31 days post op update

MattJersey · May 29, 2015, 01:06:23 PM

31days post op today
Progress has been pretty good, not super hero
Have been off all pain killers since day 18 – absolutely nothing, no cocodamol, no paracetamol, (for benefit of US folks, no Tylenol/Advil/Percocet etc) – nothing (even stopped the aspirin)
Have been able to get around with one crutch probably since about day 18, and “surf the counters” around the kitchen/diner/lounge at home
This week, since about day 25, I have started to not bother taking crutch upstairs when I go up to rest etc
Been in normal bed (not recliner) since day 1
Managed to sleep (a bit, maybe an hour) on un-operated side a few days ago, but think leg “fell off the pillow” and I awoke with sore leg on my back an hour or two later – was then sore the next day
Have been doing the exercises diligently – upscaled from requested 4x10 reps to 4x15 reps of everything, but some days manage only to squeeze in 3x15reps
[size=78%]Have been doing about the required amount of walking (building to 1 mile by week 6) – some days more, on top of all the stuff inside the house pottering around[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Stopped the 2x Aspirin daily along with other painkillers at day 18[/size][size=78%]
Night sweats I believe are related to combination of the op+the medicines and mine stopped as soon as I stopped the painkillers (and prior to that I was drinking lots of water and that helped me manage them – by waking up to visit toilet throughout the night before the sweats commenced – would wake just a “little clammy” rather than “drenched”)
Been back at work since day 22

[/size][size=78%]Still sore around hip, butt[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Can’t walk properly – hobble – without crutch, but can walk easily with crutch[/size]
When walking with crutch when I try to walk as “normal as possible” it is sore, but gradually improving
Soreness is in butt muscles almost exclusively. They need strengthening and stretching. Couple of weeks to check up, after which I hope I can start stretching and swimming
Standing only on operated leg, say to put trousers on other leg ... Very sore but improving.

[/size][size=78%]Consistent with advice from experienced members here, I think I’ve learned that:[/size]
It is very easy to over-do it and aggravate the recovering muscles
My “leg falling off pillow” episode mentioned above aggravated things
[/size][size=78%]When I feel sore, I then, the next day, really reduce the amount of walking (to only the prescribed level and no more) and stick to the exercises, and lie down a lot more: this then sets me up to feel good the next day and really feel the progress.[/size]

I know I could go out and walk, with a crutch, for miles if I wanted, but I also know I would be sore, have a poor night’s sleep, and be tired the next day.

So I have up day, over-do, then have down day, then recover, have another good day ... The over doing often isn't deliberate, just builds up.

[/size][size=78%]Notice that sitting for any length of time over a few minutes means soreness on getting up, so have tended to be lying down at home a lot, especially when on a down day![/size]