THR Second hip after 6 weeks

[EL11]

@EL11, how the hospital PT stepped up in your case ... which was gutsy on that person's part. Your doctor bf was smart: he wasn't gonna miss an opportunity to endorse a step towards you living better. And he wants a mobile partner ... and a happy partner ... a partner not impaired by pain that was only going to worsen.

Of course, some might say ... you set up this scenario ... not too bad a move to have a doctor in your personal life in your corner to consult in making the decision! ... Long story short in my case: I caught myself one day in January of this year ... spending hours on Amazon looking for orthotics and supportive shoes to cushion my hip and my knee ... and the absurdity of this effort just hit me. (I've been buying orthotics and super-cushiony shoes for years now).

Brain clicked and I knew it was time for surgery.

Yes, my PCP had given me an order for physical therapy; I found out I was entitled to quite a lot of it, so felt I'd just keep going that way for a few years. There were several people who worked with me in the rehab area and this one woman was my favorite. At first she used to say that the level of my hip deterioration seemed at odds with how relatively flexible I was, that maybe my back was more the culprit. But the third time I came in for another round, she gave me quite a scolding when she saw how badly I was walking. I need to go back and fully thank her for bullying me into making a move.

Mm hm, serendipitous about setting myself up with a doctor, haha. But that's not his speciality, and when we started looking for a house, at one point we thought it would need to be a rancher because I had so much trouble on stairs. It turns out that in fact, putting yourself in a position of never having to climb stairs is not a good thing because you get weaker. And you're right, of course he wants me to be mobile and happy. It was news to both of us how minimally invasive this was going to be, the same-day surgery, not even technically the need for PT afterwards. "It's exciting," he said last weekend when I was setting up the downstairs for Round 2.

It is funny about your spending hours looking for supportive shoes, but you know, sometimes we put in lots of energy trying to solve a problem when we haven't realized the solution yet. I too kept trying various orthotics, and I had boxes of heat pads in stock all the time.

 

[lovesstars]

Hey @EL11 how’s it going?

 

[EL11]

Hey @lovesstars , thanks for checking in.

I am doing well. Yesterday I made a list of my meds, not that many, mostly to keep track of the oxycodone, which yesterday I took 3x (2 pills) interspersed with Tylenol. I really need to do it before PT. I am going back and forth between walker and crutches. Sleeping well but woke up really achy in both hips today. It was in the 40s overnight; we had a gas line put in, transitioning from oil, and the heating/cooling guy is going to fire up the system tomorrow. Anyway, generally I'm amazed that both operations are behind me and feeling kind of stoked.

How are you??

 

[lovesstars]

I saw a friend yesterday who reassured me that I shouldn’t feel bad about the walker —that he used only the walker after his knee replacement and it kept his gait correct — that the cane/crutches might give me more gait problems than I want and I should just stay on walker and then go to nothing. (When I use the crutches I am in SO MUCH PAIN hours later....). So....That was super helpful.

Husband is overseas for a week (what was he thinking!?) so I am feeding self, showering self (exhausting!), taking self up and down stairs, getting own ice and entertaining myself. It is a bit of a challenge but I am being brave (some days eating dinner at 4 pm before my body is too exhausted to go to kitchen).

Here also super chilly at night. I like it! I am opening windows first thing in morning. I love the crispness of this season. I am glad you are getting gas! Woohoo! Tomorrow morning I have a painter coming and another fix-it guy. It’s amazing all the things I can think of to do around me when I am just lying around looking at the walls. When the painter came on Friday morning I told him “hey — so I am sorry about the scary toilet riser in the bathroom...you can use the other bathroom if you need to. I am currently the Queen of Medical
Accommodation.

You have the excellent advantage right now that you already know what to expect from this recovery. I know that it is probably not the same for you but now you are day 5/6 (?) and at this point you just have to manage digestive issues, patience and backsliding. Boy oh boy I wish I had a better grasp of what my progress actually would be (which was much different than the BS charts because of complication.)

I hope you have friends bringing you food and flowers and now exhausting you too much — but also not ignoring you!

 

[lovesstars]

(And @EL11 was so happy you posted your profession!). So nice to see!

 

[EL11]

Hey @lovesstars , that was a great post. It makes sense, abut the walker. The gait issue is not to be discounted. Your mentioning how much pain you were in after having used the crutches, made me think.

You seem to be doing so well on your own!

TBH I do not have friends popping by with flowers. I've only been living in MA for two years and most of my friends and colleagues are in LA, but I have plenty of phone and email contact and my bf calls a lot. I enjoy my alone time, and as you saw, I'm a lyricist, so I'm used to spending a lot of time of the couch, ruminating ... I have been working on a musical project with a producer in Paris and composer in LA. Actually, the producer did send flowers, but most of them were cat-unfriendly and had to go upstairs to the master bedroom, where Albert is not allowed.

