Countdown to my 2/23/11 resurfacing with Dr. Gross

[jjmclain]

Toilet seat: I had one with the handles but still stood up a lot as it was more comfortable (and I am female!)..I also used the trick of leaning back and sticking the leg straight out. Once you can break the 90 degree rule, usually at 4 weeks, it will be so much better! Your flexibility and strength will improve even faster once that restriction is lifted.

As far as the incision: my PT told me to massage it with unscented lotion or cream to work out the hard knots and built up scar tissue. That works wonders and makes the area less tender. I have fair skin and I can tell you that I can still feel where the incision is (as in I know it is there, it feels different) and I am at 3 1/2 mths post-op.

I had lots of swelling at first and I think because I am a small person, it was very noticeable to me. I think once I went off the crutches at 4 weeks and was allowed to walk unassisted full weight-bearing, the remaining swelling went away. I don't quite have back the muslce tone in the surgical side, but it is getting there. No one else notices, but I can see a difference between my quad muscles.  I haven't limped since before my surgery!

Remember, it takes time to heal!

June

[23109VC]

Steve...

Thanks!  As always, you have good things to say and it is helpful to get reassuring info from a fellow surface hippy!  I'm going to get one those seats today!

I probably should have had it already, but I managed to use the hotel seat by the leg out, lean back method...but I guess today was a "longer" session on the throne and it ended up agitating the tissues.  Also, I'm on my last day of pills and took less of them today than normal.

My incision is still pretty sore and tender.  If I sit on a hard chair it hurts still from the pressure on the site..... But when I got off the toilet today it was REALLY sore. You are probably right..i agitated the incision and underlying tissue too much by sitting for too lomg in one position....

I'm just going to take it easy the rest of the day, ice, elevate.

Are those raised seats soft or hard?

Thanks for the info Steve, and thanks so much for visiting me at the hospital.  It was great to meet you in person!  I sincerely appreciate you info, support, and help along this journey!

[23109VC]

Sean,

Do as much around the house as your hip allows you to, be active as much as possible, between then elevate and ice as you have been.

The more you stay active the better, I can't remember if you were on a restricted rehab, if not put as much weight on that hip as your body will allow.

You sound like you are doing well with exception of that toilet seat.

Protect the hip, do the excercises.  When you are permitted WALK WALK WALK, it will help a lot.

Chuck

Chuck-

I was fortunate and had a good dexa scan.  I have no restrictions and can do full weight on the hip.  I am kind of nervous to put full weight on it...like to stand on just my and leg...but I can stand without crutches.  I take showers without them and don't hang onto anything...I'm very careful not to move fast in the shower to avoid slipping..... But I can stand on the bad hip.  I can walk short distances without the crutches...but have a pretty good limp.... I avoid walking without the crutches as I an balance better with them.  I have walked around the house on one crutch..that is not too bad.

Are you guys icing mostly the incision site? Or are you moving the pad around your leg and icing different parts of it?

Sometimes after I get up from icing my hip for an hour or so, I swear my butt feels numb!  I am wearing gym shorts and putting the padmover my clothes, so I'm not putting the pad directly on my skin, but itnstill gets really cold!  I just took the pad thing off about ten minutes ago, and my left butt cheek still feels cold! 

,y incision sitemismsore, but also has a sort of numb feeling to it.  I think that is normal.  I cut my arm pretty badly Manu years ago and I remember going throu various stages of sensations where I was cut.  At first it hurt, then it was numb..then I would get weird cold and wet sensations depending on what touched my arm...if I rested my arm on a cold desk it felt like I putnit in water....  I assume this incision will have similar odd sensations...

Right now my incision feels kind of numb, puffy, and sore.  I guess it's going to be a while before that goes away!

[obxpelican]

Sean,

Do what your body will allow, nothing crazy, if you feel pain or are too weak to try to walk a few steps, don't.  But, remember your implants are sort of pressed together, when you put some weight on you are helping the press.  Baby steps lead to big steps.

By all means be careful in the shower... you sound like you are doing really well.


Chuck

Chuck-

I was fortunate and had a good dexa scan.  I have no restrictions and can do full weight on the hip.  I am kind of nervous to put full weight on it...like to stand on just my and leg...but I can stand without crutches.  I take showers without them and don't hang onto anything...I'm very careful not to move fast in the shower to avoid slipping..... But I can stand on the bad hip.  I can walk short distances without the crutches...but have a pretty good limp.... I avoid walking without the crutches as I an balance better with them.  I have walked around the house on one crutch..that is not too bad.

Right now my incision feels kind of numb, puffy, and sore.  I guess it's going to be a while before that goes away!
[/quote]

[newdog]

The seat I have is not padded. It's hollow plastic. Bought it at WalMart for under $20. It's molded so it can not slip off of the toilet.

When I iced I tried to locate the ice on the incision site as much as possible. If it seems to be too cold, maybe try to add more padding like a towel. My spots felt cold and a little numb too. Maybe other hippys have other ideas.

Again, what would we do without this website? It's just amazing to be able to share and learn.

