THR Sometimes peachy, sometimes the pits
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Songlady
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LeeApril26 and Maeve...I generally use the church handicap entrance, which has no stairs. 
However, I'm sure any church would be fine with letting anyone practice stairs! lol We sure wouldn't mind that... we just try to keep the skateboarders off the curbs around the parking area......
It's unsettling to come out a door into a skateboard feat!
Peaches, Thanks for your reflections on sitting and becoming stiff (in another thread..) ! I'll try to be more observant of my own habits. I have been standing a lot all morning and puttering, picking through the piles of paper that has accumulated all around the house......
However, I'm sure any church would be fine with letting anyone practice stairs! lol We sure wouldn't mind that... we just try to keep the skateboarders off the curbs around the parking area...... It's unsettling to come out a door into a skateboard feat!Peaches, Thanks for your reflections on sitting and becoming stiff (in another thread..) ! I'll try to be more observant of my own habits. I have been standing a lot all morning and puttering, picking through the piles of paper that has accumulated all around the house......
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Peaches
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I LOVE the "hijacking"! It's like having company, but I don't have to dress up nice. Maeve and LeeApril26 ... nope, you are not alone. Move over. I only darken a church whenever I'm invited to something like a wedding, funeral, christening, or a concert. In fact I had to avoid Christmas concert just last year because of the dreaded "standing room only" warning. Because of this blasted hip! I went to a unitarian church for a while, but actually stopped going because of the stairs!
Lenora, are you able to do regular steps without the cane and bannister? You are doing great, in any event. But yes, the knees have to be considered. The one thing my PT really warned me about was how stairs are hard on anyone, especially the knees, and should be the last frontier for a THR patient. I don't think I will ever want to do stairs again without the bannister.
Did anyone here ever read Arianna Huffington's blog post (on the Huffington Post, of course) about her THR? How she could no longer walk up steps during one of her many grand trips abroad. You should read it. Very interesting. By the way...I'm sure AH was not dismissed at six weeks with a "see you in a year" buh-bye!
Martha Stewart's blog about her THR was interesting too.
And speaking of celebrities, did anyone see the Billy Joel interview in the Sunday New York Times a few weeks ago? He mentioned having had a THR (maybe bilaterial?). He said (and is this really true?) that he had hip dysplasia because back in his day, obstetricians pulled babies out with forceps and that caused hip dysplasia. I know about the forceps; didn't know THAT caused hip dysplasia. I'm not sure I'll take Billy's word for it, but I'll take a Bone Smartonian's.
Maybe there should be a thread in the social room for Celebrity Hips, which could include notices of when they've written about their experiences. If nothing else, we'd see what it's like to get the royal treatment from an OS and could gnash our teeth at having considerably less....
Lenora, are you able to do regular steps without the cane and bannister? You are doing great, in any event. But yes, the knees have to be considered. The one thing my PT really warned me about was how stairs are hard on anyone, especially the knees, and should be the last frontier for a THR patient. I don't think I will ever want to do stairs again without the bannister.
Did anyone here ever read Arianna Huffington's blog post (on the Huffington Post, of course) about her THR? How she could no longer walk up steps during one of her many grand trips abroad. You should read it. Very interesting. By the way...I'm sure AH was not dismissed at six weeks with a "see you in a year" buh-bye!
Martha Stewart's blog about her THR was interesting too.
And speaking of celebrities, did anyone see the Billy Joel interview in the Sunday New York Times a few weeks ago? He mentioned having had a THR (maybe bilaterial?). He said (and is this really true?) that he had hip dysplasia because back in his day, obstetricians pulled babies out with forceps and that caused hip dysplasia. I know about the forceps; didn't know THAT caused hip dysplasia. I'm not sure I'll take Billy's word for it, but I'll take a Bone Smartonian's.
Maybe there should be a thread in the social room for Celebrity Hips, which could include notices of when they've written about their experiences. If nothing else, we'd see what it's like to get the royal treatment from an OS and could gnash our teeth at having considerably less....
TeeEm
senior
Maybe there should be a thread in the social room for Celebrity Hips, which could include notices of when they've written about their experiences. If nothing else, we'd see what it's like to get the royal treatment from an OS and could gnash our teeth at having considerably less....
Peaches that's a great idea. Famous brits I know of are wayne sleep (ballet dancer) nick shelton (olympic equestrian gold medalist and Toyah Wilcox - who was a famous singer in the 80s - read somewhere she has had both her hips done.
