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THR Roofmaster's new hips, part one

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Roofmaster Hi -- looks like you are doing great. Did you still have quite of pain on the op hip at day 8 out? Did your foot ever swell up? My foot has swollen up (op side) and kind of scares me. I am using a walker and still not getting around very well. I think maybe I expected way too much too fast, even tho I know better from reading on this forum.

Do you think November 4 is too early to do my other one? I was having second thoughts today, but probably it is because I did not sleep well at all last night and then today had to cope with the PT lady asking me the same 20,000 questions that at least 500 people have asked me before. AAARGH!! I almost lost it a couple of times, but I was cool.

You know what I really HATE? It is when people act like just because you are no spring chicken that you are either senile or stupid or feeble minded or untrustworthy. At one point that PT person was talking over my head to my DIL like I wasn't in the room! Makes my blood BOIL. I'm quite capable of answering the silly question about whether or not I am capable of reading my prescription bottles and understand what they are for and taking them properly. OOOO!

Any help or guidance on my progress would be gratefully appreciated.

Peace and love to you.
 
YO Roofmaster , Sounds like you are doing great glad for you . I ve been busy taking apart my new project
86 white convertible vette I picked up for therapy . I had enough sitting around waiting to go back to work so now i'm busy taking it apart while i'm off . I see the doc nov 4 intend to go back to work then . knee settled down
still walk goofy but did that for 20 yrs hard to change . all is good , keep on trucking
 
Hey Roofmaster! What up man?!? Long time, no hear. Hope all is well. Living the dream out here in Colorado ;-)

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Hello, Roofmaster. I've been following your progress and am glad to see you're making some big strides (no pun intended). I'm about to force myself into committing to a date because I'm in pain unless sitting or lying down, and I -- like you -- JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!! I don't think I'm gonna be as scared as when I did my knee in February, but I'm still quaking. Oh, to be able to get around without consciously thinking about "how to do it" or "being so careful"! Well, you've been one of the many inspirational forces here at BS. I'm enjoying seeing YOU enjoy life again. I don't remember what that feels like. Stay strong... Enjoy your little therapists and your new life.

Ellen.
 
All is well.Saturday was pumpkin patch day.We all went to the local pumpkin patch,played games carved pumpkins,pie eating and hay rides.Sunday was another local fun day at a corn field maze,games and more hay rides.Monday was a family cookout for the holiday.Today I was cane free all day for the 1st time in 6 years.I even had balancing beam contests with 4 of my grandaughters.So what if the 13 and 8 year old beat me,they didnt just have double hip replacement surgery.That didnt stop me from beating the heck out of the 4 year old twins though.Booyah,in your face Penelope and Piper,Ive beat smaller girls than that.Im having so much fun and Ive never been closer to my family.I cant believe how much life the pain was sucking out of me.Im still not convinced this is real.Somebody pinch me.Im waiting for the ground to be ripped out from under me.This experience is absolutely unbelivable.Im a whole differant person.Im LIVING.shrinkette dont you worry its all coming at you like a freight train.Let it.Peeeace.
 
Oh God, oh God, oh God!!! Now absolutely wonderful!! You expressed yourself so well... I feel that I haven't lived life or been myself now for years. Yes, I procrastinated with my TKR, but it turned out well. I don't remember the ME I was. I was funny and charming and clever and now -- well, you know what pain and disability does. But, you are inspiring and I want what YOU have. Thank you.

Ellen
 
I have to say something here.Im actually forgeting what it was like.I mean I have this visual of how I walked and the constant precautions to avoid pain and not participating in lifes activities cuz it just hurt to darn much.But Im not in pain anymore,just good pain,the kind I like.Muscle pain,recovery pain.Every time I see someone I havent seen since before surgery I ask them,you remember how I was?How I walked?Its beyond my expectations.If I could pinpoint one negative its a slight anxiety I have about wearing out my new hips.I could never go back to that,i just couldnt.I built an obstacle course in my yard which is paying dividends.When I used to walk I was embarrased,ashamed.Now I feel like Ive conquered the world.I cant remember the pain.I want to scream,spray paint it in the sky,Im back,lookout.If you want to come in second follow me.Please please please dont let this end.Peace.
 
I couldnt have said it better than you did shrinkette.Ive become me again.Im not the grimacing fuddy duddy over there in the corner avoiding participation.Does anyone know how good it feels to lead?I do.Now I want you to follow Ellen.Ya pain changes you,big time.Disability is humbling and humiliating at times cuz you know the real you lies beneath the surface of pain.Waiting to break free of this tormenting bondage.If there was only a way to make the pain go away.There is.There is a way.These doctors are amazing.Aaaaahhh.I want to scream.
 
