Ramblings regarding my scheduled 2/16 resurfacing with Dr Gross

[einreb]

What else did you have to do today to get ready for the surgery?  Were there any "night before," instructions or restrictions?

Mac

No, other than the no-no list like aspirin, advil, etc.  we went for a 2 mile walk at the state park near the hotel, then went out for dinner in columbia for some good food and a beer.

Good luck!!!
I'll be anxious to hear how it all goes... I'm right behind you!

Thanks!  There was a guy in from NY in for his 6 week checkup.  He came to talk to me and was absolutely glowing with his comments on the entire experience.  The whole thing is as good as it can get with regards to the staff and the experience so far.  I can honestly say that I'm ready and looking forward to having it done tomorrow.

[newdog]

You will do just fine! I'll be there next Thursday the 24th for my 6 week post-op check up. Hope I can talk to someone and help them feel better. After tomorrow your life gets better!

[einreb]

Wow...  On the other side.  Absolutely no post op pain.  The staff here has been wonderful.  I was told I should be up and around today.

4 hours post op

Pain at 0

right leg sorta normal, hip leg has numb toes

[obxpelican]

Hey, do us a favor, rate your pain level 1-10 when you post so others will know what to expect. 

Glad everything went well.  Someone should get you up soon, if you are an AM surgery they usually get u up. 


Chuck

[einreb]

I'm now about 8 hours post surgery.  I went for a walker walk down the hall and did the pt exercises. 

There is now a bit of soreness in the hip, but its a different sore than the old bone on bone.   I'd rate it as a 2?  Very tolerable considering what just happened!

-b

[halfdone]

Congrats on your shiny new parts Bernie.  Welcome to the other side.  Best wishes for a smooth recovery and rehab.
HD (x2)

[FlbrkMike]

Congratulations on the succesful surgery Bernie! 

I too had very little pain coming out of surgery, mostly because the epidural was still in and I was still getting some morphine.  Next day some of the soreness set in but, as you said, very tolerable considering, and different than the old pain.  My ROM was almost immediately better than before, and the really amazing thing is that my foot now points in the right direction!!

I'm now at day 5 post surgery and seeing great improvement every day.  The most challenging thing for me is to have patience.  I want to get up and walk more outside.  I don't want to be so careful in how I move my leg.  I want the pain and stiffness to go away.  I want to go back to work (my colleagues want me back too).  These things will come but it takes time.

[obxpelican]

If possible, try to get up in a chair for a little bit tomorrow, stay as active as possible and keep doing those foot pumps!!!!

Keep us updated on the pain numbers.

Now on to some good healing for you.

Chuck

I'm now about 8 hours post surgery.  I went for a walker walk down the hall and did the pt exercises. 

There is now a bit of soreness in the hip, but its a different sore than the old bone on bone.   I'd rate it as a 2?  Very tolerable considering what just happened!

-b

[Dayton96]

Glad it went so smoothly Bernie.  So, now what do you do until Friday?  Do you have plenty to read?  Do they have cable?  By the way, how about a review of the food!

Mac

[einreb]

Keep us updated on the pain numbers.

Now on to some good healing for you.

Chuck

I'll be honest... it hurts a good bit now at 8pm.   The pt person forgot to plug the ice machine back in and it took me a while to notice it.

The pain has moved to a 4-5.  I think that i took an Oxycontin before the surgery at around 7:30, so that may be wearing off now since its 8 pm here now.  I think I get another at 10 that should last overnight.

I asked for the optional pain pill and took one.  I'll get asked in 30 minutes if I want another and they last for 4 hours.  I'm also on Tylenol every 4 hours.

So far, the staff has been very good.

As for food... we went out to dinner last night on Gervais Street in Columbia.  There are a lot of restaurants there.  We ate at an oyster bar called Pearlz.  It was pretty good.

The food at the hospital has been better than I expected, but I expected horrible food.  :)

[Dayton96]

So exactly what is your schedule for the rest of the week?  I understand there will be PT, but what else will you do to fill your hours?  Do you know yet when you will be released on Friday?  When can you take a shower again?  When can you swim again? 

Sorry to hear about the pain.  I'm not a big fan of drugs, but I've been told that the time to take something for pain is before it gets out of control.  My thought is to take the meds while I'm in the hospital and on the way back to Ohio, then ease off as soon as I'm home. 

To show how naive I am, exactly what does oxycontin do for you?  Does it make you groggy?  I'm hoping for a 42" TV in the hospital room so I can at least watch the NCAA tournament while I'm down there.  I've never had the luxury of staying home from work before to watch the tourney.  As it would happen, my surgery is Mar 23, and the regionals run 24 - 27 March. 

Hope you're able to sleep through the night.

Mac

[23109VC]

Wow!  I'm jealous you are done!  I'm a week away...I'm bummed because i caught a cold a few days ago and so ive been home from work all week trying to kick it.... The staff said if i w sick...obviously, they can't do the surgery.... Wish me luck to kick this cough and congestion before Wednesday !

Hey, does the hospital have wifi in the rooms? 

[einreb]

wow, lots of questions... :)

Single room, tv with cable. 
I have a couple of books
2 pt sessions today, one of them is a group session with other hippies.
Not sure on the shower or swim.
The Oxycontin is a slow release pain killer.  It makes me a little fuzzy, but not tired.
The have free wifi here.

I think I got behind on the pain medicine yesterday.  I should have taken the secondary pain killer when they first offered it.

I got a small morphine shot at around midnight.  I then got a solid few hours sleep until they came in at 4 to draw blood for labs.

Going during the tournament is brilliant... :)

[obxpelican]

You will be allowed to shower before you leave the hospital, swimming is a no no until your incision has healed without scabs. 

Stay as active as your body will allow, if your body will allow you to sit up in that nice chair do it.


Chuck

[newdog]

Bernie.
You did it! Every day and every week gets better. The Oxycontin made me a little fuzzy too, not drunk-like. I had trouble keeping count of my exercises with the therapist. Even though you will get written instructions on post-op drugs, make sure you understand them before you leave. You won't have to take the heavy narcotic stuff for long.

The physical therapy with the other hippies is fun. It's great to meet the others on the floor who went through the same thing you did.

Don't be discouraged if you feel like a slug when you get home. It's normal, you just had major surgery. Like Chuck said, move as much as you can, don't just lay there all the time.

You done man, look forward to pain free activities this Spring and Summer!

Steve (newdog)

[obxpelican]

This is a great time of the year to have it done, it's going to be spring soon, then summer, by the time summer comes along he'll be active again.


Chuck

[einreb]

30 hours post surgery.  I'm feeling good. Just a little achy on the operated side.

I can really notice that my legs are now the same length.  I was short 1cm and Dr Gross was able to correct that.

I ended up with a slightly 'special' acetabular component that has 3 small spikes in it.  Apparently my socket was worn a bit bad because of the mis-shaped head and Dr Gross felt this was the right component to use.

3 pt sessions today.  Occupational, exercise and then the group event.  It was nice to meet some other folks in the same boat.  There were a few bilaterals that were doing well.  I was the only one on the restricted recovery program.

I'm looking forward to heading home saturday and seeing my kids.

[obxpelican]

Keep it up, listen to Dr. G and you are going to be great this summer!


Glad to hear you are doing well.


Chuck

[Tin Soldier]

Good job Bernie,  I'm getting nervous, next Tuesday is when I go under in Seattle.  I'm waiting to get it over with before committing on the hip.  I agree, even if I have both done this spring, I'll be "waking up" for summer.   Can't wait to get through recovery and feel normal again.   

[Dayton96]

So what are your plans for the new hip?

Mac