DizzyBlond
senior
Thanks so much, Catt - good for me to keep in mind and know for next week! (Nothing like a kid to bring humor to the situation!!!! 
)
)
THR Ready, Set, Recover MommaCatt
- Thread starter MommaCatt
- Start date
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Cynthia777
big-cheese
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2015
- Messages
- 4,266
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- 72
- Location
- Quartz Hill, California
- Gender
- Female
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United States
The strange thing for me was there was no visible swelling, but I still felt like I had that rolled up beach towel inside my thigh. Mine abated around the end of the first week. You're doing so well @MommaCatt and should see even more advancements next week. 
Sommers16
senior
@MommaCatt - that log leg feeling does go away. Congratulations on having the surgery behind you! You did it!
Settle in for phase two of the THR ride. It ends in a great place, but patience is needed for a bit as you navigate recovery.
You are going to do great!
Settle in for phase two of the THR ride. It ends in a great place, but patience is needed for a bit as you navigate recovery.
You are going to do great!
DizzyBlond
senior
Thank you, @Cynthia777 - I won't panic when if I suddenly feel like the OS happened to "leave" some of those OR sterile drapes inside my leg!!!!!! I'm sure you'll be hearing me talk about it if I get overwhelmed!!!!
@Sommers16 - I don't think those of us new to the whole THR process can get enough words of encouragement!! I'm going to have to keep reminding myself that the recovery is going to take time and lots of patience!
@Sommers16 - I don't think those of us new to the whole THR process can get enough words of encouragement!! I'm going to have to keep reminding myself that the recovery is going to take time and lots of patience!
OP
OP
MommaCatt
junior member
Thanks for all the encouraging words. Shoutout to @Chihuahuan @DizzyBlond for making it to this side today. Congrats ladies.
Post op day 5&6
Day 5 was rough lots of pain and nausea. I think I got the pain meds sorted. My sister brought me chicken broth and helped me get a shower so the day ended well. She and my husband convinced me to try sleeping in the bed and that seemed to help.
Today has been better. The pain is different in that it is more sore muscle pain and less bruise/nerve pain. I have regained more feeling on my outer thigh for better or worse. The numbness is receding as is some of the swelling. It appears more leg like and less over cooked hotdog.
Lessons learned:
Do not substitute Oreos for saltines when taking your meds LOL pretzels are on ok substitute.
Elevate does not equal even. Read the article in elevating and follow the directions get your heal above your hip if you want to reduce the swelling.
Don't try to wonder off without your walking aids it is too soon.
Milestone today I have my release to work part time from home starting tomorrow. I do IT computer work so no heavy lifting, just have to be able to think clearly for about 4 hours during the day and not all at once. Wish me luck.
Hope everyone is doing well here in recovery land and to those of you still waiting stay strong journey on. It is still worth it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post op day 5&6
Day 5 was rough lots of pain and nausea. I think I got the pain meds sorted. My sister brought me chicken broth and helped me get a shower so the day ended well. She and my husband convinced me to try sleeping in the bed and that seemed to help.
Today has been better. The pain is different in that it is more sore muscle pain and less bruise/nerve pain. I have regained more feeling on my outer thigh for better or worse. The numbness is receding as is some of the swelling. It appears more leg like and less over cooked hotdog.
Lessons learned:
Do not substitute Oreos for saltines when taking your meds LOL pretzels are on ok substitute.
Elevate does not equal even. Read the article in elevating and follow the directions get your heal above your hip if you want to reduce the swelling.
Don't try to wonder off without your walking aids it is too soon.
Milestone today I have my release to work part time from home starting tomorrow. I do IT computer work so no heavy lifting, just have to be able to think clearly for about 4 hours during the day and not all at once. Wish me luck.
Hope everyone is doing well here in recovery land and to those of you still waiting stay strong journey on. It is still worth it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Cynthia777
big-cheese
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2015
- Messages
- 4,266
- Age
- 72
- Location
- Quartz Hill, California
- Gender
- Female
- Country
- United States
@MommaCatt
You are too funny (substituting Oreos for saltines)!
Week one is a rough one, but things start looking up sometime during week two and three. Definitely do not get rid of your walking aids too soon (especially if you're limping...don't want your brain to memorize the limp).
As far as how your concentration will be so soon after surgery, well,
(need I say more?). I still can't think clearly and I'm almost 90 days post-op)! However, you're a youngun, so maybe the "brain fog" won't affect you as much. You sound great!
You are too funny (substituting Oreos for saltines)!
Week one is a rough one, but things start looking up sometime during week two and three. Definitely do not get rid of your walking aids too soon (especially if you're limping...don't want your brain to memorize the limp).
As far as how your concentration will be so soon after surgery, well,
(need I say more?). I still can't think clearly and I'm almost 90 days post-op)! However, you're a youngun, so maybe the "brain fog" won't affect you as much. You sound great! 
Wrknitout
member
Hi @MommaCatt thanks for sharing these early days of your recovery with us. I find it to be very encouraging. I also appreciate the tips....I too would have thought Oreos would make a fine substitute for saltines to take your medicine with . Seriously though thank you for the advice on reading the article about elevating your leg I am going to find it and make sure I read it. I will be having my pre surgical checkup tomorrow. Hopefully all will be well and I will keep moving along and join you on the other side in a couple of weeks. Wishing you the best in the days to come.
@Cynthia777 Thank you for the comment you made about not walking without the aids if you are still limping. That sounds like good advice and a good reminder to work diligently on repairing my gait after surgery.
@Cynthia777 Thank you for the comment you made about not walking without the aids if you are still limping. That sounds like good advice and a good reminder to work diligently on repairing my gait after surgery.
