Hi, having had my RTHR anterior, on Jan 3rd, I finally made it to the other side! Have to say that as prepared as I thought I was, I really wasn't.
Sorry for the length of my note, I just couldn't write anything before now.
Surgery was scheduled for the morning, OR ended up delayed for an hour. Was OK, as I was chillin' but boy, was I nervous. Luckily my husband was allowed to be with me until I went to the OR. After yet another body scrub, IV placement and signatures, I met my anesthesiologist and was wheeled into the OR. Before the spinal was done, I was sedated and do not even remember getting the spinal. Woke up in recovery- husband by my side.
After 2 hours in my room, doctor came by and then physical therapy came and got me up. I walked, with a walker, to the hallway and back- then sat in the chair for lunch. After lunch, back to bed and another PT session to do 13 steps up and down with a cane. For medication, I had Celebrex ( for 14 days), tylenol every 8 hours, aspirin low dose and tramadol every 4-6 hours. Staff was very helpful in providing new icepacks whenever mine melted, but I was not allowed to elevate my legs due to these compression things that were wrapped around my calves- they inflated in and out to prevent blood clots. They actually felt like a massage to me. I stayed until the next day, went home early afternoon.
Recovery: the first 9 days were quite miserable for me. Pain, bruising and swelling were intense. In addition to the above medication. I used a combination of the ice machine, "magic Gel hip packs" ( Amazon), elevation. The pain med was too strong for me, so I had to decrease the dose in half. It was making me dizzy, nauseas. cramping and unable to use the bathroom.(TMI?) For the bathroom issue, I originally started using senekot, then found out a daily bowl of raisin bran did the trick.
With the anterior approach, my bruising and swelling extended from the suture line, wrapped around my hip and down the butt. Very purple. The swelling began in earnest on day 3, and it was my entire thigh to a few inches above my knee, and the skin was very tight. The log leg like everyone said here. My surgeon had sutured beneath the skin, applied a clear water proof glue and no bandage was needed. Now, on day 12, the thigh swelling is almost gone. The incision is oddly swollen, kind of like a 4-5 inch bubble.
I do have tight swelling on the back of my hip, approx at the height of my incision line. Bruising is less now, turning yellow-green. There is sciatica-like pain when I try to sit on the commode- could this be from the hip swelling? There is also a feeling of a golf ball on that side when I sit on a firm surface.
I have not done anything besides rest, elevate, ice and do the isometric muscle squeezes the PT told me to do. If not for the posts here, I would have probably tried to do too much. Tomorrow is my first day out of the house and I have only gone up/down my stairs ( 13 steep) three times- very scary to come down them. I get up every 2 hours to walk to the kitchen, bathroom, etc. Not sleeping well yet as I am not a back sleeper, miss sleeping on my side!
One other question: how long does your surgeon have you wearing these thigh high anti-embolism stockings? Mine are so uncomfortable, I am thinking of asking if I can switch to the knee high ones.
Things that are helping me: I bought a wedge on Amazon, use it everyday! Did not get any swelling from just above the knee to the toes, as I had worried I would. A leg lifter I got on Amazon, used to lift my log leg in and out of bed, car etc. Get a rigid one, mine is 42" log. Grabbers: I found them at the Harbor Freight Store for 2.99 and have several through-out the house. Also got a clothes hook which also is useful moving your blankets over your legs.
Railings: my hubby put on the toilet. I had practiced getting up with the good leg, but didn't take into account that pain, swelling and general weakness would make me need the railing. Ice machine is invaluable, especially when lying down during the day and for overnight. During the day, I used "Magic Gel" hip packs, which I can get up and move around with. I also got a lanyard for my phone, as I was afraid if I fell down my husband would not hear me, or he could be outside.
Tomorrow is my follow up visit, I have a whole list of questions.
**Thank you to all who offer their advice and experiences to us,as Bonesmart truly is a place to go to share with people that "get it"**
Sorry for the length of my note, I just couldn't write anything before now.
Surgery was scheduled for the morning, OR ended up delayed for an hour. Was OK, as I was chillin' but boy, was I nervous. Luckily my husband was allowed to be with me until I went to the OR. After yet another body scrub, IV placement and signatures, I met my anesthesiologist and was wheeled into the OR. Before the spinal was done, I was sedated and do not even remember getting the spinal. Woke up in recovery- husband by my side.
After 2 hours in my room, doctor came by and then physical therapy came and got me up. I walked, with a walker, to the hallway and back- then sat in the chair for lunch. After lunch, back to bed and another PT session to do 13 steps up and down with a cane. For medication, I had Celebrex ( for 14 days), tylenol every 8 hours, aspirin low dose and tramadol every 4-6 hours. Staff was very helpful in providing new icepacks whenever mine melted, but I was not allowed to elevate my legs due to these compression things that were wrapped around my calves- they inflated in and out to prevent blood clots. They actually felt like a massage to me. I stayed until the next day, went home early afternoon.
Recovery: the first 9 days were quite miserable for me. Pain, bruising and swelling were intense. In addition to the above medication. I used a combination of the ice machine, "magic Gel hip packs" ( Amazon), elevation. The pain med was too strong for me, so I had to decrease the dose in half. It was making me dizzy, nauseas. cramping and unable to use the bathroom.(TMI?) For the bathroom issue, I originally started using senekot, then found out a daily bowl of raisin bran did the trick.
With the anterior approach, my bruising and swelling extended from the suture line, wrapped around my hip and down the butt. Very purple. The swelling began in earnest on day 3, and it was my entire thigh to a few inches above my knee, and the skin was very tight. The log leg like everyone said here. My surgeon had sutured beneath the skin, applied a clear water proof glue and no bandage was needed. Now, on day 12, the thigh swelling is almost gone. The incision is oddly swollen, kind of like a 4-5 inch bubble.
I do have tight swelling on the back of my hip, approx at the height of my incision line. Bruising is less now, turning yellow-green. There is sciatica-like pain when I try to sit on the commode- could this be from the hip swelling? There is also a feeling of a golf ball on that side when I sit on a firm surface.
I have not done anything besides rest, elevate, ice and do the isometric muscle squeezes the PT told me to do. If not for the posts here, I would have probably tried to do too much. Tomorrow is my first day out of the house and I have only gone up/down my stairs ( 13 steep) three times- very scary to come down them. I get up every 2 hours to walk to the kitchen, bathroom, etc. Not sleeping well yet as I am not a back sleeper, miss sleeping on my side!
One other question: how long does your surgeon have you wearing these thigh high anti-embolism stockings? Mine are so uncomfortable, I am thinking of asking if I can switch to the knee high ones.
Things that are helping me: I bought a wedge on Amazon, use it everyday! Did not get any swelling from just above the knee to the toes, as I had worried I would. A leg lifter I got on Amazon, used to lift my log leg in and out of bed, car etc. Get a rigid one, mine is 42" log. Grabbers: I found them at the Harbor Freight Store for 2.99 and have several through-out the house. Also got a clothes hook which also is useful moving your blankets over your legs.
Railings: my hubby put on the toilet. I had practiced getting up with the good leg, but didn't take into account that pain, swelling and general weakness would make me need the railing. Ice machine is invaluable, especially when lying down during the day and for overnight. During the day, I used "Magic Gel" hip packs, which I can get up and move around with. I also got a lanyard for my phone, as I was afraid if I fell down my husband would not hear me, or he could be outside.
Tomorrow is my follow up visit, I have a whole list of questions.
**Thank you to all who offer their advice and experiences to us,as Bonesmart truly is a place to go to share with people that "get it"**