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Scared newbie... Hip is shot. What if it doesn't work!!??

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Butterfly Thanks for checking in with me, my friend. So happy to hear you're on your feet making pancakes!! Fabulous. It must've given you great satisfaction. Another milestone to check off.

There's a lot of logic in your reasoning to do both hips fairly close together. I may, in fact, have no choice because as I think I've told you I've started to have significant pain in the leg opposite the one slated for surgery, which I've never had before. I am extremely distressed at this new development, especially as I anticipate recovering with this new problem. Obviously many folks have this issue -- the ones, like you, who do a second hip. I'm getting around even less now because of the pain in this "reliable" leg. This weekend I'm mostly on my bed trying both icing and heat. No results so far and acetaminophen really
 
Oh sweetie shrinkette I can so relate to your plight! The last two years pre my surgery were the same. It is not fun, it hurts, there is no relief, it is relentless pain and nothing seems to help. I did exactly the same, hot water bottles, ice packs.... I read one of your other posts in another thread and could sense the desperation and emotion in your words... I am going to put a watch on your thread to keep a special eye on you honey.. We are here for you :)
 
Butterfly. Sorry, slippery fingers! ...really does nothing. I'm seriously thinking of calling OS on Monday & scheduling another appt. Maybe the OA in that hip has progressed due to its overuse or something. Actually, it feels different from hip pain... More like a burning-type sciatic ache. If nothing else I need some reassurance from him if possible. I'm increasingly depressed because of this. How bad was your second hip/leg before THR #2?

To change the subject, what do you think about renting an electric lift recliner? I have an ancient recliner that allows me to raise the foot part by sliding the arms of the chair, using upper body only. Perhaps a lift chair would be more comfortable to sleep in if it reclines more, too. I've looked up rentals. Maybe put the lift chair in the bedroom so it's close to bathroom & keep old one in family room on other side of house for when I escape from bedroom? I'll need something there & all I have are a leather chair & matching recliner, both of which are too low and comfy/mushy. Kitchen chairs would work because they have arms & are sturdy, but need height... Can use pillow, I guess.

Btw, the contour pillow came today. Tried it out and, sure enough, I'm "toes above nose". I've got several gel packs and frozen veggies, so I'm set there. I will probably get a leg lifter or leash, too. I already have all the other tools of the THR trade, I think.
Gosh, I hope I will be able to go home and not to rehab!!

On a more cheerful note, your weather sounds awful and definitely makes for the "creakies". Good stay-inside, nap, dog-cuddle weather. Your dogs sound like they're such a comfort as well as company. It's good that you can just let them out & don't have to walk them, though they'd probably love that. All in good time when their mommy is ready. My cat has recently been allowed on my bed (my hubby will do anything to make me happy, I think, and has lifted that prohibition), so he's happier than a pig in sh... manure (the cat, not hubby!). He's such a good boy. Cat again. LOL

One last question: before your first THR, were you able to lift your leg onto a normal height curb or step? If it's too high, I can't, even with walker. Those little step-stool things in front of the doctor's examining table kill me; even if I get my leg on it, I apparently don't have the strength to lift up. I was working on that knee side when the hip thing started, so... How will they ever have me do steps??!! Another thing to worry about. Well, now that I've exhausted you, I do thank you for reading this novelette & for your always-valuable feedback.
I'm with you in spirit every step of the way in your admirable progress & if I can do HALF as well, I'll consider myself lucky. To quote the famous line in "When Harry Met Sally," I want what (you've) got"! Goodnight, dear Milli. ❤
 
Poppet I just found your post after writing to Butterfly & you are so kind and dear. To have people like you who totally understand this process is almost too good to be true. My biggest wish right now, apart from being pain-free and leading a relatively normal life, is to be able to give back to those anticipating surgery. I want to pay this forward, if I can.

It's so wonderful and comforting to know you'll keep a special watch on me.. Please do. Thank you for all you do, dear Poppet.
 
