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THR Roger's Story

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Had the re-scheduled MRI scan (on my inner ear) at lunchtime today. It went ahead without any problem, except mild claustrophobia - the 2 scans took over 5 minutes each.

Regarding metal, I was allowed to keep my belt on, which has a metal buckle and also my trousers with a metal zip.

I asked the nurse about metal hip implants and she said it was only a precaution to avoid MRI scans for 6 weeks after surgery; thereafter no problem. Ditto with a coronary stent, although they like to leave them 6 months to 'bed in'!
 
Doesn't it mystify you why it takes so long? I mean - 10 mins to scan and 4 weeks to report?
 
Another couple of milestones achieved this week.

Firstly, I had my last (of 6) physio session yesterday and was signed off as having successfully completed all exercises. I was given a couple of lengths of thera-band(?), blue and grey, and told to keep up the good work at home. :thumb:

Secondly, and equally important :th_heehee: , I can now put my socks on unaided. This requires extreme concentration, good hand/eye co-ordination and careful balancing on one leg. However, I can do it now for both feet. No more reliance on the sock aid which never worked properly anyway! :yes 4:

Next milestone will be drying my feet properly after a shower - I still can't reach the heels.

A milestone I don't think I'll ever achieve again, though, is touching my toes. My best effort ends about 12" short of them currently, but I blame my stiff back rather than my shiny new hip. :wink1:
 
Great day out for me today and another (major) milestone. I went sailing (as skipper) for the first time in 3 months. :yes 4:

It was glorious out in the Solent - sun was shining with an easterly F4 to 5 - ideal conditions for a brisk dash over to Bembridge for lunch. The whole pontoon, that normally takes 100+ boats in the summer was completely empty when we arrived and only one other boat appeared while we were eating lunch in the cockpit.

The sea conditions were what the coastguard would call moderate so it was a good workout for the new hip. I was very careful moving around (one hand for the boat and one hand for me) and had a good friend on board (himself a skipper so he could take over if necessary) who did all the hard bits like jumping down onto the pontoon to moor up etc.; it could be a few more months (and a second new hip) before I will feel safe doing that!

The next major milestone will be feeling the sand between my toes - only 4 weeks to go. :wink1:
 
That's really impressive....so glad you enjoyed yourself and that your new hip cooperated.
 
Gidday Roger,
Glad to see you on the mend. I had my op Oct, 31 2011 and can agree with you about not being able to go to the loo. I was full of wind in the hospital and bit embarrassing at times( if you get what I mean). I had swelling and glad to say first week at home I did as little as possible, just rested. I am pleased to say I am on my third week and nearly all the swelling has gone.
I was on Tramadol and paracetamol but have weaned myself off Ttramadol (they make you feel good and light headed).
I am going to get my staples out soon, was a bit worried till I read your thread.
Sounds like you have a few more worries than me, hang in there buddy and all the best.

Mikeb
 
Mikeb said:
Sounds like you have a few more worries than me, hang in there buddy and all the best.
Mikeb
Click to expand...

Hi Mike

. . . and I thought I was doing rather well. :wink1:

My only problem is the left (old) hip; it's now giving me as much grief as the right hip did before the op. The new (right) one is absolutely fine now - I am already starting to forget it's 'new'. :thumb:

I am scheduled to get the left one replaced at the beginning of Feb.

Thanks for your good wishes.

Mikeb said:
I am going to get my stables out soon, was a bit worried till I read your thread.
Mikeb
Click to expand...

I'm surprised you haven't had your staples out yet - 10 days is the norm in the UK. I was surprised how easy and painless it was when they took all mine out.

Good luck with yours.

Roger
 
Roger

Thats a terrific milestone to reach. Are you still using a crutch or cane? Was getting in and out of the boat ok?

I am sure you must now be thinking - bring on February - and get hip No 2 resolved as well.

All the best

Dave
 
DaveGM said:
Roger

Thats a terrific milestone to reach. Are you still using a crutch or cane? Was getting in and out of the boat ok?

I am sure you must now be thinking - bring on February - and get hip No 2 resolved as well.

All the best

Dave
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Hi Dave

No crutch or cane - gave them up around week 4, I think. However, I am almost reaching the point when I need a cane (walking stick?) for my left hip but I'm resisting as long as I can. I'm taking naproxen and paracetamol for it which seems to just hold off the edge of the pain. I'm getting no pain from the new hip at all now, which is great.

