THR Pain popping out

[Giraffe44]

Hi, all.It's four weeks now and I'm a bit discouraged. People write about going back to work and to the gym at only a few weeks and I'm nowhere near ready for anything like that. I can walk without a cane except that it isn't a real walk. It looks like someone on the deck of a ship in high seas. The pain problem remains although I'm dealing with it with percocet. The bottom part of my wound hurts although hubby says it isn't red or swollen. I do have to sit on it because of its location. Part of it, I'm sure, is my age. I used to be in very good shape with aerobics and jogging but had to give most of it up in the last few years--mostly because of the hip pain. I've been out to eat and to church but am scared of being bumped into if I go to the store. My balance is poor and I don't want to fall! There--I've vented! Now I feel better. Whining isn't my thing but I just needed to go on a bit.

 

[oldyellr]

Giraffe, I'm about 6 weeks ahead of you and still don't walk too far without a cane. If your gait isn't "normal" and you swagger (there's a technical term, but I'm not sure of the spelling) without a cane, then you should keep using it.

As for going back to work, some people have to and some enjoy it. I don't know what your situation is. I'm retired, but I'm still consulting. I went in yesterday for a couple of hours, then called it quits and may go back tomorrow again for a couple more hours. Anyway, at your stage I hadn't even left the house except for rides to PT and see my OS.

 

[Poppet]

Hi there

I know it is very easy to get caught up reading everyone's posts and seeing that others are doing better than yourself... I got myself in a right old tizz about that and started pushing - a bit too far.. So I understand

My suggestion is to go back to basics and realise that this is your journey and your body is going to heal in its own good time.

There is no time limit for when you should give up your walking aides.. Only when your body is strong enough. The last thing I would want is for you to develop an limp or swagger, which affects your gait.. So my advice is to stick with your aide, remember it is a marathon, not a sprint and you will have good days and bad days, but one day, your body will say... I am strong, I am ready now to move on ..

I look forward to following your journey be gentle with yourself, recovery takes time.

 

[dede62]

Giraffe, I had my hip done the day before yours and I'm also still using my cane and I'm nearly 20 years younger than you! I am trying to be fairly conservative with my therapy - truly letting my hip make the decisions. I haven't been out much and certainly not alone. My hubby comes with me everywhere I go when we're out. If my cane isn't a weapon, then he'll take care of things if need be!! Do be careful when you go out as others are definitely oblivious to what's going on around you, but don't let it keep you from starting to venture out a little more. Things should be feeling better every day and as Poppet said each person heals in their own time. It will get better!!

 

[sissy46]

Giraffe, I see you're not far from me (Orlando area) and frankly, this weather makes me grumpy as heck. It is too cloudy and too hot and the low barametric pressure makes me want to bite somebody

I think a lot of people have a slump at around 4 weeks. I know I did. My surgeon had told me that at 4 to 6 weeks I could begin to paddle my kayak and ride my bike, and based on that, I thought I should be back to normal at 4 weeks, and of course I wasn't. Recovery definitely is not a straight line; as we say two steps forward, one step back, and sometimes one step forward, two steps back. But we'll all get where we're going, at our own pace.

The weather should be getting better tomorrow, too

 

[Giraffe44]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I am retired but would like to work part-time later on. I am keeping the cane (it's wooden and carved to look like a giraffe's neck) because otherwise I do start to swagger (great word). I haven't gone out alone and do like to use the walker outside because it really tells people not to bump into you. As for the weather, yuck! I hope you're right, Sissy, and it improves.

 

[sissy46]

That cane sounds really cool! I bought a cheap one at Walgreen's, definitely not a fashion statement.
I'm going paddling today---much safer than shopping this time of year. Be careful out there, and take a cane if not a walker, so people won't knock you down.

 

[Damn!]

Come on now Sissy, what kind of advice is that? Giraffe needs to hone up on her ninja-Warrior crutch techniques. She doesn't need to worry about people knocking into her, people need to worry about her knocking into them

 

[sissy46]

darn! You want to make a warrior out of her? Great idea! She's going to need some instruction in cart wheelies and crutch take-outs.

 

[Damn!]

The International Order of BoneSmart Warriors can always use new members ;)

 

[Giraffe44]

5 weeks now--sometimes I feel like a warrior, sometimes not. Had a nice experience at a restaurant the other day. Hubby went to get my walker (yes, I still use it out of the house sometimes) and the people at a table opposite were sort of staring. I said "new hip" and they all smiled and said "Congratulations!" It felt kind of good to have it treated like an accomplishment. Yesterday I went to a funeral in the morning and the vet in the afternoon. At night my whole lower right side hurt like hades. The pain comes and goes but it can be really intense. All I want for Christmas is a pain-free body. Also, my right leg feels too long. Hubby pointed out that the old hip had crumbled so that the new one is longer. This makes sense and the feeling will probably go away in time. Anyhow, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Winter Solstice or just be happy to all my fellow hippies. :reindeer:

 

[YoungGma]

Giraffe44, the pain will depart eventually, I'm sure. I agree, it's wonderful when people see the new hip as a reason to celebrate, rather than saying "I'm sorry." It feels like such an accomplishment to be able to walk upright again, instead of hunched over and limping, it IS something to celebrate!

