THR The fun part

[Bone-obo]

Thanks, @Josephine - you've given me a lot to think about.

 

[Bone-obo]

I hope you have a long recovery because I'll miss your humor sprinkled around here and there.
Not really on the Recovery, hope it's easy for you. Truly I do

I take this a high praise, @Layla! But be careful what you wish for - I'm planning on sticking around thru December at least, when I have my 2nd hip bionisized. (Bionated? Bionicalaminated?)

 

[Bone-obo]

After Friday's PT Beatdown, where the therapist tried to find something I wouldn't/couldn't do and I stupidly did everything he threw at me (including the dreaded high marches), the weekend was spend mostly paying Over-Doers Club dues. (At this point, I drop in so often I should get a discount.) Saturday I was a trifle achy and my energy was low, and Sunday, not only was my energy even lower, I had the Stupids: no ability to focus at all. All a response to PT? Just a normal stage in recuperation? Dunno. Just in case, though, at PT today, we chatted, and decided to dial things back a bit for now, and see how I do tomorrow.

Still walking with the cane, but trying to put less pressure on it - just use it for balance instead spearing the ground.. I'd like to extend my stride a bit - 20 years of OA has it pretty choppy.

Pain? Gone. I've been remarkably lucky about that - the switch in meds last week was a game-changer. Although without the pain to hold me back, I have to more careful about over-doing. See paragraph #1 on how THAT'S working out.

Random bits: before my surgery I worried about a few things that have turned out to be nothing-burgers. One was dressing: how would I put on pants? I bought new, looser gym shorts just in case - but it turns out it's not that hard to dress with a reacher. Huh.

Another one was, um, bathroom hygiene. Would I need some kind of extender? Turns out, no, also not an issue - that's all in twisting the waist, and doesn't seem to affect the hip at all.

Last thing: I live in a multi-level, and stairs are inevitable. They're no problem, but it took a while to remember to lead with the operated leg going down and the other leg going up. My wife came up with the mnemonic that the bad leg goes to The Bad Place, while the good leg goes the The Good Place (not the words she used). So for the past week, every time I come to a landing headed down, I say, "go to ...." Strange but it helps - and amuses my wife to no end.

I've got my 2-week Hipaversary tomorrow, and the staples come out! Woohoo!

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Week Hipaversary!
I think you know exactly what you're doing. Right and Wrong.
Dialing it back is wise. The high marching steps made me cringe. i yi yi
Thankfully none of this affects your wit.
@Bone-obo

 

[SurreyGirl]

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly! I love your sense of humour! Paying attention to what you are saying about the Physio… best of luck with your continuing recovery and hi from the UK

 

[Thesoutherncook]

FYI, its the ODIC and I am a member in good(bad) standing! Welcome! You do NOT want to hang around here for long!

Love your wife's mnemonic! Up with the good/ down with the bad...works for knees, too! I like hers better and one of my substitute PT's last year told it to me! I died laughing at the 12 yr old telling me!

You are doing GREAT! I hope to follow closely in your footsteps...hip steps? Happy 2 week Hipaversary!
You've GOT this!

 

[Bone-obo]

@Layla: Remember Red Skelton's Mean Widdle Kid? "if I dood it I get a whippin'. (pause) I dood it!" That was going thru my head on Friday while I was working out, with you, @Mojo333, and @Josephine doing the verbal equivalent of whipping. Still, I thought it might be worth the experiment - and it was. In that I won't do it again!

@SurreyGirl:Thanks! You're very kind - and I've been following your posts on the other side as well! Physio seems to be a chronic bugaboo for many people, and I'm curious to see if I can make it work for me instead against me. Early days....

@Thesoutherncook: Thanks for the reminder - I couldn't remember what the "I" stood for ("It"), so I just omitted it. Oh, well, think of the Over-Doers Club (ODC) as a cheap imitation, kind of like Daisy Queen or StirBux. What was the previous mnemonic? Just curious!

And lest we forget, tomorrow is YOUR day, @Thesoutherncook! I'm so excited for you!!!

 

[Mojo333]

Two weeks...I think that's how far out I was before I could truly feel comfortable that my decision to have Hip Replacement might have actually been a Good idea.
I look back in hindsight, and I was very confused at all the different advice I received ,mainly regarding physical therapy.
I had several sessions early on that proved to only point out what was not healed up and how easily aggravated my muscles and soft tissue was.
But I did not want to derail my recovery by not following up.
I know that opting for no stressful exercise..especially resistance bands or weights ...sped up my ability to resume normal activities without pain.
I was supposedly a toe walker and used to baby stepping..compensating for my hips.
I had to practice lengthening my stride, standing up straight, the heel/toe gait.
I'm glad you appear to have a therapist who takes your input into consideration..
Now it's up to you to decide if your leg needs work at this early stage..or rest and TLC.
I am happy to know you alleviated your hip pain! It is a journey, but SO SO worth it.
Hope your day is a Good Day!

 

[Bone-obo]

@Mojo333: Again, I can't stress enough how helpful this site has been in my recovery. I suppose it's unfair to expect as much detail as I've gotten from this site on how actual people recover from surgery, but I got nothing about PT other than that it's required. If knowledge is power, this site is my dynamo.