You are very welcome my dear, we understand because we have been there and also know the benefits of the surgery. The main focus is to not hurry with one's recovery and have lots of patience and remember that each day it will get better but there will be down days as well shrinkette
 
shrinkette Before the surgery --- the pain actually started years ago in my right (2nd) hip and got slowly worse. I tried everything to cope with it. I thought it was sciatica at first, till my chiro enlightened me that it was OA. Then the left hip (1st hip) started to go and it got REALLY bad fairly fast. It actually got worse than the right one, which is why I had the left one done first. Before surgery I was pretty incapacitated. I could not get my feet up on curbs (forget steps) and in the doctor's offices I could not get up on the table because I could not make that step up. I couldn't get into my own office any more. It took two techs to get me on the X-ray table and I thought the first set of x-rays was going to kill me. Getting into or out of cars was awful. I was in constant pain. I used one cane, then two, and finally a walker. I would wake myself up in the night moaning with pain. That scared my dogs, and they would come running.

For about the fifth time, my chiro told me that nothing on the planet was going to do any good except hip replacements, and I finally heard him, and promptly burst into tears. I screwed around another year or so though, because I just couldn't deal with it. I was terrified. Finally I broke down and called the recommended OS and started the process. I couldn't get up on his table either. I couldn't even get up on the gurney the morning of my first surgery, so they got a couple people to kind of chuck me up there. Very undignified in that lovely gown.

BUT, I got through it and am so glad I went ahead with it. I can do steps now (carefully, but better as I go along). I don't have any staircases in my house, but do have a couple steps up and down into the den and into the living room. My grandsons put little wood ramps on them for me with the walker, and I am leaving them in place until I have the official go-ahead that I don't have to use the walker any more. I still have a bit of trouble getting up and down the three (steep, concrete) steps into my laundry room. But I'm getting there.

I thought about renting the recliner, too, but after checking into it, I discovered I could buy one for not much more than renting would cost, since I figured I would need it for a while. My old recliner had given up the ghost. I got one of the ones that have the electric motor that lifts up your legs and also reclines the back. Mine isn't one of the ones that helps you stand up. I got mine at LaZBoy on sale. I'm not totally happy with mine, as it doesn't recline completely flat. But it has done the job in recovery. I discovered that the ones with motors don't recline as far as the ones with the handle you pull, but I was afraid I couldn't manage that right after surgery, so I got the motorized one.

I think you mentioned earlier you were reading a Jeffrey Deaver book. I love mysteries, especially sort of creepy ones. I think my favorite Jeffrey Deaver one was The Coffin Dancer. Do you read James Patterson or J.D. Robb? I wish they'd write faster because I think I have read all they have written. I also like books by -- I think his last name is Kellerman -- his character is a psychologist who goes around getting into trouble and helping the cops solve creepy crimes.

Don't worry about not doing well after your surgery. I think you will be surprised, as I was, at how well you will do. You got through knee replacement, and I hear it is a lot harder than hips. Just don't plan to work too hard at getting better -- as Josephine says -- rest, ice, elevate, take your pain meds.

My doggie doors are a wonderful thing -- they can go and come as they wish and I dont have to worry about them or get up to let them out. Back when I worked, it was wonderful because they could just be outside or inside as they wished and I didn't have to worry about them if I had to work late or something. Mostly they just stay inside and lay around on the couches. When I would go to work I would leave one of the TVs on very low for them because they seemed to find it calming. Boy are they spoiled.

Well, gotta get off this computer now.

Love,

Milli
 
Ellen, building on Butterfly's post, if your first THR is in January, then think about the financial implications of doing the second one in 2014 as well. I'm assuming you have Medicare plus a decent supplemental gap policy. The first surgery will put you past both your deductible AND your out-of-pocket maximum co-pay. Effectively, all your covered medical care for the rest of the year will be free!!!! This is not a small thing!

Latkes continued: well no, I've never actually baked them before. I am thinking I will try it this year for the first time. So it will be pretty much improvising. I can't use the packaged mix anymore because my son is gluten-intolerant. Last year I used the Simply Potatoes packaged hash browns, with the onions already included. I added eggs and gluten-free flour. Of course they weren't as good as my grandmother's and mother's recipe, which meant grating potatoes and mincing onions. But all things considered, they were a respectable alternative. The only change I will try this year is baking the patties in the oven. Slow bake at 350? Quick bake at 450? The potatoes are already partially cooked....hmm....maybe I'll hop over to the Simply Potatoes website, and see what guidance they might provide.

