THR On the other side of surgery

[barbloki]

@Pumpkin last time on my Right THR they took the bandage off, then took the staples out, then put the steri-strips on and sent me home. I'm assuming they will do the same thing this time. It's the same surgeon and he said everything would be the same. Same brand for the hip (Stryker), same incision/scar. I had posterior approach. Apparently, from what I hear, the younger doctors are doing anterior these days which doesn't have the restrictions and has a shorter incision. My surgeon is in his 60's and has been doing posterior forever. He's good at it so he sticks with it. Some people I know are comparing me to others that had hip replacements by a young surgeon doing anterior approach. They don't understand why I have restrictions and why I didn't go home the same day and my recovery rules are different. I try to explain that there are different types of surgeries.

 

[Pumpkin]

I did have an anterior, shorter incision, with stitches. I spent the night due to other health issues and went home the next afternoon.
Every doctor is different and every patient is different, sorry people are comparing you to others. Many times people think how easy their recovery was, but if you got down to the details it really wasn't that easy. Our brains quickly forget the rough patches.
You are a few days out from surgery, sounds like you on doing well, at your own pace.

Enjoy your shower today!

 

[Jamie]

Be sure you’re not putting a pillow directly behind your knee as that can contribute to the formation of blood clots. Use any pillows lengthwise so you can put them under your entire leg. You might want to reread the elevation article that was left for you in one of the early posts on your recovery thread here.

It would be highly unlikely for anything to have happened to your right hip implant during surgery. But if it did, numbness would not be a symptom. You’d have pain, especially when weight bearing.

Look on Amazon and you can find some inexpensive pads for your walker. They really help. Also try not to grip it tightly when you’re walking. You want to be safe, obviously, but a lighter grip is better.

 

[RGLieblein]

Thinking of you and wishing you all the best in your recovery. And remember what you recently told me: these are early days in a lengthy recovery process. Good things are on the horizon, and I know it can sometimes be hard to recognize that when everything is so “fresh.” But you’ll get there!

 

[barbloki]

Use any pillows lengthwise so you can put them under your entire leg.

I guess I forgot about the lengthwise pillow. I've been putting it directly under my left knee. It does feel better with a pillow than without. I'll change how I'm using it. I had a wonderful shower today but it wore me out. After that I ate, took my pills, and passed out for 1pm to 3:30pm. I just got up and walked to the kitchen and back with the walker. I'm doing much better today than I was yesterday. I just don't understand what's going on with my right leg. Dr. Kammire wrote back to me in the portal and he said it probably from the anesthesia or from the way I was positioned but he doesn't think it will be permanent. OK, I'm not going to worry about it anymore. Oh, and we can celebrate because I had a BM today a few hours after I took Dulcolax. I didn't have any Miralax in the house. I'll have hubby get some next time he goes out. I'm just so glad it happened because the PT lady said that the #1 reason for re-admissions is blocked bowels. Today is a good day. Day 3 after surgery.

 

[Jamie]

You’re definitely doing just great. Keep up the good work and try to relax. This is a time to enjoy pampering yourself and letting your body do its work.

 

[barbloki]

I think I shared this 3 years ago with my other surgery but I want to share it again. If anyone gets cleaned with Betadine, it comes off easily with a Bounty paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol. I got it all off my stomach and thigh. I can't reach the lower leg so I'll have to get someone to do it for me. I can't stand looking at it. In fact, I bet I can use the loofah on a stick in the shower with the rubbing alcohol to get the lower leg. I'll try that on Sunday.

 

[barbloki]

