I decided to start a new thread for my recovery. I am now finally back home in Colorado and reunited with my baby and husband after a rough trip home from South Carolina. My mom is here for a week and we also have our nanny who is helping out basically full-time as needed. So far, I've still been so sick and lightheaded from all the medication that I am in bed most of the day.
I'm already fretting about my left hip as I've got some pain on that side that concerns me a bit. My right hip was done a week ago and is starting to feel better slowly. My left was done last Wednesday and is giving me a lot more problems. I know that I am still super early in recovery and still in the initial "acute pain" phase but I am worried that I may have further injured my left hip over the weekend when I lost my balance getting up from the toilet and fell back onto it quite hard. I landed on my butt obviously so right where the incision scar is trying to heal. It wasn't as if I fell on the ground outside or anything like that but it makes me nervous since that hip seems to be quite bruised and sore. I've got both glute pain and groin pain going on both when I try to walk with my crutches and just laying in bed. It isn't terrible pain but its there. I left a message for Nancy at Dr. Gross' office to see whether they would like me to get an x-ray. I have borderline osteopenia in that hip so I know that I am going to be extra paranoid for the next few months about femoral neck fracture.
I know that it is pretty hard to loosen your cup or fracture your femur - I mean I think it takes ALOT of impact, right? Falling back onto the toilet seat six inches even in the first week after surgery would not likely to cause long term damage I hope? :(
Other than that, I'm doing ok. I'm still feeling so weak and ill from the surgeries that I don't have an appetite and I'm forcing myself to drink water and tea very slowly. I'm usually a daily wine drinker but I haven't had a glass since before surgery which definitely is an indication of how I'm feeling at the moment. ;) I've had a lot of surgeries in my life - two prior arthroscopic hip surgeries, a biceps tenodesis of my left shoulder and a lumpectomy on my breast. This has been far and away the hardest initial recovery even though I was super fit and healthy going into it. For a 36-year old former trail marathoner this has kicked my butt so far. :-\
My goals for this week are very simple: better hydration, take a few showers, start eating something other than saltines and gingerale and wean down off some of the stronger pain killers.
Amy
Hi Amy
Thanks for starting your new story after surgery.
It sounds like the pain meds are making you sick and maybe lightheaded. You could ask to try a different med. Don't know what you are on, but you might want to see if something else will work and not make you sick. I have big problems with codeine meds. If you can't get different pain meds, get something for your upset tummy. I always get extra meds for nausea. Don't be uncomfortable. You need to get back to eating and feeling better. If you are dizzy, you could fall and hurt yourself.
You probably did not do a lot of damage falling back on the toilet seat, but you might need an x-ray if you continue to have problems. Falling on your incision is a really bad thing. They put a bed pan under me while in the hospital in Belgium and somehow my incision hit on the edge - the pain was terrible. I was crying and screaming. They gave me a morphine shot right away and did an x-ray. That incision area and all around the hip is so so tender.
The people I know that had a femur neck fracture had really hard, terrible pain. One Gross patient jump up too quickly from his seat to get to the plane and heard his femur crack! That was a long time ago. So you would probably know if you fractured your femur neck. A very few folks have had a fineline fracture and had to stay non weight bearing for quite awhile. We will hope none of those things happened to you.
I hope you get to feeling a little better soon. At least try to get your stomach under control and get rid of the dizzy. That is very important. Everything else will heal at it's own rate.
Please keep in touch. Don't hesitate to call Lee or your contact at Dr. Gross's office.
Pat
Thanks Pat for all the tips. I agree - the pain meds are making me feel pretty bad and killing my appetite. I actually already switched from Nucyenta to Vicodin because I had a very strange reaction to the Nucyenta - it gave me blurred vision to the point that I could not watch TV or see a computer screen. I'm ok with the vicodin, I just think its going to take time to get my strength back a little and wean off some of the meds. Today has been a bit better overall. I actually walked up and down our stairs on crutches and that felt ok.
I figured that with a femoral neck fracture you would probably know it - Lee said it is like the same kind of pain as breaking your leg skiing - really painful and traumatic. But I have heard about the stress fracture that can gradually take place over time. That is more what worries me with my lower bone density. I guess I'll wait to hear back from Dr. Gross' office as to whether to get an x-ray or not. I've already been through so much with my hips at such a young age that I was really hoping for a straight-forward recovery. :-\
I've read many a story where patients have fallen post op and were fine.