And no, not cooking TG dinner. Going to my daughter in Tennessee this year and I think we are probably winging it. I have no problem with letting a restaurant do all the work. :)

Stretching the tylenol to 8 hours between doses does mean it has worn off entirely and you are starting from scratch, so it won't be very effective. Yes, 4000 is the absolute max, from all sources.
Medications: NSAIDs, acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) differences and dangers
Instead of the 650mg per tablet, what about going to the 500, and spread out 4 doses of 1000 mg throughout the day. But you have other health issues too....a-fib.....so clear this with your doctor. Josephine could you comment on this?

Yes, very cold and getting colder!! After our TG trip to Tennessee, I will hunker in for the winter. Sigh.

Sharon
 
Butterfly Well, Milli, you did it again: Made me feel better! For that I could kiss you (don't get scared!). I started a long reply , got through about 2/3 of it, hit some other link by mistake, & off it went into the cyber netherlands. I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! Soooo, I decided to write on my iPad's "Notepad" & copy/paste to the appropriate Forum area. I knew there was a way to find posts that 'got away,' but I couldn't find the link & emailed Jo who said it's not working now. Ergo, this safety measure. Ah, relief.

Anyway -- again you normalized things for me by recounting your experience; I'm referring specifically to the steps issue. You understand it. You also wrote (to me & others) about having pain all over the place. Wow -- my other leg is awful now and I've decided to make another appt with OS so that he's fully aware of what's going on as well as provide some reassurance. The pain in the non-surgical side feels different, sort of... More like sciatic, but right down my right butt, sometimes lower. Sometimes it even abates a bit. I'm barely moving around my house now... Showers are getting harder... Everything is harder. You know.

Recliner: good info, lady! I checked out Lazyboy stores locally & we will pay one a visit. Makes sense to buy, I think. Who knows how long I'll need it, so you're right. We'll see what they mean by "sale"! I think I won't get a lift chair, either... Just something as comfy as I can find that reclines as much as possible. Very good advice.

Interesting solution that your grandsons came up with -- little ramps! Fortunately for me, I have only one step at the front door. There's a step-down living room, but I never go in there, & my laundry/utility room is on the same level as rest of house. I do have 2 steps if I were to leave via the utility room into the garage, but I don't anymore, so I'm set there.

Books -- YES! I've read pretty much all of Deaver including Coffin Dancer. I, too, love the "creepies" -- serial killers/psychopaths/kidnappers/legal thrillers, et al. Suspense thrillers in general, I'd have to say, but I occasionally 'cleanse my reading palate' with a different genre like a bio or memoir if it's someone who I'm curious about, or an interesting tell-all like the story of being seduced by JFK as a young intern after being on the job only a few days, or something juicy about politics, or just how weird J. Edgar Hoover was. I've even stooped to some pap by Nicholas Sparks for a change of pace; Jodi Piccoult if I want to get depressed; and (forgive me) the first two of the Fifty Shades **** (forgetting the subject matter, I thought this was The Most appalling writing I've seen in a long time. Utterly juvenile.

Yes, I was a huge Patterson fan until he started turning them out like on an assembly line along with his co-authors. I don't think he's anywhere as good as he was, so I read him for wont of anything else. Robb's ok... Not a particular fav. Now for my list of absolute goodies: Grisham, Lee Child (love his character, Jack Reacher), David Baldacci, Ken Follett, Harlan Coben, Nelson DeMille (not his latest, though), Vince Flynn, Lisa Gardner, Michael Connelly, Brad Meltzer, Joseph Finder, Patricia Cornwell (although I find her main char kind of depressing), John Lescroart, Stuart Woods (also getting very 'meh'), Stephen White (his main char is a psychologist, as is he), & Scot Turow. Others, of course. Are you familiar with some of these? Reading gets me through these bad days.

