THR NYLiz hip #2 done

[NYLiz]

Hi Everyone,

It's now 10 days since the surgery and the pain has gotten worse instead of better. The oxycodone, ice and elevating have not eased the pain so the doctor has called in a prescription for Dilauded that hopefully will help. If it weren't for the pain I'd be doing great all around.

I kept a journal during my last surgery and liked to share how that one has compared to this one so far:

Hospital Stay:
Hip #1 - 4 day/3 night stay, 26 staples closing incision, was nauseus and couldn't keep anything down the first day, dilauded and oxycodone given for pain, worse pain was in my lower back, did not get up out of bed until 2nd day, went to PT twice on 3rd day and once on 4th day, was able to take a shower at the hospital, sent home with a blood count of 8.0 and scipts for oxycodone and oxycontin

Hip #2 - 4 day/3 night stay, 29 staples closing incision, no nauseau (but had told anesthesiologist ahead of time so they gave me something to prevent it), morphine and oxycodone given for pain, worse pain was in my upper thigh, up walking afternoon of surgery, went to PT 2nd day twice and 3rd & 4th day once, blood count dropped to a 7.1 and needed a transfusion on day 3, no shower before leaving this time, sent home with a blood count of 10 and script for oxycodone for pain.

First week home:
Hip #1 - pain mainly under control, a lot of swelling in lower leg and ankle but only bruising was on shin, using walker, started in home PT and by end of week was able to lift leg when standing 55 degrees, could not lift leg to get into bed on my own, constantly tired and slept 2 hours every afternoon.

Hip #2 - pain became out of control on day 6, hoping the Dilauded will help, a lot of swelling of upper thigh and hip with bruising on back of thigh area, started to use a cane on day 9, but using the walker at night and outside the house, started in home PT and can lift leg when standing 80 degrees, was able to lift leg onto bed by myself first night home, not as tired this time and may nap for a half hour or so in the afternoon.

The things I feel made a difference between these surgeries and recovery are the preventive measures to combat the nausea upfront, the PT I did from Aug until the time I had the 2nd surgery and that they gave me a blood transfusion, so I don't have that constant feeling of exhaustion like I did with the first.

I'll update again next week and hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Liz:xmastree:

 

[DallasSarah]

Hi Liz,

This is great! Sorry this 2nd hip is giving you some problems hopefully that will sort itself out rather quickly! I think you are so brave to get both hips done so quickly, I personally couldn't imagine that one!

Wishing you a nice holiday weekend!

PS hope new pain Meds kick in quickly!

xxooxx

 

[Juliep]

Merry Christmas Liz,

It's good you did that journal, I wish I had and I know I will with the knees. So sorry about your pain. I know Dialudid worked wonders for me. Everything else sounds really good for you though. Getting in and out of bed like you are and raising your leg to that degree is great !!

I second that about not as tired with second hip and like you with a transfusion second go around I had a lot more energy.

Take it easy, enjoy your holiday with family and don't over do it !!

Looking forward to hearing how things go by next week.

:xmastree:

 

[Poppet]

Hi Liz

What a great comparison report, sorry that the pain is still bothering you, but sure it will be brought under control soon with the new drug.

There are certainly definite improvements in ROM with number two hip it seems.

Liz do you think giving it about four months between surgery 1 and 2 was good timing - reason I ask and I know we are all different, but I have to have hip two done sometime in the not too distant future ( some time 2012) and part of me wants to get it over and done with, but the other part says, tolerate the pain for a little while longer and strengthen the first hip.

I think when we experience the freedom from bone on bone pain with the first one, we become keen to get the other one done and have the same pain free time..

Thanks for a great report, have a wonderful break, include the mantra, ice, elevate and rest, but have some fun time you so deserve it Sandy

 

[DaveGM]

Liz

Sorry to hear you are having a few problems. they sound as if they are relatively minor to me and you will soon be reaping the benefits of the surgery.

