Revision THR Trkkoa is on the other side

[Poppet]

Oh, so sorry Nancy.. It is often one step forward, two steps back.. It is hard to pull back.. I have become one with laziness really, don't worry as much about the house now.. Just do the absolute necessities.. I think, well everything is clean, so a bit of clutter is not so bad.

I am 9 months and am thinking I am still not 100% recovered. So don't beat yourself up hon! Honestly in the scheme of the rest of your life a few more months is nothing and there will always be next summer.. I too felt as though I lost summer, not that we really had one over here.. But I try to keep focussed at the two year mark for me to be over my RTHR and the impending LTHR next year.

Enjoy being at one with your new eBook and recliner.. Nice way to spend a Sunday.. Maybe throw in some chocolate for good luck, always works for me

 

[Jamie]

I agree. It's sometimes one of the most difficult things to come to terms with.....allowing yourself the time to recover properly. But it is so important and ever so much MORE important than most of your routine activities!!

 

[trkkoa]

Jamie and Poppet, you are correct. Although I wasn't able to completely get lazy, I made an effort to sit In my recliner and read for a few hours each of the last three days. I also went to bed an hour earlier each night. Resumed using the cane most of the time instead of pretending I didn't need it.

My hip/ groin pain is still there, but my strength is better. At PT today, my limp is much less pronounced. There was some discussion about several other patients also having complained that the oddball weather was making them ache, so maybe that plays a part as well.

I went back to taking Aleve twice a day and that is helping also.

I see the OS this Thursday and I have a long list of questions. PT wants to know if and when he will lift precautions and also if we can get to full range of motion and a little beyond for stretching. I need to stretch some places that are very tight due to the restrictions on movement.

So I am having a better day. Stepping back a little was a good thing and I am now progressing again. I appreciate the advice.
Aloha,
Nancy

 

[Jamie]

Hang in there.....it takes some patience!

 

[debkakes]

My patience has been tested as well, feeling I'm not going to be able to report much progress to my OS from my 6 week point to my 12th week. I've tried to take it easy as well, and some days are markedly better than others, but it's been SO inconsistent. I'm looking for the golden mean! It sounds like you have found it, Nancy, and I think it's close for me, too.

 

[Suki]

Nancy---good news. I am glad the "step back" helped. Every day gets us closer, right? Some days more, some days less, but closer to the life we hoped for, when deciding to have the surgery.

Debkakes--inconsistent....hmmm. I think that describes my journey too. Hope you are having more good days than bad. Though I know it feels like it has been forever, 12 weeks is only the beginning of your healing. Bet your 18 week, 26 week and 52 week reports all show marked improvement..I am sending my prayers forth with that goal for you.

Hugs to you both,
Suki

 

[Poppet]

Some days it is hard to figure out - who is this new me and what is my new benchmark.. but every day the body is working it healing miracles..

So pleased Nancy that you are feeling better

 

[trkkoa]

This is an odd journey to say the least. I have gotten very inconsistent with my exercises mostly due to pain in the groin area. Seems I make these surges ahead but only after forcing myself to rest. I know it is hard to listen to that advice here and to not get discouraged. It's okay to have a weepy or emotional day.

Saw the OS yesterday and the news is good. The x-rays looked fine. My hip muscles are weak but I was expecting that since he had put me under heavy hip precautions and in the brace for so many weeks. I can now ease off the precautions with the exception of rotating the knee in or foot out. His explanation for the continued pain is the damage he did while opening up the area/capsule trying to remove the old ball. More healing is needed there.

I was given the go ahead to slowly start bending more, working out, walking, stationery bike first then road bike once I am safely stable. He said to wait 3 or so more weeks before using our ATV or other farm equipment to give that tissue more time to heal. Must be very careful getting on and off also. That "grapefruit" on my operated side, that makes it too uncomfortable to lie on it, is scar tissue. He said it might take a few more months for that to soften.

PT today started me on side leg lifts and clam shells - things I think others are allowed to do early on, but everyone's situation is different. I'm supposed to do the exercises at home, but haven't quite figured out if I can get down and up off the floor. He did some work on my scar tissue with a kind of roller bar.

I hope everyone here will join me in thinking good thoughts and sending my surgeon some positive energy. He is a reservist and is about to be deployed to a medical unit in Afghanistan. God speed, Dr. H.

Nancy

 

[Lgastreich]

Nancy, I'm glad to learn you've been given clearance for less restrictions and more activity. My PT gave me an early lesson on getting up and down from the floor. I can do it, but I always have to take a moment to think through how it will work and to have a moment of wondering whether or not it will work! So far, so good! Prayers for your surgeon.

 

[sharonslp]

Nancy, I'm sure it's okay to do the clamshells and leg lifts in bed, until you get some sense of safety getting up and down from the floor.

Sharon

 

[trkkoa]

OMG. I still haven't decided how I feel a out this.

On Friday afternoon, my OS called (I had just seen him on Thursday). He told me he had received a letter that day from the vendor for my bone graft and that there had been some kind of breach. Meaning there is a possibility that the tissue was not sterile and that all the tissue was being recalled. WTH?

