Hallo Hippies old and new. Just an update on progress so far. Spent 7 days in Oswestry Orthopaedic after op (cementless ceramic on ceramic and spinal with light GA - great) which went really well. Rheumatoid disease thought otherwise and wrists/hands shoulders went on strike using crutches. Physios on the case though and as soon as I'd achieved 2 inches an hour walking and could climb stairs while boiling a kettle I was released into the the bosom of my family. Thank goodness too as was utterly wiped out after journey to sister's house. There's no conception by others who are hale and hearty what a big deal this op is - indeed, although I'm an ex nurse, I didn't realise either! The anti-clotting injections have made me feel really tired and when you've been eating hospital food for a while beware of eating anything with any flavour to it as the bowels react and you'd better be able to control those crutches whilst speeding(?) down the hallway. Every little thing takes a very long time and what would we do without a grabber or two about our person?
Hip is pain free thank goodness apart from a pulling on the staples and a stiffness getting in and out of bed where a leg raiser for me has been a must. Sleeping on my back bearable but makes me want to piddle frequently! Am only taking paracetamol every six hours and that probably for other bits of me rather than hip. Have to stay on crutches for six weeks but am already feeling like being able to cope with one around the house - and the fantastic trolley. Make sure you have a trolley. Lots less swearing involved. Everyone has to go at their own pace and I want to go much faster but can't and will have to accept it. Will be coping on my own next week so will post progress. In the meantime nothing to do but smile, heal and call on a slave or two. What's not to like. Good luck everyone.
Hi Amnesia
From an old and new hippie 
Old being the first one.....4 years ago, spinal block, everything was fine.
New.....End of Jan this year......4 weeks into recovery and counting the days {you know the feeling
} I was doinbg an NHS exercise and Crraacck!!!!!! the leg gave way. They took me into hospital and said you have fractured your greater trochanter bone?? As a nurse you might know?? There is nothing we can do about it, it will heal itself, but will take a long long time
4 and a half months later I'm still on 2 crutches outside for a long distance, 1 for a short distance and none inside BUT I'm waddling like a duck!!!!!!!! dipping quite a lot and then that leg gets weak.
The trolly....I agree is fantastic. They didnt mention it to me the first time but I had heard about it so asked.......yes certainly.
Now this one is upstairs {first one went back} but with crutches anbd trying to tidy etc its not easy as you no doubt know LOL So it sits in a spare bedroom and its fantastic for moving things from one room to another.
Everyone heals in their own time but this is a setback...{fracture} and the fact that its not chronic I havent managed to cope with it the same as all my other things Kyphoscoliosis, osteoporosis etc....I keep expecting it to get better and patience is not my middle name LOL
You keep going......you seem to be doing well
Love
Eileen
Hi can u tell me about the spinal thing ?? I had a thr a month ago but my back is in bits due to oa of the spine x
Hi Again,
When I was diagnosed with OA it was the hips originally then they said OA in the lower spine.
{and one ankle but that was due to an accident}
I've always had a sore back but it wasnt there all the time. I would do something and it would "GO" if you know what I mean. I would visit an osteopath and that would be it for ages. then it arted to be sore all the time {chronic} I was then diagnosed with kyphoscoliosis ....The Kypho is a slight hump at the top of your back.....Scoliosis bit is a C Shaped curve in your spine. I can only talk about me....I've googled it and some people are very bad...very bent, or the curve {I think} can be at the front.I'm slightly bent at the top......curve in the spine......if you study me... when I have trousers on one leg of the trouser can br than the other.....not very noticeable.....but it is to me.
Painful......For everything......I'm on full dose of paracetamol {trying to knock it down a bit} and Naproxen......Others as wel but thats if been given for pain. Oh yes Codeine 15mg PRN......tend to take 2 at night to help me sleep.....
Anything else you want to ask and I'll try to help or pm.....whichever you want
Love
Eileen
Hi
I'm having problems with the site today.......it seems to be skipping letters....Ive read that last post to you and bits of it dont make sense.
Bit about the trousers....
One leg {in certain trousers} if you study me is a little bit shorter than the other...its because of the curve to the side.....not very noticeable....but it is to me.
About the meds
I've said I'm on full dose of paracetamol and on Naproxen.....thats all for the pain...I'm on other meds for different things......OH yes.....codeine 15mg PRN I tend to take 2 at night.
