THR Z's Postop thread

[Anitawants2tango]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Hi John, in answer to your question, there has been no specific time frame mentioned for when to do my right hip. I am asymptomatic on that side, but any of the doctors who saw my bilateral X-rays told me to anticipate a second surgery down the road.

Hoping you continue to feel great.

 

[Josephine]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

That often happens, Anita. Both my surgeon and I have been in anticipation of my early return for a repeat performance and although there are niggles, so far no necessity!

 

[Z15]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Minor updates...

I did not have external stitches or staples....I just had sterri strips. And those came off today which is nice cuz they were getting itchy. I'll try to get a picture in the next day as it seems like most of the incision photos used staples or stitches.

I need a refill on my pain meds which is fine....but my doc switching me from oxycodon to I'm not exactly sure what (but they did mention it CONTAINS the tylenol) because, apparently, they can't phone in the oxy script, but they can this other one. We'll see...I'm hoping it is not a lot of adjusting to new doses and such...I'll post later when i find out what the new one is.

My follow-up with my OS is not till 6 weeks post surgery...and I would love to move that up as I feel great....but I am guessing that the 6 week timeframe has more to do with BONE GROWTH than with "recovery"? Does that seem right? And they would not increase what they would allow me to do (my only real restriction from day 1 was no added weights) until that bone growth is present?

Have a good week all...

BTW: If any moderator could change the title of this thead I would appreciate it...I was a few hours out of surgery and grammatically challenged. "Z Postop thread" - would be totally fine. Thanks!

Z

 

[DallasSarah]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Hi Z,

It's fabulous you are doing so well....

I never had stiches or staples, just some glue kinda stuff which fascinated me how it all stayed together but it did

I'm sure they will keep you on a decent strength pain pill and hopefully it will be easy for you to switch over. Its a pain that they cannot call in the same prescription, I learned that afterwards and we changed me from Percosets to hydrocodone which has worked fine. Im 7 weeks today and find I'm taking less and less plus on a lower strength dosage now. Still take a couple of the evening when I get stiff.

Wishing you continued success in your recovery!

xxooxx

 

[Z15]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Thanks Sarah...I was switched to Vicodin which is different than the oxycodone but I hope that I am nearing the end of these anyway. I won't stop b4 I should, but i would EXPECT that after week 2 there might be less need...but what do i know.

When I do Hip #2 somday THEN i can be the veteran expert...

Z

 

[nanamac]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Hi Z! Glad to read your thread and to hear you are doing so well. Yes, Vicodin is the same as Hydrocodone. It is usually what the good docs at NEBH switch us to. I also had my THR done there.

I am just getting caught up on a lot of these threads as the forum has been very busy the last few weeks and I haven't been feeing very well for about the same time.

Keep up the great work (and you are also right about why they wait the six weeks for a follow up). I am sure within the next few weeks I will be back there for a cortisone shot as my other hip is starting to give me the very familiar fits :DOH:...

PS..Lovely home btw...

 

[Z15]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Thanks for the kind words, Janet! I'm not loving the Hydrocodone at the moment...it certainly is not as well suited for my discomfort as the Oxy was....but I understand that there is a balancing act. PT come by in a few hours and I will see how I do with that compared with the Oxy.

I have certainly been reading your story for some weeks now and realize that as complex as your situation is I have nowords of wisdom to offer you...other than the hope that things begin to fall into place and you get better from here on out.

I had shingles myself about 20 years ago and the funny thing was...i had mine on my Sciatic Nerve.... So my orthopedist initially thot (before the lesions emerged) that i had CLASSIC sciatica...then when the blisters started showing we rethought that diagnosis pretty quickly.

The shingles took a lot out of me and that was with me JUST dealing with that one thing...I would not want to be juggling that on top of the hip stuff.

I hope that NEBH treats you well...I hope your opinion of them has not soured too much. So far I am pleased and impressed with my experience but understand that not everyone's is the same...

Hang in there! :cat-kittyandsmiley:

Z

 

[nanamac]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

You know what Z? Accidents happen. I am not feeling the way I was about my experience. It was a comedy of errors. if anything, it was the first rehab in Salem, MA that did all the damage.

Yes, the fracture did go unnoticed and this was explained to me how it could happen by the second OS. It makes sense. Problem I believe was, a good but inexperienced OS should have listened to me more than his experience or lack of it. But, what did I know then? I certainly know a lot more now, thanks to BoneSmart!

Nope, NEBH is the place to go and I just had that misfortune of being the 1% that it happens to. Let's just say I took one for the team :th_heehee:!

Hey, when life throws you lemons...

Glad you are doing so well, BUT, You are only 2 weeks post-op! If the Vicodin isn't strong enough, demand another script for Oxycodone! Your OS can mail it to you if you can't go pick it up! No need to suffer, I don't care how easy the surgry was, it is still major surgery!