Yesterday was a good day. PT came and had me up for 26 minutes. I took a shower. That's it for day 3. No pain. Just muscle spasms. Oh, the muscle spasms.
Last night I took a tizanidine for muscle spasms and oh my goodness, I was so wasted. I didn't like feeling that way so I think I will avoid those pills as much as possible or cut them in half. I slept great though.
I woke up this morning at 5am and had to pee. My body feels beaten and bruised. My hands hurt from the handles on the walker (I ordered some covers from Amazon last night), my arms are KILLING ME from the walker, my right leg/thigh is still numb and I occasionally get electrical sensations there, my left/operated leg is swollen and has ice pack 24/7 when I'm laying or sitting. The AquaCel bandage is getting pretty saturated with blood so I sent a picture to the surgeon yesterday and he said it looked fine. OK, I won't worry.
I accidentally leaned forward at my desk to reach for something and OH MY GOODNESS! I caused a muscle spasm. I have the restrictions hanging on my wall so I don't forget but still, I leaned forward. Ugh.
The hardest things are getting into and out of the bed and getting into and out of a chair. I have to put all my weight on my good leg and try to straighten my bad leg and plop down. Getting up puts all my weight on the good leg and uses my arms a lot. Phew. It's exhausting. And trying to explain this to someone who hasn't been through it, they just don't understand. My butt muscles have been sliced and manipulated. They don't want to work right now.
I found this good tidbit in the REST ICE ELEVATE section on this forum. Good reminder for me.
Remember:
* Elevate while you are icing. It maximizes the calming effect and helps get swelling under control.
* Don't use ice instead of pain medications, but as an adjunct to it.
* PREVENT pain instead of TREATING pain. Don't wait until you hurt to apply ice.
It's a triple approach: pain meds, elevation and icing.

Thanks for being here and for reading my long boring story. Off to find breakfast and then get back in bed. I've been upright for 2 hours. It's exhausting.
Barbara

 

[myglasshalffull]

I hear you on your shoulders and arms acting up. Once we put pressure on another body part that is not used to it those body parts let us know. Smart move placing some cloth on the handles to absorb some of the pressure.
Sure hope you get an answer to your leg numbness. Keep us posted.

 

[Layla]

My surgeon is in his 60's and has been doing posterior forever. He's good at it so he sticks with it. Some people I know are comparing me to others that had hip replacements by a young surgeon doing anterior approach. They don't understand why I have restrictions and why I didn't go home the same day and my recovery rules are different. I try to explain that there are different types of surgeries.

My OS only performed posterior THR's also. He felt there is easier access and excellent visibility in this approach. Since mine was also highly skilled in this approach, I felt comfortable and that was important to me. However, unlike you, I didn't have any restrictions. I was only advised to move slowly / thoughtfully and if anything hurt, STOP.

No pain. Just muscle spasms. Oh, the muscle spasms.
Last night I took a tizanidine for muscle spasms and oh my goodness, I was so wasted. I didn't like feeling that way so I think I will avoid those pills as much as possible or cut them in half.

If this continues, you may want to consider Magnesium supplements. I used the Glycinate form as its easiest on the digestive tract.

Magnesium supports the following:
Bone health
Healthy blood sugar
Cardiovascular health
Muscle relaxation and nerves
Promotes healthy sleep (falling asleep and staying asleep)

An article on Magnesium -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/magnesium-is-a-star.20301/

I've also heard of drinking 4-6 oz of Q-Tonic before bed which is a water that contains quinine.
Read the label as some of the waters do not contain quinine, but quinine flavoring instead.

I hope you have a pleasant weekend, Barbara.

 

[Jamie]

If you’re experiencing little (or big) nerve zaps in your numb leg, that is a good sign. It means that whatever nerves were affected by lying on that side during surgery are waking up. Assuming this is the problem that caused your numbness, coming back from it could be a slow process as nerves begin functioning again. It was good you checked with your surgeon, though. If you’re worried, it’s always good to get that reassurance.

 

[barbloki]

nerve zaps in your numb leg, that is a good sign.

I'm glad to hear this is a good sign. I'm trying to ignore it when it happens and not worry. Worry gets me nowhere and there's nothing I can do until next week when the surgeon is back in the office. Today I have a new symptom, swollen ankle on the left leg. Well, the whole leg is swollen but now the ankle is too. And boy oh boy is it stiff! I can really feel it when I do my ankle pumps. I don't remember this happening last time. I now wish I would have done a daily diary back then. I never have a problem with swollen ankles so this is a new thing for me. I don't know if doing too much walking or not enough walking. I try to get up every 1-2 hours and walk to the bathroom or kitchen. If feels like my leg is going to pop from all the fluid. I need to know if this is normal too.