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Peaches
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ByGosh; TeeEm; Poppet; Songlady; LeeApril26; @Zauberflote; Elosarabrab; Maeve; Littlejem; sandybeach; bottomshollow; Nannyannie; and I'm sorry if I have left anyone out ... sure didn't mean to!
Well, thanks for checking in. I laugh every time I wheel by that surgery video clip, with the ominous bloody hip. I did watch the first part--the interview part--and listened to most of the surgery, but did not watch it. I have to ease my way into it. Maeve, I also had a WTH?! moment when that surgeon casually said he made the incision bigger "for the camera" ... but I'm sure the patient must have been informed first. Let's hope so! I cringed when the surgeon said he was glad that the patient was slender. I worried about my OS having to plow through all of my post-menopausal fat (still blaming everything on menopause, even though that ship sailed ten years ago! ... still like to get as much mileage out of it, anyway). I need to get the guts to watch that video because I want to see if they do lean on your knee hard and really man-handle you. I always want to see if they twirl you around like a rag dolll to make sure the hip socket is secure.
Thanks for the reminder about ice, Poppet ... and to LeeApril26Lenora, or was it Josephine, who recommended those ice packs you can buy that you just squeeze and they turn cold? I must get those. Why did I get so cavalier about ice lately? They aren't just for recovery, right? They are for life. Well, there are worse things.
Poppet, I would LOVE to see that 3D thing you played with. Do you recall where you saw it?
Thank you, Songlady, for the info about steps. I am practicing doing them regular style, with cane and white knuckles and bannister, but on a very limited basis. But daily. I do think it's ridiculous that every article you see about THR is that the patient must be able to do stairs before being released from hospital, yet they don't define "do stairs" as toddler style. And when I think of people in houses, who have steps of all sizes and contortions, I don't know how they feel prepared when they go home. I am lucky to not have to deal with steps too much at all. I don't have to take the subway as I am lucky enough to have a bus near me. Hope I didn't lead anyone wrong about that. I stopped the subway a few months before surgery as I got too stressed out about the staris, crowds, standing, never geting a seat, etc.
LeeApril26, please describe your Crazy NYC Lady stare. I need to add it to my arsenal. Maybe I have one and don't know it.
LittleJem, just so you know: I was having a pretty good week prior to surgery! Walking without much of a limp. I still had to do these small steps in my building like a crab-walk, which might be a distant cousin to Zauberflote's ape-style. It was horrible.
Nannyannie, maybe you could give us a movie review of the video ... like tell us where the gory parts are? I also laugh outloud at things I read here. LeeApril26, I am still laughing at what you said elsewhere about "sawing madly" at your toenails with the emory board.
bottomshollow, where do you find your avatars?? Always look forward to them. You should find one for Scary Stairs. Also: Stinky Toilet Riser. Which, by the way, is once again cohabiting my apartment. Much as I wanted to toss him out on his stinky behind ... I decided to baby myself and perch atop it for a while longer since getting down to my low-riser toilet from the 1970s or earlier is TOO PAINFUL. It's like playing Limbo. Too soon! My walker, however, has long been reassigned duty to that of drying rack for hand-washed items. I still need the sock thing for my operated leg, thanks to the bizarre six-month restriction I have. But this week's milestone was sitting in a chair and leaning over and putting on the sock and shoe on the non-op side. I think that's my only milestone for my
EIGHT WEEKS UNDER MY BELT report.
More later ....... Hope everyone is having good weather.
Littlejem, I hope you are having a good weekend this final one (is that right?) before your surgery.
Well, thanks for checking in. I laugh every time I wheel by that surgery video clip, with the ominous bloody hip. I did watch the first part--the interview part--and listened to most of the surgery, but did not watch it. I have to ease my way into it. Maeve, I also had a WTH?! moment when that surgeon casually said he made the incision bigger "for the camera" ... but I'm sure the patient must have been informed first. Let's hope so! I cringed when the surgeon said he was glad that the patient was slender. I worried about my OS having to plow through all of my post-menopausal fat (still blaming everything on menopause, even though that ship sailed ten years ago! ... still like to get as much mileage out of it, anyway). I need to get the guts to watch that video because I want to see if they do lean on your knee hard and really man-handle you. I always want to see if they twirl you around like a rag dolll to make sure the hip socket is secure.
