner, getting up to walk and pop my dinner into the microwave. Then I realized that I couldn't carry it with the walker, but my man was with me and brought it into the living room for me. I'm trying to be so independent and he tends to hover, so sometimes I "let" him help, realizing that helping is his nature. I am SO blessed to have found him seven years ago through an online dating site!

I started my sleeping efforts in my own chair, staying asleep for about two hours until waking at 12:20 AM in quite a lot of pain. It seemed logical to take my first Percocet although I didn't have any after my knee replacement until day #4. Better drugs during that surgery? Lol. After the pill I walked a little, and wouldn't you know, I woke my man and had to reassure him that I was doing well. I then settled in his electric recliner, which is bigger than mine, and slept for another two hours. At 3:45 AM I felt rested, and my body wanted coffee, so here I am, drinking it with cream, sugar, and flavored creamer (today I chose Pop Tart flavor from my collection of five or six).

My plan is to attend our TOPS meeting (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) at 8:00 AM just to reassure everyone that I survived and to see them again. We've been going since September 2021, thus my ability to lose 94 pounds so far. I adore TOPS because they don't promote any specific diet plan, in fact I think everyone in the meeting is doing something different to lose. They give so much support! I only wish I had discovered them sooner so I wouldn't have reached 253 pounds!

Anyway, I feel optimistic today, but I think it's a case of rose-colored glasses because the surgery is over. In the days ahead I'll be testing my man's patience and my own.

Just had a thought: this forum is to my hip replacement recovery as TOPS is to my weight loss! Thank-you for being here!

Marilyn

 

[myglasshalffull]

Wow, congrats on the weight loss, that's great!
I also have an amazing partner, we've been together almost 20 years!!!
He's been with me through ankle and hip surgery, I could never have done it on my own.
Try not to overdo too much cause you do need to rest.
Welcome and keep us updated.

 

[Jaycey]

My plan is to attend our TOPS meeting (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) at 8:00 AM just to reassure everyone that I survived and to see them again.

Please be careful. You really shouldn't be doing anything except resting in these early days!

 

[Layla]

Congrats on your weight loss. That is awesome! I'm guessing attending the TOPS meeting will not be easy this early on, you may want to reconsider? Those early outings drain the energy right out of you.

Sounds like you have a very supportive partner. You're blessed! Every time I read, "my man" I chuckle. It makes me think "I'm Tarzan, You, Jane!" So thanks for the chuckles.....Jane.

A peaceful weekend to you, Marilyn!
@sunnyphoenix

 

[sunnyphoenix]

Good morning,

This is my favorite time of day, waking and knowing I survived the night, then opening the sliding door blinds to watch the sky get light. All I hear is birds through the open front door - we leave it open at night this time of year until our temperatures reach the "triple digits." Did I mention the coffee that's sitting beside me in an insulated cup to keep it warm, as I spend more than an hour savoring that one and only cup of the day.

As I sit, I am totally pain-free, but as soon as I move there is a very dull deep ache at the surgery site. It hurts to move, walk, get into or out of my chair, but I know how lucky I am to sit here, laptop on lap, and feel good. The strangest part to me is that when I do move and I feel the pain, it stays in my hip - no more knee pain, or ankle, shin, thigh, or behind my knee. Of course, things can always change but for now I'm appreciating my comfort.

As I wrote yesterday, I wanted to attend TOPS and did so. It was easy to reach our car, no longer a walk than to the bathroom, and I was able to slide into the seat easily. A ten-minute drive and a short walk into the church where we meet. My man found me a chair with arms in another room, making the sitting down and standing up process much easier than tryiing to lower myself into our usual folding chairs. Seeing everyone (and I admit, being fussed over) gave my spirits a boost. Home to my chair right after the meeting and a quiet day of naps, emails, texts, reading my records of surgery through my portal on Banner's website, walking around the house, and TV.