Happy Everything to you and all the "hippies"!

 

[bellaroma]

Hi Giraffe, the leg length difference generally evens out, part of it is the way our pelvic tilted prior to surgery. Glad you are getting out and about, that generally helps us feel more normal. Take Care

 

[Giraffe44]

I had my 6 week check up with the surgeon yesterday. Got the time wrong and arrived over an hour early--I'm blaming it on post-operative lack of focus. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Dr. Hurbanis pronounced my incision "beautiful." Maybe we should all do one of those calendars with our incisions--orthopedic surgeons would buy them by the bushel. He also liked my walk with the cane. I'm a little less happy about the pain problem. According to the doctor, I should take the pills when the pain is unbearable but not when it isn't. I've been trying not to let it get unbearable except first thing in the morning when everything has worn off. I am sleeping well (hallelujah!) and doing more which is all good. I've been postponing finding a place to do outpatient PT because of bad past experiences but need to get on it. I have a prescription for 2x a week for 4 to 6 weeks. Happy New Year to all! :xmascandle:

 

[Cookie42]

To me pain = limping = bad. And I'm not talking about unbearable pain. But then, I'm a pain wimp -- don't like it and avoid it all I can. When you hurt, you're less likely to move and when you don't move, things get stiffer and hurt more. Starting off a morning (at three months for me) without my arthritis strength Tylenol is like starting off without my cup of tea -- unthinkable!

 

[Jaycey]

Well I can't say I agree with your doc about your pain meds. It's too late to take meds if the pain is unbearable. I just hope you are past that point now. If it were me I would continue to control whatever pain you have with regular meds. You will naturally wean off meds when your body is ready. Your choice of course. Congrats on your 6 week check!

 

[oldyellr]

According to the doctor, I should take the pills when the pain is unbearable but not when it isn't.

That can be debated for sure! I wonder how many doctors who say that have actually been there themselves? But narcotic pain meds are controversial. Hillbilly Heroin (oxy) has been a prominent street drug for years and its maker, Purdue Pharma, paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in the U.S. for covering up its addictive properties. Today there are doctors who still swear by it and others who swear at it. When you live in a small town, you see many people whose lives have been ruined by it. In my own experience, the first time I had strong pain pills for an amputated fingertip, I toughed it out until it was too late and then the pain had taken hold and the pills didn't help. The next time was when I had my wisdom teeth out. As soon as I got home I took the pills and sat back in my lazyboy, watched TV and just floated on a cloud. It worked for me, but maybe would end up badly for someone with an addictive personality who might manipulate their doctor for more pills, maybe go to a second and third doctor, and end up going down the slippery slope. After my hip surgery I didn't take my prescribed dosage of Tramacet immediately, I took only one, and started to suffer needlessly. By the second day I was taking the max dosage and felt great. I would recommend, though, before you run out of pills, cut back on the dosage to see if that works before you run right out of the meds abruptly. I did that and didn't even finish all of them.

 

[dede62]

Giraffe, I hope your pain isn't at the unbearble stage on a consistent basis. I'm a day ahead of you and I just started back to work. I have a little discomfort still in my groin but it only really surfaces when I'm toward the end of my work day or doing a lot of walking or stairs. I keep my cane handy for those times and it really does help. My doc said that most of that should dimish over the next 6 weeks (by the 3 mo timeframe). I'm trying to not worry too much about it and am chalking it up to still healing. So unless you're a closet mudwrestler and you're not divulging that to us, I'm leaning a little towards doing a little too much at this point. Rest when you can and it will all fall into place. Don't hesitate to ice and medicate to keep things under control For You.

 

[Poppet]

Giraffe

I don't get into discussion around member's actual pain meds or protocols, I don't consider myself qualified to discuss prescription drugs.

This is a tough one for you when your surgeon has given you this advice. My suggestion would be to go see your GP who most likely is your primary care giver now ?

 

[Giraffe44]

7 weeks now. Good news and bad news--the pain isn't as bad the last few days and I walked to the end of my street and back without any ill effects; I also cut my toenails myself. On the other hand, my beautiful giraffe cane fell onto a hard tile floor and broke at the handle. I'm heartbroken. If you have to use a cane, at least use one that makes a statement! Now it's the ugly metal cane that you get from hospitals. Yuck. I know I'm an old lady but I don't see why I have to look like one. More seriously, my health insurance (Blue Cross Medicare PPO) charges $45 for each outpatient PT session. I have a prescription for 2 a week and I can't afford that. I just hope Josephine is right and that hips sort of take care of themselves. Reading about the difficulties some of our members are having I feel so grateful that it hasn't been all that bad. My goal is to go to the Disney Animal Kingdom Wild Africa Trek this year. It's a three hour walk and drive through their African Savanna ending with a meal in a lodge where the giraffes and other animals roam freely just outside.