Getting on and off the boat is OK normally as I use a fender step i.e. a step half way up the topsides made like a fender. However, in Bembridge we didn't fit it so I ended up getting back on board on my knees and then standing up. It worked fine, though, with no extra pain.

As you say, roll on February - round about the 7th I should be starting to think it has all been worth it. However, I've got Florida for Christmas to look forward to in the meantime (and sand between the toes :th_heehee:).
 
You are doing really well Roger. Congratulations. Enjoy your Florida trip and walking in the sand.
 
Went swimming a couple of days ago - first time for many months. Well, I gotta get into training for Florida and it's free for over 60s in Portsmouth so no excuses. :th_heehee:

I can only do breast stroke and gentle kicking and flapping on my back; I can't get my ear under water as I have a perforated eardrum (and no cure has ever worked). However, I love the water so I've learnt how to keep my head above it (most of the time).

I was a bit concerned about the leg kicking in breast stroke but took it very gently and the new hip was absolutely fine - not even a twinge. :yay:

The old hip, though, was quite painful and gave me a couple of sharp jolts of pain (like electric shocks - most unpleasant) when I kicked (or maybe twisted) a little harder. :cry:

Looks like I should be OK for a bit of gentle splashing in Florida but am really looking forward to the time when No 2 is as good as No 1 - roll on February and beyond. :thumb:
 
Hi Roger

Wow, Florida, wow sand between your toes. Between you NYCgirl and me we should just rent an island in the warm somewhere and play in the sand.

You have a fabulous holiday!

With luck we will get to our beach house for Christmas and sand between my toes and swimming is top goal!
 
Hi Roger,

Just catching up on your thread ( I'm new-ish).

I had the same metal work fitted on 11/11/11 and like you was a little worried about the negative reports concerning De Puy! Thank goodness for Jo's research it put my mind at rest. We are a lot of worriers aren't we .... but I suppose the information we get from our healthcare professionals is scant at best. Thank the Lord for BoneSmart!!

I'm not allowed to weight bear until week 5 due to the OS shearing off the Trochanter and having to wire it up ( I guess it will have healed in 4 weeks), but your reports of walking around after a very short time, 3 weeks?, certainly gives me hope.

One thing I was slightly puzzled by was your delay in getting into a bath until 12 weeks? Perhaps I misread but it seemed the reason was breaking the 90 degree rule if reaching for taps etc. .... I thought it was ok after 6 weeks to break that and any other of the initial rules or have I got that wrong??

All the best for your next op and I think it's great to have those goals, I asked my OS if I could be tap dancing by Xmas .... he said there's no reason I shouldn't.... I said great 'cos I'd never even tried it before my op!! (Boom Boom.... sorry a Golden Oldie).

All the best

Charlie
 
Hey CC

We could do a slow waltz!
 
Hi Charlie

I still haven't had a bath but that's personal choice rather than restrictions; I prefer showers!

I took my first shower at home after 10 days, once I had worked out how to get into the bath (it's an over-bath shower) without hurting the new hip (scissor movement, facing the back of the bath, works for me).

My concern about bathing would be getting in and out, and maybe getting to the taps once in. I think the strain required would not be worth the risk until 3 months or so after surgery (depending on general speed of recovery). I agree that all restrictions are usually lifted at the 6 week point so, in theory and maybe with a strong helper, it should be possible to get in/out of the bath at that point, but I'm not sure I would want to try it.


SMJA

I reckon I could waltz now, without a clunk but maybe with a bit of a limp until No 2 is completed. It would have to be Waltzing Matilda, though, wouldn't it? Although, thinking about it, that wouldn't work - it's in 4/4 time!

I visited your wonderful country 9 times in 2 years in the mid 80s when I was running a major defence project over there. It was such hard work, though (visiting sub-contractors, liaising with DoD officials etc.), that I didn't get much chance to explore, except for downtown Canberra and Sydney airport! I did get one trip out to the Blue Mountains, though, and Jenolan(?) Caves. Happy days.

I envy you with summer coming up and the beach house only a few hours drive away. It's a 10 hour flight from here to Florida to get some sunshine.
 
I sure wish I was headed to Florida or the Carribean Islands when you are Roger. February is the shortest yet most viscious month for us here in New England! And Florida is just a short flight below New England!
 
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