I'm writing to report in on my progress since I am at Week 6 of hip replacement #2, posterior approach. My legs lengths were the same before surgery. I was in okay shape, and my first hip replacement is stable and reliable. My doctor released me from all hip precautions a few days ago.
Work: My medical leave is over, and today was my first day of work. I made it from 7:30 am but was talking gibberish by 3 pm and so left. I was very tired, BUT I didn't go over the cliff. I got home, and my daughter and I went on a hunt for eyeglasses for three hours. She drove, so it was good. I will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, I have a 7:30 am start, a 9 am phone call, a 10 am meeting, a lunch meeting 30 minutes drive from work, and a 4:30 pm meeting. This sounds like too much, right? I think I will go home after the lunch meeting and chill out until the 4:30 pm meeting.
Meds: I'm not taking anything regularly now. I have Tylenol, Advil, and prescription pain meds at my disposal, should I need them. I have twangs of pain (someone else described them as electric shocks), occasional shooting pains down my leg, and some knee and ankle discomfort (something is pulling on them). I did experience a snapping/clunking sensation in the hip, but it's gone away. Since I had similar aches/pains and snapping/clunking in the first hip replacement, I believe it's part of the healing process. It freaked me out the last time, but now, I just let them do their thing. They go away eventually.
Walking aids: I ditched the cane a few days ago and am fine. I wouldn't go on an extended walk without it, but I don't need it at work, home, or for errands. I have a portable cane in my purse just in case. I have a slight limp, but it's getting better.
Rehab: When the doctor released me from my precautions, I did a 20 minute yoga routine and 2.5 miles on the elliptical machine. This was too much. I was hobbling by the night, and I had a slight clicking sensation in the operated hip. I didn't do anything the next two days, and today, I am walking more smoothly than before. Something got shaken out with that exercise. That said, I'm going to be less ambitious until I'm a few more weeks out. I can walk on one day and do the yoga routine the next. No rush.
Swelling: I still have an extra 1/4 inch on my hips, but I am virtually back to normal.
State of Mind: Good.
Stamina: Getting better. Before my limit was 3 hours, and that was a hard stop. I would crash and burn after that, with nausea and once I almost fainted. This week, I can go for six hours before I start getting tired and no more crashing and burning.
So far, so good.
Ireland
for you!
I would definitely opt for a break tomorrow afternoon! Remember this is only Tuesday. I hope you sleep well and wake refreshed in the morning!
