Range of Motion after? BTHR

[catdemar]

Thank you Robedr and djklaugh for your words of wisdom. I went to see my sisters band tonight and danced a little very light not to flare up the hip, but lookng forward to really dancing again.....and all the other fun things i dont do now because i know it will lead to pain.
You both are very helpful. thanks again for talking through this.

 

[evr]

It is great to hear you are working hard at preparing for surgery and getting your body into the best shape you can. I am still several weeks away from surgery but i have been "pre-habbing." For me that has meant weight loss mostly and upper body workout since i cannot do lower body. I am now below the BMI my surgeon requested and working to stay there.


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[Michegon]

@catdemar . Hi, You are in a count down now to get better not worse. After that day you have the rest of your life to heal. Every day you will do something that makes you smile. So, as someone who has done both the same day i never have regretted my decision. Simply the best.

 

[CanukTriMom]

@catdemar

Yes I got it all back. I am a 51 year old triathlete who had their hip replaced in September. Give yourself time to recover and rebuild your glut muscles. Make sure you have the correct Physio person....someone who has lots of experience in replac ment rehab. You will need to do your homework but it is well worth it. Also start working on strengthening your gluts as much as you can. In fact I worked with my Physio for 9 months upto the surgery and 3 months after. If you read my thread, you will see I am back to 8 to 10 hours of various exercise in a week yet I did exactly what I was told and iced iced iced! Some people feel Physio is not needed after surgery yet I feel it is necessary IF you find someone who has a long rehab background....I have a sports PT ho has a long back ground working with rehab of knee and hip replacements....we went very slowly with building onto, if warranted, the exercises given. Let me say.....if you have a Physio who gives you clamshells.....Run away as they don't know what they are doing.....worst exercise for hip rehab ever!


Feel free to ask me anything. I 5 months post surgery but I still get alerted when people tag me. My range of motion is fabulous bit I do. Make sure I stretch a lot before and after all my workouts.

Cheryl

 

[Legin]

Hiya im responding to your post on pinks thread re 3 days recovery. Many posts have i hope given you factual info as to recovery. I also noted your comment re husband. Ok I am probably like your husband in that wall tut dynamite sorts that. I have had a long sports career including regularly playing against England players in rugby. Unfortunately the injuries also came. Totally ruptured achillies 4hr opp. Discharged myself from hospital 2 days after at work next day. Torn muscles damaged ligaments. All I got up and carried on. Had hip replaced and tho I wanted to blow that wall up I couldnt. Banged my head off that wall so many times and over did it. A common thread on here is dont let physio make you do too much mine was almost shouting to slow down. All my pig headed stubbornness got me was pain and a longer recovery. Please take the mantras offered to you on this site as well dont be like this numpty male. Its major surgery and your body needs time to heal. Sorry for being so forthright but when I read your thread the alarm bells drowned out my tinnitus.

Legin THR Sep 14

 

[Jaycey]

I am tempted to stop my celabrex and tramadol for 3 weeks before surgery so i am in real pain and then i will know i need to get this done

This alone should support your decision. You are living life on medication. Once all this is done say goodbye to the meds and the pain. I know it's hard to imagine, but you will get your life back post BTHR. A few short weeks of healing for a life without pain.

 

[HollyB]

I'm responding to a question you asked on Pink's thread re memory foam mattresses. I have one and it has been wonderful for my recovery so far ( I'm two week post-op). For me, it has helped support my lower back thus making the back sleeping ( I had posterior approach) much easier. I have had no problems getting into and out of the bed using this mattress. I also find it pretty easy to sit in bed with several large pillows propped behind my back so no need for a recliner. Now the mattress cover is a feather filled one which makes the bed super comfortable for me. The chair I use to sit and watch t.v. Is a modified Wing Chair that is outfitted with chair risers. You can order these risers on Internet. Good luck with your upcoming surgery -- I wish you the very best!