Tweetybrd
graduate
@MommaCatt So glad everything is going well for you! I have been reading every update and hopefully will remember all the great tips. I too am heading to look for the article about elevating your leg. lol
Good luck on working from home. Hang in there!
Good luck on working from home. Hang in there!
belweav
member
@MommaCatt what lessons we learn on this journey. My main lesson has been if tummy feels nauseous, the don't ignore it. Because lunch came out the way it went in.
I'm so glad to hear you are doing well and can start part time work.
I'm so glad to hear you are doing well and can start part time work.
OP
OP
MommaCatt
junior member
Day 30 Post Op
Sorry about the lack of updates was busy recovering and fighting the post op blues.
Yesterday was my Post op appointment, everything went well. Was told to wait another two months before returning to "normal" impact activities like jogging, golfing, skating or anything that increased a fall risk. So I guess Motorcycle riding will still have to wait...
I got my before and after x-rays. Next appointment is in 11 months for another x-ray, then once every 5 years, unless there is a problem.
So glad to be done with doctor visits, I have never been much on going to them anyway.
Lets see last update was post op day 5-6, so much has happened since then. I was not allowed to work from home on Week 2 it was a blessing in disguise because I really wasn't ready, as you all knew I wouldn't be....
Week 2 was pretty rough it started out with me being a sobbing mes and I am not a crying person, so my awesome husband was not sure what to do with that. He did very well once he regained his composure after waking up to me sobbing my eyes out. He took me out to eat and for a short visit to see the grandmonsters. The littlest one was all about seeing my "big owie". Little things make a big difference.
Day 2 week 2 was off to a better start with a trip to the grocery store, then lots of napping, ice, elevation. You all know the drill.
Day 4 week 2 I manged to do laundry and my sister took me to the local mall for a walk. It took 2 hours to make the loop that we normal make in a 1/4 of that time, but I made it.
Day 5 week 2 Slept most of the day. Took my last half of percocet, just extra strength Tylenol from this point on.
Last day of week 2 I drove the car! only 3 miles, but Yea!!
Day 1 week 3 I returned to the office for work.
Day 4 week 3 we had the grandmonsters over night for back to school shopping, I took a 4 hour nap after taking them home.
Weeks 3 and 4 I worked 3 day each week, this week I will make all 5. I have spent about 2 hours each night after work in my recliner with my ice packs. I am also taking refillable ice packs to work and am able to elevate some during the day.
Over all recovery is going well. I still have muscle soreness and extreme tiredness as expected. The outer thigh still has some numbness, mixed with nerve/muscle pain that requires massage with a frozen water bottle from time to time, but really happy with the progress.
Please Note: My recovery is mine and mine alone it is not standard, even the doc said I was an over-achiever. I pushed really hard and should have taken more time before returning to work. If I ever have another THR I will take more time off to recover.
This may be my final update.
Good luck to all who are still riding the roller coaster, it does get better, the ride smooths out after a few weeks.
Sorry about the lack of updates was busy recovering and fighting the post op blues.Yesterday was my Post op appointment, everything went well. Was told to wait another two months before returning to "normal" impact activities like jogging, golfing, skating or anything that increased a fall risk. So I guess Motorcycle riding will still have to wait...
I got my before and after x-rays. Next appointment is in 11 months for another x-ray, then once every 5 years, unless there is a problem.So glad to be done with doctor visits, I have never been much on going to them anyway.
Lets see last update was post op day 5-6, so much has happened since then. I was not allowed to work from home on Week 2 it was a blessing in disguise because I really wasn't ready, as you all knew I wouldn't be....
Week 2 was pretty rough it started out with me being a sobbing mes and I am not a crying person, so my awesome husband was not sure what to do with that. He did very well once he regained his composure after waking up to me sobbing my eyes out. He took me out to eat and for a short visit to see the grandmonsters. The littlest one was all about seeing my "big owie". Little things make a big difference.
Day 2 week 2 was off to a better start with a trip to the grocery store, then lots of napping, ice, elevation. You all know the drill.
Day 4 week 2 I manged to do laundry and my sister took me to the local mall for a walk. It took 2 hours to make the loop that we normal make in a 1/4 of that time, but I made it.
Day 5 week 2 Slept most of the day. Took my last half of percocet, just extra strength Tylenol from this point on.
Last day of week 2 I drove the car! only 3 miles, but Yea!!
Day 1 week 3 I returned to the office for work.
Day 4 week 3 we had the grandmonsters over night for back to school shopping, I took a 4 hour nap after taking them home.
Weeks 3 and 4 I worked 3 day each week, this week I will make all 5. I have spent about 2 hours each night after work in my recliner with my ice packs. I am also taking refillable ice packs to work and am able to elevate some during the day.
Over all recovery is going well. I still have muscle soreness and extreme tiredness as expected. The outer thigh still has some numbness, mixed with nerve/muscle pain that requires massage with a frozen water bottle from time to time, but really happy with the progress.
Please Note: My recovery is mine and mine alone it is not standard, even the doc said I was an over-achiever. I pushed really hard and should have taken more time before returning to work. If I ever have another THR I will take more time off to recover.
This may be my final update.
Good luck to all who are still riding the roller coaster, it does get better, the ride smooths out after a few weeks.
Last edited by a moderator:
OP
OP
MommaCatt
junior member
Before and after x-ray.
![[Bonesmart.org] Ready, Set, Recover MommaCatt](https://bonesmart.org/forum/attachments/auploads-tapatalk_cdn-com_20160811_a6059b73f869d8db27b2e075cb32a943-jpg.52824/ "[Bonesmart.org] Ready, Set, Recover MommaCatt")
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
belweav
member
Congratulations on your recovery. My doctor gave me the choice of when to return to work and I go back early in September, 8 weeks after Surgery. I agree too soon is too soon and I'm hoping I made the right choice.
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