Remember, as has so often been said here before no two surgeries are the same and the recovery time can vary- BUT there is no doubt you will get there. Be patient - stay positive. I know you will do it.

Best wishes

Dave

 

[Josephine]

And no two people have the same result from drugs. If you're not getting relief from what you've been prescribed, ask to try something else. If that doesn't work either, don't hang around, ask for something else again. I've known people that have had to try three or four different meds or combinations of meds before they found something that worked.

 

[NYLiz]

Hi Liz

Liz do you think giving it about four months between surgery 1 and 2 was good timing - reason I ask and I know we are all different, but I have to have hip two done sometime in the not too distant future ( some time 2012) and part of me wants to get it over and done with, but the other part says, tolerate the pain for a little while longer and strengthen the first hip.

Sandy

Hi Sandy,

4 months between surgeries was right for me. I was able to build up a lot of strength in the both legs and hips before surgery # 2 and it made a difference. I went to PT 3x a week from the 4th week of August until the day before surgery. Once I started to have pain in the right hip, I made a decision then that there was no way I'd let the pain and deterioration of the right hip get to the point of the left before having it replaced. As my surgeon put it, nothing will make it better and it's up to you when you are ready to take that step and regain quality of life. So even though I'm going through recovery pain now, in 2 months it will start to become a distant memory and I'll be well on my way to going back and doing the things I love and haven't been able to in over a year.

Have a great holiday!

Liz

 

[Poppet]

Thanks Liz

I will be six weeks Monday - minus 5 days I lost mobilizing in ICU. I am booked into start pool work first week in Jan, so that should take the stress off #2 and back and help strengthen #1. I will have nearly four months of this and will the reassess #2 then. But after this mornings 20 min walk, not sure I can last that long!

Merry Xmas, happy healing, Sandy xx

 

[Josephine]

You doing well, girls! Happy Christmas!

​

 

[uktanny]

Hi Liz, Merry Christmas!

girl you have had a bit of a rough time, I sure hope your blood count is better now, its exhausting with low iron. I hope you get your pain and swelling under control soon. Im sure it will come with time. Thinking of you and will be keeping an eye on your thread

Take good care xxx

 

[nanamac]

Hi Liz and congrats on getting it all behind you for the New Year! So sorry you are having problems with pain though. I had good luck with a cocktail of dilaudid for break through pain every 4 hours and methadone every 12 hours.

Oxycodone and oxcontin did nothing for me immediately following the surgery, but after a month, the oxycodone did the trick.

Jo is correct as usual about getting whatever meds it takes. No need to suffer.

Hang in there. You should be seeing results soon if not already...

 

[NYLiz]

Happy New Year Everyone!

I'm glad to report that the Dilauded worked, at least it brought the pain down to a tolerable level and I was able to enjoy the holidays. At 3 weeks post op - I'm now down to taking 2mg Dilauded in the morning and afternoon and 4mg at night, with Tylenol in between. Compared to the last surgery at 3 weeks, I have more energy this time and better range of motion and strength in my leg.

I saw the surgeon on Friday and he was very happy with my progress and how well I'm walking with a cane (which he made me promise not to give up until the muscles are a little stronger). The staples were taken out and the incision looks good. I was given the go ahead to start out patient PT (first session is tomorrow) as well as permission to work a few hours a day from home. I go back to the surgeon on the 19th and if all is ok I'll get the green light to go back to work at the office starting the 23rd.

For those who may be concerned that I'm trying to do too much too soon, I promise to listen to my body and take breaks, rest, nap, elevate and ice if the leg swells, etc.

Liz

 

[DallasSarah]

That's great news Liz...opppps and Happy New Year!

Glad the pain is under control that was important.

Today was my first day back to work (home office) the only tough time I had was sitting in chair too long and getting really stiff, so tomorrows plan to make sure I get up and walk around to stretch out.

Here's to a fabulous 2012 in our recoveries!

xxooxx

 

[Juliep]

Hi Liz,

Oh I know you do know what you are doing...you've been there and done it and most of us don't have the choice of more than 6 weeks off of work.