Thanks for the reminder about ice, Poppet ... and to LeeApril26Lenora, or was it Josephine, who recommended those ice packs you can buy that you just squeeze and they turn cold? I must get those. Why did I get so cavalier about ice lately? They aren't just for recovery, right? They are for life. Well, there are worse things.
Poppet, I would LOVE to see that 3D thing you played with. Do you recall where you saw it?
Thank you, Songlady, for the info about steps. I am practicing doing them regular style, with cane and white knuckles and bannister, but on a very limited basis. But daily. I do think it's ridiculous that every article you see about THR is that the patient must be able to do stairs before being released from hospital, yet they don't define "do stairs" as toddler style. And when I think of people in houses, who have steps of all sizes and contortions, I don't know how they feel prepared when they go home. I am lucky to not have to deal with steps too much at all. I don't have to take the subway as I am lucky enough to have a bus near me. Hope I didn't lead anyone wrong about that. I stopped the subway a few months before surgery as I got too stressed out about the staris, crowds, standing, never geting a seat, etc.
LeeApril26, please describe your Crazy NYC Lady stare. I need to add it to my arsenal. Maybe I have one and don't know it.
LittleJem, just so you know: I was having a pretty good week prior to surgery! Walking without much of a limp. I still had to do these small steps in my building like a crab-walk, which might be a distant cousin to Zauberflote's ape-style. It was horrible.
Nannyannie, maybe you could give us a movie review of the video ... like tell us where the gory parts are? I also laugh outloud at things I read here. LeeApril26, I am still laughing at what you said elsewhere about "sawing madly" at your toenails with the emory board.
bottomshollow, where do you find your avatars?? Always look forward to them. You should find one for Scary Stairs. Also: Stinky Toilet Riser. Which, by the way, is once again cohabiting my apartment. Much as I wanted to toss him out on his stinky behind ... I decided to baby myself and perch atop it for a while longer since getting down to my low-riser toilet from the 1970s or earlier is TOO PAINFUL. It's like playing Limbo. Too soon! My walker, however, has long been reassigned duty to that of drying rack for hand-washed items. I still need the sock thing for my operated leg, thanks to the bizarre six-month restriction I have. But this week's milestone was sitting in a chair and leaning over and putting on the sock and shoe on the non-op side. I think that's my only milestone for my
EIGHT WEEKS UNDER MY BELT report.
More later ....... Hope everyone is having good weather.
Littlejem, I hope you are having a good weekend this final one (is that right?) before your surgery.
zauberflöte
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Peaches I wonder if a breech presentation that couldn't be turned and had to have forceps would cause risk? Don't look at me, I got my babies the easy way-- no gestation, no labor, no delivery, baby in the arms all cute and snuggly
I categorically refuse to read famous people's blogs, even THR ones LOL. I did used to read Martha Stewart Living back before the ankle bracelet (what was with that, would I have gotten that????). I loved the colors and textures. Her chat, not so much...
I categorically refuse to read famous people's blogs, even THR ones LOL. I did used to read Martha Stewart Living back before the ankle bracelet (what was with that, would I have gotten that????). I loved the colors and textures. Her chat, not so much...
nmscienceteacher
senior
Feet up, lunch time...just checking in on the crew and I must say all of you seem to be stepping out in style (really could not resist) over here on Peaches thread! Guess I will have to step it up and try some stairs to get caught up.
TeeEm
senior
The first few times going up and downstairs at home was a bit like an expedition to the summit of mount everest with a team of sherpas (husband and son) coming up behind me carrying all my stuff. And I never did crack carrying both crutches together going down stairs - I would fling one crutch down the stairs ahead of me. It always got stuck half way down, so Id have keep knocking it down with the crutch I was using when I got to it. Scared the cat that likes to sit itself on the middle of the stairs witless on more than one occasion.
LeeApril26
post-grad
Good to hear from you Peaches. Terrific report as usual.
I live in a duplex. I can go up the stairs normally, holding the bannister with no cane. I can come down without the cane, in fact, it is easier than using the cane now, but I am still going down toddler style. The PT said the glutes on the operated side are atrophied some, and it will take six weeks of doing the glute exercises to solve the problem.
