THR didn't go so well...................

[ShopGal54]

I had my hip surgery on March 3, on March 16 I had surgery number 2
on my hip. Its infected with 2 infections,,I am still in the hospital
(rehab/IV therapy) and will be here til Monday the 29th.

Has this ever happened to anyone??

 

[Karen54]

Oh, Gail, I am so sorry to hear that. I have been wondering how you were doing. Hopefully the IV therapy will get all the infection cleared up, and you will be able to head home and start recovering! Do keep us posted. Take care!
Karen

 

[Jamie]

ShopGal....I'm glad you posted, but SO SORRY to hear what you've been going through. Hopefully the IV drugs will zap the infection and you can get on with your recovery. There have been some folks on the forum who have gotten infections and have gone through the procedures to combat it that you are receiving. Hopefully they are still around and will post on your thread. But.......sometimes when the crisis is over, people start going about their lives again and spend less time here on BoneSmart.

Hang in there and post whenever can. We'll always be here to support you.

 

[ShopGal54]

Thank you all so much!! I'm doing better each day. Therapy is going better
each day too. The swelling in my legs are frustrating to me!!!! And I worry
about blood clots! I try and do a ton of the ankle pumps, swelling is still bad.
Will write later,,,,,,,,,getting sleepy.
Gail

 

[YoungM]

Hi Gail! I'm sorry to hear this. Glad each day is getting better. Hang in there.

 

[HopAlong]

Gail,

I am sending prayers out for your recovery. Does anyone know what caused the infections? Hang in there...

Hop

 

[Peta]

Gail I'm so sorry to hear about your set-backs! That's just not fair is it?! But you're in the right place for treatment and hopefully it won't be long before you're up and 'attem!
Stay positive - keep thinking about how much better off you'll be down the track a bit!
Post when you can - we'll be thinking of you....

Peta

 

[YoungM]

Hi Gail -how are you doing?

 

[Judles]

::Hey Gail! Are you feeling better? More
Prayers going out to you! Think positive!

 

[Karen54]

Thinking about you, Gail. Hope you are doing better and will get to go home very soon! Post when you can.

 

[John NC]

Hi Gail - I completely sympathize with you. I also have had 2 surgeries (one THR and one infection) and I may have another infection now. I am praying for you. Hope all is well.
John

 

[ShopGal54]

Me again.....It's March 30 and I am still in the hospital for the IV therapy
and PT. I was suppose to get to go home today but I saw the doctor
and I have to be here another week for the IV therapy for the 2 infections.
So I am kind of bumbed. But................I want the fever and infection to
be gone before I go home. I'm getting around pretty good with a walker and
PT is going good too.
Thanks for all your prayers!!
Gail

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Gail. I know it must be disappointing to have to stay longer, but you definitely have the right attitude about WHY you need to be there. Here's to continued healing for you!!! Post any time you want to chat or help pass time and before you know it, you'll be back at home.

 

[Judles]

So sorry to hear of your extended hospital
Stay but just think that all infection will
Be monitored and under control! I hope you make
The best of it...catch up on your rest and some reading! And
Think good, positive thoughts....you'll be
"Outta " there before you know it!
Good luck!!!

 

[ShopGal54]

Well I am 2 months post op from the first surgery. I need some advice,,help..etc. I am having moderate pain in my hip when I go out
shopping, walking, etc. is this normal?? The pain is in the joint. But it feels
more like muscle and not anything out of place.

I guess I was more out of shape than I realized. My left arm hurts from
using the cane.(terribly) My knees hurts, the left one more than the right
but believe me I am not having knee surgery. I was wondering if any
one else has or had this kind of pain?? My thinking is that my muscles have
not been used like this in a long long time! HA! So thats why there so sore.
Any suggestions???? Advice?? I am not taking too many pain pills as I don't want to get hooked on them!!

Another thing.........I am a 3rd shift worker I have worked 3rd shift part time
for 19 years. 6 days in 2 weeks. I Know you wouldn't think that would be
that much of a problem. But since this surgery it has messed up my sleeping and emotional status. The doctor upped my Cymbalta to 90mg a day, I was
taking 30. When I was working I took 1 Ambien 10mg. and that seemed to help most of the time. NOW I am taking the Ambien (lorazpen)10 mg. and Trazadone 100mg. and I am still not sleeping good. I also take an ativan if I can't sleep.

Last night I took a percocet and slept good, but I don't want to get hooked
on them. HELP!!!!! My doctor thought upping the trazadone would help.

I am also having bladder problems. I can't seem to hold it at night so wear things to help it. I have had bladder problems before but not this bad.
During the day I go thru about 2 pads or more. Any ideas??? I know having
2 surgeries in 2 weeks has not helped this. I am suppose to go back
to work on June 7. How am I going to do that with all these sleep problems
and such?????? Maybe no one can help at this point but I would like
any suggestions or advice.
Thanks for any input any one can give me. I have not been on here just
because of being so tired..etc.

Gail

 

[Josephine]

Well, seems to me that most of your problems are caused by not taking enough pain pills. Why you folk are so paranoid about "getting hooked" I don't know but it's really not that bad a problem. You have to take enough pain pills in order to be able to heal and do your PT. So long as you know that you might become dependent upon them (vastly different from getting addicted!) and therefore might need to ween yourself off them over a few weeks, why deprive yourself? But the way diminishing pain goes, that should happen fairly naturally anyway.

So, just going through all your list of problems again, they're all down to inadequate pain control. See to that and you'll get on top of most of it. That you slept well with just one percocet confirms that to me.

However, it's your choice. Either take the pills or take the pain.

 

[hurtingbuthopeful]

Gail,
Jo is right - take the pain meds! It's really not hard to wean yourself off them when the time comes. You don't miss them when you don't need them anymore. I too had that same kind of pain at around the same time. For some reason week 9 was my miracle week. (a much prayed for miracle, btw) Monday was a decent day (I usually can tell the minute I get out of bed) by Friday I had almost NO pain. Just a little tightness. So think positive! Better days are coming

 

[leosmom]

Hey Gail - so sorry you're going through such a terrible time! Please know, it will get better. I too have had other parts of my body complaining loudly because I was compensating (my right shoulder from the cane, my right hip from climbing stairs one at a time), but as time goes on I get stronger and give those guys a break. I also have a problem with my bladder such as you describe. My doctor suspected urinary tract infection caused by the Foley catheter, tested me, and sure enough I do have a UTI. I have meds now to clear that up, so time will tell if my bladder function improves.
Stay strong,

Kathy
LTHR 3/4/09

 

[Judles]

And drink LOTS of water to flush your system out! You'll pee it out but you'll also be cleansing your body! . Feel better!

 

[mdakota]

Gail,
they have done studies that prove pain meds taken during acute pain properly help prevent dependance,
letting the pain get too far out of control makes it harder to get back into control.

dependance is built on fear, fear of pain alot of times if you keep the pain under control you wont develop the fear of it and medicate to prevent it.
first are you diabetic. you've had alot of trouble with infection did they watch your sugar.
if not talk to dr about some detrol. with all the swelling and spasming in that area that might go along with it. the bladder is a muscle too.
if your still laying flat on your back you could be stressing your lower back and that may be a repercussion.
a hundred different ideas but finding the cause is the only way to tell a good road to take.