 

[Jamie]

I won’t say that swelling is “normal,” but it is likely a hint that you’re either doing too much or not icing and elevating properly. Swelling can occur if you spend time on your feet or sitting in a chair so that your feet are on the floor. It doesn’t sound like you’re doing that, so my guess is the elevation. Be sure that every time you are lying down, you have your legs elevated so that your toes are above your nose. And ice should be on placed all around your knee - top, sides, and behind the knee. Also, make sure that if you are having pain, you treat it with medication on a schedule. It can be either prescription pain meds, if you need that level of control. Or it can be 1000mg of Extra Strength Tylenol taken every 6 hours through the day and night. The total for acetaminophen is 4000mg or less in any 24 hours period. Be sure you count all medications you take that have acetaminophen in that total (like cold and sinus medications). If you can take it, you can also supplement the Tylenol with an NSAID such as Advil, Aleve, or Celebrex.

Some people do tend to swell more than others and that can be normal for them. The thing to observe is if the swelling is increasing. It should not be getting worse. That’s an indication you need to do things a bit differently.

 

[barbloki]

Thank you for that information. I probably am not elevating high enough. One pillow doesn't raise my foot higher than my nose. I have a hospital bed so I will raise the lower half up. I've had ice on my hip since right after the surgery. I've been taking 3 Advil, 1 Tylenol, 1 hydrocodone, every 6 hours so there is no pain. Just this new swelling on the left ankle and the numbness in right thigh. I guess I should rest more too. I think I've been up too much.

 

[barbloki]

My Aquacel bandage is coming unstuck at the bottom. I called the "on call" doctor and he told me to put some medical tape over it to keep it in place and call the office on Monday. They will probably change the bandage. Ugh. I really don't want to deal with this. My friend's husband had his knee replaced in April and somehow infection got into his incision and he died in August from that. I know the chances of that happening are slim but it still crosses my mind.
I'm dealing with a lot of swelling and stiffness from the knee down. My hip feels great thanks to the pain meds. My brain feels fuzzy but that's probably the meds too.

 

[Layla]

Hi Barbara,
Please try not to worry, the on call physician obviously wasn't concerned. Take his advice to tape it down and call the office Monday morning, which isn't that far away. I understand your concern given the situation with your friends husband, but you're being attentive and cautious which is the best you can do. Try to rest and do whatever you're able to occupy your mind from negative thinking. I am sure everything will be fine and you will receive that type of reassurance on Monday.

It is normal to have stiffness and swelling down your entire leg. Some have it into their ankle and foot. Gravity pulls fluid downward so it can show up below the knee even though your hip is feeling okay. Continue elevating and icing to help circulation. Great news that your hip feels good. A sign that your body is healing as it should.
I wish you a peaceful evening and Sunday. I hope you sleep well tonight.
@barbloki

 

[Jamie]

I agree with Layla….try not to worry about infection just because the bandage is coming loose. That’s not how infection works. There aren’t nasty little bugs clustered around the bandage just waiting for a chance to sneak into you. It does take more than that. And many times a post op infection is something that occurs in the operating theater…totally unrelated to anything the patient did or didn’t do. Please insist that the bandage be changed, though, If it’s fairly blood-soaked, you want a fresh one on it.

 

[barbloki]

Can someone tell me what the shopping cart therapy is? I searched for it but all that came up was people talking about it but no description of what it is.

 

[Layla]

That's the best! Thanks for the chuckle, barbloki.

The "shopping cart therapy" suggested by long time supportive member @Eman85 was something he suggested long ago, that he found useful in his recovery. It was to go to a big box store, store with a larger footprint, and walk around with a shopping cart as you concentrated on improving your gait, mastering a heel-toe stride.
You have the support of the shopping cart and the room to walk freely in a larger store. I'll use Home Depot as an example because you're less likely to be distracted by interesting merchandise, or tempted to spend money.

Try heel-toe walking when you're limping.
This involves striking the ground with your heel first, then rolling through your heel to your toe, and pushing out of the step with your toe.
It takes a concentrated effort, but I believe you'll notice a difference. Give it a try.

Have a great day and thanks again for the laugh, Barbara....that comment was cute.
@barbloki

 

[Layla]

Wait until you're fully ready for that type of outing...and please do not overdo it, if you decide to give it a try.