Rider1960, Dorothy, back home finally!!!! (the long version!)

[rider1960]

I still can't sit upright in a regular chair for very long before I get sore (it aggravates a muscle, which in turn makes the nerves go nuts), so I haven't been able to spend a lot of time on the computer. Definitely will get a laptop as soon as I have some extra money. Then you won't be able to get rid of me! ha ha!!

I'm continuing to improve, and in general feel really great. I just walked out to my horses and spent about 20 minutes out there standing and walking around petting them through the fence and playing ball with my dogs using my walker. I use a cane for short walks but I feel I need my walker for better stability for walker distances, especially when I'm by myself. There is no good place to sit out there, so I have to stand the whole time. Walker is safer even though it's more clunky to move around the uneven ground.

It's a beautiful sunny day here with no snow or ice on the ground, so it's ideal for getting out and about!!! So unusual for early February in upstate NY. I feel extremely blessed and grateful for the weather we've had during my surgery and recovery period so far.

I've been able to back off on my oxycodone a lot and am taking ibuprofen between oxycodone doses. Seems to hold me quite well. The biggest problem with my recovery pain continues to be occasional muscle spasms that press on nerves. If it weren't for that, I would hardly have any pain at all. The joint itself feels wonderful and the movement is so fluid and gliding that it almost makes me cry with happiness when I think about how great it feels now compared to pre-surgery. This surgery is nothing short of a miracle!

The home care PT visited yesterday for the first time and she added a couple of exercises to my regimen I had already learned at the hospital and rehab, but in general, she thinks I'm doing really well and they gave me good exercises and advice so far. My insurance will probably only approve a couple of weeks of home visits, and I live far enough away from PT offices, so I don't think I'm going to go for outpatient PT after home care stops. We discussed that, and she thinks I will do fine with the rest of the rehab on my own--using the exercises all the PTs have given me and increasing my walking. She says she has many patients that don't continue with formal outpatient PT after she discharges them and they do fine. The PT at the rehab kind of alluded to the same thing while I was there, although it was too early to make that kind of determination at that point.

I do plan to have my other hip done during 2012. I think I'll follow the same plan with the rehab after the hospital at the same facility where I went for rehab. It was a great bridge from the hospital to home and I had a good experience where I went. By the time I got home, I was pretty much good to go independently and was feeling pretty strong and rested.

I sit here and still can't believe that I just walked quite a ways out to see my horses, stood a lot, walked around a bit playing ball with the dogs, and then walked back to the house ... drum roll ... and I don't have any additional soreness. Gosh, before surgery, that would have sent me flying for the Percocet and my recliner for the rest of the evening! Hip replacements are a wonderful thing!!!!

Unfortunately my butt and leg still complain about sitting in the chair at the computer, so my computer time is very limited. I'm not able to spend time reading other threads--which is the only sad part of my recovery so far ... I miss all the social interactions with my new friends here.

I wish all of you recovering the very best, and my support to those of you waiting for your surgery--believe that things will only get better!! Hang in there until you can get your surgery done; it's worth the wait!!!

Also, a little note about obese people having successful hip replacements. You guys may remember that I'm a "big girl". I've done very well, despite being obese, so those doctors and insurance plans who refuse to proceed with a hip replacement on obese people are SO wrong. I've been told repeatedly that I'm doing "you are doing so great!" (great in general, not "great for a fat girl" lol) and I've seen it with my own eyes during my group physical therapy sessions at the hospital and rehab--extra body fat doesn't mean the hip replacement will have problems and it is SO wrong that dr's and insurances are preventing people from having this done and making them live in pain. Just thought I'd add that just for general info.

Love you all!

Dorothy

 

[Z15]

Dorothy,

So glad that you can visit your horses in less pain than before. I don't know you, but the fact that you can see them still makes me happy. As you may be able to tell, I'm a sucker for this wonderful bond that we can have with animals.

It sounds crazy, but even when I am feeling less than chipper, I try to put on a happy face (or voice) with my pets. I figure they don't know WHAT is wrong or that I have this major surgery on my backside...so I don't want them thinking they did any thing wrong..because, they didn't.

I'll keep rooting for no snow for the Northeast so we can continue to get outside and enjoy the fresh air!!

