THR TiredOfLimping's Left THR Recovery

[TiredOfLimping]

I now have 2 matching new hips! Left's surgery was Aug 8.

Today is Day 3. Left leg is much easier to move around than my right was at this point. No log leg this time, so far. I had hoped that would mean less pain, so I decided to only take 1 pain pill every 4 hours instead of the 2 pain pills every 6 hours as I did the last time. The pain kept building and getting worse so last night I went back to 2 every 6 hours and have felt so much better! I will fight the constipation battle but I am not fighting the pain battle.

Day 3 is big because I get to take the bandage off and shower! My daughter in law came over early this morning and helped me. The bandage put on this hip was very different from the 1st I had in March. Same awesome doctor did both surgeris but at different hospitals. Right hip had an nice and neat little island bandage and wound was glued. I woke post op this time to a huge, poofy, gauze bandage and lots of white tape half way holding it on. I was afraid of what I would find when I took all the tape and gauze off, but relieved to see the same glued wound, matching my 5 month old scar on the right. Washed compression hose and those horrid things are drying. I am loving the freedom right now. I will put them back on later this afternoon when my friend comes home from work.

I am now icing and elevated and thinking about a nap.

 

[sistersinhim]

Naps are very good for your healing. Sleep away!

 

[Layla]

Welcome to Recovery! Congrats on your new hip. It sounds like you’re off to a good start. I will leave our Recovery Guidelines with best wishes as you begin healing.

Hope to hear from you often!

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.

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?

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.

 

[benne68]

Yay! Welcome to the Healing Side for hip #2, @TiredOfLimping!

Since you've been down this road before, you know what to so. Just remember that every hip is different -- even two hips in the same person.

Wishing you a smooth recovery.

 

[TiredOfLimping]

Day 4 woke at 4 am. But I did get some sleep. Yay! The swelling has started. Bruising is still minimal. I didn't have much bruising last time but I did have lots of swelling so expecting that this time around too. I got my ice machine loaded and now icing with my leg elevated on my new wedge. I had difficulties last time with stacking pillows and getting my log leg up on top of the heap. The wedge pillow is making that easier. But this time around my leg is much easier to move around so I am now laying with toes above the nose. Pain is well managed and I dozed off and on all day yesterday. Feeling much better today.

PT came yesterday for the intake evaluation. John, one of the 2 PTs I have requested, will be coming next week for 3 days. John was very helpful with my right THR and I'm glad he will be helping me this time.

Icing has been more challenging this time around. In March for the first hip, I had small water bottles that I froze and used in the ice machine so that my ice make could keep up. August in Texas is much different than March though and the frozen water bottles aren't really helping much. Going thru a bag of ice every day along with what the ice maker can do. It is HOT here!

And speaking of differences with the temp, I should have realized these horrible compression hose are uncomfortable and so HOT! But I did manage, with my friend's help, to get them on again yesterday after my shower.

Ny plan for today is ice and elevation and sleep.

 

[Layla]

these horrible compression hose are uncomfortable and so HOT!

And hateful!
Gosh I couldn't stand those things.
Many surgeons no longer recommend them. Hopefully they let you off easy.
Sounds like you've got this like a pro. A great day to you!

 

[benne68]

plan for today is ice and elevation and sleep

Great plan!

 

[nasruddin]

Compression socks worked very well for me. I only used them for a few days but I wish that
I had started a few days sooner, it would've saved me a couple days of painful misery. The sock
seemed to keep the water swelling out of the foot and ankles, which was causing me a lot of pain.

My surgeon didn't recommend them either. Well, he said they were ok & some people seemed to benefit but most people don't need them. Partly as a result I didn't prioritize them & didn't have them on hand when
I needed them. The calf length ones were adequate for my needs.

For me, the right time to start using them would have been about day 5, when the leg had really ballooned up.
I didn't need them for that long - about 5 days. They would have been very difficult to manage at day 5, would've needed help putting them / getting them off. By a few days later I had regained enough mobility to be able to manage them.

 

[TiredOfLimping]

Day 5 has started out good. Still lots of swelling but elevation and ice is working. Just a small amount of bruising on the back of the thigh. Pain has been manageable and I feel good this morning.

My main caregiver, my friend Julie, is cooking a big lunch today and has invited my family and friends to join us. My 2 sons and their families and a couple of dear friends will be coming to visit and swim and of course check on me.

Another hot day here, 105° expected high today, with the humidity it will feel like 117° I will be staying inside with the AC and ICE and my toes above my nose.

I'm searching for comedies to binge on Hulu, Netflix or Prime. Movies and/or series. If you've watched something that made you laugh or feel good please give me some recommendations! TIA!

Today's plan is to get some grandbaby time, with hugs and kisses, and lunch with friends and family, a nap and some funny TV.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Enjoy your family time today! It's so hot in Texas, my oldest son and my brother and his wife live in Texas and have never remembered such a prolonged heat wave. Thank goodness for AC!
I watched bunch of Netflix when I was recovering, I'll try and remember what I watched and get back to you.

 

[benne68]

If you've watched something that made you laugh or feel good please give me some recommendations!

If you haven't watched it, Ted Lasso is the best "feel good" series on TV in a long time and there are 3 seasons available now. (I think it's on Apple+).

