Hoping you are doing well. Let us know how are you are doing - when you can, so we can send you some positive energy.
Some of you have given updates within another post but it may not have been seen by others thinking about you (forum
Tmembers really do care about one another).
Take care.
L
Thanks for the reminder Linda. I have been meaning to put a message on to thank this forum for the advice and support it gave me when I was going through my darkest time. I am now 6 weeks post left THR and doing really well. Am walking further each day without my crutch, I can drive now and feeling much better in myself. Sleep is still a problem but is much better than it was. Thank you all again.
Hi Linda, I'm one week today post THR and doing well. I had the anterior approach and am generally using just one crutch except for outside.
I am managing to do a few things indoors, cooking etc but obviously it's difficult not being able to bend to reach cupboards etc.
It's my second hip so my first leg is taking a lot of the strain and is making this one easier.
Conclusion, all good so far.
How are you doing Linda? Xx
Hey Linda I hope your well your self?
Hugs
Megan x
Just got home from hospital yesterday. THR left, anterior. Right 5 years ago posterior-what a difference. Experiencing numbness and weakness in quad. Knee and ankle pain but I am getting around on my walker.
Isn't it amazing what a lift (no pun intended) it is to be able to drive yourself! It is certainly a major milestone along this journey. And walking without a crutch is really good progress. The sleep issue is a whole other matter though. My doctor suggested trying melatonin to help me establish a better rhythm of sleep. It helped me fall asleep better but most nights find me up 5 to 6 times. Of course once awake , somehow a trip to the loo seems absolutely necessary - very frustrating. However over recent weeks I've started to sleep 3-4 hours at a stretch - I quite like it 😀😊.
However, I start the process over with my other hip shortly, so I hope I can re-establish really sleep once over that one.
And I am learning some new tricks as new people join this forum. I am definitely going to try the magnesium spray for the restless and swollen leg problems. Ditto the quinine and the donut cushion for the golf ball that took up longterm residence in my buttocks over the first 2 months.
I am back into the gym, massage and even light yoga within the limits of my 2nd hip and trying valiantly to fit in as many baths, walks, bike rides, workouts in the pool and other estricted activities before my next thr. I even had a martini last night for our 43rd wedding anniversary - not to shabby, I think!
I hope Al goes well with your full recovery. Best wishes.
Linda
Hi Gwen,
It is lovely to hear how well you are doing (almost worth the delays).
How are your spirits - you sound in good form in other posts. Thanks - this gives me hope for a good 2nd hip as well.
See above in my post to Olwen for a bit of an update.
Keep in touch lovely lady.
L
Thanks Megan. I am actually 6 months posterior right thr and getting my second one done shortly with my favourite surgeon (I am so lucky as he did a fabulous job on my first and has a wonderful manner - very a-typical surgeon character; not at all the arrogant stereo-type).
I am busy trying to fit in as many 'restricted activities' as possible in the interim. Feel free to suggest some to add to my list!
How are you doing - not falling into the 6-8 week doldrums I hope.
Big hugs,
L
Wow - welcome home! You had an anterior this time didn't you? Where are you based - we don't seem to have this approach offered here in Ottawa.
You sound pretty darn clear-headed and even chipper. Very impressive.
See my posts up above to Olwen and Megan for my update.
Please keep in touch on how you are doing. It is fantastic to hear about such good progress. And perhaps there wil be some envy but it is really good to hear about how well you are doing.
Big hugs,
Linda
Thanks for the encouragement Linda, I live outside of Buffalo. Frequent Canada every summer. Looking forward to PT next week.
I am generally in good spirits mainly because the long wait is over and the only way is up!
I think you'll find that having at least one good leg will help enormously, I know for me it has. I couldn't do half the things I'm doing at this stage and I keep looking forward to tomorrow.
What date is your next op in September?
Xx
I really enjoyed the physio (except for getting back and forth, and even that was tempered by being out of the house (in the middle of the worst part our winter this year).
I enjoyed the work, the encouragement and the opportunity to chat about little things bothering me. All in all quite motivating.I hope yours is as good as mine was. Best.
L
The 20th - lucky day right?
I look forward to it even if a little of trepidation creeps in evrry once in a while.
Thanks.
L
Hi All!