I hope everyone is doing well and maintaining positivity. I knew this pain will go away eventually, and I'll try my best to remember this even if it worsens before it gets better. I wish joy to everyone!

Marilyn

 

[Eman85]

This is my favorite time of day, waking and knowing I survived the night

You have the right attitude, your recovery should go well.

 

[sunnyphoenix]

Hello,

I just remembered something my surgeon told my man when he reported that I had come through the surgery and was heading to recovery. He said he noticed that my knee, replaced in March 2022, wasn't doing well. He said it was stiffer than it should be and doesn't bend as well as expected. I don't think he made any recommendations but just wanted us to know. Well, here's my theory and I'm wondering if anyone agrees: I was doing well for the first two-three months after surgery, then random pains started to appear in different spots in my leg (the apparent signal of this hip arthritis). This caused me to slow down throughout the summer and by fall I was getting pretty inactive because of leg pain. I'm thinking that this slowing down caused a slow down of my knee recovery as I sought to stay quiet, hoping the new pain would evaporate. That's my theory and I may be way off base. On May 12th I'm seeing my doctor's PA and I might run this past him, and will definitely ask my surgeon when I see him on June 12th. Maybe by that time I'll be recovering well from this newest surgery and my knee will benefit at the same time. At any rate, mostly I'm curious because it bends enough for my needs and there's no way I would consider more surgery on it.

That said, it was a good night, solid sleep from 1:30 to 4:30 AM, then just lying/sitting in our electric recliner while I experimented with the buttons and contemplated my life and my navel until getting up at 6:00. We have no plans for today, just psyching myself up for PT tomorrow to find out what they offer. I completed an online questionnaire for them which actually asked for input for my treatment plan. I wrote that I want to "learn to walk and to climb stairs." The good thing about Phoenix is that we're mainly one level so I could live the rest of my life without ever conquering stairs. But my man said I really should learn in case we take another cruise and have to get to the lifeboat station. He also suggested that at the times the elevators are overly crowded, we should be capable of using the stairs and I agree with this statement.

I hope everyone has a happy day of recovery and little or no pain.

Marilyn

 

[Constanze]

Hi @sunnyphoenix ,
I had left total hip replacement in Germany in 2015, and, indeed, for me it was 7 days in the hospital, followed by 3 weeks in a rehab centre (I could have left that one and done rehab at home, but I chose to have rehab at the rehab centre). My new hip is just fine and I was even able to run 5 full marathons on it ever since (slowly though, in 5 1/2 hours on average).
Well they've improved quite a lot haven't they. Now we can go home after 24 hours, or even on the same day.

Enjoy your recovery - and your man. He's a good man . Also: Congratulations for the weight loss!
Constasnze

 

[sunnyphoenix]

Hello, just wanted to report on my first day of PT. It was easy and I really liked the therapist, however, per the upcoming schedule I'll be working with several other therapists also. I guess they fit people in wherever there's an opening, so I suppose I'll adjust. He was very gentle, especially after I told him I was not going to do anything that hurt. He asked me to try various exercises and let me decide, which I did, and several times he asked, "Is that hurting anywhere?" and seemed surprised but happy when I assured him it had not triggered pain. When the hour was over, I felt good, but this was sneaky! By the time we got home, I was feeling some stiffness, so I imagine those very gentle moves were a little less gentle than I had thought. Bottom line - I'll return on Wednesday with the thought that this might help. I do NOT expect to last two-three times a week until mid-June as scheduled.

Overall, I feel so much better on day #4 than I did after my knee replacement at the same time. I keep reading my journal from those days and make the comparison. Every time I say this out loud my man tells me I'll jinx myself. I don't care! So far I've been living proof that (usually) "hips are easier than knees," and for THAT I am grateful!