Well, I think that about covers it. I've read you're getting some bad weather... so sorry. Gonna answer my daughter's text now & then burrow in for the night. Tomorrow the dentist for a cleaning & to make sure infections are not running rampant. Hope this didn't overwhelm you. Now let's see if I can copy/paste & "post reply". Take care, kiddo... You really have no idea how much your posts help keep me going!

Ellen
 
Hey shrinkette have you ever read any Greg Iles? He is really good too! Murder mysteries! I have read several of his.
 
@ Shrinkette I've just gone on my treadmill (low speed and holding on the handrails) for TEN WHOLE MINUTES. ZOWIE! It has been years since I've been able to do that at all. My newest hip is still kind of sore and cranky, but it is 4 weeks old today and coming along well.

I think the writer I was trying to think of is Jonathan Kellerman -- the one with a psychologist as a character. There are two Kellerman's in the genre -- I don't like the work of the woman writer whose last name is also Kellerman. I LOVE the James Patterson Alex Cross books and the Women's Murder Club ones, too. There have only been a couple of his that I haven't cared much for. I used to love Patricia Cornwell's earlier books; but lately not so much. I've pretty much quit reading her at all, though I did read her Jack the Ripper book. Her characters kind of went to pot or something and I lost my interest in them. I've read some Harlen Coben and David Baldacci as well, and liked them. And of course John Grisham. Also Scott Turow. I got a little burnt out on John Grisham. There's another one I like a lot -- I'll have to think on it -- can't bring up the name right away. It's a woman and her stuff is very creepy -- just up my alley. Have you read any of Dean Koontz' books? I think I've read them all, but lately they've gotten a bit formulaic.

Anyway, I hope you are doing as well as possible with the waiting game. Give that beautiful kitty a pat for me.

Love,

Milli
 
Butterfly i'm going nuts after what happened yesterday. I am SO upset! I went to the dentist for a check-up & cleaning. I had been there last January prior to my TKR. Well, they took x-Rays which hadn't been done since 2011, & have now found "decay" in many areas & what appears to be an abscess in one tooth.

Problem is that all the work I need -- aside from the abscess, which can be done-- cannot be fixed by having a few fillings and extractions done. It would take MONTHS because it is under old bri'dgework & crowns & such, some of which are in long sections, & involves a lot of complicated cosmetic dentistry, including implants, if its done right. In other words, they can't just lift out an old 6- tooth bridge, fix a decay underneath it, & put it back!! I had had a plan worked up to do a lot of work when it was mostly cosmetic, but didn't because I think I couldn't deal with the knee issue & handle the dental stuff. So, I'd put it off.

Now, I am so afraid of my surgeon saying he won't operate & I'll have to suffer for months more!!! I have another OS appt scheduled for Dec. 5, which I was going to do anyway to discuss my other leg. Now this!! Does "decay" equal " infection"? I don't know. I am beside myself with fear of a cancellation.
 
Butterfly Sorry I didn't respond to your recent post; I just couldn't think straight.

But first: CONGRATULATIONS on a huge accomplishment. That's just wonderful, Milli! I can only imagine how thrilled, validated, proud, and full of hope you feel... I'm just so glad you are seeing or have already seen that light at the end of the tunnel. How did you get brave enough to even step up onto the treadmill? We're you holding your breath? Had you been on it before for a shorter session? Doing super! I wanna be you.

Back to books: yup, have read a few by Kellerman; the female Kellerman is his wife and no, I'm not crazy about her stuff, either. I really liked the Alex Cross character, but now I find the quality very mediocre (even for this kind of pop lit). I did also enjoy his Women's MC books. Koontz is great -- have read a lot, but by no means all -- he's so prolific! Another writer of creep is John Lutz... just remembered. And Greg Iles as mentioned in one if the recent posts. I also like some of the medical thrillers by Robin Cook & Michael Palmer. Have you read The Kite Runner &'A Thousand Splendid Suns by Homeini? Excellent & different. I often like to read about other cultures.

