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THR Upstater is on the other side!

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zauberflöte Poppet SeaSiren I think I'm doing well. Each day since I've been home has been a big improvement over the previous day. I will have PT perhaps next week but for now I am doing the simple heel knee and butt exercises. I have to wear the leg brace 24/7 for several weeks. My surgeon is not taking any chances on dislocation as my muscles were badly weakened and damaged. Right now traveling to the bathroom is enough. Monday I will start walking with the walker more distance around the house. Everyone was right about getting tired easily! My pain is mainly muscle pain and I have cut dosage in half since yesterday. Two pills were just knocking me out and one pill manages it without the drowsiness. I must say even in the hospital my pain never rose above a 4, maybe 5 at one point. As I said, it's those muscles that are really angry right now. I plan to take this slow and steady!
 
Wow Upstater - a brace and strict restrictions - that's heavy duty! Hang in there - the days will fly by!
 
Jaycey I guess you could say the brace with the 90 degree rule is my strict restriction. Not too bad. I will say this: How I feel five days after surgery is at least 1,000 times BETTER than how I felt before. I feel fortunate this surgery is available, what a miracle.
 
Yes it is amazing surgery Upstater, and the daily improvements are so noticeable and exciting.. You are doing exactly what you should, resting .. You are healing. I literally slept for the first six weeks, don't remember anything much.. Be careful that you don't get break through pain with cutting the dosage of your pain meds. It is great that your pain levels are low, but you aren't moving much yet.. :)
 
Poppet You are wise. I will remember the med advice. I am not sleeping much. Going to try my own bed tomorrow night. But its upstairs. I can do it.
 
Just take those stair slowly - one at a time for now. I will get easier as you gain your balance and learn the limits of that new hip. As Poppet says - you need to stay ahead of the pain. It's a circle - pain meds, more mobility, then pain meds. Hope you are getting some :sleep:
 
Upstater Update Day 14: I literally took the "rest" advice to heart and have been totally resting since surgery. Short walks around the house, upstairs a couple times, no problem. I am a bit unusual from what I'm reading regarding other's experiences as I am wearing a leg (knee) brace on my new hip leg. My surgeon explained why (30 minutes after I woke in recovery) but honestly I don't remember the details. I know this brace is hindering my recovery but I see him tomorrow and will get a full explanation. If you saw me you would think I had knee surgery. So along with the hip restrictions that I have to remember I also cannot bend my left knee and it's always propped up due to the brace. As for meds I'm taking 1 percocet twice a day and then two at bedtime. I tried sleeping in bed once last week and couldn't stand lying flat. I'm now on the recliner couch which is much better but still awaken every 2 hours or so. My pain is minimal. I wanted to be off the walker by now and I still wonder how much the brace is effecting that progress. I tried the cane but I am just not ready. Part of this is fear as I worry about dislocation. Another odd thing with me is my surgeon does not order at home PT. I received a visit last week from the therapist (mistakenly scheduled by the Visiting Nurse) and two hours later she called and told me my surgeon is the only one she has heard of that doesn't order PT so quit doing the excercises she showed me. Just walk, walk, walk. Will let you know the reason for the brace and see if he gives me any excerises to do at my staple removal visit tomorrow. I'm still very very happy I had this done, just may take me a couple extra weeks to catch up due to the brace. Then there's the night sweats.....
 
[Bonesmart.org] Upstater is on the other side!
very nice update, Upstater. I can assure you that all that rest has been very good for your hip. Lot of healing going on and rest is the best :heehee:. I think you'll find that when the brace comes off you'll be pretty much where everyone else is at your point in time post op. If you're a little behind, you'll catch up without much difficulty.

Take care and keep us posted. We care. [Bonesmart.org] Upstater is on the other side!
 
When I went out for the surgery my employer thought I'd be out three weeks. That's not even close to realistic. And I keep telling myself, once you're back they think you're 100%, so I'm taking as long as I need to before returning.
 