Z

 

[rider1960]

Z--I am totally with you about the animal-human bond thing. I also smile and talk happy to my dogs even when I'm not feeling my best! I never want them to worry about me, which they will if they see or feel that I'm not feeling well. One of my dogs, Lucy, is one of those worry-wart, control freak dogs who has been turning herself inside out to help me ever since I got home. If I didn't behave like everything was OK, she would probably worry herself into an ulcer! I call her Nurse Lucy.

A group of friends came to visit yesterday and one of them, unfortunately, has terminal cancer and is getting weaker, and Lucy insisted on "helping" her with bathroom trips and things like that and offering her support. She frequently crawled up the side of the recliner where Pat was sitting and whimpered in her ear--like "Don't worry, Lucy is here to help you." You can't beat that wonderful dog love!!!

Other than my continued butt and leg pain while sitting in my computer chair, I'm doing very well. I switch back and forth between the walker and a cane around the house but walking without anything causes me to limp significantly, so I try to be good and use something when I move around. I've been able to do my own housework (no heavy lifting, of course)--cleaning, dishes, laundry, etc since I arrived home, with the exception of cleaning the cat litter boxes--just can't bend over that far right now.

I had my 2 week follow up MD appointment on Friday last week and the x-ray showed everything is in place, the incision looks great, and all that good stuff. I was pleased with that. The surgeon was away at a conference and the NP I saw recommended holding off on driving for a couple more weeks, but I'm pretty sure I can get my surgeon's blessing to do short drives when the he returns on Monday. She told me to call him then to ask him directly. He's very liberal about some things, but very particular and strict about others, so I think they refer back to him unless they know for sure where he stands on something. It was the first time she had seen me--he knows me well, so I'm sure he will know that I will use good judgment with the hip precautions not driving under the influence of narcotic pain meds. Being able to run a quick errand or go for a ride around the country side when I want to get out of the house and no one is available to drive me will be so nice.

I even walked out to the barn a couple of nights ago to help my horse caregivers put on my horse's winter blankets because they aren't familiar with putting on blankets and we are now in a cold snap and I thought the horses needed a little extra protection--our fall and winter had been so mild that they didn't grow that much coat. It must have looked funny seeing me walking around the horses adjusting the blankets with my walker in tow. I know it made Lisa, the primary horse caregiver, really nervous, worrying that they might knock into me and cause a problem but the horses were well behaved and stood like they usually do when I do their blankets. I wouldn't do that by myself, but I felt comfortable doing it with someone there with me. Then I walked around the stalls to check how the quantity of loose salt in their buckets were holding up, checking for any cracks in the water buckets, any other routine things I like to check around the barn ... just typical stuff I would normally do but, of course, haven't been able to do so in a while.

It was SO great to be able to do some "normal" horse care things and not feel like I wanted to die from hip pain while I was doing it, as I used to before the replacement. When I compare how the hip joint feels now to what I remember it feeling like before, I can't even believe I was able to keep going and taking care of the horses for as long as I did!

I feel stronger and better every day ... well except for maybe the days I do too much (don't we all have those days!), but I just rest more the following day and everything is fine again. And, while I was at the doctor's office, the nurse took me back to the x-ray room and I could actually keep up with her!!!!! Before, I always hobbled along with my cane, apologizing for walking at the speed of a snail!

WWWOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOO!

Dorothy

 

[kiwi_canuck]

Wow, Dorothy, you're doing great. It is so fulfilling to be able to do some "normal" things, isn't it? After 2 weeks, I'm back on light kitchen duties, and actually enjoy the chance to stand for 5-10 minutes at the kitchen sink. Great opportunity to side step along the counter when needing things out of the cupboards.

I was touched by your story about Pat & Lucy. I don't know how animals know when you're sick, but they certainly do have that intuition. It's beautiful to see.

