THR THR Follows Unsuccessful ORIF - Keeping Fingers Crossed

[Josephine]

Any recommendations on how to make the next round of therapy a success?

Yes, don't do it! Walking is just as good and effective and it's free!

 

[Suzette]

Hi @lalo how are you doing? When do you get to go to out patients ?

Let us know how it goes

 

[lalo]

I'm doing pretty good.
I live in South Florida and this is the 1st day since my surgery,where we had some heavy rain and thunderstorms.
It definitely raised my overall pain level and discomfort.
But it was definately a lot better than when I was recovering from the pinning earlier in the year.
I can remember being in tears a couple of times when fronts came through.
Though I'm on crutches been walking every day; today I went to the bottom of the street which is maybe 100 yards or so. I was proud of it; Its amazing how quick one looses the stamina.
So tomorrow I will go the new outpatient therapy clinic.
I did some research before I picked the place and it's suppose to be good
I read all my hospital release records and they included instructions to begin therapy within 24 hrs of release from Hospital
I thought about just not going but I think I will go tomorrow to see what they have to say
Not going is an option but I would not want to do it without consulting with my Surgeon
It's pretty obvious that there is a different P T philosophy between UK ans US
Im also taking all of the records from the pinning and make sure they understand that I feel aggressive PT may have hurt me.
Anyway, more fun and games.
Hope you are doing better; I agree with your post on how much help Bonesmart has been
Take care @Suzette

 

[Suzette]

Good luck @lalo for tomorrow. I also went out for a walk today with the dog, who was very well behaved!
The weather here has been horribke with lots if rain. We had sun last week now rain. Actually thinking about it, I ache more too.
you take care too x

 

[lalo]

@Jamie
As I do searches on this site I'll come upon a thread that is closed
In some cases I think that it would be so nice to contact that individual.
So my question is; is that possible ?

 

[lalo]

Tomorrow will be 5 weeks since my RTHR. I had an experience this week that I thought was worth sharing.
I tried doing some computer work this week on Mon, Tue, and We'd. I did a total of 4 to 5 hrs on each of these days. Going into I knew that prolonged sitting with legs down was not good. I made an effort to get up once every hr or so but I know I was pretty sloppy and I probably stretched it to 1.5 hrs.
It seems that one is always in the middle of a file save or some other inconvenience that makes you delay the getting up and moving requirement
Bottom line is that by Thursday my non operated leg was hurting; more like a tingling sensation and low level dull pain. I knew it was circulation related and though I have never had circulation problems, I have been either in bed or on crutches for nearly 6 months now.
It got pretty concerned I didn't think I had a clot but I wondered; I stopped working Thursday and went back to sitting in a recliner, bed rest and occasionsl walks.
By Friday morning the pain was nearly gone but I had made an appointment to see my general Family practice Dr and he said all was good. He told me to wear compression socks whenever I'm sitting with legs down and to follow all the guidelines of getting moving around etc. (read me the riot act)
I really felt stupid cause I should not have pushed it. So whether at home or at the office, please use good judgement in getting back to work.
@Josephine @Suzette

 

[Suzette]

Hi @lalo , thanks for that info, I would never have thought of putting the socks back on, but now you have mentioned it, I too have been lying down loads. The thing is, you don't know these things will happen until you actually try something out, and you tried work out at home, so that was much much better than being in an office.

I have just told my boss I need a few more weeks off and will go back part time for a while and I too will try home hours first. With the socks on .

Thanks for the tip and I hope your pain has now subsided
x

 

[Josephine]

I worked 5-7 hours a day (on BoneSmart, of course) on my computer from arriving home onwards with each of my knee replacements. I managed by using my recliner and a cantilever table that I extended with a board so I could pull it over the leg flap.

I still had to make sure i had a 20-30 minute break at regular intervals - go to bathroom, get a drink or snack, feed the cats, answer the door, all that stuff - and maybe even just take a walk around the house or the garden, weather permitting. It's never a good idea to sit at a table on a hard chair - that's what does the damage.

 

[lalo]

Thanks Jo, I just rented an over the bed table so I can use it to work while on the recliner. Better than compression socks.
@Josephine

 

[Josephine]

I was just thinking - I've had that table for 47 years! And I've used it pretty much every single day of that time. Only time I was without it was when I loaned it to a young friend who was very sick/dying and couldn't reach his drinks and such. That 10 days was murder without it!

 

[Jamie]

@Jamie
As I do searches on this site I'll come upon a thread that is closed
In some cases I think that it would be so nice to contact that individual.
So my question is; is that possible ?

