Dr. Gross Right Hip Surgery

[badbone]

Great new Larry.
I wish you a speedy recovery.
It's nice to know that you have little post op pain.


I'm now 15 days out and no cane needed.


Dr. Gross and his team are precision tuned.

[jd]

I had really low blood pressure in the afternoon after my surgery. The nurses and PT people started calling me "Casper" as apparently I went white as a sheet and started pouring sweat when I stood up that first day. No way I was going for a walk with my blood pressure like that! I think I managed to sit down about 3 seconds before I was going to faint. Totally fine the day after though.

[catfriend]

When the pt and nurse stood me up for the first time the morning after my surgery (my surgery was late in the day) my bp dropped to 87/50. They had to sit me back down before I passed out. They tried again after a minute or two, and while it didn't drop quite so low, it was too low for me to anything but sit back down. So, my first attempt at getting up a walking was a failure, too. It was probably a couple of hours later before I could safely stand up, and even then my blood pressure was dropping. It was enough that I almost didn't get out of the hospital that day, but in the afternoon things picked up, all was well, and I went home. So, don't worry too much about this, it's not uncommon.

[RebeccaT]

Low blood pressure for me, too ... my cousin who is a NP in Labor & Delivery said it's not uncommon with a spinal. I did walk some at the hospital but it almost got me again on the way home, so be careful... Glad yours went well!

[jd]

Yep, super normal to almost pass out after a spinal.

[Ljpviper]

My operated leg seems to be loosening up a bit. It was hurting this am, but I am seeing some improvement in the pm. Stayed another day in SC as the drive back to Miami is 10 hours. So far all good.


The pain meds are giving me awful headaches. Hopefully drop them soon.


Larry

[blinky]

I am sorry about the headaches. Can you take a different drug? Once you get safely home you can experiment with taking less pain medication. That was my strategy anyway: get home, get settled, get off the narcotics. When I was back in my own environment and could control better what happened when, I was able to stop taking them.

[badbone]

Make sure you drink lots of fluid and stay super hydrated.
Dehydration can cause headaches.
Also- spinal punctures can cause headaches too.


Pack a cooler full of ice so you are comfortable on your drive.
I found putting the seat in complete recline mode was the most comfortable.

My operated leg seems to be loosening up a bit. It was hurting this am, but I am seeing some improvement in the pm. Stayed another day in SC as the drive back to Miami is 10 hours. So far all good.


The pain meds are giving me awful headaches. Hopefully drop them soon.


Larry

[Ljpviper]

Made it back to Miami. Good news operated hip no groin pain from sitting. That was one of my major problems. Left hip bothered all the way back. Surgical pain tolerable, and those lovely cracks and pops.


Two take always for my next surgery for the left. Go into the surgery as light as possible, I weigh 210, best weight for me 180, would have made a difference. Do not lay in bed cause of pain. I laid in bed all day yesterday, you can't, need to work the leg.


I am only 3 days out but your leg is useless thus were lighter bodyweight and upper body strength is key.

[jd]

Glad to hear you made it back and the trip wasn't too bad Larry.

Yup, the leg is utterly useless initially. Don't worry, it'll get better every single day for a while yet!

[Ljpviper]

Day 5, woke up feeling better, hip is getting some strength. Sleeping is still a PIA. Want to wean of the hard meds, improvements come quick.


Thanks for all the support.


Larry

[blinky]

Glad you feel better. Just being at home helped me a lot.


As far as moving around goes, even if I was just sitting, I tried to sit in different places during the day, moving from the recliner to the kitchen table and back again. Getting outside even if it is just for a stroll to the end of driveway helps, too.

[jd]

Are you going for short walks with the crutches outside? I found that really helped.

[badbone]

Walks out in the fresh air will help.
Keep the faith.

[Ljpviper]

day 6. Sleeping is still challenging. I was able to carefully rollover with a pillow between my legs and sleep on my stomach, with just my feet dangling off my bed. Getting stronger my pain is more focused on upper quad, kinda where your psoas passes threw, pain then flows down to the knee. Not too bad, but you feel it if you move too quickly.


I guess I need to be careful not to over do it, and just stick with his rehab and walking a few times a day outside. Still on two crutches have not attempted to go down to one.


Larry

[badbone]

Larry


Remember it's a marathon not a sprint.
I had the same trouble sleeping as you do. I ended up taking the narcotics to help me sleep at night. About the 10th day is when I think I was able to flip onto my right side the non-operated side And sleep in the fetal position.


I promise you you will see daily improvements.


Keep the faith. You are going to do well.

[Ljpviper]

Wow a week allready, I can take a few steps without crutches. I am not rushing the recovery, I was 6 weeks no weight bearing when I had the scopes.


I dropped the morphine, let's see when I can drop the oxi.

[Quig]

Sounds like progress Larry! Nice!

[Ljpviper]

So feeling good on day 10. Sitting on the couch I can feel than annoying pain in my left hip still. The right operated hip no pain sitting. I am thrilled just to sit without pain.


I will start progressing to one crutch today. I went into the surgery with good muscle strength in my hips, so I think that helped.


I think I will go see Dr. Gross for my follow up. I was debating to spend the money to fly up too see him for the follow up. The travel cost will be like 600 total, but I feel it's worth it.


I want to discuss my surgery and the plan for my left hip.


Thanks to all for the support.


Larry

[Quig]

Keep up the good work Larry. I'm glad to read that you're progressing well!