 

[sfbionicat50]

Hi, @catdemar. I'm responding to your question on my thread here on your thread. Hope that's ok. I'm doing well. The operated side is perfect. The non-operated side is making me wish that I'd gotten both hips done at once. I know it's scary, but get the surgery done. You won't regret it. I love being able to paint my toenails, shave my legs, do floor exercises, etc. I had no idea how much limitation I had been living with. On the blood banking issue: my surgeon told me it's a wash banking blood. You have your own blood, but you also make it more likely that you'll need a transfusion because you go into surgery with "less than a full tank." I needed blood after surgery because my blood counts were low and my BP was low. I ended up having to stay in the hospital an extra day because of it. It wasn't a big deal and it ended up fine getting donated blood. The hospital PT told me that if you donate your own blood it isn't exactly "yours" when you get it transfused back because the blood bank has processed it. Where are you having the surgery done? Mine was at CPMC on California. I loved the staff there. They are dedicated to joint replacement and very experienced at their jobs. Do you live in the City? If so, I have tips on things to do and places to go during recovery -- and some views on some of the PT places. I think I saw you had purchased an adjustable bed? That (or renting a hospital bed) might be a good idea if you're having both hips done at once. Plus, I lived in my recliner. Make sure you get one with a firm enough seat that's high enough off the ground -- and that has adequate neck and back support. For meals, check out Munchery on line. My colleagues at work gave me a gift certificate. One dinner is enough for dinner and lunch the next day. Elizabeth.




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[catdemar]

I walked this today. Not sure what I will feel like tonight and didn't feel so good going up but I'm trying to get in shape for surgery. Only a mile up and back. Did have a hard time getting into the car


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[bottomshollow]

@catdemar, I have moved the above post from the March surgery list thread as it is more appropriate in your own pre op thread. The surgery list thread should be confined to surgery date listings so members can see who is having surgery the same month and possibly day they are. Other topics concerning your surgery or theirs should be posted in the members' threads. Thanks!

 

[healthgal46]

someone please explain to me how you know when to ween off the pain meds. i hate the side effects of being bloated and constipated. sorry being so vague and i have a feeling dr is going to prescribe me vicoden or Percocet. i am allergic to tramadol what are the horrible things that happened to you. i don't like taking this **** unless necessary and i know the first few days i will need and who recommends taking a pain med or an antiflammatory before pt? i rather take naproxen or something like that because my belief is pain meds just block the pain which we need at time but when it comes to working and getting stronger in pt you want to feel the certain level of pain so you are knowing what your triggers are and weaknesses.

 

[healthgal46]

catedamar i love your attitude of getting into shape before your surgery. a lot of people questioned me as to why am i bothering of strengthen my hip stabilizer muscles as to walking to get stronger before my surgery. if people have researched you will realize that people who have bad hips or servere arthritis that pain is bad but how many of us realize how weak all the stabilizer muscles are for our hips? when i first started doing pt after some arthroscopic surgery on my hip last year i never even knew the muscles that i have are so weak, they simply started me on doing simple leg lifts, the clam and behind the leg lifts as well as glute bridges on floor or the stability ball. i was in pain and i am like why? she said its because you have such weak muscles. i work out but was just working out the overall muscles of the legs, squats, leg extension, leg curls all good but doesn't hit the small muscles around it. so i am doing just what you are doing . trying to walk on the treadmill or working out on balancing exercises and all other exercises. keep up the good work and you will be coming out stronger after and have a much faster recovery.

 

[Legin]

With pain meds and reducing you sort of know I reduced mine but sometimes went ooooooops reduced too quickly. The body is the gauge. Well done you on building up muscles wish I had. As it happens didnt have time anyway saw consultant and opperated 6 days later. But will be better prepared for round 2. Oh meds after opp main thing is they allow us to rest and rest is the healer. Hope you dont mind me butting in on your thread.

Legin THR Sep 14

 

[copsham]

Hi @catdemar You really are dedicated to your pre op development but do take care. I was shocked to see your lovely photo of the rustic steps you went up!!!! Can you strengthen your muscles pre op in a safer way!! You don't want to end up in hosp as an emergency. You are right about strengthening yourself pre op though. I only did swimming (crawl) pre op and having strongish muscles in my top half really helped in the first few days post op. You and @healthgal46 are right about strengthening the small muscles as I was shocked to realise how weak mine had become!. In hydrotherapy I was asked just to stand on one leg and balance and then the other leg and balance. At first I could hardly do it. It improved quickly though with practice.