The other show I loved for both its comedy and humanity is Schitt's Creek. With 6 seasons, plenty of binging potential (Amazon Prime)

It you like offbeat, but gentle, British humor, there's a wonderful series on Amazon called The Detectorists. 3 seasons, plus a recently released movie special. Funny and feel good, too.

Also on Amazon (more British comedy):
Good Omens -- I found season 1 really funny, season 2 not as much.
Outlaws -- only one season so far. I found it funny and heartwarming.
Fleabag -- another off-beat series; 2 seasons.

Hope that helps!

 

[Lupyhippie]

I’ve been watching MadMen as I had not seen that before. As for comedy I pulled up some old 60/70s TV. Beverley Hillbillies and Green Acres. And I Love Lucy makes my day any time.
Also found new British series called “Am I Beibg Unreasonable” so funny!! Cutest special-needs little boy

 

[TiredOfLimping]

I've heard so much good about Ted Lasso. I must see about that! Shittz Creek is a great series. I loved it and may watch that again!
Thank you for the recommendations, I'm off now searching!

 

[TiredOfLimping]

I’ve been watching MadMen as I had not seen that before. As for comedy I pulled up some old 60/70s TV. Beverley Hillbillies and Green Acres. And I Love Lucy makes my day any time.
Also found new British series called “Am I Beibg Unreasonable” so funny!! Cutest special-needs little boy

I love Lucille Ball and all of the oldies! Thank you for the reminder, adding to my lists now.

I'm on the last season of The Golden Girls Girls.

 

[djklaugh]

@TiredOfLimping Over in the Social room ( under the community tab ) is a thread of shows others have enjoyed - https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/movies-series-to-watch-2022.68999/

 

[TiredOfLimping]

Thank you all for recommendations!

Today is Day 6. Progress has happened and I pooped last night. I feel so much better today. Cutting pain meds back and will see how that goes. So far so good.

Swelling is still up in op leg, so I'm cing and elevated this morning. Will probably do this all day.

I am not yet comfortable in any chair so I am staying in bed. Last time I had the same problem. I have a very firm pillow but it feels too firm. My sofa and recliner are too soft. I felt like Goldilocks yesterday trying to find a comfortable place to sit when family was here.

I'm expecting home PT today but haven't yet heard from him to set up a time.

I am sleeping much better this time around and I know that will help recovery a lot. So I am dozing whenever I can.

Ready for my morning nap now.

 

[TiredOfLimping]

Day 7. Lots of swelling today. I ice all waking hours and keeping foot elevated. Hoping for that to calm down in the next 2 to 3 days. I cut way back on the pain meds yesterday. Will cut back again tomorrow or Thurs.

Still sleeping a lot. I had a good 7 hr sleep last night according to my fitbit. Even scored 83 sleep score. Still took a 2 hr nap this morning after starting up the ice machine. I know that is good for my healing.

Today is more of the same. Ice, elevation and more sleep. Hoping to find a good comedy to watch.

 

[TiredOfLimping]

Day 8. Last night I signed into my OS's portal and requested more pain medicine. This morning early my daughter in law called to check on me. I was weepy. She came to my house after dropping off her 1 yr old twins and 4 yr old at preschool and day care. She packed my bags and brought me to my other son and daughter in laws house to stay a few days. We all think I needed company along with some extra family care. I got here at lunch and my daughters' in law and I ate a huge lunch of authentic street tacos and I napped for hours. I feel so much better.

I had to cancel home PT as he wasn't interested in driving the 45 miles to the other side of the metroplex. I will worry about scheduling later.

Right now I am doing well.

 

[Hippielife]

For guaranteed chuckles I watch you tube shorts … funniest animals and reruns of funniest videos.
Happy to hear you are feeling so much better, rested and ready to recharge your batteries for the healing and recovery journey ahead…
Sending blessings your way.
I have had both hips replaced and one revision.

 

[TiredOfLimping]

I spent 3 days at my son and daughter in law's. They took such good care of me and by day 3 I felt much stronger and was ready to come home.

Yesterday afternoon John came for PT. John was my home PT back in March. He said the bruising was a lot and the swelling had him concerned. He had me lay on my unoperated hip with pillows between my legs so he could better see the area on the outside/backside of the hip. He took pics and said he didn't think it was a hematoma (what!? this had not even crossed my mind!!) but he was sending in the pics for a cbeck to the doctor or someone. I think it is just swelling but my 2 week followup is Tuesday so I know I will be able to get better answers then.

Today is day 11. The bruising seems to be receding some this morning. The swelling had improved a lot this morning. Last night I tried the manual lymph drainage that I believe @CricketHip had explained in a thread I read yesterday. Not sure if I was doing it correctly but my leg had improved a lot today and I will do it again in a bit.

My son and daughter in law that I stayed with are expecting their first child, due Feb 1st. Right after I arrived at their home on Wed and got settled into the nice cozy guest room, they got the results from the baby's gender test! It is a boy! It was so good to be there with them when they got the news! I was secretly hoping for a baby girl because I raised 2 sons and have 3 grandsons now but maybe next time! I already know a lot about little boys so this will be fun.