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THR Patrikya’s THR recovery journey

Had my surgery Monday—walking with a cane Friday! This anterior approach is nothing short of a miracle in my life! Oh, and I have cut my pain meds back a bit...not a lot of pain this go around. :)
Patrikya
 
Wow! That is amazing! @pkuznets
And you attribute it to the anterior approach? Interesting.
Assuming your previous surgery was posterior...
I had posterior and it took me almost two weeks to switch to the cane.
It felt strange at first and naturally not as safe as the walker.
It's difficult to stifle the desire to move forward.
Best wishes for a comfy peaceful weekend!
 
Congrats, Patrikya - it is definitely a good feeling to switch over to the cane! You just feel more mobile and steady even though you don't have the same support! Definitely a move in the right direction!
 
Lucinda007 I completely agree with you regarding the quality of life. I get so frustrated when people tell me I’m not old enough for a replacement. As though living with limited mobility is such a great alternative. If they only knew.
I see you prefer the anterior approach which is the approach used for my recent surgery. But why do you prefer this approach??


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I had foot surgery in the late 1990s. I was then in my 40s. I Romberg the doc then saying that joint (big toe) wouldn’t look so bad if I was in my 70s. Our chronological age and bone age aren’t necessarily the same.
 
I’m revisiting my own thread in hopes of stirring up additional insight. Had my hip surgery 5 days ago; my two little dogs have been at a kennel since the night before surgery and are scheduled to come home tomorrow (6 days past surgery date). I graduated to a cane yesterday, and my PT took me outside to “rehearse” walking to and from the places I will need to take my dogs in order for them to do potty (poop, actually) breaks. One of my dogs is a 10 year old, 16 lb toy poodle and totally the most polite and respectful lil pooch on the planet. (She—Doodles— also accompanied me through my last hip replacement!) My other dog, Courtney, is about twice the size and only ten months old. She still has a lot of the bounding, jumping puppy energy in her. She has more strength than she has common sense right now; Courtney‘s the one I’m worried about walking on a leash.

My neighbor has offered to walk Courtney occasionally if needed; I may take her up on it as I’ve been unable to make contact with an “official” dog-walker. Does anyone have any suggestions for me regarding how to walk using a cane yet holding a dog leash? Cautionary tales welcome!
Thanks,
Patrikya
 
I’ve got two dogs, both small. The 9.5 year old I would be able to handle with a cane. The 1.5 year old, definitely not. I live in a condo development and have to walk them and pick up after them. I’d be too fearful of losing my balance if the younger saw a squirrel and bolted after it. I’ve decided to board them both for 4 weeks. I’ve been told I can drive 2-4 weeks postop and plan is to bring them home once I think we’re all safe.

Sorry I don’t have any suggestions for you other than relating what I’m planning. Hope all works well.
 
Definitely use your walker. Do not try to walk a high energy leashed dog on a cane this soon after surgery. You still may have trouble if the dog yanks and pulls. Maybe you should bring home your calmer dog first for a few days and see how that goes.

I am fortunate as mine are not pullers and I have a fenced in yard.
 
UPDATE or should I say PUPDATE at 1 week Post-op
My good friend, Brian, drove me out to the kennel to pick up my doggie-girls. Once inside the facility, I made sure I was seated in a secure spot in the lobby with my cane at the ready. The staff brought both pooches out and there were the usual excitable barks, wiggles, and antics that take place whether I’ve been gone for a couple hours or a couple days. I waited for them to get a bit of the “mommy’s here!” energy to dwindle a little bit before we exited. Brian took hold of both leashed dogs, and I walked nearby with my cane in full view. The dogs instantly noticed I was impaired—as if they intuitively recognized something was “up” with their pack leader. I’m not gonna say they turned into calm demure angels, but I will say they sensed something was different with me.

Once at home on our own, the nightly routine went off without a hitch—thankfully, with the anterior approach, I have zero restrictions. Rather than restrictions, my movements are limited by comfort/discomfort and general flexibility. This means I can pick up food dishes from the floor, I can fill water bowls, and I can pick up and toss dog toys—and I can retrieve poop in the community space where I take them to do their business. The hardest part, by far, is walking with a cane in one hand and a leash in the other (and a wiggly, eager-to-find-the-next-new-smell 10 month old pup at the end of the leash). As with everything in recovery, I’m trying to go slowly and safely and keep my expectations realistic. So far, so good. My PT comes to my house this morning, so I’m going to ask her what she proposes as the safest way to manage recovery and limited mobility in a household with two smallish dogs. Overall, I’m just so glad to have my doggie-girls back home; their cheerfulness is good for buoying my spirits, which almost certainly increases healing energy
 