Keep getting better, and before you know it, you'll be back in the saddle
~Phillippa

 

[Horsey girl]

Hi Dorothy
I am so glad you are doing so well and are even able to go out and see your horses. Keep up the good work but don't overdo it. Rest is so important in the early days of recovery.
I was not allowed to drive until I was off the heavy meds. Every surgeon is different. Am going outpatient PT now. It is my second time tomorrow. Don't think I will go to many times. Am going to the health club to ride the bike there whenever I am in town. Am still using one crutch as I limp without it. Hopefully I will be able to put all my weight onto the operated leg soon.
I agree with you completely. The bond between our animals and us is so wonderful to have. I am able to feed my horses now again. Tried to clean my arab's feet this morning by stretching the left leg far behind me. Didn't work to well. I hope to have the 90 degree rule lifited this Thursday at my six week apointment.
Hope you keep recovering nicely. My sitting bone was hurting for quite a while too when trying to sit by the computer. It will get better.
Take care
Bea

 

[djklaugh]

Excellent report, Dorothy! I'm thrilled to hear you are able to get out and be with your horses and play with your dogs again! I'm sure they are the best motivators in the world as well as the best rewards too. Love your "Nurse Lucy" description - I've read that some dogs can even diagnose some illnesses and they do train dogs to help not only the blind but also people with seizure disorders and other medical problems. Plus there are wonderful therapy dogs who bring such joy to patients in hospitals and nursing homes.

The "sore sit upon" issue will get better! Took me about 5-6 weeks before I could sit any length of time - having a really good thick, soft, squashy cushion on my computer chair helps too.

 

[redbedhead]

I am so glad you are doing well Dorothy! I hope you have been out to see Babe by now, but remember to take it easy and walk carefully in the slippery mud.

Isn't it wonderful how the Arthritis pain dissapears and it is just the Surgery pain you have to deal with!

Keep us posted on your recovery!

 

[rider1960]

Hi everyone, thanks for the well wishes and support!

I still can't sit in my hard chair (even with a pillow) for a long time, so I'm still not able to surf around threads very much, which makes me sad because I want to support everyone the same way that I was supported before my surgery and cheer on those who are recovering. But, oh well.

Still improving. I'm still using my walker most of the time and using a cane here and there. I just pretty much fly along with the walker in front of me. I don't seem to need to put much weight on it, but it is amazing how it makes my gait normal and I'm able to glide right along vs. how limpy and awkward my gait is without it. The gait is pretty normal with the cane, but I can't maintain it for very long before it gets gimpy. In addition to having muscles cut, I have to remember that the muscles were incredibly weak prior to surgery. I had quite a bit of visible muscle atrophy in that leg--that's how bad things were getting. So, I guess it will take longer than I expected to strengthen the leg.

Another thing I've discovered is that my formerly "good" leg (right) feels significantly worse now than my surgical leg! I used to depend on that right leg and I think the pain in the left was so bad that I never had a chance to notice how much the right one was failing. It's wonderful to be able to walk along, do my household chores, or whatever I do with just a little muscle soreness here and there in the new hip leg ... but the other side starts complaining in the joint. Replacing that one won't be far behind.

I have a follow up appointment (6 wk) with the surgeon mid March, so I'm going to talk with him about scheduling the other hip during 2012. I want to make sure my recently replaced hip and leg are super strong before I do it and it's not like I'm in horrible pain on the right like I was with the left hip before surgery. But I definitely don't plan to wait around for the other to get really bad. And, I want to have it done during the good weather so I'm not having to wrestle with winter horse care like I did for the current hip.

I still can't believe how good the replaced hip joint feels--glides along so nicely. I still get some swelling and soreness here and there--the worst time is first thing in the morning and towards evening ... and when I'm sitting in this chair at the computer. I still need my oxycodone but less frequently. I know things will just keep improving with time and continuing my exercises and walking.

I can tell a definite improvement with how I'm able to do my hip exercises. Something that was difficult last week is easy this week ... that kind of thing.

I tell everyone who is suffering with chronic hip pain to get it replaced!!! Surgical pain goes away ... the arthritis pain doesn't and wears a person down like nothing I have ever experienced in my life.

For me, the hip replacement surgery hasn't been a piece of cake like some stories I've read on the board--I read about many people not having much post op pain--I had significant post op pain, but really it was what I expected after having a hip replacement done. I did well and have been told by everyone who has worked with me along the way that I'm doing very well, but I'm going to be honest and say that I definitely had significant post op pain--moving that leg the first week or so after surgery (particularly when getting in and out of bed) was difficult, and I had a lot of muscle spasms that put pressure on nerves that bothered me for the first week and a half or so, but it was all doable and "deal-able" with my pain meds and muscle relaxants.