Lalo......we close those threads specifically because it's darned near impossible to rouse someone who has come and gone from BoneSmart. They are out enjoying their new hip or knee and just don't come here any longer. That is as it should be.

But I understand your frustration at not being able to contact someone who might have a situation in common with you. As an alternative, I encourage you to post as much as possible on your recovery thread and respond to others' threads and hopefully you'll find the support you want and need with our currently active members.

 

[Suzette]

Hi @lalo how are things

 

[lalo]

I'm doing OK. I've had my son, wife and 11 yr old grandson Visitting from Tx. It was great to have them here but I forgot how much energy an 11 yr old has
After 2 days I was a nervous wreck, he made a game out of walking with crutches, the recliners were an amusement park attraction, and at the same time he was so sweet to me .
So today I'm missing them and happy to house the house back
Anyway my leg feels like its going to do good supporting weight. This coming Monday its 6 weeks and Im suppose to start putting full weight.
My biggest concern is still the dull pain right in middle of the cheek that is always there. It has gotten better over time so I'm hopeful.
Thanks to checking on me.
@Suzette

 

[Suzette]

I hope you have recovered, I know what you mean when you say you miss them but glad to have the house back. Kids are like whirl winds...then it's all quiet again.

I am having what I think may be bursitis pain, so am now iced up and will cut down the walking. I hope your cheek pain is easing.

 

[lalo]

I'm at 6 weeks post RTHR. I have been on crutches for 5 months (accident). Approx. 5.5 years ago I had RTKR. I have been very concerned with how the hip replacement would affect my prosthetic knee. Until just a few days ago my knee has been very siff, painful and with a limitted range of motion (ROM) of about 90 deg, which is less than pre hip surgery. I. General my prosthetic knee was wonderful before my THR.

In the last couple of PT sessions, the therapist added excercises to stretch the quads. Just to be accurate the exercises consist off;
- belly on table, raise leg, bend knee towards head with strap on foot gently pull on knee toward head and hold
- back on table, drop leg off the edge, weight on foot and hold
When i started these exercises I felt the knee tighten up and had the same pain as I do when I try to walk.
However after doing these exercises for just 3 days, the tightness in my knee is rapidly disappearing, my ROM is increasing and I can tell that my gait is improving .
I'm very excited in that I now believe my knee is going go be OK.

I don't know if other hippies that do not have TKR experience the same problems with their knee? And, maybe my knee problems I have had are due to such a long time on crutches and have nothing to do with the fact that it is a prosthetic knee.
I'm tagging Jo for her input
@Josephine

 

[Suzette]

That's sounds great, happy that your knee is getting back to how it was, fingers crossed it carries on improving x

 

[Josephine]

As long as things are improving and not causing you any extra pain, they will be fine.

 

[lalo]

Yesterday I went for my 7 week Post op Dr visit.
I was surprised to actually see my operating surgeon.
The Dr. said that everything looked good and eliminated the weight bearing restrictions.
I mentioned that my only complaint is that still have a dull pain, roughly just to the left of the center of my butt cheek that hurts with prolonged sitting or even laying on my back.
The Dr said that it would go away with time; since there has an overall improvement, I have some confidence that he will be correct.
I have started to use a single crutch and I'm getting around pretty good. Working towards no aids but it's been 5 months since I last walked.
Quad stretches have really helped reduced knee pain and tightness.
Today, Saturday I drove for the 1st time in 10 weeks and did OK.
At about noontime I noticed that the affected thigh had a slight burning sensation so I went to recliner and put some ice on leg.
I'm planning to return to work in 2 weeks or before; will plan on starting at less than 40 hrs and work my way up.
If I go back in 2 weeks, that would put me at 9 weeks from surgery.
Been talking to myself and telling myself to be patient and under control at all times so as to not do anything stupid that can set me back.

 

[lalo]

I'm wondering how long it takes for a hippie (RTHR)
to be able to put on a sock WITHOUT aids?
Thanks

 

[Josephine]

As long as it take, my friend! Everyone's different, remember?

my only complaint is that still have a dull pain, roughly just to the left of the center of my butt cheek that hurts with prolonged sitting or even laying on my back. I have started to use a single crutch and I'm getting around pretty good. Working towards no aids but it's been 5 months since I last walked.

I'm planning to return to work in 2 weeks or before; will plan on starting at less than 40 hrs and work my way up. If I go back in 2 weeks, that would put me at 9 weeks from surgery.

Given the first paragraph, I would say that two week's time is too soon. I do suggest you read this Phased return to work and discuss the content with your boss.

What kind of work do you do?