4th week, feeling okay, still having tired days, I am walking with one crutch but still reluctant to take steps without support, pain minimal and taking 4 paracetamol a day
That sounds excellent Susan. Only two weeks to go before you are a free woman
Learning to walk after the op is an interesting thing. I did not realise just how much your weight sways your hip. I really had to walk very slowly on my original (healthy) hip to register the movement. This is helping me walk again. I am two weeks behind you and on two crutches.
Keep the strength as you are insipring others like me :-)
Michael
Hi Susan, as you will see from reading this great forum no two people are alike in terms of recovery, progress and pain management.
I too am 4 weeks PO however it was only yesterday that I managed to take less than my prescribed 8 paracetamol per 24 hrs. I'm on 1 crutch in the house but on 2 when I venture outside. I'm managing to walk without any crutches when I have to but it results in the 'penguin' gait that you'll read about in this forum! I do it to see if I can, but I'm all too aware of rushing my body!
It sounds like you're making great progress and to be pain free is amazing! Well done you. 😊
Dawn x
Thank you Michael, just beeb doing my stretching exercises, interesting reading about others difficulties with sleeping and getting comfy in bed, learning to sleep on your back is certainly testing but I've persevered and it's done wonders for my wrinkles, stay well and do a little every day, my OT said to me be patient the first 6 weeks and you will reap the benefits, sound advice I believe
Thank you, the pain before op was excruciating so to feel like this is great for me, I know what you mean about limping and such, I find it hard to tuck in my bottom and catch sight of my posture sometimes and try correct it. We must be patient and listen to our bodies I guess, early days yet. It's great to know others out there are not racing around yet I had wondered if I was slow in my recovery
Take your time Susan, if you don't feel ready yet, then leave it another week or two until you are. Confidence will come as you get stronger. It is a long journey and one that requires humour and patience. You are doing really well, and must be very pleased with your progress.
I am pleased yes and without sounding trite I've been surprised at how well I've felt (I know not everyone does). Your are right about the humour, I could drive myself potty with the amount of times I drop things the grabbers are fab .
Yes it was much better than I anticipated too, and now you are home and feeling much more human every day will bring its own 'first' experiences. The grabbers are truly fantastic aren't they! I have quite a collection now as there is never one when you need one!
I hope you continue to feel better and better, it is over, the worst part and now you can look to the future with optimism.
Well done Susan, you sound like you're making brilliant progress and as someone still pre-op, I'll be happy if I do as well as you.
As Michael says, it's very inspiring for others and it is this brilliant forum and it's wonderful contributors that give us strength.
Keep going hun xxx
Near the end of my 3rd week. Also on one crutch but today I managed to walk a little without the crutch (still a bit penguiny!)
Came off tramadol almost 48 hours ago (the side effects are
almost gone - but boy will I never use tramadol again if I can help it! Now on co-codamol and ibroprufren.
Walking!? around like a zombie due to lack of sleep however
(tramadol side effect for me)
All the best susan
Do you ever wonder if you used to drop things just as much before and never noticed? I have. Or else I've become clumsier. Can't shower without dropping soap. NOT possible. And then there's dropping the grabber.....
Tbh before my op I felt anxious even tho I'd heard so many positive things. British Red Cross were great with help re equipment ie toilet frame raised toilet seat and perching stools, I purchased 2 grabbers from amazon one for the bathroom and one in kitchen they are invaluable I also bought a long handled shoe horn and long handled sponge so I could wash my feet, all these things helped me to feel independent
Sounds like you are doing great, I didn't have tramodol but was given some oromorph which I used only the first couple days after discharge from hospital. Are you not sleeping because you can't get comfy ? I have little naps during the day to top up after a disturbed night.
Lol yes I've dropped the grabber and had to fetch my other grabber to pick it up with, my husband says I've become more clumsy. Onwards and upwards tho .
I just wondered myself - I suspect that I have become clumsier ...
This whole learning how to walk again also makes me bump into things more often -
Hi Susan,
I am 2 weeks pre-surgery and reading all the messages on this forum and one other to which I belong (a FB forum flooded with ads that is not anywhere as good as this one). Thank you all for the great info, good humour and insights.
The message I am hearing is: patience woman - you and future me! There are variations on this theme obviously (listen to your body, time will heal, this is constructive pain ...). I am definitely going to need a poster on this (probably in every room)! I can just hear my daughter now.
I also hear - keep the faith, you made the right (really the only) decision to have this surgery 'cause your hip was failing and you would have been in a worse fix if you hadn't gone ahead with this.
I am not a doctor but I prescribe a viewing or two of: Black and White a FABULOUS video of a private Roy Orbison show which features a dozen other famous musicians in support AND of the Spanish movie Living is Easy with Eyes Closed. This is a lovely, lovely movie which one could probably watch it w/o subtitle and still 'get' it .
Perhaps other 'hippies' have favourites to recommend to fill the time a little and remind you of the joy in our world.
Hang in there Susan - this too shall pass. And ... I will need your guidance and encouragement as I embark on this 'adventure'. Especially as I get to do it all over again in the summer with my other hip.
P.S. It is the worst of our winters here today: freezing rain and sleet all night has left a thick sheen on everything (this winter has been bizarre). I had already declared it a hibernation day as I had a long pre-op day yesterday and NEEDED downtime away from everything. Guess what I have lined up to watch later this afternoon?
Wishing you an easier time of it as you move forward - in penguin fashion or not.
Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the links as users can find these using a search engine if they wish.
Hi Susan,
Good job .... As others have said, take your time - I am still taking my rollator (trolley) with me if I go to a shopping mall and I am almost 21 weeks post-op from 2nd THR -
I can sit when tired and put stuff in basket .... so there ....
big warm hug and continue what you are doing
renee
Maybe because we are looking down instead of forward, I'm sure this will improve over the next few weeks
I look forward to hearing your journey, I have been doing a lot of baking, this needs a bit of pre planning before hubby goes to work so he can leave out the things I can't reach and yes I've had eggs on the floor, which have had to stay till he comes home visits from friends is great too. Good luck and let me know how it goes x
The hug much appreciated ty, the trolley seems a great idea, stay well xxx