THR The Cyborg Buildout Continues…

[IronGirl6]

So I’m a week out from a right anterior THR with a phenomenal surgeon, nervous - but also looking forward to getting my life back once again. I’ve got a lot of athlete friends who’ve done this and are extremely pleased!

I’ve had to do a lot of physical labor this last week as we finish moving my husbands shop - I feel like a race car with smoking tires rolling into the pit crew area, I’m coming in hot! At least there’s no denying I need this!!!

It’s affecting my low back, other hip, and human knee now too. Hurts just sitting here, or should i say lounging as sitting hurts. Glad this will all be resolved soon!!!

I’m 51 (29 mentally ), retired weightlifter (still train light), and equestrian. This titanium will add to my collection:

L 4/5 disc replacement (Axiomed)
C 5/6/7 disc replacements (Medtronic)
TKR - left (after 3 meniscectomies) (Stryker)

Cue the Bionic Woman theme song - which I now claim for myself. Hope the other October folks are doing well and looking forward to being whole again too! Riding, hiking, heck just being able to exist without this constant pain will be amazing.

I’ve fought this injury (horse fell on me) 15 years now. Synvisc (had to beg / pay out of pocket - bought me 2 years), mesenchymal stem cells (worked for 8 years), 3 rounds of PRP (6 months each, last didn’t work)… but looks like my stalling efforts paid off, as the devices are much better now.

I’ve got my commode seat riser, bolster pillow, PT quality ice packs, arnica ointment and oral, crutches just in case (canes = bad posture for tall folks)… also have a husband who should have an honorary nursing degree by now.

I’ll be traveling (3 hour drive) and staying in a hotel w kitchen for a week. If anyone has other ideas on what I should put on my list, I’d love to hear your experiences.

Thanks so much - having a community like this really helps!

 

[benne68]

Sounds like you are well prepared for your coming surgery, @IronGirl6. One other item I'd suggest for you, since your are tall, is risers for your bed and couch. (I'm not tall and I found they made getting up and down so much easier -- and less painful.).

They are available on Amazon in a variety of heights -- you want them to raise your bed/couch enough so your hips are slightly above your knees when you sit.

Best wishes!

 

[Deni444]

Chocolate and or other snacks. Maybe a couple of books for when you can't sleep. A surprise gift for the super husband.

All the best @IronGirl6

 

[IronGirl6]

Sounds like you are well prepared for your coming surgery, @IronGirl6. One other item I'd suggest for you, since your are tall, is risers for your bed and couch. (I'm not tall and I found they made getting up and down so much easier -- and less painful.).

They are available on Amazon in a variety of heights -- you want them to raise your bed/couch enough so your hips are slightly above your knees when you sit.

Best wishes!

Oh wonderful thank you so much!

 

[IronGirl6]

Chocolate and or other snacks. Maybe a couple of books for when you can't sleep. A surprise gift for the super husband.

All the best @IronGirl6

Love the surprise gift idea!

 

[IronGirl6]

Well I’m night two post surgery - I forget do I ask for this thread ro be moved? Or someone does for me? Or I start anew in the post section? I blame the meds!

So far so good - a lot of swelling kicked in mid day day 2; not terribly surprising. Have pro ice am doing fish ar market impersonation.

Awesome doctor and staff - and got to experience the coolest most modern hospital and op theater imaginable!

Back to sleep more soon.

 

[Deni444]

Congratulations @IronGirl6
So happy to hear you are coping well and blessed with awesome care and facilities. Looking forward to following your progress to a new you! Hope your hotel will be comfortable

 

[Layla]

Welcome to recovery, IronGirl!
I will leave the Recovery Guidelines with best wishes for the journey!

HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES
As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary.

If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.

2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for THRs
The recovery articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

Nutrition is of paramount importance. Available here are dietary tips, nutrition basics and additional food supplements. These articles are both general advice on food and specific guidelines aimed at people both pre- and post-surgery.

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[Hippie Chick]

I used a small step to get into the truck second hip. This also helped with the tall bed. Trash bag in the seat helps with pivoting around after the surgery. I had a leg lifter that helped both hips. Trash can if nausea is a problem. Rotating shower seat- shower wand also nice. Meds filled ahead of time. I opted for ice machine since both hips were needing replacement. It sounds like you have a great plan in place! You will find Bone Smart to be wonderful as you prepare and recover!

 

[myglasshalffull]

Welcome to recovery. You have an amazing attitude & husband, all necessary to navigate your new bionic parts!
I wish you well & keep us posted.

 

[IronGirl6]

Checking in - I’m 8 days post and am doing remarkably well!

Recovering first few days in a nearby hotel was fun - the hotel staff got excited watching me progress in speed and ability w my walker down the hallways, so I had fun with that.

The ride home and subsequent need to walk endless amounts to get to bathrooms on what became a 5 hr journey home was no joke - so next day I treated like day 1 and pulled wayyyy back on activity.