Keep up your fantastic journey to normal-land. And pray that I will be able to embark on mine. Thanks.
 
shrinkette So sorry to hear about your dental problems. I HATE dental stuff, even tho I've seen my same old dentist for years, and his father before him, and we have a deal -- I won't bite him if he doesn't hurt me -- I still dread going. BUT I faithfully go every six months, because he and his dad promiosed me if I go every six months "they will bury you with those teeth." A bit grim, but you would have had to know the dad to get his humor in that.

I don't now if a cavity counts as an "infection." It isn't really an infection, though, it is a cavity. Do you have to have the dentist sign off on clearance for surgery? You'll have to have th abscess taken care of, of course. But I had one of those a couple years ago and it was mostly a matter of antibiotics to clear it up.

One thing I learned this week -- I called the dentist to see when my six month appointments were. I knew they were in December, but couldn't remember when. I told the sec. I had finally had my hips replaced and she said the dentist wouldn't do routine work on me until six months after my last surgery. My six month cleanings can get a bit invasive as I have to have the cleanings done in quarters of my mouth and have local anesthetic because I have some exposed nerves and some "pockets." And most of the time my gums do bleed some. (all the result of not taking as good care of my teeth as I should have in my misspent youth) BUT, as long as I do this every six months, my gum disease has not progressed in the last 15 years or so, so I'm lucky. They did tell me that if I had trouble, he could do something in that case. Antibiotics, I guess, or whatever.

Can those cavities wait, or will they get a lot worse? I'd ask the dentist what he thought about waiting.

Just what you need is another scare or a possible delay. I worried myself sick about stuff like that after I made up my mind to go ahead. I was scared to death something would crop up that would prevent the surgery. Remerber how freaked I got about that MSRA thing?

I've read several of Robin Cook's books and liked them. I'll keep a lookout for Iles and Lutz. I've liked some of Peter Straub's books, but some of his are just too gross for me. Stephen King, sometimes yes, sometimes no. LOVED The Green Mile. I like creepiness and suspense and twists -- not too fond of real gory stuff -- I can't exactly explain it, but dead bodies and stuff are OK, and some blood of course is always going to be in there, but gore for gore's sake (chainsaw and slasher type stuff) is a but much. Sounds awful to say dead bodies are OK -- but you know what I mean, And I don't like spy stuff, for some reason. Just can't get into it, and I've never liked 007 stuff. I've always liked ALex Cross -- I imagine him as Denzel Washington.

About the treadmill, the last time my home PT was here I asked her about it and she stood by the first time I tried it. It really isn't hard to get on, and my treadmill has a deadman switch, i.e., a clip that you clip to your clothing and if you would fall or something the clip pulls off and the treadmill stops so you don't get further injured. BUT, with the frame to hold on to I feel like it is very safe unless I would get crazy and get the elevation or speed too high. I used to use it a lot so feel pretty comfortable with it.

Are you going to a family member's house for thanksgiving? Bear is back and I guess he is going to cook at his house. Bear loves to cook and is very good at it. Works out well because Heather hates cooking. We usually trade off whose house it will be at and then actually cook together, but I doubt I can help much this year. I probably won't even bring a dish, but Bear will understand. He always does. He's so glad my hips don't clunk and pop anymore like before the surgery. That part grossed HIM out.

Well, better go -- hands are starting to act up. Try not to worry about the dental work too much (easy for ME to say, I know).

Love,
Milli
 
Butterfly Hi, Milli. I'm still in a state of panic re the dental problems, but there's nothing I can do about it until I see my OS next Thursday. Please cross your fingers that he will permit surgery as scheduled. The abscess treatment involves the extraction of one already-broken-off tooth.

Yes, Alex Cross is definitely Denzel. I picture him always (just finished latest Cross book last night), even though in the book he's a white guy. And Sachs will always be Angelina Jolie. I don't mind a little Stephen King occasionally; his book 11/23/63 was absolutely excellent!