A friend drove me out to collect them from the kennel after one week. Fortunately, I had them bathed before bringing them home, and they came home absolutely exhausted. They were tired the whole next day—big bonus! I use a pee-patch for them on my enclosed deck, but, with cane in hand, I walk them out to the common area twice per day to do their business. My smaller dog, Doodles, is 100% okay off-leash; the younger one, Courtney, has been almost perfect on her leash. No excessive pulling! I think the cane and my odd, slow gait signals to my younger one that something’s very different now. A friend took me and the dogs to a nearby dog park one afternoon to get some running in. Also, a neighbor offered to walk Courtney and tire her out. Doodles is content just to hang around all day long as long as I’m nearby. So far, so good. I’m sure they’re not getting the exercise and adventures they’re accustomed to but then, neither am I ;)
 
Day 11 and PT just took the dressing off my incision for good! It looks wonderful but gruesome in a weird way because it’s in front of my hip. My previous THR was posterior, and I rarely looked at the scar cuz it was harder to finagle a way to see it on my butt cheek. How long does it take a scar to smooth out? Anyone know?
 
Hi,

I know what you mean. Did you have staples or sitiches? Mine looked and still looks weird. I had stitches. I measured my incision yesterday. It’s 4 1/2” long. I’m at day 24. I don’t know who sewed me up but they should have taken embroidery lessons!! It’s sort of crooked. It feels better to get that bandage off. Yes? I can’t wait to put on some bio-oil...only 1 more week.
 
Don’t really remember how long it took. I will say mine continues to look better as time goes on. It’s only about 4 inches long and fairly high on my thigh. Since I’m not a bikini type, doesn’t bother me much. When I got new swimsuit I got bottom with little skirt and it covers it. Good work with your dogs. My pt told me I could do anything- might just have to think it through and do it a little differently.
 
[Bonesmart.org] Patrikya’s THR recovery journey
[Bonesmart.org] Patrikya’s THR recovery journey Forgot to put this in. My friend who had an anterior like ours used this bio-oil. She swears by it and you can hardly see her scar. They sell it at Walgreens and Costco.
 
It can take awhile @pkuznets My PT advised to gently massage my scar along each side with two fingers.
Helps get rid of those little bumps, adhesions, I believe they're called.

Another option if you're not into the Bio-Oil is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Cream with Vitamin E. It comes in balm form in a jar, or a squeeze bottle.
I had posterior and my scar is on my side, not my rear....interesting?
 
Hi all,
It’s been 12 days since my THR, and I think I might be getting a case of the blues. Can someone help me sort out fact from fiction in my head?

1) I feel guilty that I’m not all into the Christmas spirit; in fact, I keep forgetting that people out in the real world have been shopping and decorating their homes for the past few weeks! I see
friends on FB , including peoples’ adorable doggies in sweaters, and I realize how utterly detached I am from the present time! Also, I live alone, and I’ve been mostly holed-up here with my pets; recovery has been my full-time job! I can walk with a cane (slowly), but, truthfully, I wouldn’t feel comfortable or stable in a crowd of people and shopping carts. Unless my PT visits, I am pretty much alone all day/every day. Normally, I like living alone, but I’m feeling oddly alienated from the world right now(hard to explain).

2) I so badly want to drive (and really could since it was my left hip that was replaced), but I’m terrified to drive because I still take a small dose of pain meds in the a.m. and a small dose before bed. I’ve put HUGE pressure on myself to get all the way off pain meds so that I can drive and be 100% independent! Is this an unrealistic expectation at 12 days? Oh, and I was assigned to bring pies to Christmas dinner, but I need to go to a store or bakery to purchase them, which feels like I may as well have offered to travel to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro to get them! Even the thought of getting myself into attire that isn’t pajamas and putting on a little makeup seems overwhelming...Christmas or no Christmas!

3) To top all of this off, my grandkids (ages 6 and 4) and my son and dil will be in a nearby town (staying at their cousins’ house), and I feel as though I will be a giant disappointment to them in terms of things we like to do together when they come to California to visit. We typically go to the beach and make sand castles or just walk in the little ripples at the shoreline. I’m afraid to walk on sand yet...cane or no cane! I only see them a few times per year and want every minute to count.

Okay, so am I blowing all of this out of proportion? Is that how the blues feel? As I wrote all of this down, I audibly heard myself sigh....
Cheers,
Patrikya
 
Oh @pkuznets i am so sorry you have caught the blues. I also enjoy living alone, but when I couldn’t drive I felt very isolated- there was a difference between choosing to be alone and not being able to go out. You are smart not to drive while taking pain meds.

Could one of your friends pick up a couple of pies for you? Or do you live in an area that has a store that deliver Some?

Walking on the beach is probably not a good idea. Is there a nearby hotel where you could get a room and let kids use pool? You could at least then sit and watch them and be with them. Or some project you could do at home with them? Gingerbread houses are fun to make this time of year. Is there a broad walk on any of the nearby beaches?

It is normal to feel down, especially the first couple of weeks after surgery. The holidays can make the whole thing worse. I am sure your children will understand.

People seem to wear pjs everywhere today,and makeup is highly overrated!
 
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