I have also spent a lot of time thinking about home and garden projects. This is my first time gardening in this climate and I'm about to order bulbs. When, I keep wondering, will all the zinnias bite the dust, when will it be time for mums and ornamental cabbages ... I got some great copper window boxes from Amazon, currently overflowing with potato vines, and I read in some gardener's blog that she put evergreens and pine cones in her window boxes around Thanksgiving.

You have the excellent advantage right now that you already know what to expect from this recovery. I know that it is probably not the same for you but now you are day 5/6 (?) and at this point you just have to manage digestive issues, patience and backsliding.

Yeah, it was scary the first time. I was not scared of the operation for some reason, but the responsibilities involved afterwards. I think I had an exaggerated sense of what my physical limitations were going to be, as if I literally could not reach for anything not precisely at waist level.

Counting the day of surgery, this is day 7. Doing my lying-down leg raises, it was fascinating to see my left leg go up a few inches, my right leg a foot. Last time, I could not lift the surgical-side leg AT ALL for a week and a half. Funny.

 

[lovesstars]

Now now now is the time for the bulbs! Here in Wisconsin they really need to go in before the end of September (yeah, this year no bulb-planting for me) and we will have a freeze for sure in the next two weeks. My ferns are all brown — but happily the hydrangeas have turned that lovely rose/mauve color they turn in the autumn.

And COPPER WINDOW BOXES! OMG I am going to look for some. Great idea! We have lived up here just 8 years (I spent many, many years in LA myself...family still there...) and I have fallen in love with birch trees. As such, despite my many years of using up my life’s energy by scratching, scraping and steaming wallpaper off of walls, I am having wallpaper PUT UP in my littlest bathroom...and it’s wallpaper of birch trees. (Or as I like to say....’it’s birches, bitches’. (Pardon language).

Ah, distraction, distraction. Anything to help me feel as though life is normal.

 

[Tennessee1]

Hi @EL11 and @lovesstars! Fun to see y’all comparing notes and bonding over metal body parts...ha ha. You both seem to be doing very well with your recoveries. I’m proud of you both. Wouldn’t we have fun “doing lunch?” At least it’s a fun thought.

So excited for a moment this morning! I tried six steps using my cane and succeeded. I’m not ready yet, but I CAN walk with it.

@Layla I accidentally turned on my non-surgical (well, actually 1st surgical) side last night. I suffered level 6 to 8 pain the rest of the night in my left (surgical) groin going up into my back. This morning I finally gave in and took a 7.5 oxy. It feels OK sitting down but is still very sensitive. I think I’ll be OK though.

I guess I’m wondering on my time frame on the oxy. First hip I was almost off it by now (19 days). I have mild tremors in my hands and irritability that I’m able to hide when I do without it, so I know I need to be careful and to get off it slowly. The thing is, sometimes, like this morning I really need to take one if I want to do anything like gather up the trash or fold a load of clothes.

Am I staying on it too long or is a few more weeks normal? I haven’t even started to take pills from the prescription after my second surgery. Thanks, and I hope you are having a great day.

 

[lovesstars]

@Tennessee1 we can all meet for Mexican food, apparently. No...didn’t order lunch out today as I planned to...appetite not amazing.

I am pulling for you! Every day is different. You are not staying on it too long (IMHO) and according to what my doctor told me the other day....

 

[EL11]

@Tennessee1 it is a fun thought!

@lovesstars - I'd give you a link but I'm pretty sure that's not allowed.

Our house is a white colonial and I added a lot of color to the front. A landscaper put in the bushes next to the steps; they're Rose of Sharon and now covered with lavender blossoms, and the windwboxes have darkened but are also mostly obscured by the vines now.

 

[lovesstars]

The copper window boxes are lovely on the house. House looks terrific! Very MA! When we lived in the South we had a colonial. Now, in WI, a contemporary/modern. As such, window boxes won’t work on the house but I was looking at the copper planters — the one with modern lines. Double darn on sharing your work. It’s fine. but this is super fun anyway.

Maybe Mexican for dinner.....? I have a few hours to see what my stomach is up for.

I am happy to report that the birch tree wallpaper I was lusting after was put up today and it is gorgeous. So that is super satisfying.

Oh man in a few hours I am REALLY gonna need the ice machine until midnight.

 

[Tennessee1]

Wow does Mexican sound good! People have been amazing to provide food, but I’m learning that I like my own cooking best (shame on me). I’m ready for some authentic Mexican food.

 

[Layla]

Hi @Tennessee1
I'm not really qualified to answer questions in relation to narcotics but from what I've read here I wouldn't be concerned about needing an Oxy here and there at only 19 days post op. @Josephine could quickly address your concerns next time she ventures over to the hip side. I've tagged her.

