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Lesson in "Don't over do!"

Started by Dee Dee, December 11, 2012, 02:35:26 PM

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Dee Dee

I must be the poster child for "Don't over do!"

Surgery went well and hospital stay was fine.  I did pass out in the hospital before I was released on Friday. It was determined low blood pressure.  I got stable and went home. We made the 8 hr drive home Friday night with no problems, no swelling, minimal pain. Saturday was a fine day of rest and recovery with a short walk outside, no swelling and everyone commented how much better this leg recovery was going.

Sunday I rested more and around 4 pm took a slow pleasant 1/3 mile walk around the block. I got home, sat down and within 20 min. severe gripping pain set in around  my buttock area and my quad muscle. I iced, took a short term pain med, changed positions, but no relief. I called the dr office an got some encouragement from the on-call doc to take some meds and rest."It is common for hip resurfacing patients  to feel good on day 3 and over do.  Try to rest and get ahead of the pain." So I  took more meds and just laid there in pain that varied from 7 to 9 level with no relief for almost 4 hours.

I got a little dizzy moving from the bed to the chair.  Dear husband was concerned called the on-call doc again  who said I should be ok by morning after some more Meds and rest. During those 4 hours I took a short acting pain killer, muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory, Tylenol, and  2 long acting nucyenta.  Still the pain was crushing me.  I tried to get up to use the bathroom around 10 pm, got sweaty, ringing in ears and passed out in my husbands arms and wet myself. Yuk and Scary!!

Hubby had enough. The paramedics were called. The adrenalin of passing out must have helped the pain for a short time but then it came back. My surgery leg was on fire and the slightest bump or touch was excruciating.

The paramedics got me into a special stair chair but I passed out getting in and almost passed out going down the stairs.

Made it to the hospital where I got tested. BP was low. Blood sugar was fine. EKG was fine, chest X-ray and ct scan was fine, hip X-ray was fine- no dislocation.  Ultrasound was fine- no blood clots. CPK levels were very high. No infection.  Pain was finally getting under control for resting. Movement was still very painful. 

So I stayed in ER observation for 17 hours. They pumped fluids in me and took blood and after giving my system a break from meds, gave me Demerol( no morphine for me due to previous reaction)  for pain since they don't carry nucyenta. And watched my BP and enzymes. They wanted to rule out cardiac issues.

Bottom line they said I had Orthostatic hypotension. Ordered to avoid my High BP med for 3 days and to check in with surgeon and family doc. I got a check up call from Lee Webb to make sure I was ok!

But now I have a lot of swelling in the operated hip, buttock and leg to the knee. I must have had some reflux because my throat feels raw.  I also woke up today with a headache. 
I am icing and resting with my feet up. I have about 5 pounds of water weight from the day before. 

The only thing I can think is my walk on Sunday was too much for my system and set off a chain of events.  Resting today and feeling ok except the swelling is frustrating. At least I am back on the recovery track for hip number 2.

Don't over do!

Dee
Right HR  5-23-12  Dr. Gross
Left HR 12-5-12 Dr. Gross

Anna

Eeeeek,

Sounds like you have had a rough ride Dee!! So glad you are feeling better now. I hope you have a speedy recovery  :)
RTHR - 08/08/2013 -Mr johan witt, London

Pat Walter

Usually over doing does not result in that many problems, but you are right to take it easy.

3 days, 4 days, 5 days out is early to do too much as you found out.  You can't judge by how well you feel, you need to have the brain decide how far into your recovery you are.

There have been quite a few people that felt great and took off walking, then found out there was not enough energy left to get back.

Pace yourself.

Just take it easy and be a couch potato for awhile.  Good Luck.

Pat
Webmaster/Owner of Surface Hippy
3/15/06 LBHR De Smet

fenceman

Wow Dee Dee, that would be scary.  Glad you are doing better.
L-BHR - Aug 2008 - Dr. Brooks  Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
R-BHR - Dec 2012 - Dr. Brooks  Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital
L-BHR Revision Nov 2017 - Dr. Brooks Euclid

hernanu

Hi Dee - sorry about that particular challenge, things should stabilize soon and you'll be on your way again.
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

patrick_d

Wow Dee!  That is crazy.  I am glad you made it through that and are back on the mend.  I am a wimp, so I didnt even venture outside of the house for the first week, I just did my walking in laps through the house.  I am beginning to think that was a good plan!
Dr. Gross 14-Nov-2012
Biomet Recap - Right Hip
41 yrs old at surgery

Dee Dee

My operated leg muscles are so sore.  >:( it is making me grumpy. I woke up with a headache and got woozy today so I am trying to figure out the meds. It is hard fighting back from a set back.

I have decided that icing is easier on the system during the summer.  Icing in the winter gives me the chills so I have to cover with sweaters and blankets, but still I shiver.  The swelling makes that foot colder.  Grr

I know it is all temporary.   :)

Thanks for letting me vent.

Dee
Right HR  5-23-12  Dr. Gross
Left HR 12-5-12 Dr. Gross

hernanu

You've seen it often here, Dee - vent away, we get you.
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

phillwad

Dee Dee

Sounds like you have got through some of the rough stuff - I know the first few days were very hard - I struggled to get the right balance of sleep, pain meds and resting position.  For both hips - 5 month apart - I had a hard first couple of weeks.  It did not seem to get easier on the second hip.  But that is over a year ago and I am so encouraged by the progress.  Stretching has been key for me.