Thanks so much for your generosity, your kindness, and your story.

 

[Mojo333]

You're welcome and glad the site has proven to be of help.
It certainly was a valuable tool for my recovery!
I am absolutely truthful when I say that I deem myself 98% percent perfect, hip wise.
I walk a considerable amount at work among with much more activity and am fit and healthy.
Getting rid of Hip pain has improved my physical and emotional well being!
Life is fun and fulfilling again.
I hope I continue to be in awe of my good fortune..and though I've always been somewhat of a risk taker and not overly cautious about doing whatever I want to do..
I am grateful enough that I try to be more careful, less reckless..
As the journey did have its struggles, and I want this to stay good for my lifetime!

 

[Bone-obo]

I hope I continue to be in awe of my good fortune..and though I've always been somewhat of a risk taker and not overly cautious about doing whatever I want to do... I am grateful enough that I try to be more careful, less reckless.

I couldn't have said it better.

But don't you get tempted to try a little white water every now and then? A few class 1 riffles? Scurry into an eddy? You know you do!

 

[Mojo333]

I do!
And I might!
Just no skydiving..
Took it off my bucket list.

 

[achillex]

@Bone-obo I'm just a few weeks in front of you and I have to say every week gets better. I've followed the advice folks have posted on this forum and are taking it slow. I try not to over do it. If I feel anything in my hip, I stop the exercise. When I do my walks I make a conscious effort to pay attention to my gait and follow the heel to toe sequence, I also have to walk slowly or else if I start walking at a brisk pace (muscle memory?) I tend to start waddling. I also stopped going to my PT and just doing it on my own. I do very slow stretching w/ no resistance and/or weights. I think some of these PT guys/gals do more harm than good. I remember when I had my in home PT, she was telling me to do mini-squats a week after my surgery, I said "I don't think so" since my surgeon told me not to do squats and second, one week post op...are you serious?

 

[Layla]

@achillex

 

[Bone-obo]

when I had my in home PT, she was telling me to do mini-squats a week after my surgery"

You're doing it absolutely right, @achillex. It's folk like you that keep me honest around these parts - thanks!!!

 

[Bone-obo]

if I start walking at a brisk pace (muscle memory?) I tend to start waddling.

Yes! What's up with that?! I'm going thru the same thing, trying to practice walking around the house sans cane. It probably goes away with time, but for now it's like, whose leg is this and why is it making me wallow like an old scow? Keep in touch on your progress, and I'll do likewise!

 

[Bone-obo]

I'm working on figuring out how different activities affect my overall energy level, and how I can best use what I've got now to start nibbling away at some accumulating work. Assuming I have 100 hit points to distribute thru the day:

Sitting up at the computer: -40 points/hour
Sitting up, idle: -30 points/hour
Walking: -20 to -40 points/10 minutes (depending on terrain)
Showering and dressing: -50 points! (this was a big surprise!)
PT: +20 points immediately after, with -20 to -80 drain over the next 10 hours, depending on intensity of session.
Visiting: -10 points/hour
Resting: +40 points/hour

(All points scientifically allotted via the Calvinball system.)

Tonight I'll take my shower BEFORE going to bed, and hit the computer tomorrow first thing - that way I should have a good 2-3 hours to get some work done before I need to recharge.

Working on ditching the cane like an old scab. (Sorry, @eve2 - I tried to name it, but Beelzebub DemonStick was the only thing I could come up with.) Tonight some friends took me out to eat (-70 with a +30 point kicker for glad to be out doing normal stuff again), and while I carried the cane, I made a point of never using it and did fine. My walk is still a little waddlish, but it's still early days. Stairs sans cane are mildly irritating in the back lower side of my leg, of all places - my PT thinks that's an extension of the glutes. Buh, whu?

Got the staples out - hurt about 1/7 as much as pulling a nose hair. In fact, I remember asking the nurse if it was going to hurt, and she said, "I've already pulled 3."

Nobody's talked to me about whether or not I can drive, so I'm going to certify myself: tomorrow I'm going with my wife to a nearby parking lot, and practice driving to make sure I'm comfy with the leg motion. Then I'll give myself a learner's permit (drive with my wife) for a day, and then pronounce myself mobile.

 

[Mojo333]

Good for getting out and being normal.
There was alot of extension that happened when they were prying things apart to get things out and putting things in.
I don't think PT can help that heal...it just wants to sit there and get over it.
Your leg probably wouldn't mind the devil stick helping it out now and then.

I also have to walk slowly or else if I start walking at a brisk pace (muscle memory?) I tend to start waddling

Because it's not ready to walk fast yet. Too early.
All will come, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Only two weeks, my friend...you are a big inspiration to others with your optimism and cheerful way.

Don't make me holler at you!

 

[Layla]

Loved hitting the road again
I too practiced in the hood before getting out on the big bad road.
Great feeling to regain that independence. This op made me
see the many things I took for granted on a daily basis. Eye opening!
Hope your day is good @Bone-obo

 

[Thesoutherncook]

Just catching up with you! Love the Calvinball scale! I can totally relate...especially to showering and dressing. Who would have thought?
Keep up the progress. You are an inspiration and entertainment! +80