Congrats on first steps with the cane. Try heel-toe walking when you attempt the cane, if you're limping. It's amazing the difference it makes in your gait. It takes a little concentration because we most often established sloppy walking patterns as our hip deteriorated. Let your heel strike the ground first, followed by toes. I feel as though I walk taller and steadier when I remember to engage. At over one yr post op and I STILL need to remind myself at times. Old habits die hard!

I need to catch up here, it looks like someone is decorating up a storm inside, another outside and possibly ya'll are planning a virtual Mexican dinner together?
Cheers

 

[lovesstars]

(I am ashamed to say that although my friends brought food I am a better cook than 80% of them — SHAME ON ME FOR SAYING IT)

But we were grateful to be fed. I ordered nachos from this one place an hour ago and just got a text that they would not be delivered because the restaurant is closed today. So I have ordered them from another place. Who knows if they will arrive. Another thing in my life totally out of my control.

 

[Layla]

That is funny, you silly goon! @lovesstars I hope you find your Nacho's.
And I really hope none of your friends are reading BoneSmart

 

[Tennessee1]

You know you are invited too! My BF has been most wonderful in providing meals, as have friends and family. But being totally forthcoming, I must be a really good cook or the THR process makes food taste awful. I was thinking of a fantastic Mexican restaurant I’ve visited (far from home) just off the Forni Rd. Exit in Placerville, CA. A large group of hippies making our way in on canes, walkers, crutches, sticks, and proud new gaits would look cute in their steeply sloped parking lot. But I can see the “virtual” gathering inside. Their plates are as big as platters and the food is genuine.

Anyway, thanks for tagging Josephine for me. Additionally for the heel-toe suggestion. One of my biggest goals is to achieve good posture and a normal gait. I certainly limped for many years before the surgeries, so I’ll have to practice and have someone video me so I can see what I need to work on. When I’m able to accompany my dogs on their walks again, I’ll ask them to remind me (I love serious conversations with my dogs because they look back at me so seriously as though they understand. They are probably just listening intently to see if the word “cookie” or “puppy chow” comes up.)

Exactly! Maybe it was all our great cooking that wore out our hips. Be glad you can order food delivery. I live 15 miles from the nearest little town. I’m totally dependent on others to bring or prepare food, except what I can order from Amazon or Walmart delivery through USPS. Enjoy one bite of Nachos for me please!

 

[EL11]

The copper window boxes are lovely on the house. House looks terrific! Very MA! When we lived in the South we had a colonial. Now, in WI, a contemporary/modern. As such, window boxes won’t work on the house but I was looking at the copper planters — the one with modern lines. Double darn on sharing your work. It’s fine. but this is super fun anyway.

It is very MA. This is a lovely street, all well-kept houses of the same vintage with many Colonials and Tudors. Our house was flipped by two local guys who did an unusually painstaking job of maintaining all the period details. It has aluminum siding that has a few dents in the back. Many owners of old Colonials replace the old siding with vinyl, a possibility that caused the flipper to turn pale with dismay.

Modern copper planters sound lovely. Just to be clear, you did not put up the birch wallpaper YOURSELF, did you?

@Tennessee1 - I am supposed to see the pt today and the nurse Friday, and will tell both about my Oxy situation. Post-op appointment is a week from today and I'll be exactly out of pills. One thing is for sure, he won't expect me to stop cold. I slept over 8 hours last night, no bad dreams.

 

[lovesstars]

It is very MA. This is a lovely street, all well-kept houses of the same vintage with many Colonials and Tudors. Our house was flipped by two local guys who did an unusually painstaking job of maintaining all the period details. It has aluminum siding that has a few dents in the back. Many owners of old Colonials replace the old siding with vinyl, a possibility that caused the flipper to turn pale with dismay.

Modern copper planters sound lovely. Just to be clear, you did not put up the birch wallpaper YOURSELF, did you?

@Tennessee1 - I am supposed to see the pt today and the nurse Friday, and will tell both about my Oxy situation. Post-op appointment is a week from today and I'll be exactly out of pills. One thing is for sure, he won't expect me to stop cold. I slept over 8 hours last night, no bad dreams.

Yay for no bad dreams!!!

Omg no I did not put it up myself. I had a guy come to do it. Husband still in Paris but this morning I asked the painter to help me with ice machine. (Mary poppins indeed!). Wallpaper is pale metallic blue with black/white/cream/grey birch trees. In my opinion it’s gorgeous and a great distraction from this hip adventure.

Vinyl siding!!! The horror!!

 

[SurreyGirl]

Pictures please that wallpaper sounds lovely!

 

[lovesstars]

But metallic.