[einreb]

I think the raised toilet seat is nice and worth the $.  At 6'1", its actually the correct height for me and jokingly told my wife that its staying.  I can understand the concept of different efforts for #1 and #2.  First few times sitting down it was not easy to get everything pointed in the right direction.   I suspect that's super tough on bilats.

I think the limp will go away as the supporting muscles recover, especially the abductors.  I had a nice email back from Lee Webb on that question for me.  There are specific things that get targeted at 6 weeks to bring strength back to the rest of the leg 'system'.  At this point, do what you are allowed (walking for you!) and let your body recover.   Its not a race.

[Dayton96]

I was thinking I was told that I would get a HR kit from Dr. Gross prior to being sent home.  Doesn't it include a toilet seat?

Mac

[newdog]

Sorry Mac, but no it doesn't include a seat. Other hippys go out the night before and dine and try to relax. I was out looking for a raised toilet seat. Exciting!

[23109VC]

I bought that kit, and it came with several items (reacher grabber, sponge on a stick, thing to help put on dicks, long shoe horn...) but no toilet seat.

My wifeis going to grab one at walmart or target tonight.  Both stores appear to carry something like that about $20.

I love this site.  It is very comforting to come here and get quick answers to stuff that bothers me, or I wonder about.  My bathroom incident really stressed me.  When i got up off the seat I knew I felt more discomfort in my hip...I didn't know exactly what it was, but of course, I'm a worry wart and I panicked -  I thought I hurt myself or moved the implant... It wasn't a happy thought  to feel something hurt differently....

But, I'm also on less pain meds today, so I may just be feeling it more now.  I am doing my exercises, and those dont really hurt.  Even the heel slide thing. I can do 15 reps of that and it doesn't hurt at all.  When imwalk though, im feel  more discomfort in the incision area.. I think sitting on the seat today must have dome something to the incision site...and with less meeds on boardi felt it more.

I'm icing again.  I am going to get a good night sleep and see how it all feels in the am.

It sure makes  me feel better to have this site.  When something worries me, it is nice to get info from youmguys who are ahead of me in the process.

before the surgery this site was a real source of comfort....and it still is as I recover.

As I type this I'm on my couch... And it feels fine.  Did my foot pumps, butt squeezes, heel slides... All feels really good.  I took a nucynta and nowi feel a bit groggy.

When did most of you guys stop the narcotic meds?  I was hoping to be really pain free by today and not need them but maybe my toilet seat set incident set me back a day or so?

Thanks for all the info and support guys!

Oh, I have also noticed that my leg has little red bumps on it...like pimples... Its almost like a rash.  Not sure if it's because of all the meds, all the icing, or just some byproduct of the trauma to my leg. Since is one leg I wonder if it's not the medicine..or you would think I'd get it all over my body....  Did any of you guys get rashes?

[obxpelican]

Sometimes it's the stuff they put on your leg before they wrapped it, I forgot the name of that stuff, sometimes people are allergic to it. 

Sometimes it's the result of the meds they used during the surgery, some people have taken 10 days to 2 weeks to clear from their system.

It will go away.


Chuck

[svanci02]

I am on week four and was off pain meds after 9 days, just use Advil once in a while, go in for my other hip in the morning. Glad to hear that you are doing good. Raised seat is a must, I thought it was tough with a raised seat, I would not want to try without one for about three weeks

[Dayton96]

OK.  Live and learn.  I will have that seat before I leave for Columbia.  I''m looking forward to a good southern meal the night before my surgery, not a trip to Target.  I'm wondering now though how challenging the rest stops will be on my 9 hour drive back to Ohio after the surgery.  Please don't tell me I have to shag a potty seat into rest stop restroom at every stop.

[Tin Soldier]

I went out and wined and dined the night before and had to have my neighbor get me a raised toilet seat before we got home from the hospital.  I know it's not too exciting, actually it is.  I love my raised toilet seat and I also use it as a walker to get around the bathroom sometimes.  Definitely a great tool.

[newdog]

Dayton,
Public and restaurant restrooms are supposed to have raised or "handicap" toilets. On my ride home there was a stretch of 35 miles of a road that connected two interstate highways. Wouldn't you know that's when nature called "real loud"! The only thing we could find was a little Mom and Pop store. It was way out in the "boonies" as they say. They had a regular toilet, so I carefully sat down. It worked.

Tin Soldier,
A walker!! It makes me laugh picturing it! One thing about it, no one else wants to touch it. It's yours!

[23109VC]

DAY 8 POST OP

well, here is a summary of how i felt on day 8.

On day 7 i think I agitated my incision using the bathroom,  but today it felt better.  After that "incident" I had my wife head out to walmart for a raised toilet seat, the one thing I had neglected to buy.  Boy didmthat make things easier!

I iced my leg in the am.  At lunch we to the kids outnto a local dairy that sells fresh milk and freshly made chocolate milk...wow was it good.  They also have some small pens with little goats that the kids can feed through the fence.....kids had a good time and it was good to get out of the house.  We stopped at Costco for a hot dog, some quick groceries..and I managed to do all right.  We only needed coffee and I just waited near the front of the store....I really didn't feel like trekking al over Costco on my crutches... So mo..it wasn't a usual Costco run with a fully loaded shopping cart....