Apart from some typos I think you should be able to figure out what I'm saying
Sorry about that
Love
Eileen
The main thing- you are still smiling! I found that I had to go quite frequently and don't wonder if you really need to - just set off. I put it down to the spinal. It gradually subsided but I'd sooner have that than retention and catheter though.
I kept a grabber on the trolley downstairs and one grabber in the bedroom and another one in the bathroom upstairs because I kept leaving the darn thing in the other room. Someone bought another crutch so they could go up and down stairs without carrying the other crutch. In the early days it was 'think before you move' but you do get into the pattern of doing things. On-line grocery shopping was great - I arranged with Tesco to deliver to the back door and he just loaded the bags onto the trolley which was great.
You'll get there eventually and the key seems to be the old ones 'listen to your body' and 'make haste slowly'. Good luck.
Poise pads have come in very handy. I worried that incontinence was the new norm. Eight weeks later I'm back to normal. Phew........
For someone that has UR great attitude I am happy for UR speedy recovery.
Proud of UR positive outlook.thats 50%. Of the healing.
I think that when UR up to it we hip patients bionic hips & all should celebrate UR success . I'll decorate the theme can be tiki .. U can wear the grass shirt..we can all dress up ....dance and party..hehe..how bout getting THR band.. "Coldplay " to play for us.
thanks for sharing ..I have hip revision coming up and u have been very encouraging...third times the charm...UGG!
((hugs)). Healing prayers sent UR way....
Hi
I had 2 grabbers.......one upstairs and one downstairs
I bought a pair of crutches ........Pink and black [wink]
I've been using them for quite a long time now.....and I know I need them if I'm going round our Metro Centre {aout 4 hours} because of my back......at the moment I use them all the time so thought it was worth it......so I still have my NHS ones upstairs [wink]
Peter does the main shopping........I go with him but I wander around
looking at clothes etc LOL
I'm having real problems with this site today.....missing letters and parts of words
Love
Eileen
Hi Amnesia, you made me laugh lots.
Having an op does make you weary, doesn't it? So glad you have a few slaves on hand to see to your every need. Hope your hip keeps pain free even if other bits want to get in on the act.
From an old hippie (waiting to be a re-hippie)
Jean
Hey it sounds like everyone is trained well.LOL
GREAT TO KNOW UR family Lu's u so much!
You gotta laugh Jean - and then fall asleep!
Having been discharged from the Nuffield in Shrewsbury at the same time, I feel an instant bond with you! Everything is going well, I think, apart from a big fat leg, which seems to subside when I go to bed. I would like to stay in bed permanently until I am walking again, but that won't work, will it? I feel blessed that I really have nothing to complain about that the paracetamol won't sort out. I know nothing about a trolley. What does it look like and where do you get one?
I got mine on loan from the NHS OTs but you can buy them on-line. Height is adjustable, it has 4 wheels and two trays at different heights with tilted frame at the top similar to a zimmer. Try looking up walking trolley and you will find a variety of designs.
I live not far from Shrewsbury Nuffield that's why you have instant bond! Big,fat,huge,elephantine legs rule but I want to walk a lot and must learn patience ( or something ) as big, fat, huge legs won't subside and consultant will shout. Wheely trolley best thing invented for hippies. Ros's description spot on and I was lent mine by OT. It's a total saviour as you can put everything you need onto its two shelves, drape crutches, grabbers on string, radio, remotes, mobile etc, etc and just push it about instead of using crutches from room to room. Get one if you can. Like microwaves, cling film and dry shampoo - what would I have done without it???
Hi Carol
I got my trolly from the OT as well.
Another thing I've thought of......dry shampoo was mentioned.
That is good but maybe as well.....you can get "no water shampoo"
I forget the actual name of it. I have it and there are times my back is so sore I cant bend over to do my hair so use that as a temporary measure {as well as dry shampoo sometimes}
Google it.
You just sit down, squeeze some over your head, then lather it and no rinsing it After it is well lathered you just rub it with a towel and then do whatever you would normally do or whatever you can do at that timeLove
Eileen
Tresemme waterless foam - fab.
Hi, I think the fact that I can shower and wash my hair has saved my sanity. Dry shampoo would tip me over the edge! I am also very lucky to have a husband around who sighs loudly every time I ask him to do something but does it anyway! Hate being dependent on people but it's not for ever, is it?
Two weeks tomorrow and I think I might have turned the corner. I certainly feel a lot more positive. Leg still fat and quite tender but I think that is quite normal. The lady's blog about sex post op has certainly cheered me up this morning. I can't think of anything worse. . .!!!