THR Review after 1 year - is it necessary?

[Fiona444]

@mikeycat I too was hoping for a hairless menopause. Alas, it was not to be

@Barbaraj that is fantastic that you did your 4 laps! Very impressed. Who cares about dignity, I think we all lost that a few weeks ago

@Layla and @linette333 thank you both for noticing my avatar. That is such a special picture to me as it was taken 2 weeks post op and was my first walk around the reservoir. I can still feel that buzz of excitement that I was able to complete it and my hubs was so very proud. Wonderful moment

Another 4.5 miles done this morning which was lovely. The weather was gorgeous and less slippy than Wednesday. It was also the first time I did a long walk with no codeine on board and you know what? It was fine. I took a couple of paracetamol this morning just for the usual morning ache and although I was aware of my hip, there was no pain. I think I carried on taking the codeine a bit longer than I needed to really and as it was so darn hard to come by I was going to finish it Now I have run out so that is that. Now I am going to take my other pooch for a little wander around the village. I never take them both out together when I am on my own as they are both big dogs and prefer to have total control which is much easier with just one. They are both very good though and their recall is spot on but you never know about other people's dogs and I do not want to risk any accidents or problems. They love a bit of one on one time as welll and neither of them mind being left behind when it is the others turn for a longer ramble

 

[Barbaraj]

Good grief, @Fiona444 4.5 miles?!! I feel like a total piker with my four slow circuits of the park followed by doddering collapse into the car! You are really doing fabulously, and to do that walk without any medication needed, extra points for that! I am slowly weaning off the medication as well, although still need an evening dose to help me get to sleep. I feel as if I can manage pretty well during the day but I absolutely need to try to get as much sleep as I can. I am doing better in that regard, last couple of nights I've not woken up to pee which is great--I feel so much more rested in the morning. Anyway, have a great day--and love that victorious pose in your new avatar--bully for you! You're stronger and more confident every day!

 

[Layla]

Happy Friday @Fiona444
Your avatar photo reminds me of another from a couple Summers ago. It was (gaulsuerou) and she did that same pose in the street by her house. Victory!

You're doing so well on your walks, it's impressive. And none the worse for wear it seems. I hope you're still feeling well after walking your second furry friend this afternoon.
Enjoy the evening!

 

[Elf1]

@Fiona444, you and @Barbaraj are making me feel like a slacker! You two are seriously logging some miles!

Wish it weren't so hot here so I could wander around the neighborhood of something. Can't drive yet or I would go to the mall and walk or go to the gym since we're paying for a membership. Will have to ask the PT on Monday if I can use the exercise bike at the gym in between visits with here.

Oh, and love your new avatar!

You're both doing great!

 

[julesglass]

The look of triumph on your face. Just like Rocky!!!

 

[Fiona444]

@Barbaraj I absolutely do not blame you for prioritising the sleep. If I was given decent meds that helped I would totally be taking them to get a few consecutive hours. My sleep is pretty rubbish and am just grabbing it where I can. I feel grateful that I am able to do that.

@Layla I truly do feel victorious, thank you. My walk with other pooch took my mileage up to 6.5 miles yesterday and I think that was too much. Although no hurting I was EXHAUSTED. So today it is do nothing much day and I am only just out of bed at midday

@Elf1 you are certainly not a slacker, nothing about this recovery is easy and just being in the game shows what a tough cookie you are. I get the heat putting off exercise outside. We had a few days when it was almost 40 degrees and it was AWFUL. Never went out at all then.

@julesglass that is funny. I felt like Rocky at the top of the steps

 

[Mojo333]

So good to catch up and see you doing so well.
I know that hip is ready to go but the rest of it..
The soft tissue. Muscle . Tendons, etc...most likely dont need such long walks quite yet.
Not even one month out yet my new hippy pal.
Dont want to see you suffer a setback from tendonitis or other ODIC ailments.
Hope you take the weekend to just chill.
Continued best wishes for good healing.