Today I’m walking mostly aid free (bringing wheeled walker along but not using it), and did one flight of stairs - two at a time down, but one at a time up - felt strong and amazing. I’m icing now and drinking a protein shake, knowing that for my hip that was a workout.

I’ve got pain front of quad mid way down - not surprising - and some piriformis talk has begun, also not a shock. My hip has been injured 1/3 of my life, so muscles will need to adjust for a joint that supports itself again.

So as wild as it is for me to believe Im starting to cut the pain meds back already - my only problem is wanting to do too much! I feel very fortunate to have such a problem.

 

[myglasshalffull]

You will discover during this particular recovery for you that some days will be better than others. The biggest thing for me was to listen to my body when it gave me cues.
I fell & fractured my hip so I had no history of hip issues prior to my fall so because I had led such an active lifestyle prior I thought I'd be up & going & back to normal in 30 days or maybe a little more.
However it just didn't happen that way but not for lack of trying.
So your body will talk to you & so will your hip. And when that would happen for me I'd rest & ice & try another day to accomplish whatever was on my "to do" list for that day.
I would never have pulled through to the other side had it not been for this amazing group of people. No matter what type of recovery you have someone here has already been through it & can help you along. Just when you think you might be "alone" you find you are not.
I wish you well & we are here to see you through.

 

[IronGirl6]

Hey checking in. Little diary progress entry.

I put my walker away two days ago (2 weeks out), have crutches if I get any sensitive moments but haven’t used them.

So doc gave permission to try:
•driving on our property
•walking on unpaved ground
•a little walking on paved hills
•a few pedal rotations on my recumbent indoor bike
•side sleep

With great caution I’ve tried all last 48 hours - just a tiny bit - as well as did a few “speed” pass laps (16 steps each) at the local grocery store. All made me a bit sore, but rest restores me. Felt awesome to take some full length strides at normal speed!

Unpaved ground has some acorn coverage - felt like princess and pea - ouchy walking on those. (Time for air blower). Got to visit my horses which was everything though.

In and out of car a bit awkward but w long legs it’s easier to deal w r thr on drivers side of my truck for sure.

Going back to plain old vanilla in house walking again for a few more days, then I’ll try again!

 

[myglasshalffull]

I remember first outing on a lawn which I never realized how uneven it was & made me extra cautious. I live in Northeast & we have had zillions of acorns this fall. Easy to roll an ankle on one or just lose balance so be careful.
Just being able to get outside & fill my bird feeders by myself was so joyful! It's the little things we do every day we sometimes forget how fulfilling they really are.
Sounds like you are testing your limits, good for you but please go slow & if you need cane or crutch do not hesitate to keep close by or use. Even once I could walk w/o any assistive devices I kept walker or cane by my bed for nighttime bathroom trips.

 

[IronGirl6]

I remember first outing on a lawn which I never realized how uneven it was & made me extra cautious. I live in Northeast & we have had zillions of acorns this fall. Easy to roll an ankle on one or just lose balance so be careful.
Just being able to get outside & fill my bird feeders by myself was so joyful! It's the little things we do every day we sometimes forget how fulfilling they really are.
Sounds like you are testing your limits, good for you but please go slow & if you need cane or crutch do not hesitate to keep close by or use. Even once I could walk w/o any assistive devices I kept walker or cane by my bed for nighttime bathroom trips.

Omg total “princess and pea” vibes walking on uneven surfaces and acorns! I was about to air blow the driveway when my neighbor came over to ask if he could collect the acorns for his goats!! So my pathway is clear - what a blessing!

 

[IronGirl6]

One thing I left out of my update is two days ago I woke myself up around 2am… I’d been stretching and flexing - kind of cat like - and heard a big butt CLUNK. Scared the heck out of me. I got to my feet thankfully I could walk fine - but had a kind of burning weird feeling. My amazing doc took my messages in our portal the next night - told me it was most likely my psoas. Rest and a muscle relaxer and I’m back online.

Today I tried a bit more of a paved hill - still baby steps, but the grinding awful pain being gone was inspirational - and laying on my stomach to get some abdominal stretching, which offered a few odd sensations but I’m unscathed. Icing and resting now.

According to my Watch I’m still hanging around 0.8 - 1 mile per day, plus 3-6 flights of stairs per day. Hope everyone else is doing well too!

PS I’m using arnica - both topically and orally - it has kept bruising to almost 0 (just a bit inner thigh after first stairs). Highly recommend - good for pain relief too! Being homeopathic it doesn’t have side effects or bad interactions - but of course check w your doc to be sure it’s cool.

 

[mendogal]

Topical arnica gel has been my go-to for bruising since 1996! I wouldn't use it on or near an unhealed incision, but it is remarkably effective.

It sounds like you're having an excellent recovery and are being prudent in advancing activity !

 

[myglasshalffull]

Another arnica fan here! And your comparison to "princess & pea" is spot on!
Happy your acorns have been picked up.

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary. I hope you have a good weekend!
Thanks for sharing your journey with all.
@IronGirl6