Thanksgiving: Well, this year we're dining out, as it were. One of my SILs is going to Tampa to be with her daughter who's recently had her second baby; my other SIL has lots of health issues, from diabetes to bad knee & hip to fading eyesight due to the diabetes, & can't do it; and my daughter & boyfriend are hosting boyfriend's son & wife & serving paella (boyfriend is the chef). Soooo... we are going to a restaurant that's a kind of steak/American type of place that's been around for a million years. I invited a couple of friends to join us, too. Unfortunately I could only get reservations for 7 pm, but c'est la guerre. Turkey & stuffing, here I come! I love TG food!! At least you won't be alone since Bear will be back and COOKING! Is he good?

Are you still having miserable weather? It's gonna screw up a lot of folks' travel plans, they say. I saw some pics of Albuquerque roads that looked treacherous! The weather here is... Nah -- I don't want you to feel bad! Well, gonna call it a day & find a new book. I've got the latest Sue Grafton... maybe I'll try it.

Have a good holiday, Milli. This is one year you've got so much to be thankful for.
 
Josephine I am so upset, I could cry. i'm going nuts after what happened two days ago. . I am SO upset! I went to the dentist for a check-up & cleaning. I had been there last January prior to my TKR. Well, they took x-Rays which hadn't been done since 2011, & have now found "decay" in many areas & what appears to be an abscess in one tooth.

Problem is that all the work I need -- aside from the abscess, which can be done-- cannot be fixed by having a few fillings and extractions done. It would take MONTHS because it is under old bri'dgework & crowns & such, some of which are in long sections, & involves a lot of complicated cosmetic dentistry, including implants, if its done right. In other words, they can't just lift out an old 6- tooth bridge, fix a decay underneath it, & put it back!! I had had a plan worked up to do a lot of work when it was mostly cosmetic, but didn't because I think I couldn't deal with the knee issue & handle the dental stuff. So, I'd put it off.

Now, I am so afraid of my surgeon saying he won't operate & I'll have to suffer for months more!!! I have another OS appt scheduled for Dec. 5, which I was going to do anyway to discuss my other leg. Now this!! Does "decay" equal " infection"? I don't know. I am beside myself with fear of a cancellation.


RTKR, February 2013 -- Dr. Martin Roche
LTHR, January 17, 2014 via anterior MAKOplasty -- Dr. David Padden
OA in both hips & left knee; currently dependent on walker
 
Oh my dear, let me give you a big cyber hug!
[Bonesmart.org] Scared newbie... Hip is shot. What if it doesn't work!!??


I really cannot answer this. It's quite complicated and I have no idea which or what will impact on your surgery if it does. The only person who can give an opinion is your surgeon because at the end of the day, it's his call.
 
Please let us know how your appointment goes. I have my fingers crossed that this will all work out for you. Have a good talk with your surgeon....don't be concerned about asking LOTS of questions. You want to get a good dialoge going and be sure he understands how you feel about having to wait for an extended period of time for your surgery. In the end, he will do what is best for you and you'll have to go with it. After all, we count on these wonderful surgeons we select to keep our best interests at heart.
 
shrinkette Just checking i to say I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving dinner. I went to Bear's house and ate too much, of course.

Can you call your surgeon's office tomorrow or Monday and ask your question about the dental issues, or do you have to wait until your appointment?

Having a bit of a down day today -- for some reason, the last few years, the end of year holidays make me sad. Probably remembering past holidays and those who aren't here any more, or that holidays aren't the way they used to be or some such. Also the fact I ate WAY too much sugar probably doesn't help, either. And I overdid it on my treadmill the other night and have been feeling a bit stiff, and that doesn't help either, I guess.

Peace and love to you.

Milli
 
Ellen~I am so sorry to hear about your dental situation. Is there any way you can talk to your OS earlier...or his assistant by phone and discuss your dental situation? Has your dentist given you a plan/treatment timeline? Maybe you can get the decay/abscess treated and implants placed before the hip surgery? I know it can get complicated, especially if you need bone grafts etc, but I think the concern is more of what you have done after the hip replacement than before. I had a gum graft procedure prior to my hip surgery because my dentist did not want me to have to wait the 3 to 6 months after the THR. I know that is not as complicated as your situation, but I was stressed about it. When I called the OS's office, his assistant explained that they are more concerned about dental procedures after the THR surgery and then it is only for the first 3 months. But I know that every surgeon is different. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
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