 

[Fiona444]

So good to catch up and see you doing so well.
I know that hip is ready to go but the rest of it..
The soft tissue. Muscle . Tendons, etc...most likely dont need such long walks quite yet.
Not even one month out yet my new hippy pal.
Dont want to see you suffer a setback from tendonitis or other ODIC ailments.
Hope you take the weekend to just chill.
Continued best wishes for good healing.

That is a very good point @Mojo333 re the muscles and tendons. I absolutely dont want any issues. How do i know when it is too much? I guess because i was walking 10 miles up to the day before op it really doesnt seem too much. I am exhausted today but really dont feel any aches in my muscles at all. I am chilling today though got my feet up and watching Downton Abbey whilst hubs does chores

I hope you are having a lovely weekend

 

[Barbaraj]

Well, you continue to amaze us all, @Fiona444, with logging that kind of mileage so early in the game! But if you were walking 10 miles before surgery, it's no wonder that your muscle memory is kicking back in and you are out there trudging along. I went to a local mall yesterday with my husband, to get a bit of walking in (the circular track was getting a bit dull) and after about 45 minutes of strolling about I was totally exhausted. But I was never a huge walker before hip nonsense, preferring equipment to get my cardio at the gym. Have a great weekend, and glad to read you were relaxing yesterday and allowing your husband to do chore duty.

 

[Layla]

That's a lot of walking @Fiona444
I'm wondering when you mention walking 10 miles per day up until surgery if that was broken up into multiple walks per day? At not even a month post op 4.5 seems excessive and 6.5 feels like you're flirting with the ODIC.

When we're feeling good it's easy to forget we're injured and our body is trying to heal. Your body will use energy first for healing, not leaving a great reserve for all else. That's why you're so exhausted. I think you need to slowly build back up to the distance of your walks prior to surgery. Slowly as in over weeks and months, not days. You're doing so well I'd hate to see you get sidelined, or develop any type of chronic pain issues from overdoing it too soon. Please ponder all as you're resting today.
Hugs and best wishes for a great weekend!

 

[Fiona444]

Hi @Barbaraj an @Layla walking can be dull i agree. It is great that you have a couple of options to get your steps in though. My motivation is getting out with the dogs as my most favourite thing in the world is getting out in nature with them and enjoying their company. I am lucky as they are happy with a long walk or chilling at home. I guess because i heard that walking was the best exercise and could do as much as I felt like i assumed as long as I wasn’t pushing it e.g hill walking or extreme distances that made muscles scream it would be ok.

Anyhow i will take the advice i have been given and dial it down a little as i do not want to risk tendon issues or any muscle problems. I am starting work from home next week so that will keep me out of mischief somewhat

Hope you both have a lovely peaceful day

 

[Mojo333]

Don't mean to be a Nervous Nellie.
Just want all to continue this recovery with no major hiccups.

Hope your Sunday is Sweet.

 

[Fiona444]

Don't mean to be a Nervous Nellie.
Just want all to continue this recovery with no major hiccups.

Hope your Sunday is Sweet.

Thank you Mojo! It is hard to balance the what I can do to what I should do. But I will keep with the positive mindset. I am really worried about post op blues as I have suffered from depression before and it is horrible. My happy pill is getting outside so as long as I can do that I will be ok. I was so worried that I would be disabled for much longer than it appears to be and that worry has not transpired so all good. My hubs continually monitors my gait and loves nothing more than giving me a running commentary It is lovely really BUT

Question, does ODIC come on suddenly or do we get some warning niggles?

 

[Barbaraj]

Well, @Fiona444, I think you are smart to understand that walking is not only good for you physically, strengthening up that musculature around the hip, but that walking also provides significant mental health benefits: fresh air, pooches, and doing something you love. What a mood booster for you! I am not sure there is some huge, flashing sign that occurs when we're overdoing things as I've always found that in the moment I just get caught up in what I'm doing and it's only after the fact that I think, "Oops, that was stupid". But, I also think it's normal to have times when you'll overdo things, we all do and we all recover. Continuing to walk seems like something you should be doing, but remembering not to increase the mileage or speed too fast. I think having been an avid walker before surgery, it will probably come back a lot easier for you than it would for those who were less able to be active before surgery. So, try to be sensible (whatever the heck that means!) but also do what you love and get out there!