Think long term - the vision out there.

Hope you have a good night - Phill

Tin Soldier

I think you're probably past the worst of it.  Hopefully you're getting in a routine and feel pretty stable.  I know it can be frustrating to want to be recovering faster, but I suspect there wil be a rapid change for the better soon.  Take it easy, maybe you can have a fire next to you while you ice?  Warm your spirits at the same time. 

On the note about the BP, it seems like the hospital would take the BP meds down a dose while in early recovery.  Right after surgery, you have less blood, you're doped up on all sorts of meds that might affect BP, you're simply laying in bed most of the day,...I think BP is usually low for someone coming out of surgery.  Good that you had someone to catch you each of those times.  Sorry to hear about that.  Sounded pretty rough for a bit.

Should we call you DeeDeeDontOverDoIt?  kinda catchy. 

Hang in there.
LBHR 2/22/11, RBHR 8/23/11 - Pritchett.

Dee Dee

Tin soldier you are too funny.
Thanks to all for the encouragement. Today was a good day.  I got good sleep and felt like more than just the couch potato.  I was able to mail some Christmas cards and hubby took me out for a five guys hamburger that I was craving.  We even went to Target to get a few things and I rode the electric wheel chair for the first time ever.  (Hubby did not want me to over do and end up in pain again).

I think I am past that episode and I have been monitoring my BP. No more ortho static hypotension. 

Looking forward to more good days.

Dee
Right HR  5-23-12  Dr. Gross
Left HR 12-5-12 Dr. Gross

phillwad

DeeDeeDontOverDoIt
Electric cars - yes I remember riding around in those with my crutches sticking out and hitting things  ;D

Ross

I don't know that I would label it a set back Dee but here are a couple thoughts for you.  Get plastics zip lock bags double up with ice and place directly inside your groin. Definitely a little uncomfortable but much colder than the ice machine and will take the swelling down quicker i the groin.  Don't forget to take the ER drugs first hing it he AM an use the other pain meds before your back in pain. Do the exercises and back of the walking for Couple days and ease back into it.  Direct ice as cold as you can stand for 20 minutes on and off will change your situation I Bet.
Cordially,
Ross

Dee Dee

Day 12
Well I have lost the extra 5 pounds due to swelling. But somehow I now have a tender(even painful)  large bruise on the back/outside of the knee in the operated leg.  Over the weekend I noticed some soreness and slight swelling in the area and tried rubbing it until I figured out it was a bruise. Weird.  I wonder if my long knee high socks gave me the bruise. They did not feel too tight.

I had my first full day with NO narcotics. I ended up taking a muscle relaxer last night because the leg kept twitching/spasm and waking me up. I am tight and sore but it is manageable. The quad and it band areas are still tender to touch and painful on start up to walking.

I am just doing my exercises and trying to walk around the house a lot.  I hope to get back outside for a short jaunt.  Hubby starts Xmas break on Thursday so he can go with me. 

I have not iced as much because I get so chilled from the process.  Lots of blankets and the log fire help, but I start getting goosebump chills all over and can't seem to get warm after icing. Miserable. So I only get about 2-3 sessions per day . 

I am hoping to feel good enough to drive this weekend so I can do a little last minute shopping for an elderly neighbor. 

Trying not to over do it!

Dee
Right HR  5-23-12  Dr. Gross
Left HR 12-5-12 Dr. Gross

hernanu

Elevating the leg also helps, Dee. I laid down on the couch with my leg on a pillow.

Ahh.. the bruise migration... it was so much fun... It'll clear up in due time, hopefully you'll forget most of it.
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

Ross

Ice is the key with elevation.  Weird I did not bruise even a little on either hip.  That's why I say ice and elevation. Maybe get an electric blanket Dee but ice the crap out of it

phillwad

DeeDee - I remember watching the bruise travel down my leg - I always wondered where it went?? :P.

Even after a year I still do stretches, yesterday I spent 10 min on my IT bands.  I think it will be just part of what I do now.

You are going great - get hubby to put another log on the fire - last Friday we had 2 cords of split wood delivered and it took us 3 days to move and stack it - before the hip resurfacing I would have been a "coach" to the kids to get them to do it - this time it was a chore we all did together. - Does that count as a work out?

Cheers - Phill

Jason0411

I am the same as you Ross. Did not get any bruising I think some people are just lucky.
RBHR Mr McMinn 6th December 2011.
Tripped and crushed head under cap 31st January 2012.
Self repairing.

Dee Dee

What a difference a week makes.  The operated leg is finally calming down and I feel like I can do more around the house other than watch tv in the recliner.  I am cruising around the kitchen without any aids.  I use a crutch in public. 

The sensitivity to touch is almost gone on the quad area.  I still have some soreness and slight swelling on the outside of the knee where the bruising occurred. Both IT bands are sore.  Probably from going up and down the stairs repeatedly because that's when they kick in and complain.  I am trying to rub them out but they have always been full of knots.

Someone mentioned that dominance could make a difference in recovery time.  I am right hand, right foot but left eye dominant.  The left hip seems to be catching up in recovery benchmarks now that my "over do" episode is behind me.  I have the strength and pain free resurfaced hip to lean on this time!

Merry Christmas!
Dee
Right HR  5-23-12  Dr. Gross
Left HR 12-5-12 Dr. Gross

hernanu

Sounds great Dee.. Merry Christmas to you!
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

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