THR Schaargi Hip #2 Nov. 2

1. Just in case someone wasn't paying attention... this ice thing really works!!!!

2. Ugh. There is a guy on Instagram who had a THR 1 week ago and is showing off his extreme weight training and brutal exercises in the name of pushing others to work harder during their recoveries.

I'm going back to icing now.
 
@Schaargi ….It’s all good now your managing pain, walking , lil tiny bit of certain exercises are better for you now. Hope your more comfortable. It’s important to stay ahead of the pain to free the mind from stress to letting the healing take over. It takes a lot of energy and calories to heal. Drink protein shakes and vitamins are real at this stage . Will help you feel better and heal.
In a few weeks you will have less pain and will not need any meds. I am very surprised your doing PT this early. I never went to PT once I learned they had no idea what we go thru and actually in many cases cause more damage and set backs. Once after 12 weeks I did water therapy and zero gravity bike and learned breathing to help support and balance hips. Slow and easy does it and just plain ole fashioned walking will get you back on your feet. Once you get to that stage of freedom your mom will be begging you to stop.
And … Oh I don’t know maybe past 8 months or so you’ll almost be back to normal enjoying the freedom as mobility returns. By this time thinking less about the pain and more about “Mindful“ movements . Very important to think first…I felt like a teenager with my first car at that stage. It’s a very freeing Experience. Months of living with osteo hips and then surgery ….it does get a whole lot better.

Layla and Schaargi …. God bless your moms. Your both so lucky to still have them…
Have a Happy Turkey Day…
 
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1. Just in case someone wasn't paying attention... this ice thing really works!!!!

2. Ugh. There is a guy on Instagram who had a THR 1 week ago and is showing off his extreme weight training and brutal exercises in the name of pushing others to work harder during their recoveries.

I'm going back to icing now.
Yuck! I don’t get how these super human people do it. I watched a video of Al Roker, from 2 years ago, when he was 65, going through THR surgery and it showed him 11 days later, walking back on the Today Show set, with no cane and no limp! Its hard to remind yourself, we only see, what people, want you to see, when we want to recover, just like that!

I totally get, how you are feeling, as I figured, I’d be further along, by now. It’s tough, not to get discouraged, especially if you have a setback, but we will get there! Don’t be too hard on yourself! You are doing great! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
 
Thanks @Bodie’sMom!

I'm actually doing much better emotionally. I just got surprised, as I have been so careful and methodical about increasing my movement and decreasing my meds. Gotta listen to that hip, though. It's the one in charge!

I am pretty sure those "superhumans" are icing, taking drugs, and lying on a lounger every minute they aren't in front of the camera, right? :wink:

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
I would suspect they’re very good at hiding things while on camera. We hope they aren’t hampering their healing in the long run. Especially with the weight lifter, I have a hard time believing his surgeon approved that. One suspects perhaps he was stretching the truth in a misguided effort to encourage others.

It’s nice to know you can come here where the people and support are real. You are unique and your recovery is your recovery, as you already know. At this stage of the game, EARLY stage of the game, you’re doing beautifully. The fact that you’re impatient says volumes: you’re past that pain limiting small life of pre op and chomping at the bit to get out there in that big world of possibilities again. Not too much longer now. It’s like when we get a few nice days towards the end of winter. It’s the promise of spring just around the corner. Many blessings for a Happy Thanksgiving. ❤️
 
You are unique and your recovery is your recovery, as you already know. At this stage of the game, EARLY stage of the game, you’re doing beautifully.

Yes, the uniqueness (is that a word?) of every recovery is magnified for me, as this recovery is so spectacularly different than the other hip replacement, which was almost a year and a half earlier.

Going into each surgery, it would seem that the first hip had been set up for a smoother recovery than this hip. For the first hip, I had been really active, slowing down for only 4-6 months before the surgery. Going into this one, I had been sidelined for 2 years. And, yet, this recovery is just short of miraculous compared to the last one, which still has a ways to go.

Yep, each recovery is unique and who knows what combination of variables add up to make it so?
 
@Schaargi Even doing both hips at once I had one hip (right) that took longer to rehab than the other. Just as an example - it took about 3 months to get left foot onto right knee and about 8 months to get right foot onto left knee. For me the right hip was more badly deformed - and had begun fusing to the pelvis so the muscles were in even worse shape that the left hip ( which per my surgeon was also pretty bad).

You will get there :yes:
 
Day 26!

I took a few days off from the larger walks but am still doing mini walks in the house. I didn't do any formal walking or exercising on Thanksgiving. I figured that attending a social event was enough for one day, and, boy, it was! Whew!