 

[Layla]

I don't think walking is dull @Fiona444 and it's great exercise. It's always been my "go to".
And while it is recomended as the best exercise as noted in the BIG TIP, it reminds us at the very end, "not to excess."

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

What may be excessive to one, might not be excessive to another. It's best to start out easy and slowly build from there. Since you find being out with your dogs so enjoyable, wondering if there is a park within a safe walking distance that you could walk to allowing your dog to run a bit as you rest in between? I'm sure you'll figure it out, just listen to your body, taking its cues.
Happy Sunday!

 

[CricketHip]

Hi Fiona, I am catching up on your thread and oh my goodness! Look at you go! Love your avatar picture, you are too cute and with the victory pose, no less.
You have come a far way from a few short weeks ago when you were scrimping along with too little pain meds.
I'm happy to read about your long distance walking and am also glad you are heeding the advice to be a wee bit more careful.
You are doing great!

 

[CricketHip]

I forgot to answer your question about the signs of ODIC- in my case it comes on rather suddenly. One minute you are happy and tra-la-la-ing along and next you are sad-facing it on the couch with icepacks.
I think Mojo333 has commented on this several times, and I so agree--it sure would help if you felt it and could take heed and stop what you are doing but it seems to come on with a delayed onset.
but as of now your main sign is exhaustion.. just pull back a bit and you will avoid that sad-faced couch/ice surfing..
Congrats on your recovery so far! You are doing very well!!

 

[Fiona444]

Well, @Fiona444, I think you are smart to understand that walking is not only good for you physically, strengthening up that musculature around the hip, but that walking also provides significant mental health benefits: fresh air, pooches, and doing something you love. What a mood booster for you! I am not sure there is some huge, flashing sign that occurs when we're overdoing things as I've always found that in the moment I just get caught up in what I'm doing and it's only after the fact that I think, "Oops, that was stupid". But, I also think it's normal to have times when you'll overdo things, we all do and we all recover. Continuing to walk seems like something you should be doing, but remembering not to increase the mileage or speed too fast. I think having been an avid walker before surgery, it will probably come back a lot easier for you than it would for those who were less able to be active before surgery. So, try to be sensible (whatever the heck that means!) but also do what you love and get out there!

I love your post @Barbaraj so true. I think i joined the odic once around week 1 and i had no idea that i had done anything wrong until the next day and then I could have cried with disappointment. But the following day all was good. I am walking slowly and carefully looking at where i am placing my feet. Today my hubs is at work so cannot give me a lift which means no cross country rambles and i will have to content myself with an amble round the village. No big miles for me today

 

[Fiona444]

I don't think walking is dull @Fiona444 and it's great exercise. It's always been my "go to".
And while it is recomended as the best exercise as noted in the BIG TIP, it reminds us at the very end, "not to excess."

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

What may be excessive to one, might not be excessive to another. It's best to start out easy and slowly build from there. Since you find being out with your dogs so enjoyable, wondering if there is a park within a safe walking distance that you could walk to allowing your dog to run a bit as you rest in between? I'm sure you'll figure it out, just listen to your body, taking its cues.
Happy Sunday!

Hi Layla thank you. Yes we do have a park nearby and thats what i will be doing today. I am mindful of the big tip as well. My view pre surgery was to do very little to begin but I quickly found that walking loosened me up and made me feel better so figured that surely must be a good thing. I really am taking care not to strain anything. The day I walked 6.5 miles was over 3 walks and did leave me tired so agree that was too much. 2 walks with the dogs and one to the shop for provisions so i think i broke big tip rules then . I love all the support and advice from here and i keep saying it but what on earth would people do without Bonesmart !

 

[Fiona444]

Oh @CricketHip i had almost forgotten those early days with inadequate pain relief ! So awful and questioning what i had done!
I agree ODIC is probably a bit like overdoing a workout and not knowing until the next day. However with a workout it is just pulled muscles and probably less damaging than pulling already damaged and cut muscles.

I am very very grateful how my recovery is going and realise that i am lucky. Most of all I don’t what to set myself back. So will listen and learn from those more experienced than me.