You will do great and once that PT starts up things will really move along.

I'm glad you had a nice holiday and felt better.

 

[NYLiz]

That's great news Liz...opppps and Happy New Year!

Glad the pain is under control that was important.

Today was my first day back to work (home office) the only tough time I had was sitting in chair too long and getting really stiff, so tomorrows plan to make sure I get up and walk around to stretch out.

Here's to a fabulous 2012 in our recoveries!

xxooxx

Hi Sarah - wish I would have checked bonesmart before I started working today and learned from your experience. Today was my first day working from home and I did the same thing you did - sitting too long. It wasn't intentional, just really got into working on something and when I went to get up, I felt stiff all over. Tomorrow I'll set a reminder to go off every 20 minutes so I get up and move :biggrin:

Liz

 

[DallasSarah]

Hi Liz,

Yikes I did it again today, sitting too long and it's a monster to get up isn't it....oyyyyyy!! If you go to my thread Cardie had suggested a style of cushion for my office chair, I did call them direct and they girls name was Ashley (think) anyhoooooo super sweet and they gave me a $5 coupon and walked me through ordering on line which I could have done alone,but i had questions of the different styles she did recommend the basic one. I figure worth investment plus they also stressed if it didn't feel good I could return for a refund. Nice family owned business!

Im enjoying work, still think if I had to go into an office I would not make it with my energy, sounds wussy but both days I've felt very tired at the end of the day and yes stiff from sitting. I made myself shut down this evening around 5.30pm and wobbled around , if I was driving or commuting I would be worried I would stumble or fall asleep that's how tired, and I did take pain Meds this morning but not in afternoon. Just took some now WEW!

Have a good day tomorrow!

xxooxx

 

[girlienerd]

Liz - So glad to hear your pain meds are working. I don't know what I would have done if mine hadn't worked. EEK!

I'm really going to have to pay attention to taking a break at work when I go back. You and Sarah have convinced me!

Take care of yourself!!
Buffi

 

[rider1960]

Liz, I'm glad your pain is better. Your mobility seems to be progressing great, though, despite the pain you've had. All in all, sounds like you are doing very well!

As Buffi said, when I return to work after surgery, I'm going to be vigilant about taking breaks. It's so easy to get working on something and not know how stiff you are until you go to get up. So frequent breaks will be at the top of my list.

Take care,

Dorothy

 

[NYLiz]

Sarah - checked out your thread and think I'll get one of those cushions. Today was better after getting up and walking every 20 - 30 mins and whenever I was on a conference call I'd put on the headset and just walk around the room with the cane or stand up and do some leg lifts and stretches - good thing it's not video conferencing :th_heehee: Like you, I definitely would not be able to do this at this point if I had to drive into the office every day. I'm just so glad this time they were able to give me a remote office set up in my home, which I told them I'm keeping even after I go back to the office later this month since I will not step foot out of the house if we get any snow or ice this winter (so far we have had none, but winter is far form over yet).

Buffi and Dorothy - when you return to work, let your mantra be breaks, breaks and more breaks :biggrin: Seriously, it'll only take a few times of going to stand up and feeling very stiff and sore to make you want to take frequent stretching breaks.

Thanks,

Liz

 

[DallasSarah]

Hi Liz,

Glad you had a better day moving around. I'm still a little surprised just how quickly it takes to stiffen up, and its pretty crappy but I guess before this week I had been lounging around on my bed most of the time so to transition to desk was a bit of a shock. I did move more today and it helped. Yes to break, break, break just to move will help. I'm stiff tonight still and that's after laying on bed for a few hours tonight. I'm not in pain though, just annoying. My cushion hasn't arrived yet hope by Monday. Thank goodness it was a short week!

That was nice and smart they let you set up at home! No way would I venture out in snow, no no way!!

TGIF sounds so good about now!

Enjoy...