Question about pain-- I'm not having real pain, per se, but just an ache in my gluteus medius (side glute) that gets tighter as I use it. It's only about a 1 when I'm not doing much, and creeps up to a 3 if I'm walking, etc. If I do a lot, the ache covers my whole hip area from my waist and goes down the upper part of my leg. Again, not pain but an ache.

I'm ok with it but I don't want to aggravate any tendons. That tendonitis last time was a bear.

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

I hope everyone is doing well!
 
My initial impression is that it’s still your hip letting you know what is too much activity. Your soft tissues are still healing. I remember that sensation. Mine started as an ache and as I, say, walked farther and farther, it felt like my hip was in a vice that someone kept clamping down harder and harder. Waist, through the hip and down upper part of the thigh seems to describe the iliopsoas muscle to a “t”. Those are also some of the main hip flexors. No, you don’t want tendonitis there so listen to your hip and don’t overdo. Ice it after exercise and remember to be patient and kind to yourself. ❤️
 
Thanks, @Hip4life!

I suspected that was the case, but needed some reassurance. I also suspect that the tightness and ache was masked by the heavy meds in the first few weeks. I have been slowly weaning off of them and think I should, as I don't want to mask any messages my hip is giving me that I'm overdoing it.

I recently looked through my old thread and the tendonitis plagued me for over a month. I am a bit paranoid about it. That was rough, to say the least. :sad:
 
Hi Everyone!

I'm at 4 weeks today! Again, amazing recovery compared to last time. My biggest challenge is patience.

Here's my status at 4 weeks after THR anterior approach:

Meds:
  • Still trying to wean off the Tramadol
  • 1000 mg Tylenol twice a day
  • Tramadol to 1/2 dose twice a day-- half of 50 mg=25 mg
  • Oxycodone at night-- half of 5 mg-2.5 mg
  • 81 mg aspirin for blood clot prevention
Icing and elevating once a day, more if needed.

Exercise- mostly just walking:
  • I started PT at 2 weeks and it's been fantastic. My PT just helps me try different things, depending on what is appropriate for the healing cycle. I give her feedback on what I feel, and she helps me modify or tells me to skip it, depending.
  • Light "bed" exercises 1 or 2 times a day
  • Mini walks around the house 3-4 times a day (5 minutes)
  • 1 "big" walk outside for 15 -25 minutes, depending on weather and how I feel
  • I have cut short my "big" walks in the past week, as fatigue and pain has popped up

Mobility:
  • I'm still adhering to my surgeon's restrictions through 6 weeks. Don't extend backward or twist the hip outward, and don't do anything that hurts. Take breaks if sitting. Don't pivot.
  • I ditched the crutches at about 2 weeks and then ditched the cane inside my house at about 3 weeks. My gait is good with the cane and good for shorter distances without. I always take my cane and an "escort" if I'm outside my house.
  • I have a stutter step when getting up in the morning and when standing after sitting.
  • I can take a shower without fatigue (yay!)
  • I can put on shoes and socks with a little awkwardness.
  • I can go up and down one flight of stairs, alternating legs. I'm not pushing to do more at this point.

Sleep:
  • Still rough, although I am definitely sleeping--just not all at once.
  • I can sleep on both sides with copious pillows to prop me up, between my knees, etc. (this is with my surgeon's blessing)
  • One reason is pain-- one side hurts my surgical hip if I'm on it too long, so I roll over on the other side, which isn't as comfortable, so I roll onto my back, which provides pain relief but I can't get comfortable at all)
  • Then, I get hot, then cold, then hot again. Ugh. I can usually deal with it, but can't easily stick my feet outside the covers with the pillow fort and movement restrictions.
  • Another reason is some anxiety, just worrying about injuring my baby hip. I have awakened a couple of times without my pillows (don't know how that happens; just ditch them in my sleep, I guess). Of course when that happens, I worry that I am causing my hip to heal at a weird angle. worry, worry, worry. Working on that, but it still pops up.
  • And then sometimes, I'm just wide awake. I've finished several books in the past few weeks!
That's all I can think of. I am really grateful for where I am. I can scarcely believe it. I definitely have expectations on where I want to be, but am taking one or two days at a time.
 
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@Schaargi what a great update and Happy 4 weeks! You're doing really well, taking it slow and steady with lowering your meds so you don't have to deal with any extra pain.

