THR Yippie Yippie.. Double Hippie!! (CricketHip)

[CricketHip]

Goodmorning from Cricket! And @leejaa you are so right.. there's no place like home. We got home yesterday around 2 pm, I think. I'm having trouble keeping up with times.. The oxycodone is a bit strong for my liking but I can't go without it so I think I'll just be loopy for a few more days.

@Bfam85 my MLD protocol is just what I would do for anyone who has had recent surgery on a hip/leg.. you start with the upper body and open up the flow above the swollen area and then ease the up swelling from the leg. I think Im a bit more swollen this time around and I want to stay on top of that.

@Debru4 --Having had this surgery previously is a big help. I'm not as trepidous with my movements and it came right back to me on how to swing the leg a bit while walking to get the movement started. The recovery, post op, was a little tougher this time, apparently the dr's are trying a different approach to the spinal, which how much numbing you get in the spinal block and I woke up surprisingly in pain. I wasn't expecting that, but it only took about 30 minutes to get the meds going in the IV and then sweet relief. But the nurses and PT were surprised at how well I handled the first steps, etc and I was just that my memory just kicked in and I went into over drive.. haha

I can't say that the hip itself is much different this time around.. here are the things that are different. The waterproof bandage is sitting higher up and goes into the crease of where my thigh meets the trunk of the body and it pinches!! A lot!! And the pinching is very painful.. I've got a whole week of that! There's a little more swelling and the front of my thigh seems very sore and tight, but it was more sore and tight there pre op so I'm sure this is why. The meds- I think I've mentioned that a few times.. I am so doped up and I don't like that feeling at all. I will call the surgeons office and see if I can get something a little less potent. Or, wait, I seem to recall the PA stating that I can cut them in half so first I will go down from 2 tablets every 4 hours to 1 tablet and the split the pill when I am at that stage.

Overall I am just so happy to be on the other side, I don't feel much of a LLD, just enough to comfort me. if that makes sense.. and I feel very secure already with my moving and walking. So I am thrilled!

It has taken me a long time to type this.. because I feel so drunk.. but I wanted to update you all and if your surgery is fast approaching, you will find that it really isn't that bad.. I think it all sounds worse than it really is.

So grateful to the medical teams all over our world,, they have perfected this surgery and lucky us gets to reap the benefits! Now excuse me while I go back to sleep..

 

[gertie]

@CricketHip's Welcome to the other side! Sounds like things are going well other than the semi-drunk feeling.

 

[Bfam85]

Great report my dear @CricketHip! My bandage was also in that crease...as the week went by, I played with it until I was able to make the part that was pinching the most stop pulling...guess that is one negative of anterior approach...the LLD sounds good and not too much. So happy it’s behind you and only wonderful and painfree days ahead and that you are already enjoying your moving and walking...Get some much deserved rest now xox

 

[Hippymel]

Hi @CricketHip, great to hear you are tracking well post surgery. I just removed my waterproof bandages last week, I know what you mean they really get annoying being in the hip crease, from the anterior approach. Must be helpful to have been though a THR before, my journey is all new, so still getting used to what is the normal part of recovery. Still glad to have done both together.
What does LLD mean, I’m new to these forums, so not sure of all the acronyms!
Look forward to hearing how your progress goes!

 

[CricketHip]

LLD = leg length differential. Many have a feeling of this but it levels out as you heal and continue to walk.
There are some articles on this here on BS, I’m just too zonked to look for them and copy/paste

 

[Hippymel]

Thanks @CricketHip. I’m a bilateral so haven’t really felt any LLD.....yet!!

 

[Debru4]

I'm impressed that you were able to craft such an articulate message while on those crazy meds! Thanks for the insights on being a 2nd timer I think it is in the back (or front) of all of our minds who have had one done, and suspect another will be in our future.

One comment you made that caught my attention was about the location of your incision. I've seen images of the scars of quite a few folks who had the same anterior approach as I did, and there was quite a bit of variation in their location. I am curious how the surgeon determines where exactly to make the cut? Obviously a rhetorical question unless someone reading this is involved in actual surgeries.

Hope things keep going well for you!

 

[CricketHip]

@Debru4 Interesting question! my Dr looked at my other hip and said he would try to have this new incision match the older one, So far, it seems like this one is more laterally placed? i will know more more shortly.But of course I know that the surgeon makes his first cut were it most benefits our joint.. But you are correct, there are seemingly different locations for the anterior method.

 

[gertie]

@CricketHip Wondering how you're doing over here on the other side?

 

[Bfam85]

Good morning @CricketHip! Just checking in to see how you are doing and if you are managing those meds so that you don't feel too groggy.... Enjoy this beautiful day and give us an update when you can xox

 

[Going4fun]

@CricketHip, glad you are home and recovering ... hey ... small world again ... I was at my 9-month appointment with Dr. Austin at Rothman Bensalem ... same time as you were on the other side of the building, in the surgical hospital.