And, the stairs in my apartment are a lot different than the subway, which are steeper and filled with people. The PT suggested I wait the six weeks before trying that. Bummer. No haircut for six more weeks. My next avatar will be me with a bag over my head. To conclude stairs, I couldn't go up and down on the subway without holding onto the bannister before the hip problem, so I doubt I will ever do so after. And, I need my regular dose of creepy viruses and bacteria. I figure if a plague hits, the subway bannisters and poles with have given me enough antibodies to protect me for the rest of my life!
I have heard about Martha S. and Ariana H. and their THRs, but have not read them. Learning how the other half has hip surgery might spark that old 60s protester in me, and send me back out with a protest sign.
Can anyone tell me what ROTFL means? Hope I'm not being rude. I read and liked the Billy Joel article and wondered about the breech delivery. I was almost two months premature, and my feet were very undeveloped, but I don't know if forceps were involved. Too late to find ou
Don't feel bad about blaming the weight gain on menopause ten years ago. I am still blaming mine on quitting my 3-pack a day habit in 1973 so I could get pregnant safely. Developed the habit while my now husband then boyfriend was in Viet Nam, so seriously none of it was my fault.
Okay Crazy New Yorker glare: No eye contact, staring out blankly at surroundings, facial expression a grimace. Very useful when your fellow subway riders are scary. Much better in NYC these days, but into the 80s having a subway persona was always helpful.
Have a restful weekend.
I live in a duplex. I can go up the stairs normally, holding the bannister with no cane. I can come down without the cane, in fact, it is easier than using the cane now, but I am still going down toddler style. The PT said the glutes on the operated side are atrophied some, and it will take six weeks of doing the glute exercises to solve the problem.
And, the stairs in my apartment are a lot different than the subway, which are steeper and filled with people. The PT suggested I wait the six weeks before trying that. Bummer. No haircut for six more weeks. My next avatar will be me with a bag over my head. To conclude stairs, I couldn't go up and down on the subway without holding onto the bannister before the hip problem, so I doubt I will ever do so after. And, I need my regular dose of creepy viruses and bacteria. I figure if a plague hits, the subway bannisters and poles with have given me enough antibodies to protect me for the rest of my life!
I have heard about Martha S. and Ariana H. and their THRs, but have not read them. Learning how the other half has hip surgery might spark that old 60s protester in me, and send me back out with a protest sign.
Can anyone tell me what ROTFL means? Hope I'm not being rude. I read and liked the Billy Joel article and wondered about the breech delivery. I was almost two months premature, and my feet were very undeveloped, but I don't know if forceps were involved. Too late to find ouDon't feel bad about blaming the weight gain on menopause ten years ago. I am still blaming mine on quitting my 3-pack a day habit in 1973 so I could get pregnant safely. Developed the habit while my now husband then boyfriend was in Viet Nam, so seriously none of it was my fault.
Okay Crazy New Yorker glare: No eye contact, staring out blankly at surroundings, facial expression a grimace. Very useful when your fellow subway riders are scary. Much better in NYC these days, but into the 80s having a subway persona was always helpful.
Have a restful weekend.
ByGosh
post-grad
Peaches ByGosh TeeEm Poppet Songlady LeeApril26 zauberflöte Elosarabrab Maeve Littlejem sandybeach bottomshollow Nannyannie nmscienceteacher And anyone else who happens along - hello! Yes, this is a lively, if high-jacked, thread today. Lovely day here in Conn. - warm, sun is shining, not too humid.
I will definately read about Ms. Huffington's THR, also Martha's and Billy's, thanks for the tip. I imagine if I google them, I'd find wherever they're written? It will be interesting to hear how things went for them. And I imagine if it all wasn't "peachy", they got someone to make it peachy pretty quick!
I'm still not going to watch any hip replacement surgery - but maybe the animated one that Songlady so kindly posted. Someday...
Well, my Goshette's (daughter -thanks, zauberflote, that's cute) high school graduation went very well. No rain, thank goodness. I managed fine, took a million pictures, came home in one piece, and I seem to be doing fine today. Now the graduate, on the other hand, had a sleepover party last night and 3 graduation parties to go to today, so she, on the other hand, is dragging her happy but tired self around today.
I hope you all are enjoying your weekends and are having nice weather.. I don't want to take up all of Peaches thread, so I'll say bye for now. Hope your 2nd week at work went well for you Peaches. Rest and ice.