Mobility sounds good, that stutter step is something a lot of us have dealt with, took a while and sometimes still pops up when I sit for too long. Old age may have a little to do with it for me too! :heehee:

The sleep is always one of the biggest pains. Between trying to get comfortable so you're not feeling any pain while also staying within your guidelines can get so frustrating. And I know most of us worry our heads off that we're going to do something stupid in our sleep and mess everything up. Wish I could share some magic fix but unfortunately it's just one of those things we have to trudge through.

Overall you just seem to be rocking this recovery and I'm so happy for you! :friends:
 
Thanks @Elf1!!! I wouldn't be doing so well if it weren't for you and others on this forum.

I just remembered something else I can do at 4 weeks. I can put lotion and cream on both my feet!

Here's how :heehee:
  1. Put a generous amount of lotion on your non-surgical foot.
  2. Rub it in, but not all the way.
  3. Sit up, and use the newly-lotioned foot to apply lotion to the surgical foot.
Ta da! :wink:
 
Thanks @Elf1!!! I wouldn't be doing so well if it weren't for you and others on this forum.

I just remembered something else I can do at 4 weeks. I can put lotion and cream on both my feet!

Here's how :heehee:
  1. Put a generous amount of lotion on your non-surgical foot.
  2. Rub it in, but not all the way.
  3. Sit up, and use the newly-lotioned foot to apply lotion to the surgical foot.
Ta da! :wink:
Hi Schaargi, I'm so envious you can moisturise your operated foot! I have to wear those horrid compression socks which daughter struggles to get on me, and she told me off for putting lotion on as makes her task more difficult pulling the blighters up!
 
I have to wear those horrid compression socks

Oh, I'm so sorry! I had to wear those socks for 6 weeks for my first THR. Honestly, when I was looking for a different surgeon, I asked all of them if I would have to wear those awful socks. I'm glad this surgeon didn't make me wear them.

When I got to the point I was allowed to take them off, I cut them up in tiny little pieces. "Horrid" is the perfect word.
 
Happy One Month Anniversary, Righty!
Hope you’re having a good day, Schaargi. :wave:

When I got to the point I was allowed to take them off, I cut them up in tiny little pieces.

HaHa! I wanted to have a bonfire and watch mine BURN…but I didn’t. I trashed them instead. They are awful.
 
Thanks, @Layla!

I had a great day. Went to physical therapy (I'm one of those people who have an awesome PT). We tried a few new things and strategized on what seems important for my hip right now.

I'm doing well with activities of daily life, at least in the house and around the neighborhood (I'm not driving yet).

As for the dreaded socks... I thought about burning them but they are synthetic and won't burn! They would just melt and smell. Hence the reason I shredded them. :good-bad:
 
I'm at 5 weeks and doing well! :dogwalk:

I've been doin mini walks in the house, and one "big" walk outside every day. I've walked a mile 3 of the 4 days last week, and today I did it carrying my cane instead of using it. Had no trouble at all! Well, except I locked myself out of the house and had to wait for my husband to come home with his key. :umm:

While I'm slow and not perfect, I can go up and down stairs, bend down to pick something off the floor, cook meals and do light housework. I'm not good at getting up off the floor and am not able to hurry. I do everything slowly. I just don't want to injure anything!

I've started doing more than just the bed exercises and walking. I've played a bit with stepping sideways, walking backwards, and doing mini-squats while holding on to the sink. Just dipping my toes in right now, although I'm dying to do more.

I am down to 1/2 Tramadol and 1/2 Oxycodone a day (at night), and I am going to drop those tonight and just take Tylenol. Once they are out of my system I will be able to drive. Yay!!!!

Still not sleeping well, but might be partly due to my brain zooming all over the place at night. I think the Tramadol messed with my sleep last time, so we'll see how that makes a difference.

My incision looks really good. There was a tiny pinhead sized scab that wouldn't let go, but it fell off over the weekend. I can definitely feel pulling in the area, and sometimes some nips and stings, but they aren't worrisome.

One more week and the major restrictions lift, so I will start seeing how my hip moves and how they both move together. Don't worry, I'm taking it easy.

I'm going out to lunch with a friend tomorrow and am planning on making baklava this week. I can't believe it. Two very rough years, and I'm seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

I read through some of my posts over the last year and a half. Yikes, I've had a rough couple of years. You all were so patient and kind, helping me with all sorts of mental and physical pain. Thanks so much!
 
I have had the same reaction as you to tramadol so I really don't bother with it unless desperate. not sure what they've been giving me here but I will ask...no pain so far. was just operated yesterday. no sexy compression socks here either - when I'm lying down I have a sort of compression legging that velcros on. it's plugged into a motor which inflates and deflates the panels, giving me a gentle massage
 

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