Do you have any idea how eloquent you are?? You've hit the nail on the head! And whoever said men can't express their feelings?!! You made me cry, Roofie... "Humbling and humiliating" is dead-on... The docs ARE amazing, and I think I found a terrific one. And don't worry about the longevity of those new hips: I've read they last a very looooooong time. Thanks for listening and responding and understanding. You should go into MY field. ;>)
 
shrinkette Go for it and get it done. I'm feelig so much better already, even only a little over 2 weeks out still having one bad hip. Roofmaster is right -- my hips have been sucking my life right out of me for too long. It was not nearly as bad as I anticipated it would be.

I am having some pain tonight because I walked (with my walker) too much at the hospital today seeing my OS to get my staples out and new x-rays for the new hip on the 4th November. But it is muscle pain (and bad stuff from my still-bad hip) and the muscle pain will go as I get stronger! Go ahead and schedule it!

Peace and love to you
 
Hey roofmaster! Sounds like things are going great for you. I wanted to thank you for your kind words and support you offered a week or so ago on my recovery thread. It was so very helpful to hear from someone who had two different THR experiences. It sounded like you had many of the same things happening with your second hip as I was having with my first. As you recommended I started a recovery journal. It has been helpful recording both the positives and negatives. I can put down all of my fears etc. with no judgement. I tried to talk with my DH early on about the depression and fears I felt, but he did not take it very well. ;). As a result I decided that such feelings were best kept to my self or for sharing on BS where everyone seems to understand.

I am slowly improving. Not at the rate I expected. I thought I was going to be one of those two to three week marvels that I read about on the internet...LOL. But things are slow and steady. I have been walking pretty much unaided since Saturday, but I do keep my activity fairly low. Two little walks a day and some exercises. My leg and hip are still pretty achy at rest and activity. I don't think I could manage an all day outing like you did with the pumpkin patch, but I am getting there. My big outings are the grocery store, lol, and I take the boy so he can help me carry everything. I am hesitant to add any extra weight to my leg/hip. I did stand and balance on my bad leg today. It was a new pt exercise and another milestone. Hopefully soon my leg/hip will stop aching. It's a little better each day which is a big improvement than how it was before with the pain getting a little worse with each passing day. Many things that you have said have resonated deeply with me. Like you, I felt like I was dying from the OA. My life had just become so unbearable. I was at the end of my rope. Well I am rambling now. :) I really just wanted to let you know how much your post on my thread helped me and gave me hope. Thank you so much. I am so happy for you that you have your life back. <3
 
Roofmaster and Butterfly... You guys are doing wonders for my morale! I think I'm ready to set the date. Tried out an old recliner of the type Josephine recommends. It will be perfect with additional pillows under the cushion for added height, and great for resting/icing/elevating. I'm getting there -- woo hoo!!

Were either of you told to do any exercises prior to surgery?

Ellen
 
shrinkette It wouldn't have mattered what anyboy told me to do prior to surgery exercise-wise, I couldn't have done them. I could barely make it to the bathroom with my walker. I was in terrible pain. But no, nobody told me to try to do anything, probably becaue of the condition of my hips.

Still on my walker and will be for a while because of the upcoming second surgery. Doc told me not to even try to walk without the walker because my remaiing hip is so bad I could fall and undo all the good. Needless to say, I am taking his advice to heart. Second hip is actually is worse on x-ray than the first, but the first hurt worse, so we did it first. Glad I did, because I am feeling much relief already. OS said today I may be on non-weight bearing onthe second leg for a little while after surgery, but it would ultimately be fine.

I don't know what the surgical wait is where you are, but I had to wait two and a half months AFTER I was on the list, so go ahead and schedule. I scheduled the second one at the same time I scheduled the first one. Maybe you could get it over with before Christmas and be feeling better.

Peace and love to you.
 
Butterfly... I haven't been told to exercise for the hip... just remember having to do a lot of before my TKR. There no instructions in the packet my doc gave me -- just post-op stuff to do at home. Well, good. I'm like you WERE: just about getting to the bathroom with a walker. The I use a cane IN the bathroom to relieve as much pressure/pain in my left hip as possible. My other hip, which is not painful when I walk, also is very arthritic, so it looks like that's in my future.

I can probably schedule pretty soon, but I had wanted to see the outcome of my hubbyz's radiation for early prostate cancer. He'll know in 2 months by which time all the side effects will also be gone. We will breathe easier, hopefully, and he'll be up to the task of helping me. I'm thinking if early January.

You be a good girl and stay on that walker as long as you need to!!! I'm so glad you're getting relief already. I guess things have a way of workin out despite our fears.
 