I am currently 9 days post op Rthr. I had spinal anesthesia, and
Was placed on protocol of meds before surgery, they
Continued after, I must say my pain is very well managed! After walking up in recovery, I could
Not stop smiling and being the happiest woman in the hospital! I think it was a relief of being fixed and the good drugs! I am 36 overweight woman, was out of bed and on toilet 2 hours after surgery, the biggest struggle was not Being able to lift my leg, and standing up initially was scary until I just
Pushed through it. Mastered entering and exiting bed and commode, had to stay an extra day due to drains still draining, came home with a wound vac on my incision and was able to get up and down steps and walk toothed kitchen for meals. Pain meds were super helpful in that process. Home
Nurse came 2 day home and refreshed bandages on wound vac and replaced, this is were things started to go astray. I developed excessive
Swelling in my ankle first and the vacuum was huring, jumped out of A sleep That
Night to killer pain from vac, I removed it went, felt instant relief. Had a 7day post op visit for
Vac and the edema got worse
And worse, while
At the doctors office had
A ultrasound to rule out DVT, thank goodness it was negative! Now this edema is so painful and includes hips to ankle trying to keep it
Up and ice but not really helping. I feel like
Everything is
Stretching so hard in this leg and that it is going to burst
Because there is no more room tingling under incision and now my
Fingers on both hands are tingling
Been told the edema is
Normal just
Scared and the tingling in hands is a new development overnight.
Whoooo that is scary.
I had bad swelling but this sounds much worse. Thank goodness a nurse was coming in to check on you.
All I used was elevation (I am told by others that your feet must be elevated over your heart ...but this runs counter to what I was told of minimizing blood clots! So I am no longer sure what we are meant to do. I also used cold packs as this helped me with pain and swelling - esp when it got very tight.
I didn't have tingling - but I have heard this from a few others and I hope they step in to give advice to you.
Will the nurse be in to see you again or do you see your surgeon soon?
The only other advice I have seen recommended for swelling and restless legs is magnesium spray. A few people have tried and reported good results.
I wish you good luck with this vettech. I am so sorry you are having such a rotten time of it.
Big hugs,
L
Thank you! I will look in to the spray. I actually am doing good, just swollen to the umpteenth. I just got a body pillow to lie under my leg from hip to ankle
happy 43rd wedding anniversary to one of my favorite persons here on the forum !!!
oh yeah, the roller coaster (not as intense as previos one) has started - One year ago I was dreading and looking forward to my 2nd THR - Unlike you I could not do anything anymore due to pain - There were days I thought that amputation would be a nice option and others that I felt paralyzed with fear ... and I knew what I was in for !!!
You are doing great, keeping yourself physically active -
Thank you Linda ...
big warm hug
renee
hello vettech ,
wow ... I hope the swelling goes down soon - My right leg was very swollen after THR surgery and skin so tight and pulsing it felt and looked like an overstuffed sausage that needed to get pierced ---
weird and alien looking ... Home nurse kept checking in and also told me that it was not abnormal - hmmm ...
I had tingling in hand and fingers and realized that it was because I held on to walker as if my life depended on it ... and it did ...
Oh, that wound vacuum must not have been so pleasant -
give a lot of tender loving care to vettech okay ? her body went through so much trauma -
big warm hug
renee
The 20th September will be the best day of your life. You will be over all the pain and waiting and be able to look forward to a normal future being able to do things that we watch everyone else do without a care in the world!
Of course you have trepidation, it's normal. For a couple of weeks before mine, a few times a day, it would be like walking through a field of butterflies that rise up as you go through them, and the amount increased as the day got closer but when the day itself dawns you steel yourself to just get it done with and out of the way
As you have been there for us, we will be there for you with every support you need to get you through those early days.
Be strong my friend xxx
Hey Linda.
That's great, it makes the hospital trip and the surgery a lot easier if the surgeon is great. I had a good surgeon too. She stitche me up great too, my scar is neat!. I will need to try and show you.
I got a lot of restrictions for the 6 weeks, I will be 5 weeks on Monday from a right hip replacement, I will be getting my left done soon too. I am going good, I walk out side at least twice a day, I do exercise 3-4 times a day. I get physio once a week, still on crutches sadly but I am getting there.
Hugs
Megan x