I will definately read about Ms. Huffington's THR, also Martha's and Billy's, thanks for the tip. I imagine if I google them, I'd find wherever they're written? It will be interesting to hear how things went for them. And I imagine if it all wasn't "peachy", they got someone to make it peachy pretty quick!
I'm still not going to watch any hip replacement surgery - but maybe the animated one that Songlady so kindly posted. Someday...
Well, my Goshette's (daughter -thanks, zauberflote, that's cute) high school graduation went very well. No rain, thank goodness. I managed fine, took a million pictures, came home in one piece, and I seem to be doing fine today. Now the graduate, on the other hand, had a sleepover party last night and 3 graduation parties to go to today, so she, on the other hand, is dragging her happy but tired self around today.
I hope you all are enjoying your weekends and are having nice weather.. I don't want to take up all of Peaches thread, so I'll say bye for now. Hope your 2nd week at work went well for you Peaches. Rest and ice.
Poppet
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Yes they do often lean on your knee hard and really man-handle you and twirl you around like a rag dolll to make sure the hip socket is secure. You should have seen the physical action my OS showed me that he did in theatre... Said to me, you will never use these kinds of combined movements in normal daily living... He really is a sweetie!
I will try and find the 3D application for you Peaches.. There was nothing gorey about it, that is why I liked it
I will try and find the 3D application for you Peaches.. There was nothing gorey about it, that is why I liked it
Liveringer
graduate
LeeApril26 It stands for "rolling on the floor laughing"
@ Peaches Good report from you! Everyone have a wonderful weekend!
Songlady
graduate
Hi Peaches and all - I think you are doing great. I thought today about your post in regard to being "more realistic" about your recovery as I was out and about with Songboy today, buying a little something for his dad for Father's Day tomorrow.....and I thought, well, right, I won't be a ballet dancer now just because of THR, but.... I do want to be able to enjoy "my" normal activities without limping or hurting! And I believe that day will come, though absolute recovery does take a good deal of time. For now, I'm ok toddling along....
which brings me to Stairs. So, apparently I had been doing stairs toddler-style since way before my OS thought my left hip needed replacing! It's going to take me awhile to get those muscles up and going. Interestingly, when Im out in public, adrenaline or something kicks in and I "do" much better than at home?! What in the world?!
which brings me to Stairs. So, apparently I had been doing stairs toddler-style since way before my OS thought my left hip needed replacing! It's going to take me awhile to get those muscles up and going. Interestingly, when Im out in public, adrenaline or something kicks in and I "do" much better than at home?! What in the world?!
LeeApril26
post-grad
ByGosh
post-grad
Songlady I tend to slow down in public, just the oppostite of you. I guess I'm afraid to fall on uneven pavement or a wet pool deck or shower room. And I still use my cane out and about, just for the security, I think.
It doesn't matter, as long as we can get from point A to point B without getting hurt or causing ungodly pain. That's my simple goal for now. Later, maybe I'll think more about things that used to be important before pain and disability took over - like looking attractive, looking fit, wearing nice shoes, pants that aren't pull-up yoga pants - IF any of that ever happens again. Maybe this is it for me. This is me. Aged 20 years in 1 year, lost my mobility, in pain most of the time, unless I'm resting with ice....oh, no, sorry! - that sounds too pessimistic! No, I won't accept that! This is temporary during recovery, and I'll gain back everything again, in time, just give it time... There, much , much better!
It doesn't matter, as long as we can get from point A to point B without getting hurt or causing ungodly pain. That's my simple goal for now. Later, maybe I'll think more about things that used to be important before pain and disability took over - like looking attractive, looking fit, wearing nice shoes, pants that aren't pull-up yoga pants - IF any of that ever happens again. Maybe this is it for me. This is me. Aged 20 years in 1 year, lost my mobility, in pain most of the time, unless I'm resting with ice....oh, no, sorry! - that sounds too pessimistic! No, I won't accept that! This is temporary during recovery, and I'll gain back everything again, in time, just give it time... There, much , much better!
Elosarabrab
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That is the same as me including scaring the cat with flinging the crutch down the stairs
TeeEm
senior
Elosarabrab Im glad Im not the only one who doesnt get the carrying the other crutch bit. I throw lots of stuff over the banisters from the landing as well. The poor cat goes flying when a load of washing comes flying down. 
Elosarabrab
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Yes me too. I tie the handles of the wash basket when its full and chuck it down the stairs. I broke a grabber chucking that down the stairs so that's not recommended.
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