Its 4:30 am,the beginning of the day here at Billy's new hips wonderland.I'll get some pics later of the beaty queens and I exercising.Its funny I fancy myself an amateur photographer,we have thousands of pictures and I mean thousands of all the grandkids growing in various stages.Im in NONE of them,except a few early ones of Paige,shes 13,and Lorelai,shes 8.I aint got time for holding a stupid camera anymore.Thats going to have to be someone elses job now.
Ok where to begin.First off Butterfly hello hello.Great to hear from you Milli.Your doing better I see.THAT makes me feel good.This is something that can only be shared by someone whos been through it so now you see.You have come a looong way.Congratulations hippie chick.Now we have to get shrinkette to stop fiddling around and get on board.Milli you are an inspiration to anyone who fears this procedure and has doubts and second thoughts.As a strong woman you got it done despite it all.Well done.
calikat you seem to be doing much better.Yeah I hear ya with falling for the hoopla and believing all the hype.Half my problem with the 2nd hip was how sucessful the 1st one was.I was determined to prove how tough I was and when the 1st surgery proved so simple I thought hugh this aint so bad.Therefore I was completely unprepaired for how much it actually took out of me with #2 surgery.This is where the journal probably caused more harm than good as I was making comparisons and not meeting certain milestones from the 1st wonder hip.Ive learned a lot about myself and my body.Mainly that I had no real control over this healing.Sure I could nudge it along doing the things I do but hip #2 showed me who was really the boss.Im happy to say that chapter is almost complete.Still quite a ways to go before the end of the book but almost there.Youll see,before you know it the fear pain and nightly discomfort will evaporate.Oh and this website,bonesmart was invaluable for my pre-op preparation and post op blues,just what the doctor ordered.I dont fault my loved ones or anyone for that matter cuz they dont understand or sympathize.I dont want sympathy and Ive said it many times beforeshort of stabbing people in the hip with a steak knife they will never understand the pain.Now we cant have everyone we know running around with steak knives sticking out of theyre hips now can we?You know how much that would cost?
Ok my next labor of love,or tough love project.Depends on how you interpret my words shrinkette.You havent set a date yet?Im sorry but what are you waiting for?You said you procrastinated over your knee and it turned out fine.Well now its time for the hips.If theres one thing I owe this website its my duty to encourage,no,insist you get that ball rolling.Recovery is waiting for you dont wait around for it.Its not going to knock on your door.I know what your going through.If youve read any of my pre-op posts its clear I was ready for suicide.I can say that now.I was ambiguous about it before but not now.I have a lot of firearms and Im not proud to say I had many many dark nights and mornings where I had to drag my sorry a$$ to work cuz noone was going to give me money.I am proud to say I dragged that sorry a$$ to work up till 2 days before surgery and I resisted that other course of action mainly because my family loves me to death,no pun,and rely on me as theyre rock,theyre foundation.An example of how to triumph no matter the obstacles presented.I could never hurt them like that.Ya life would go on,but what kind of life would that be for them growing up knowing the strongest most determined person they needed just quit.Plus I was a coward.Enough of that depressing talk.I want to LIVE and thats exactly what Im doing.Everything is better.Food,family,the cold breeze coming in my window right now,the feeling of the wet morning grass on my feet when I go outside,sex with my wife...blush...everything.Im sorry what are you waiting for?Please make a date.You know once I had my 1st surgery date I felt 50% better.Im a goal oriented person so that got my spirits high.Ok Ive been typing for 90 minutes now on my phone I have to get up and start moving,recovery is waiting.I'll check back later after my 1st self induced torture session.I love you guys.Peace out for now.
 
WOW Roof, what a post!
the passion is back!
great little shove for @shrinketteI think she will get the picture!

glad you are doing so great roofmaster, it is amazing how much of our
daily life was suffering from the preop pain.... and how different you
look at everyday stuff after you don't hurt anymore.
 
Hey cnydutch how are you.It seems so long ago,my first posts you were one of the first people to have my back,showed support.Thanks guy I feel your wisdom.Hey hows this for progress?I just took this picture.Smashed it loading my 2nd chord of firewood Im delivering to my son from my yard.This is the kind of pain I like.Pain inflicted during productive work.Im not sitting around waiting.Break times over.Its almost lunchtime,back to work.Peace.
[Bonesmart.org] Roofmaster's new hips, part one
 
oh that looks like it's gonna hurt!
i'm doing well, but, like you, incurred a little pain myself this weekend,
sprained an ankle, so i have 3 weeks to get myself back up and in
shape for our trip to florida, i have beaches calling my name!
[Bonesmart.org] Roofmaster's new hips, part one
 
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