THR Some worries and questions... day 6

[Jamie]

Kelly, I'll second what Janet said. Please, hon....give yourself some TIME to heal! I don't care what other people did. YOUR body will heal on its own schedule and not one day sooner.

I understand that your therapist was trying to help you by having you walk with a shoe on one foot. But....in all honesty, that's probably not a good thing to do for very long. You feel like your body is off balance because of having the bad hip. Your body adjusted by tilting your pelvis. Now that things are straightened out, you need to allow your body time for the pelvis to readjust and get in its proper position. That only comes with time. You'll delay the process if you provide a lift (or shoe) on the leg that feels shorter.

Are you trying to walk without any aids??? I wouldn't recommend that either until you have built up strength in your legs and achieved a good gait. It's much too soon for you to be at that point right now, so please use a walker, crutches or cane to help you as you strengthen. You must develop new, correct walking habits.

By the way, could you please put your surgery date in your signature like the rest of us do? It makes it SO much easier to know how to properly respond to you when you post.

You can find the instructions here How to create a signature.

Once you've done this, your signature should appear in all your posts automatically. If it does not show up, go to your User Control Panel (link right at the top of the page on the right) and then to Edit Options in the menu on the left. Scroll down a bit until you see this - and make sure all three boxes are ticked as in the picture

That also applies to anyone else who is reading this.
Thank you.
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

 

[vivb]

I don't know why doctors never seem to tell how TOUGH the recovery phase is. I think I would have gone mad without all the great people on bonesmart. Even so,it took me about 7 weeks to start to follow all the wonderful advice! Feeling down and low seems to be part of the process too - so don't stint on little rewards and pleasures. You will be so proud of yourself eventually, I promise! :wubroses:

 

[Josephine]

So I had xrays yesterday, and the hip seems to be ok... I am still a bit concerned because it seems still more painful to walk than it should... and there is an odd "popping" sensation... (for lack of a better word) near the groin area of my hip... this sensation isn't painful... sorta like the feeling you get when you crack your knuckle.... is this normal? It scares me to the point that I am afraid to put too much weight on the leg..... I am 9 days into the new hip at this point.

Did you actually read these articles I posted for you a few posts back? If you did, read them again and if you didn't you should because all of those questions are addressed in them.

Here they are again
Pain management and the pain chart
How Long Does Healing Take ......
Chart representation of THR recovery
Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain

 

[special lady]

Kelly, I hope your feeling better !

I loved this: "In real life, for months or even years before the ordeal we are walking on one stick, or two sticks or maybe not walking at all. Then we are starved, terrified, threatened, anaesthetised, catheterised, patronised, cut open, sawed, drilled, pummelled and then put together again and stitched, as if we are cloth samplers at the beginners' needlework class."

I'm going to copy this and bring it to my Orthopedic surgeon. If I know him he will frame it and hang it up on the wall for all the patients that think they should be hiking, skiing, running, and doing great sooner then what is actually possible!

 

[nanamac]

:hysterical: I loved it too! Ain't that the truth! And I think the reason these doctors don't explain any of this is because they have not been the one to go through it nd don't have a clue!

Chick, you may want to see if your prescrition says "take 1-2" as you may need a little more pain relief these firs few weeks. There is nothing wrong with taking 2 tablets, it is quite safe. Ask his office.

You need to be adequately medicated to be able to do the exercise and the pt. That is great thet you bought the ice packs. I had them all over my leg!

It really does help. Don't leave them on for too long though. It is better to ice for 20 minutes a number of times a day than to leave it on for a long time a few times a day.

You sound better already Chick. That's a good thing! Hang in there !

 

[staffsknot]

I loved this: "In real life, for months or even years before the ordeal we are walking on one stick, or two sticks or maybe not walking at all. Then we are starved, terrified, threatened, anaesthetised, catheterised, patronised, cut open, sawed, drilled, pummelled and then put together again and stitched, as if we are cloth samplers at the beginners' needlework class."

I'm going to copy this and bring it to my Orthopedic surgeon. If I know him he will frame it and hang it up on the wall for all the patients that think they should be hiking, skiing, running, and doing great sooner then what is actually possible!