I rested back at home.

I only took one nucynta around lunch....this was my first day totally off oxycontin...and normally I had ramen several nucynta along with the oxy throughoutnthe day...so this was a big reduction in pain medicine.

I would describe the pain as manageable.  It was more of a soreness and stiffness near the incision.  I felt a little more discomfort late in the evening, but nothing terrible.

The area that hurts is my incision.  I have had some pain in my knee at time, but it seems to set in in the evening after a day of activity..not siren if it is from being tired, or from walking , limping around on it.  The knee that hurts is on the operated leg.

I have some discomfort in the hamstring muscle on my operated leg.  I can feel that is seems weak.  I also feel that I have a lot of weakness in the muscles that pull the hip up..like if you were standing up and tried to raise your knee up...those muscles...I had a real loss of range of motion in that area before the surgery, so I'm sire theynwere weak to startwith, but theynseem weaker.  If i am gettnginto bed and trying to het my legs situated, ot is very hard to move my left leg because the muscles that would raise it up don't want to do it..so I usually use my arms, grab my leg and physically lift itmup. Sometimes when I do that I notice a small pain in my hip...not sure what it is...but I'll watch it....

Overall I'd say it was a good day.  Perhaps slightly more discomfort than some prior days, BUT day 8 was pretty much pain med free and the prior days I was pretty medicated so the same pains were there but just masked.

All in al, I feel pretty good for being 8'days post op from a surgery like what i had,  I'm able to motor around on two crutches easily.  I can walk on one crutch fine too.  I wil intermittently stop using one crutch and rake a handful of steps on one crutch to see how I do.  It feels ok.  I can keep a somewhat more normalmgait by using the one crutch on the opposite side as the bad leg.  Ifmimtrynto walk without any crutch I can do it but limp quite a bit.  The muscles aren't quite ready for that yet.  My joint feels good though, and the only real pain I feel when putting a lot of weight ontovthe operated leg is theincision.  It's like a big dull tugging, puffy, soreness.  Not a sharp pain that hurts...just a constant dull one reminding me that I still have a ways to go before I'm all better.

I also have noticed a slight rash on my operated leg.  It almost looks like my hair follicles are just red or agitated...it's not just where they shaved my leg...they kind if itch...I think it may be from the medicine?  But it's only on the operated leg...  Any of you get something like that?

I'm take it a day at a time and feel good.  Those old sharp arthritic pains are gone.... That is nice.  Like many have said...there is stilmpain, but it is different and I know this pain will go away.  It will feel so amazing when I am finally able to walk without the crutches,mor a Cain, without pain...and actually feel like I am "fixed"!!!

I will get there..today or tomorrow, but I will get there.

[bigblue]

After I got home I broke out in a rash. It turns out I was allergic to the vicodin. Lee told me to take benadryl and the rash went away. From that time on the only thing I took was x-tra strength tylenol and to be honest I never noticed any difference.

[FlbrkMike]

Sean -

Just wondering...how well are you sleeping?

Mike

[23109VC]

At first, I was waking up several times during the night because my mouth was getting dry...one of the meds gave me dry mouth and it would get so dry it would wake me up...I'd drink some water, fall back asleep, and would wake up a few hours later, same routine.  I was probably up and down 3-4 times a night because of my mouth.  Luckily I fall back asleep instantly....so it didn't really bother me much....

It's was like that most nights since the surgery.

Last night, I was off the meds, and didn't wake up, although I had the ice thing on my leg and I woke up with my leg in a cramp...the pillow I propped under my leg must have been at a weird angle...

I did not ice my hip at all today and have not noticed much swelling.

When did most of you stop icing?



I've only been o

[Lopsided]

I did not ice my hip at all today and have not noticed much swelling.

When did most of you stop icing?

I iced for the first ten days and had virtually no swelling. Then I did not bother icing, and on day fourteen, my a**e cheek swelled up and I could not sit comfortably. I Started icing again and it went down quickly.

So I would suggest you keep icing, even if you have no swelling.

D.

[23109VC]

DAY 9 POST OP UPDATE

today I was officially off the narcotic pain meds.  Yesterday I took one pill around lunch, today I took none.  I felt really good too .  There is still that incision pain, and when I walk on my crutches, I can feel a soreness that almost feels like it's in my butt cheek.

I'm still using two crutches for my trips out of the house, but am using one inside the house.   A few times I have been successful without using any crutches at all.  I can limp around ok on no crutches, but I'd rather not push it, so I try to have at least one.

I can tell the discomfort level was slightly less today.  I also felt that I did better getting in and out of the car on my own.  I'm still slow bringing my leg up and into the car, but it is getting better.

I'll do some icing today just to be safe.

I was allowed to take off my bandage but didn't ake it off.  I figured I'd leave it one ome extra day...today I'll take it off and see how things look underneath.  Hope it all looks good! They sent me home with an antibiotic ointment that I can use, but Dr. Gross's discharge info says once I remove the dressing, I should apply the ointment, but can then leave it exposed.  No need to redress it anymore.  Is that what most of your docs did? 

Anyway...things are getting better day by day!