I think my biggest frustration with this whole process has been just plain old boredom and the changes associated with having limitations while things are healing. I'm a go-go-go kind of person and it would be hard for me to be slowed down with any kind of injury or surgery, so having to be sidelined for a bit due to a hip replacement is no different than anything else--it's really frustration and irritating at times.

Again ... At least things are getting *better* now ... the arthritis pain and limitations because of that were only getting worse and I HATED that more than anything I've experienced with the surgery.

I am so grateful that we have the technology and surgeons who can restore our mobility. I'm still in awe at how I went from being a near cripple to being able to move again!!! A huge lesson I've learned from this is to never take mobility for granted. It's so precious.

Dorothy

 

[Jen]

Dorothy it is so great to see (read) how upbeat you are. I remember how the pain was getting to you pre-op so to read that you're up and about and able to care for your animals is just wonderful.

 

[Josephine]

It's wonderful to be able to walk along, do my household chores

Not at 2 weeks, Dorothy!

You should only be resting and recuperating yet. Progression of activity for THRs

I still need my oxycodone but less frequently.

Again, don't do without it too quickly. You don't want to be playing catch-up with pain! Pain management and the pain chart

I think my biggest frustration with this whole process has been just plain old boredom --it's really frustration and irritating at times.

Indeed. Everyone feels that - it's really the pits, isn't it?

I still can't sit in my hard chair (even with a pillow) for a long time, so I'm still not able to surf around threads very much, which makes me sad because I want to support everyone the same way that I was supported before my surgery and cheer on those who are recovering. But, oh well.

You will get your chance. don't be in too much of a hurry. You have a long way to go yet. Only two weeks out yet y'know! :wink1:

 

[Jamie]

Dorothy, I'm so happy to read how well you're doing. Patience, though.....you need to pace yourself and not get too eager to be "normal" again.

 

[rider1960]

I was waiting for Jo to step in and scold me, lol! It's great to have a mother hen looking after me, thanks wonderful, protective Jo!

Don't worry, I'm not doing more than I feel I can do safely. So far I've only had a couple of days that I did more than I probably should have--and even those days were just a minor set back. I really do feel pretty good and seem to be able to do quite a bit ... except for sitting upright in chairs for more than just very short periods of time!

My home PT said I'm doing great with the exercises and there really isn't anything new she can show me, so she's going to make just one more visit next week and then probably discharge me. We discussed outpatient, and I don't think I'm going to do it. There really isn't anything more they can do that she hasn't already done for me, and I'm pretty self motivated, so I'll keep up with everything. If this changes and I think I need outpatient PT, I'll certainly do it, but my gut (and home PT) thinks I'll do fine. She said many of her hip patients don't go for outpatient PT after she is done with them. The only addition she is suggesting is some steady walking ... not a marathon ... just some steady walking that is difficult to do in my house. Sidewalks have some snow and ice and aren't smooth enough for a walker either ... so ...

There is a church a few miles away with a gym with a nice smooth cement floor and they are open for a couple of hours mornings M-Th for walkers. I got the OK from my doctor to drive there--I have an SUV that is the perfect height for in and out without breaking hip precautions, automatic shift, etc. So, I went there this morning for the first time and walked for probably about a half mile all together with a couple of rest periods. It felt good to get out. I used my walker. I'm going to take my cane tomorrow and intersperse some cane walking with the walker walking (again, on the advice of the PT--she thinks I'm walking well with the cane and I can do more of that now). I'm being very careful with my activities; I just really feel like I can do more, and if I can ... why not do so. It just feels so good to have that hip actually move smoothly

I also walked out to see my horses today and played ball with the dogs in the yard, which they were very happy about--I use a "chuck it" ball thrower and pretty much just stand around or walk around a little tossing the ball for a game of fetch--nothing major. I did some of my standing hip exercises while playing ball. The new hip really does feel very stable, and it works and feels pretty well! Weaker and a little sore from time to time, but it seems to improve in leaps and bounds!