We're all curious about the brace, Upstater, but I'm sure there was a good reason. (If there wasn't, you may find yourself wanting to wrap the brace around the surgeon's neck!!!) In the meantime, it does indeed make certain you get plenty of rest.

Night sweats....I still get those....do they ever end? Not as drenching as yesteryear....but still, climate control is an issue. :)

Sharon
 
Upstater you have an iron constitution and you'll be better off for it! 2 weeks of total rest, you have probably learned several new languages by now LOL!
and sharonslp I get night sweats these days only if I have eaten wheat within a few hours of bedtime, and, inevitably, 10 minutes after I get back in bed from the 3:00am pee. It waits till I am nearly asleep, all relaxed, and then wham! Sigh.... LOL
 
Upstater - great update. Fingers crossed you can ditch that brace soon but obviously it has a purpose. Don't worry about transitioning to a cane. That will happen very naturally. You are right - I'm sure the brace isn't helping you get your balance and confidence.

Funny you should mention night sweats. I too suffered majorly post op and still have one or two a night. I blame it on the NSAIDs I am still taking for back issues - but I'm not a medical expert so really haven't a clue why we suffer this nightly visit! :rolleyes:
 
Update on the brace: I saw my surgeon yesterday to have xrays taken and staples removed. Two weeks post op. Incision healing well, but unfortunately I will have the brace longer than I thought. He wants me in the restrictive leg brace for a full 8 weeks post op. He said it orders this for 1% of his patients, great, I'm a one percenter without the six figure income. The way he explained it, whatever the hip fits into that is rounded is not as rounded on me as it should be, it's a little flatter. (Maybe the more medically educated can explain what this part is called) I am at higher risk for dislocation. The brace guarantees I cannot bend that knee and break the 90 degree rule. While it is an inconvenience I have not one minute of regret for having this done. I was running the low grade fever and finally last night it ended. Perhaps there was a connection but I discontinued the Percocet yesterday also. I have absolutely no pain whatsoever. Just the inconvenience of the brace. It's only 40 more days. So worth it all! Going to miss a some camping trips early summer but before the surgery I couldn't enjoy the hiking anyway.
 
Yes, a dubious honor to be in the 1%. But it IS a good reason, so there you have it. In 40 days, you will be a happy camper. :)

Sharon
 
Well I've passed the four week mark. I have reached so many milestones. I am now more than halfway through the restrictive leg brace time period. I have gotten used to it and feel I may miss it a little when it comes off. I graduated to sleeping in bed (from recliner) but sleeping on my back is something I won't miss. But just another 24 days! I graduated to a cane and did have a bout of restless leg syndrome which I understand could have been caused by stopping the pain meds. My lower back is bothering me but I attribute that to not being able to bend over and give it the needed stretching. I've done a lot of resting because frankly there's so little else I am allowed to do. I did vacuum the house today, yep, with the cane in one hand. There is a thread somewhere asking what our surgeries cost. Well my first statement received was $43,000 and I believe there will be more bills. That is much higher than I expected. We will pay around 5%. And I'm still very very glad I had this done! How is everyone else doing?
 
Upstater. Nice update. You are on the home stretch with the brace. When it's off you deserve a massage! If it's allowed. Sleeping on your back is difficult and may be adding to the lower back pain. Can't believe you've been vacuuming. Haven't tried that yet.
 
LeeApril26 I wouldn't say I was vacuuming, lol, I did an area rug in half the living room. Probably less than 2 minutes total. I am still doing a lot of resting and have become quite proficient at it!
 
Upstater That brace has become your friend, eh? You will probably feel nekkid for about 47 seconds... and then run for the skirt department in the department store LOL. I haven't vacuumed, but I have swiffered instead. I figure it's ok for an activity, because all it really is, is a slow walk with upper body poses on the stops. How's your rug looking??
 
@zauberflote We have a dog...rug looks like it could use another pass with the vacuum. I am so glad it's summer with this bulky brace. Otherwise I'd be wearing shorts in the winter. Theres no pants that would fit over this brace. Question: how do I know I am striking the right balance between rest and activity? I don't do much because there is so little I can do.
 
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