We cannot remove it obviously. He said he felt he was scaring me for no reason since, if there had been a problem with mine, it would have caused infection by now. He also said that the bone graft material is further processed and that would have sterilized it. Infection would have shown up at 2-3 weeks and I am 10 weeks out.

He is sending me a copy of the letter as well as writing it up for my chart and for my PCP to have in my chart.

Two days later and I just can't seem to stop thinking about it. I have been having odd dreams at night. I just know I am stressed and unhappy. :-(
Nancy

 

[Suki]

Nancy

"WTH" indeed. I have absolutely nothing worthwhile to contribute, but I want you to know I am thinking of you. News like you just heard would make me feel vulnerable. But if there is a silver lining, it is that the surgeon is not worried about infection, right?

I know it must be very hard to put out of your mind, but as there is no changing it, I guess focusing on something else becomes your best option. It is easy for me to say "don't stress" but the more mental energy you can focus on healing, especially now, the better.

You have come a long way since your surgery, Nancy. Keep as positive a mental state as you can. I know you are going to be fine, and pull past this latest issue in your recovery journey.

Keeping good thoughts for you...

Suki

 

[bottomshollow]

Bless you, Nancy. I can certainly understand that you are stressed by this information, and that you are finding it impossible not to think about all the possible negatives.

I do think that the time frame is a positive for you and also your doctor's comment that he felt he was scaring you unnessarily points away from you having any problems.

This is one of those things that only time can take care of and that will be difficult for you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers---but I feel that you will be all right. Take care, keep us posted, we care.

 

[sharonslp]

Nancy, I hope you can get some comfort from the fact that worst case scenarios rarely happen. Keeping fingers crossed for you.

Sharon

 

[trkkoa]

Trying to let it go since there is nothing we can do about it at this point. My husband made me laugh though. He said if I had to be that "lucky" why couldn't I have won the lottery.

Thanks for all the kind words. BS folks understand.

Physically I am doing well. Starting leg lifts and clam shells this "late" in the game is pretty hard. Only been allowed to do them for a few days and the exercises are making my back hurt. I have PT this afternoon so I will ask to make sure I am doing them right.

Farm work has been beckoning so I have resumed some of my duties including setting up the fertilizer to run through the irrigation system. I even walked some of the orchard yesterday checking irrigation lines. Walked the dog half a mile each morning lately too. Still using the cane for that in case of the dreaded fatigue limp.

We are going to spend some time near Tahoe in about a month and I reeeeeaaallly want to be fit to walk in the woods.

Nancy

 

[Poppet]

Hi Nancy, I am sure if you had a problem, it would have shown up by now..

That will be wonderful having a holiday, have you thought about getting yourself some Nordic walking poles, for your holiday

Hugs xox

 

[trkkoa]

Hey, Poppet. I asked my PT about Nordic walking poles and he highly recommended them.

12 weeks out and doing fine but frustrated that I still have pain and a pronounced limp when tired. We are pushing me a bit more on the PT. Clam shells are still difficult. Six weeks in the brace and such heavy restrictions is my suspicion of why I can't reach to tie my own shoe yet. It took me five minutes to put on a sock. Turning my knee out is now ok but it is so tight I can't do it.

I have a PT session this afternoon. We are going to ask for more and see if the OS and insurance will go for a few more. PT says I am not ready to resume going to Curves yet and not ready for aqua aerobics that includes jumping. So I have been doing my exercises and low impact aqua aerobics but have added a deep water aqua workout that gets my heart rate up more.

Hubby is traveling for work and I have been walking the dog a half mile twice a day and taking care of the farm. So I am doing lots more. PT says that's why I am feeling it more.

Hope you all are well,
Nancy

 

[Poppet]

Hi Nancy, good news about your PT agreeing that the NW would be good for you... Please, please get measured up for them properly before purchasing them, that is so essential - good luck if you do take it up

 

[trkkoa]

PT got the insurance to go for 8 more sessions. Still having trouble with weakness in the hip so I feel like I've been stuck the last few weeks. Clam shells are still hard. Even standing on one leg is not strong enough yet. I guess I am frustrated. I had expectations of recovering quicker. Gotta let that go.

Even in Hawaii we have crummy weather. It has been rainy and cool (72-75F) which is cold to us. Not an enticement to get in the pool. Maybe the damp cool is causing some of my hip pain.

PT keeps telling me the continued pain is because I am doing more and more so I am pushing but not resting. Hard when you are a farmer and e-retailer and hubby is away on business travel for his day job.

I have been walking the dog half mile twice a day without my cane. Looking into getting NW poles. PT is helping me with research.

......couple hours lapsed before I finished writing this......

Sigh. Just found out that the gall bladder trouble I was having just before my Revision LTR is going to require that I have my gall bladder removed. I have a 1.8 cm stone. I was supposed to go on vacation to the mountains next week. I have an upper endoscopy on Monday. We will see after that if I need to postpone my vacation. Cr*p.

Nancy

 

[Poppet]

Oh Nancy, this is just so unfair for you.. A gall stone!

I can imagine the range of emotions you must be having.. You poor darling.. Do let us know how you go on Monday with your upper endoscopy.

btw, hubby and I love Kona coffee.. We get it in specially...

Take care, thinking of you