 

[Z15]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Janet,

Your perspective is noble and you attitude is impressive. I did do some preparing prior to the surgery saying to myself...SOMEONE has to be that 1% with this complication or 2% with that...and was ready (and still am) that this is really complicated stuff (it IS rocket science) and we do the best that we can to, if we can, to avoid being in the percentages we want to avoid. But, often, we have no say...

You are clearly a fighter and that is important when there are bumps in the road.

As for the prescription...it is high on my list of topics to discuss with PT. So far they have been a very knowledgeable sounding board.

ANNDDDD, PT just arrived...

Z

 

[nanamac]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

Thanks. My original NEBH OS and I had a few or more words upon my return after seeing a few other OS's and we understand each other now. (He wasn't looking outside the box when I had my THR so I went on a search. He was very " textbook" back then and I see that he has grown a lot now, a few years later.)

My search brought me back to him and we finally cleared the air. If and when the time comes for #2, I will stay with him, believe it or not. I mean, now he is a lot more knowlegeable and what are the odds of it happening again?

Call me crazy but I would rather be there and anywhere else...

 

[Josephine]

Re: Z out surgery and doing well

My follow-up with my OS is not till 6 weeks post surgery... and I would love to move that up as I feel great.... but I am guessing that the 6 week time frame has more to do with BONE GROWTH than with "recovery"? Does that seem right? And they would not increase what they would allow me to do (my only real restriction from day 1 was no added weights) until that bone growth is present?

Actually it's to do with the risk of dislocation. Six weeks (give or take) is reckoned to be the period the short muscles around the hip, which are primarily responsible for keeping the joint in place, have great loss of tone and strength due to the surgery and the anaesthetic. Have a look here This 90 degree rule and risk of dislocation

sterri strips

Steri-strips (what can I say - I'm a nurse and cursed with being a pedant about such things! :th_heehee

BTW: If any moderator could change the title of this thead I would appreciate it

Done

 

[Z15]

Re: Z Postop thread

Thanks for the new title Jo...the first one was drug induced and under the influence of anaesthesia.

Thanks for the correction on steri-strips. I've never used the word before and hope to never have to use it again!

Here is a video from yesterday...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxBCKrTsS3k&context=C312d0d2ADOEgsToPDskJStsgCe86cr2YgSWkHFXYU

I realize that i do NOT feel like that when I roll out of the bed in the AM......but I'm doing wonderfully great.

Z

 

[DallasSarah]

Re: Z Postop thread

Morning John,

Another brilliant video! I'm glad you added the getting out of bed part. Pretty fabulous for day 12 if you ask me!!

Josephine thank you for reposting the time fame for restrictions, its so helpful to have this information at hand. I also think its good to keep these timelines in the back of your mind as a gentle reminder of not to over do things. I think that's always been my biggest fear is the thought of discolaction. No thank you!

Thank you for sharing video they are always great to watch...nice inspiration especially for new members thinking about surgery or getting ready for surgery!

All the best!

 

[Z15]

Re: Z Postop thread

I don't know if I've mentioned this before...and wonder how common it is...but:

The only restriction my OS sent me home with was, no straight leg lifts on the operated leg.

His position is based on what his procedure impacts during his procedure...and he does not advise us to follow the 90 degree rule.

Is that rare, extemely rare, or unique?

I'll confess to not knowing his stats on dislocations....

Z

 

[rider1960]

Re: Z Postop thread

Z, did you have the direct anterior approach? There are fewer restriction associated with that method.

Glad you are doing well. Hope things keep progressing well.

Dorothy

 

[Z15]

Re: Z Postop thread

Dorothy,

I did not have an anterior...

My doc does what is dubbed a Superior Capsulotomy...I have a 4 inch incision on the back side of my butt, Apparently he is able to keep more the of the support intact...

Some folks liked this animation of it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxZTSmRP42w

I didn't realize that the 90 degree rule did not apply to some anterior procedures.

Thanks,

Z

 

[Hoops68]

Re: Z Postop thread

Z that is a great recovery video. Day 12 you are doing extremely well. Congratulations.

 

[Josephine]

Re: Z Postop thread

Some surgeons apply the 90 degree restrictions to all THRs, some only to posterio-lateral or lateral, some to ...........

Well, you know what? There are as many variations as there are surgeons! They all have their own ideas and I can tell you know, try to figure out the logic in it all and you'll all end up with a major headache!

 

[haldox]

Re: Z Postop thread

:wow2: amazing vid....great job!!!!

 

[Jaycey]

Re: Z Postop thread

Wow Z, you are doing extremely well for so early out. Hope you get those pain meds balanced. It's tricky sometimes but critical so that you can keep mobile.