I found a gel-foam combo seat cushion on ebay for $25 and ordered that. I'm hoping that it will make sitting in regular chairs feel better on my butt and leg. I can't be on the computer for very long, and I've had a couple of invites for "out to lunch" that I haven't been able to take advantage of. It's a pain (literally!! ha ha!) because most of the seating at restaurants has hard, straight back type chairs. If this cushion makes sitting easier, then I can be on the computer more (you won't be able to get rid of me, ha ha) AND I can go out more.

Again, I appreciate all the support and advice here--what a great board!!!!!!!!! Love to all!

Dorothy

 

[Z15]

Dorothy,

Glad to here you're getting around so well! I'm at 6 weeks and my new hip can certainly get more sore than the other, and tire faster too, but that seems like the way it goes. My hope is that by the time I hit the six month mark that those 2 phenomenon will be GONE or negligible...

Here's hoping.... :yes 4:

Z

 

[Horsey girl]

Hi Dorothy
I am so happy for you that you are doing so well. I also still have some pain when sitting but it is getting better. I have pillows on all my chairs that I use which really helps. It is great that your arthritis pain is gone. I agree with you, don't wait too long to have the other side done.
Now it comes down to be patient and let the healing take place.
You are doing great.
Bea

 

[rider1960]

Oh Boy ... I went from having tons of energy to having NONE! I must have been running on adrenaline until now ...

I've been feeling really great since I got home and have been doing a lot of things. Yesterday was my busiest day yet--I got up, spent about half an hour doing my hip exercises with lots of gusto (hey, it's been 3 weeks, I can do it!), then ventured out on my own driving to a town a few miles away where I walked around the pharmacy and grocery stores and bought a few things, which took about an hour. Just used my cane and thought I was doing OK. Then walked out to see my horses twice and spent some time petting and talking with them, gave them a little extra hay, and played ball with my dogs--total with the dogs and horses about another hour and a half walking and standing on my feet with my cane. Then did 3 loads of laundry. Then designed and made two necklaces for gifts for my horse caregivers, which meant going through boxes and bags of beads and jewelry supplies and trying various combos to get just the right look--another 2-3 hours or so until they were finished. ... ... and then it hit me BOOM ... ... I just felt like I couldn't walk another step. Hardly able to keep my eyes open. Fatigue hit me like a ton of brick!

It's like my energy was sapped in one fell swoop. Today has been one big fatigue blur. I'm even tired typing this! My ex came over and vacuumed, did some horse chores, entertained the dogs, and waited on me some--"Why did you push yourself so much!"

I'm disappointed with the back slide, but at the same time I guess I should have seen this coming. Jo and others here have warned me ... but I felt so good that I didn't see the need to change anything and just kept pushing and pushing ahead. Sorry I did it now ... I haven't felt this tired since the immediate post op hospital days and I'm sure it's going to take at least a couple of days to recover and get back to baseline.

I did almost nothing today but sleep and rest. That's my plan for tomorrow too if I still feel this bad. Then, I will back off some for quite a while after that and keep a more managable routine. Strange, though, I felt SO good up until yesterday evening. No fever or additional pain, so I'm pretty sure it's just from pushing myself too hard and "hitting the wall".

So, lesson learned. Adrenaline can play tricks on your body ... but it can't go at that pace indefinitely. You crash eventually. I hope others can learn from this -- be careful and don't push hard.

Dorothy

 

[Dee205]

Dorothy,
Glad to hear you've been doing so wel, but don't overdo it! THR is major surgery and you need to let your body heal. I know it's hard especially when you feel so much better but you don't want to hurt yourself.

I totally agree with you on the pets and rehab. I stayed in a rehab facility for a few days after the hospital and I feel like it really made me ready to roll. Am doing the same for the right hip.
Keep up the great work but take it easy!
Dee

 

[Jamie]

Awwww, Dorothy.....don't beat yourself up too much. We all push the limits and overdo things. When it happens, you just pull back, rest, ice, take some pain meds and build up again. You'll learn the right balance of activity and rest. You are still doing very, very well!!!

 

[rider1960]

Thanks. Strange, it wasn't that my hip hurt more with doing so much, I was mainly so tired and fatigued that I could barely think straight.