Interesting to hear about the differences between hip 1 and hip 2. (BTW: hope the hospital was good--I loved my nurses there, talked and chatted with them as they checked on me through the night).

 

[CricketHip]

@gertie hello! how are YOU?? I need to read your updates, too. I'm doing great. The main issue that I was having was the dr only wanted to prescribe Oxcodone and it's too strong for me. I was pretty loopy for the first couple of days, then decided to taper the dosage down and now I am able to focus and function more.
Im cutting my 5 mg of Oxycodone in half and it's working pretty well so far..
So I am slowly getting back on here and reading threads and catching up. It's so much easier the second time around. There are lots of tings that are different.. more swelling, for one thing. But it's great already knowing how to walk and cope with little things that crop up throughout the day.
Overall I am happy and again grateful..

 

[CricketHip]

@Going4fun how cool is that?? That's so cool you were there also!! I loved my experience there. From the minute I arrived at registration until I was waving goodbye. It was so refreshing to call for help and have someone literally come through the door immediately. My last experience was with Jefferson Hospital and it was great, too. But I don't think the nurse to patient ratio was as generous. But I seriously had super experiences at both places. @Bfam85 - I've figured out the dosages and can cope better now.. I cut the oxycodone in half!
so, I've gone from taking two tablets to one half of a tablet. I am moving around a good bit, walking, doing some easy leg exercises.. in fact they are so light and easy that
I am not so sure they really count as exercises.

I am definitely more swollen this time. Doing what I can to move it but it's pretty stubborn at this point in the healing process. I also apparently changed my font settings and have no idea what I did
Oh!@ I took my first shower this morning, too. There's nothing like that first shower.. aaaaand the constipation worries that comes with our surgeries hasn't been an issue this time. This is where I believe I should cue the butterlflies and glitter..

 

[gertie]

@CricketHip Sounds like everything is going swimmingly! And a hospital with rapid response??!!! Wow. I think the nurse/patient ratio at the hospital where I had my op was 1:4. They seemed a bit chaotic--did their best but there was definitely a lag time for both RNs and CNAs.

 

[Debru4]

I think they have really come a long way in terms of perfecting the surgeries and parts for the artificial hips. But I think there is still a long ways to go to developing better medications and methods of pain management, both before and after surgery! I am one of those folks who cannot take strong opioids or NSAID, leaving my options as acetaminophen and Tramadol, even when recovering from a major surgery. The worst part of my c-section, back surgery, and hip replacement was the first few days with so few options for pain management. I'm glad you have a pain management plan that seems to be working for you! I too had an excellent experience in terms of nursing and responsiveness where I had my surgery. It was at a surgery center affiliated with my surgeon. Here's hoping you are feeling better each day!

 

[CricketHip]

Day 6 of my recovery. Well, how to say this delicately?? Yesterday sucked! My swelling traveling the length of my leg and the pressure of the fluid seemed to increase my discomfort. I opted to return to 1 tablet of pain medication vs the half tablet that I thought was giving me relief.
I think I had jumped into the ODIC early this time.. so yesterday was a day of elevation and meds and rest with a bunch of ice packs.
I still got up and walked frequently, etc. but in general, for me, I laid low.

It paid off! I am feeling much improvement this morning.. swelling is much better-- the elevation on top of my taking deep breaths and doing some deep stomach massage seemed to help the fluid leave my leg.
So on the book for this morning is my second shower.. more ice packs and hope to go outside and walk my driveway. The weather is perfect for this, humidity is much less and it feels lovely.

for anyone who happens to read this and are still waiting for you surgery date, just remember if you have a bad day, just cater to it! Rest, ice, elevate and in most instances it'll all be better the next day..

 

[Layla]

Good Morning,
Sorry you had a bad day yesterday. Thankfully today is starting out on a better note.
I hope you enjoy the shower and your walk outdoors later. I wish the humidity would drop here.
It's swampy
Happy Monday!
@CricketHip

 

[enoughpain]

@CricketHip
Sorry to hear about the painful swelling.
I have reserved an ice machine rental at my local pharmacy and was wondering if that was overkill - after your post about yesterday, I'm definitely going to get it.

 

[CricketHip]

@enoughpain, I was wishing I had one yesterday! Its warm enough here and I'm a little warm myself ( low grade fever, which I always do) and my ice packs don't last long enough.. maybe I should do so even now.. I think this swelling is already coming back since I've showered, etc. But regardless, I already feel so much better and my actual joint feels so strong! None of that slipping and grinding, loving the instant gratification.

 

[CricketHip]

@Layla Hi luv!! Swampy is a very good word for it! But if you are swampy, then it's moving our way again. phooey! That will make me more determined to enjoy this morning.. it's perfection.