Oh dear, Special Lady,

I feel really guilty now. My surgeon was model of courtesy. The nurses who told me I was in good hands with him were absolutely right. He was a treasure and the sewing back together was a model of neatness. You'll have to take my word for that because I have the feeling that nobody wants to see pictures of my scar on Bonesmart.

So I plead guilty to my own bit of embroidery in describing my experience. Yes, I did feel knocked about afterwards, but it was emphatically not through any lack of skill or care on the part of the professionals who treated me. I just wanted to make the point that we have been through a rough time, to help cheer up people who are feeling disconsolate at the beginning of their journeys.

All the best, Alan

 

[C Mac]

Kelly said, "So I had xrays yesterday, and the hip seems to be ok... I am still a bit concerned because it seems still more painful to walk than it should... and there is an odd "popping" sensation... (for lack of a better word) near the groin area of my hip... this sensation isn't painful... sorta like the feeling you get when you crack your knuckle.... is this normal? It scares me to the point that I am afraid to put too much weight on the leg..... I am 9 days into the new hip at this point. My in home physical therapist gave me some good tips...(like walking with a shoe on my un-operated leg since it is now shorter than the new leg.... sigh). This does seem to make walking a bit easier...... this is so much more than I expected it to be :( "



Hi Kelly,
Maybe what you are sensing in your groin area is related to tendons and/or ligaments since all was well with your x-ray. The swelling in your hip certainly has an impact on how all the other parts of that joint work and right now your body is trying to settle from having a big trauma -- even if you didn't have muscle cut.

It doesn't sound like your doc has recommended that you restrict your weight bearing on the operated leg, but it does sound like your body is telling you to -- my body also did this and still does to a lesser degree at 3 months out from my surgery. Listen to your body as it attempts to heal and get it's "new normal" going.

You may have some leg length discrepancy once everything settles down in a few months, but you also may have less than you perceive right now -- some may be due to the post-surgical swelling.

I also experienced the feeling that the recuperation phase was "way more than I expected it to be" and I had a lot of re-adjusting of my expectations. In the first week or two at home I just hoped to feel a little bit better with each day -- "baby steps" we called it. Some of the medications can also contribute to feeling a bit blue, or sad, while they are alleviating our surgical pains - as well.

Take care,
Cardie


RTHR - anterior approach 6/30/11, still working out the kinks...

 

[nanamac]

Alan! Please don't take offense at what we wrote! It was of course comical, not a bad mark for ANY of the surgeons, yet pretty much the truth! In lay man's terms, you described it with brilliance and humor!

I've said it before on here, if we didn't make light of this we'd really be a mess. Please do not worry about what you wrote. I LOVED it!

 

[special lady]

Alan,

I didn't take it as you were putting your surgeon's skills down at all. I think it was cute the way you worded what it feels like our bodies are put through during such invasive surgeries. It's nice to read some humor and I'd have to agree you put it into words on the way we all must feel or felt at least a little bit right after surgery.

I really did smile and laugh when you made that post, so for me it's all good, I needed a good laugh when it's difficult not to think about my next surgery Monday. So thank you for writing it.

 

[Ginette]

Thank you Janet, I am really am trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.... it is so nice to know folks on this board have all been through this before.... the folks I know personally all sailed through this surgery. Today I was up every hour and walked even if it was just to the bathroom, but I do feel like I made a little progress. The stories on this board are moving, and have made me feel better about my own progress....

The pain meds that have been prescribed is Percocet... I am taking 1 tablet every 3 hours... they seem to work OK, the pain is never completely gone, but it is manageable.... I just started icing regularly today since my thigh, knee, calf and ankle are still pretty swollen.... so we got some huge ice packs that pretty much cover my whole leg and I iced about 4 times today..... my doctor never told me to ice, but the PT did yesterday so I did.