 

[MissFanny]

I liked my PT but I didn’t go until 6 weeks and at my own request. Fortunately, my surgeon subscribes to the BoneSmart philosophy that hips don’t need anything special to heal except walking as tolerated. But I decided I wanted a little PT because I was afraid to push too far with any exercises! She assured me I was cleared to do nearly anything, except things that might cause me to fall like climbing ladders. She was a young girl—like maybe my Gen Z kids’ age—but we hit it off and talked the whole time. I called her my personal trainer because she really worked me out!

I think you are right that hips are easier than knees. At least comparing my recovery to a friend who had a knee replacement.

Keep up the great work! It sounds like you are doing amazing and your spirits are high!

 

[sunnyphoenix]

Second day of PT. My therapist started me on the stepper machine and set it for 10 minutes, then left to work with another patient. After 6 minutes my hip was hurting so I rested a minute, but it hurt again after 30 additional seconds, so I stopped. She wasn't nearby but a therapist working with someone beside me asked if I were finished. I said I was "done because it started to hurt." He gave me a look of disgust. Who cares? My thought is that he's almost as old as I am, was taught "No pain, no gain," and hasn't been able to adjust his thinking. It will be an interesting battle if he is ever assigned to work with me.

The (young) therapist this morning listened to me and I felt heard. When she said we were "going to work on a move to bend your knee," I told her that if it was "the slide," I refuse. She said that one was scheduled for later today, drew a line through it and asked if I'd be willing to try a different one, which I was. It involved a ball and was painless. On the way home we stopped at Goodwill so I could buy some shorts for therapy, having given mine away months ago following weight loss. Monday I wore a pair of my man's sweats but since he weighs almost 300 pounds, I wouldn't qualify as a fashionista. Today I found a pair of slacks in my closet that had been overlooked during all of my "donate frenzy," which were only two sizes too big, however, they were tight for therapy. It feels as though my hip has expanded a couple pants sizes since Thursday! Ergo, the need for something new (old) to wear. Pain right now is minimal and I'm content.

I wish a happy and peaceful day for everyone.

 

[MissFanny]

Great job asserting yourself and insisting on what is right for you. I am lucky my surgeon subscribes to the idea that walking and rest are enough to heal a hip.

 

[sunnyphoenix]

I wish MY surgeon believed as yours does. At this point I'm hoping the therapy will pick up where the other left off, helping me to straighten my knee as it doesn't lie flat. Today's therapist explained the need for this to happen in order to avoid strain on my hip. Maybe she's right, maybe not, but I'll give it a try. If not for PT, I'd be leaving the house only once a week for our TOPS meeting, so I consider it my social outing. That said, if I were to stop this week, I'd be happy. (You can see I have two opposite opinions!).

P.S. It DID feel good to assert myself.

 

[Eman85]

A stepper machine? I think that's a new one on here, never heard of anyone being put on or using any machine in the first weeks post-op. Was this a treadmill?

 

[sunnyphoenix]

The stepper machine is a sit-down thing with arm handles and big pedals for feet. Each foot moves up and down with the corresponding arm handle and it's possible to just rest the feet on the pads and do all the work with arms. It seems to be pretty low impact and I never minded it after knee surgery, but I think they waited a couple weeks. Yesterday it felt totally painless at first but after several minutes the incision area told me to stop, so I listened.

You know, I can't get over the change in pain compared to before surgery. I feel a little deep ache when I get out of my chair, sometimes gently shooting down my thigh, but after a few steps on the walker, it's gone.

Today is my one-week anniversary and I'm striving to remain patient. Is anyone else experiencing this, feeling so much better than before that you feel ready to have a normal life again? But your body says, "Wait! Give it time. Be patient! Don't overdo!" I bet most of us have this thought.

 

[MissFanny]

Happy one-week anniversary, dear @sunnyphoenix! I am happy to read you are doing so well. Yes, I have to talk that little voice that wants to push me to do more down from the ledge all the time! I feel well, but I am trying to be gentle with myself to prevent setbacks.

Keep it up! You’re doing fantastic!