@healthgirl re medications I react badly to morphine and codeine. I get giddy, woozy sick and hot. With in two days I was taking just paracetamol (tylenol?). I took the highest dose allowed four times a day. I did that consistently for four weeks. I m now in my sixth week and can almost manage without. Have decided to just take the night time dose and see how it goes for the next few days. Pre op people told me that the pain was not too bad with the hip op and I agree it does seem to me control-able and I am quite a wimp really.

I agree with what @Legin said the body dictates the pain meds and with a bit of tril and error it is quite managable.

The most memorable thing I learnt from Bonesmart is that 'your hip determines the speed of your recovery not you". I did a lot of pre op prep but the week before the op had to blank it all out and be an automaton as i was so, so anxious. I am sure the pre op prep really works but the biggest post op learning was "to go with the flow"
I am off for a walk now and must not let myself be distracted by "Bonesmart in a Chair" All the Best
Karen

 

[forbesy]

Hi catdemar

Another good form of exercise is to go walking in a swimming pool the water helps to take the weight of your strain and you can do a few breadths of a pool and come away without the pain.

Billy

 

[sharonslp]

Catdemar, I'm quite a bit older than you, so I'm very pleased to tell you that I can do ALL the things you listed in your first post. Plus...I was on Celebrex for several years prior to my surgeries. Today, I am drug-free. The most I ever take now is two tylenol before I go dancing.

And I did stop my Celebrex in the two weeks before surgery, for exactly the reason you mention. I wanted to be fully cognizant that I really needed the surgeries.

But an FYI....I did need Celebrex again after both surgeries, for quite a while. I took it for five months after the first hip, and for 8 months after the second. Not because of any hip pain; it was because of a lot of very difficult tightness in my quad muscles and ITB bands. Massage therapy eventually helped get rid of that pain, and I was then able to ditch the celebrex too. I am thankful that the drug was available to me...it's the only thing I can take long-term without getting stomach issues. But I'm even more thankful that I don't need it any more.

Since you're having both hips done at the same time, your early recovery is likely to be a bit more intense than the usual. Don't let this throw you....just maintain plenty of rest, consistent effective medication, and lots of icing. In a year or two....yes, full healing takes that long....you'll be in great shape for years to come.

Sharon

 

[copsham]

Hello @@catdemar
Your long wait will soon be over. Like me you use Bonesmart to the full. We are lucky. I am 7 weeks post op and would be concerned about you being alone after 6 days. Can your husband go back to work for just a few hours a day? Have you got someone else to be with you.

The problem is the unpredictability of all aspects e.g.. I had no issue with pain took my paracetamol every 4 hours which kept it under control BUT had extreme tiredness just slept, went to bathroom, slept, took medication, slept, had a little food and I went on with this for about 10 days. Well anyway you know the positives of recovery as well as the problems from Bonesmart.

Any way, thinking of your "control centre" in easy reach if you are on your own:
Medication, in easy reach, with note of what was taken when
Alarm clock to alert you to next medication due
Water to drink, prune juice and similar to try to avoid constipation,
Snacky type of food
Mobile phone handy( i found having a little light bag for it over the shoulder helpful then it is always with you in the critical days)
Laptop/TV/radio/DVDs or what ever you prefer plus remote controls
Tissues, moisturising cream, lip salve (my skin got very dry post op)
Work out how you will open the door to visitors, warn them that you might take a while to reach the door!

Your son might be shocked by it all, my little grandson was (aged 4). He kept wanting to make me better, wanting me to put an elastoplast on it and hated seeing me laying on the sofa. After 10 mins of asking, he was asking again "is it better now" At least your son is old enough to understand that you will be a lot better in a few days!

The first few weeks are demanding but you really do turn little corners and it is very encouraging when you achieve little things and big things like At week seven, the week one and week two experiences really are history and the rewards are great!

I was so so scared. I describe myself as having a hospital phobia. Amazingly I got through it all as will you. I thought I would be nearly back to normal after 2 weeks, crazy idea! I got very tearful post op which could be a reaction to general anaesthetic or to the feeling of vulnerability or not being in control BUT it is "do-able" and that time of early recovery which is complex physically and emotionally does not last long. At 7 weeks post I am just about to go for a walk along the sea front, very windy and sunny, but it is such a relief to do something "normal" again.

I just want yours to be over and done with as all this waiting is not good, other than to prepare practical things.

Karen