I think the emotional and mental component of this surgery has been even more difficult for me than the physical part. I was ready and prepared for some surgical pain, working hard at therapy and that kind of thing--the physical part. I guess I wasn't ready enough for the feelings of instantly becoming a virtual cripple for the first part of the recovery. I knew it in my head and tried to prepare, but I've never been injured or down for any more than just a day or two, so I had no idea how this longer recovery was going to feel mentally and emotionally.

I arrived at rehab (a nursing home with a rehab unit) on Saturday, too late for their morning therapies. I was used to the craziness of work and home responsibilities right up to the day before my surgery ... went to the hustle and bustle of an active hospital stay where it seemed like there was something to do most of the time ... then all the sudden I was in this slow paced "sit and wait" kind of environment of the rehab on the weekend--the slowest time. They didn't do any therapies on Sunday.

I also made the mistake of watching a few dog shows on Animal Planet Sunday morning, and by the time afternoon arrived, I was so homesick for my dogs and bored out of my mind by the suddenly slowed pace of the facility that I was having a VERY difficult time.

A friend visited early afternoon, which was nice, but then after he left I started feeling even MORE homesick, dog-sick, and even more bored and wishing for my active life. Those post op blues hit me like a freight train! I cried on and off most of that afternoon.

The facility doctor came in for a routine "new patient" visit during one of my crying jags and walked into my room like "Oh dear--what is wrong!" I gave a brief explanation and he said something that really hit home. He said "Any time we (meaning Drs) replace a major weight bearing joint, we turn you into a dependent cripple and change your life drastically within minutes"--like Boom!! One minute you are walking into the hospital, and then you wake up and can barely move your leg by yourself, need help getting out of bed, need a walker and assistance just walking down the hall a bit, need help dressing, etc etc.

That made perfect sense to me and although it didn't increase my ability to do things better, it helped give me more insight into why I was feeling so frustrated, sad, and angry at the world. He was really supportive and said "You need to vent--Just yell--right now!! Say anything you want!!" I wasn't interested in yelling and creating a scene, but I did take his advice seriously and called a couple of very supportive and sympathetic friends (one who had already had a hip replacement a couple of years ago and had already described her frustration when we had talked previously) and cried and complained through long phone conversations. Afterwards I DID feel better.

Then, Monday things started picking up and there were more people around coming in my room to introduce themselves to me and ask me questions, more things to do, therapies started ... and I was MUCH happier with that pace. I knew the next weekend would be a difficult time for me, so I made sure I left on Friday so I didn't have to stay another boring weekend.

But, the problem was--I came home feeling like I could take on the world and pretty much picked up the pace of my pre-surgery lifestyle. My hip hurt so much before surgery, that it didn't feel that much worse from the surgery pain ... so I figured "Why not Zoom Zoom Zoom!--the hip didn't seem to object." But, my body overall DID object and I didn't have the smarts to slow down and think of the entire body overall.

I'm really hoping that others here will learn by this and won't push like I did and then have to suffer through that nasty crash that I had yesterday. I'm still somewhat fatigued this morning, but nothing like yesterday and the evening before that when I felt like I could barely move or keep my eyes open. I don't think I have EVER been that tired before.

Today I'm going to go out for breakfast (a little family owned diner just a few miles away where they know me, have been asking about me, and it will be a good social outing. I'm riding in the car to get there--not driving), will do my hip exercises in moderation when I get back, and am planning to relax for the rest of the day. No more craziness!!

Dorothy

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Dorothy, I think there is a real rush of energy just post-op. You are so relieved that it's all done. There is no more bone on bone pain so it all adds up to a false sense of energy.

As Jamie says - we have all been there. At about week 4 I was feeling really down. Couldn't get going at all and I was stupidly comparing my healing with others. Stamina is a major issue for everyone.

Bottom line is you will get there. Just listen to your body now. It's telling you loud and clear it needs rest. Take that time to rest and then try again. Recovery is all about finding the limits and working to new limits.

I had the same issue with sitting on a chair post op. Have you tried a wedge cushion? Not only are they good for your posture but then keep your knees slightly forward ensuring you are still observing your 90 degree restriction. A big plus - soft on the tush! :th_heehee:

Hang in there Dorothy. You will be out riding your horses before you know it.

 

[Josephine]

You're not the first and I very much doubt you'll be the last! :wink1: