straight from the hip...

[kajubones]

That sounds great. I feel so crippled right now, it makes me depressed. My lower back is starting to hurt as well maybe because I am compensating so much when I walk up stairs because of the pain.

[kajubones]

I had my preop today. We went through a training where we were told what to expect before, during and after surgery. I also had to go though some tests: blood, urine, blood pressure, EKG, then I got to talk to the anesthesiologist about what to expect. I was given my instructions, and many words of encouragement and support. A very different feeling came over me from when my request was denied by my insurance. I will keep you updated as I go.

[hernanu]

A lot of issues cleared up for me afterwards. (Disclaimer - not a medical practitioner, don't even look like one) I think we're dealing with so much before, it's like an explosion afterwards, just have to count what's left after the debris clears out. I had a bad lower back, knee pain, sciatic pain, incredible tightness all around, neck pain and a bad attitude  >:(. Glad to say all of that has cleared up at one year.

The only thing left is some weakness when pushing my body - some IT issues on my right leg, weakness in sideways / cutting movements, etc. But other things - stretching, straight ahead weight lifting, bag work, all of those are returning to my form of about 6 years ago. Now to drop some weight and get to where my youngest daughter doesn't tell me to do so, and I'll be good.

Glad you're setting yourself in, keep us up to date on the insurance.

[kajubones]

10.06.11 was my surgery date...
Came out of surgery surprised that it was already done. I was just talking to the nurse about feeling dizzy then I heard some drilling and woke up. She noticed me waking up and told me that they were almost done. Next thing I know I was wheeled into recovery, my body was still numb from the waist down. I was monitored for a while and then sent into my room. After a while a nurse came in and tried to get me on my feet to walk with a walker. First I sat up, hip was mostly stiff but no pain felt yet. My leg would not move without some extra help. Then I stood up in with a walker, the entire leg was stiff but still no pain. I walked around a bit with the walker, sluggishly because of the stiffness and I was still a little dizzy. Around that time my dinner was there so I tried sitting down at a chair so I can eat. The dizziness got progressively worse. my body started having a cold sweat and my vision started turning hazy white. I have never felt like that before so I did not know what to make of it. I told the nurse and she immediately called for help to get me back into the bed. She said I was passing out. the feeling was so horrible that I just stayed in bed for at least two hours hoping that the feeling will go away completely. it did. After that everything seemed pretty routine (to the doctors). On the day I was to be discharged the doctors were concerned that my heart beat seemed so high, especially for someone that is just in bed. The monitored me the whole day with my fever going up and down and my heart rate being fast always. They did not want to release me because they wanted to make sure that I was ok, and thank god they did! It turns out that I had a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in my chest). I was happy to stay another night! I went home on 10.09.11 but now have to do some therapy for the blood clot. My wife is administering shots to me twice a day for blood thinners and I am also taking some blood thinning medication. The idea is to get my blood to clot at a certain level (which they are monitoring closely) then I can just continue with the pills (no more shots yay!). today is my 5th day post op. I still feel weak and dizzy all the time. Leg is very swollen. just trying to take it one day at a time...

[Luanna]

A pulmonary embolism....that's serious. Glad they kept you and that you are doing well now. Sounds like you had a fairly intense hospital experience to say the least. Take care and keep on feeling better.

Luanna

[Lopsided]

K Bones, an incredible account of your post op! You seem to be taking everything in your stride.

D.

[kajubones]

Hi Luanna and D,

Thanks but I am actually crying like a baby now. I just can't remember anymore what normal feels like :(. They are still working on the blood clot thing and I think that would be a little easier without the shots but they tell me that the shots should get my levels up faster. When I tested this week )(on the 11th) they said that I was up to 1.1 on my INR levels? I have been getting the shots since day one (on the 6th) and my level is still normal. They want it to be 2.0 to 3.0 :(. I guess it is more shots for this week.

[hernanu]

Sorry to hear about the embolism, kajubones!  glad they caught it.

From what I've read, 0.8 to 1.0 is normal (if everything else was normal), but for therapeutic anticoagulation the goal is 2-3, which is probably what they want for you. Hopefully you'll hit the goal soon, so you can focus on regular recovery.

S'alright to get emotional, you're going through a lot, no one gets through this without emotional impact. How's the hip?

[rbt2011]

Hang in there Kajubones.  We'll be thinking and praying for you.  You are going to be just fine. 

It sounds like, although it is uncomfortable to get the shots, the doctors are being aggressive and are going to knock this thing out quickly.  Keep your spirits high and you'll be out of there before you know it.  How does the hip feel?

[kajubones]

Hi hernanu and rbt2011,

Thanks for the word of encouragement, it is sooooooo appreciated. My hats off to you guys for going through all of this before me, It is definitely a challenge. I hear what you guys are saying about the blood thinners and I am trying to keep an open mind about it. There were so many things about the whole experience that was just horrible but the one thing that really stands out for me at the moment is: The home portable toilet thing that goes over your regular toliet! Who invented that thing? I sat down in it to try to do my business and found no place to pee! I had to keep repositioning and when I thought everything was good and I was able to take care of things my pajama pants that was around my ankes was wet! Apparently the seat was high to allow you to sit in it safely but left a gap in between the actual toilet and the seat.

Anyway, my hip is stiff right now and I can't really move my leg due to all of the swelling and weakness. I have not really had regular physical therapy yet because of all these other problems. I have just been trying to walk around the room and the garage. leg is really stiff and the muscles to lift them straight is sore and really weak.

I have another appointment today in regards to the blood thinners, I will keep you guys updated...

[Lopsided]

I hope you have been given, and are wearing, the TEDs.

[ScubaDuck]

kabujones-

I have to totally agree with you on the raised toilet seat.  I could not get comfortable on the stupid thing.  I don't know who designed it but they should have had to use it for a month before releasing the design.

And you definitely can't pee while sitting down.  I learned to pee before I sat down.

Good luck with the blood thinners.  I had to take aspirin for awhile after surgery to help prevent clotting.

Dan

[hernanu]

Thankfully I did not use the toilet seat thing, since my counter was right next to my toilet, letting me leverage myself with both it, the wall and my crutches. I became quite adept at balancing on it. Did great stuff for the guns also  ::) .

The muscles are stiff now, but they work themselves out as you recover. Plenty of folks here just did mostly walking, and it worked for them. The blood thinners will be gone soon, you can get to regular PT when that's done - then you have plenty of time to do those exercises. No detriment to your recovery, just a hitch in the road.

Are you icing? that'll help the swelling. Even if no real PT, there are exercises you can do - the butt clenches (my words), ankle pumps, I was given also a thing where you lie down and keep legs straight, but move one hip down, then switch to the other - this was actually pretty good for me to get some life into those hips. Another thing that might help your motivation is to sit down with home PT folks and start planning for when you can do it - set a schedule and talk to them about what you want to do and what you want to accomplish.

You're a martial artist, you'll be on the PT and other exercises pretty well soon enough. Then you can take advantage of the new hip. This sucks, but if you ever need it again (hopefully not), it probably won't be like this.

[kajubones]

LOL, oh man you guys are funny and I needed that! Yeah that toilet thing has to go (no pun intended). Lopsided, not really sure what the teds are. DGossack, thanks I am trying to hang in there, with friends like you guys out there I don't see how a person can't. hernanu, I did some pretty creative tricks lately but ended up regretting them because it always ended up with me peeing on something unintended. I have been trying to do the same exercises you are talking about. my problem right now is that I cannot lift my right leg (from a lying down position) to either swing it on or off the bed. I guess it is just strengthening the muscles. I tried icing for the swelling and elevating. the elevation seems to work well but the swelling comes back. The doctor told me that I should have some thing at my knee that compresses and prevents the swelling. Not really know what she means. She said that she will check on it and in the mean time she had my legs scanned for blood clots.

I also went to check my levels today. 1.2! Man this is going to take a while and in the mean time my stomach is all bruised from all the blood thinner shots! One thing at a time, I know. I at least got my pain killers changed because the oxicodone was giving me fevers and I was nauseated and hallucinating. More to come...

[Luanna]

You too? That oxycontin and oxycodone about did me in. I had to stay in the hospital for an extra day because I was so ill from the pain meds. And talk about hallucinations. Thought I was back in the 60s. Not good ones either. Not uncommon I hear. I was on tylenol after I left the hospital and I needed more pain relief so I worked with a pain specialist and took low dose ketamine as needed for another week. It's used for combat troups in war zones. Strong pain relief but no cognitive dulling so they can help themselves and the medic get them off the field.

If I need to have the other hip done my surgeon will work with my pain specialist so that we don't have any more trouble with pain medications.
Hate that Oxy stuff......
Luanna

[Lopsided]

TEDs, K Bones, are surgical compression stockings. You should have been wearing them immediately from the operation. In fact one should have been on your opposite leg from before the operation. They are specifically to stop blood clots.

I have met one hippy who got DVT (in his leg, not his chest), and he was not given TEDs.

TEDs and blood thinners (useually Herapin injectedin your stomach fat) are essential for avoiding clots.

As you already have a clot, these are still useful. If you are not wearing TEDs now, demand them?

What surgeon did your operation?

D.

[ScubaDuck]

Lop-

Interesting that Dr. Pritchett didn't prescribe TEDs for me.  He did have me take aspirin for a week or so.  And lots of ankle pumps too.  I don't know if they gave me something after surgery for clots.

I had trouble moving my operated leg at first.  But I would force myself to move it as much as I could even if it was very painful.  It got easier after about 10 days.

Best wishes.

Dan

[Luanna]

TEDS - I was expecting those but Pritchett didn't prescribe them for me either. Aspirin for 14 days after surgery for blood clots and that was it.... similar to you Dan and lots of ankle pumps too! So much fun.

I still do about a thousand ankle pumps a day just out of habit.....

Luanna

[hernanu]

my problem right now is that I cannot lift my right leg (from a lying down position) to either swing it on or off the bed. I guess it is just strengthening the muscles.

My physical therapist at the hospital gave me a technique for this that worked pretty well: take your good leg, slip its ankle under your operated ankle, use it to support and guide the operated leg on and off the bed. I also had the same trouble while my leg was stiff. It took about a week or two before I could move on / off on my own.

I used TEDs also for about a month on both legs each time - always wanted to look like Ben Franklin anyways. That and aspirin were my anti clot strategies - and ankle pumps. I still do them too, Luanna.

[gary2010]

Never had TEDs, no problem.