Again... I thank you all for your suggestions, stories, compassion and knowledge

Hugs,
Kelly

hello newhip,

It's a very difficult and scary time to go through. I'm glad that the xray indicates that there is nothing wrong. It is scary when we hear some noise but you are doing well. It's a major operation. Keep icing and take your pain killer. I found that icing really help to reduce the inflamation and the pain. You will see that each day it will get a little easier. There are always some ups and down...i found the downs very scary but believe it is normal...In the end it will all be ok....Soon you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. You are doing well

 

[Nana Abbey]

Dear New Hip,
I am just a little over 5 weeks out. The real turning point for me seemed to be the 4 week mark. After that every day seems to get a little easier. Remember with the hip it is a matter of strength and endurance which takes time to build up. You will feel better and then you will not for a while and will bounce back and forth daily. But trust me the better times will outrule the not so better times very soon. Take your pain meds, do your therapy, move as much as you are allowed and rest when you can. I promise, it gets better.
Nana Abbey

 

[Josephine]

Quite correct, Nana - as I explain in this thread Chart representation of THR recovery

 

[The Cappuccino Kid]

Kelly, as others have said, it does get better. Just give yourself a chance. Hope you're feeling good today.

 

[gizmo]

Well do not be discouraged or disappointed Kelly. I am still pre-op and I think all you post oppers are so brave. We pre oppers need your bravery to inspire us.Its likely you were scared and even terrified and yet in search of your dreams you went through with it all. My kids seem to delight in similiar graphics to you Alan. "They will cut you and saw you and drill you mum and how do you feel about that". Truth is I am terrified and I need people like you Kelly and the others here just to say "I've done it and I'm here to tell my story." You didn't cancel and run but faced it all head on and you are so so brave. You've enough to think about without worrying about more surgery at the moment. Put that in its own mental file to be returned to at a later date. For now thankyou for being an inspiration.

 

[newhipchick]

A week at home.....

Thank you Josephine... I did look at the articles you posted... the first two wouldn't work for me though :(

I was able to get into bed today without the aid of a strap or my cane to pull my leg into bed... I suppose that is progress... I will admit I am pretty blue tonight though. I am getting up every hour, but I am only up and moving for about 15 minutes MAYBE before I sit back down.

The "knuckle popping" feeling toward my groin has not stopped and is in fact now doing it even while I am sitting and doing my thigh and buttock squeezes. My PT said it was ligaments and she something about a "flap" ???? I kinda got lost on the flap part.

I am still walking with a walker (I was asked that question above I don't dare leave my chair without it... LOL.... and I am still walking with the shoe on one foot... my leg is literally 3/4 of an inch longer... which I was told will be corrected with the second surgery... which at this point I am not game for.....

Sorry for the blue-sy reply tonight... it's been tears-ville for me this evening....

 

[newhipchick]

Added a signature... I think

 

[Jamie]

Great....your signature workded!!

Those blues are sometimes part of the recovery process. Be sure you are getting as much rest, nourishing food and water as possible. Also, be sure your pain is adequately controlled. As you gain strength, things should get better for you. Please continue to let us know how you're doing!

 

[Josephine]

There they are again - those two are extremely important

article one
article two

 

[newhipchick]

thank you Josephine... both are very interesting articles... I find the pain medication one most interesting since this is the area that bothers me the most.... my nurse and PT want me to take the max which is 2 tablets every 4 hours... but I have a hard time doing that... I have been taking 1 tablet every 3 hours (splitting the difference... LOL) I may try the full dose on my next two doses and see if that helps.....

walking has seemed to actually get worse today instead of better.... I can put my full weight on the leg when I am standing still, but when I am taking a step the pain is pretty severe in my thigh toward my groin (where I felt the popping... which I have not felt today) and along the back of of buttock. I am walking for 10 to 15 minutes and icing 15 minutes after walking every hour today... I hope I start to show some improvement....

Thanks again for the articles.... I have saved them to refer to again.... thank you for your sharing and kindness

 

[waltern31]

Got my hip done in April of this year, and belive me day 6 was no picnic for me either, I to was about 50 pounds over, and it was not easy to get around.
I felt all kinds of grinding noises too, and it felt like a clicking sound when I moved around, all that will go away in time. It takes a good 3 months befor you feel like a human being again, It's been 6 months for me and I still have back pain after a long day of work. On thing in my favor is I went from 255 to 190 in 6 monmths using the south beach diet and I feel a lot better, so pounds do have a lot to do with it.
Hang in there, and do your reabilitation regularly without cheating, it's really important. W