Your hip socket is pretty deep and protected by a lot of muscle and tissue, so is your femoral neck and the femoral component is press fit, so it's pretty tight.
You had a lot of work done on that hip so any impact could cause a lot of pain, it could even linger a few days. If it were me, I would ice and elevate and wait a few days if it's still really bad I would ask for a script for an x-ray.
Chuck
Amy, this might be kicking your butt right now, but things will be getting better practically daily and you'll see huge improvements as the weeks go by. I'm at ten weeks and it's really great to be able to stand still and wait for something without my glutes being on fire. I remember that I went to see my shoulder doc in NYC and I had to decide which would be more painful; walking or standing and waiting for a subway. I walked. I usually do, and now it's no problem either way.
Hang in there Amy. The pain is most likely from the incision and not the implant. You just had a traumatic assault on your hip(s) called implant surgery. It takes months for that to heal. Take it easy, let others look after you for the next week or two. I promise you it will get easier. Do you have a raised toilet? If not, it is well worth your money to have your husband get one for you and put on the toilet. I had one and my wife put up with it for six weeks. When I went back to work after six weeks, I took the toilet seat off the tossed it away.
Mac
Just wanted to give a mid-week update. Thanks for all the well wishes and support. I'm doing a lot better. I finally seemed to turn a corner two days ago and I have weaned off the pain killers and have been able to eat and get around much better. Still taking Tylenol as needed and a vicodin if I need it at night to sleep but otherwise the pain is markedly better. I still feel a little Post Traumatic Stress over the bilateral experience, I have to say, but I'm moving forward.
I ended up going to the Urgent Care department here in Boulder and getting an x-ray of my left hip just to make sure everything was ok after losing my balance in the bathroom and falling back on my butt/hip. Everything looked fine - they had an ER doc, a radiologist and an Orthopedist all look it and the consensus was that the implant looked fine and there was no evidence anywhere of a fracture.
Now the hardest part is going to be sucking up the 6 weeks on crutches. Its a monumental inconvenience with a 9-month old baby seeing as I cannot lift her or do much of anything worthwhile around the house but I know its temporary.
I did get the raised toilet seat and that has been super helpful. Now I just wonder what I'll do when I go back to work in a few weeks.
Of course it hasn't snowed all winter here but tonight they're calling for 10 inches....its going to kill me! >:(
Hey Amy,
You probably know this, but I have found e-mailing Lee or Nancy gets the quickest response if you are worried about something. That Nucynta is an evil drug, I think. Pain meds in general do not agree with me, but the Nucynta had the quickest and sickest effect. Watch out for your intake of Tylenol (does your Vicodin have Tylenol in it?)...the new standards are 3000 mg; it used to be 4000mg a day.
Yes, the raised toilet seat is a must. I had mine for over a month.
Sending healing thoughts your way,
Mindi
Amy, I have to tell you about what happened to me right after my first knee surgery. The surgery was at HSS in NYC in January. It was a major open surgery for a ruptured patella tendon and some other minor problems. Everything went well and I was home to Long lsland the same day. A couple of days later we had a really big snowstorm and I was worried about the house upstate. I was afraid that if I didn't get that snow shoveled, it would freeze solid and we wouldn't be able to get in until spring. My wife said ''No way, you just had knee surgery''. ''Don't worry, I have a plan, I'll shovel my way in and I'll never have to walk through the snow''. On Saturday morning, the plan almost worked out great. Michelle trudged through the snow and got inside to get the house heating up while I shoveled my way in with no problems. I got inside just fine but when I went back out to get our stuff out of the truck, I slipped and went flying down the stairs. The knee hurt like hell and swelled up again. I called the doctor on his emergency line and he told me go get in Monday morning first thing. I never told him about the shoveling. All I said was that I walked out the door after it was shoveled and I went flying.
After xrays and an exam on Monday, everything turned out fine for me and I'm sure it will for you too.
I had a similar scare after I was well enough to remove the toilet riser. The first time I used the toilet I sat thinking it would be high and since the riser was gone, it was not. I basically fell onto the seat. Man, did that smart and I was at just around a month! Hope you continue to have a good recovery. You willbe feeling a lot better very soon. Just over a week was a real turning point!
Hi Amy,
That sounds like a really scary time you had, worried about a stress fracture, being too sick to eat, and then just dealing with the week it takes to get the anesthesia out of your system. It took me about 2 weeks to get any sort of strength back, so hang in there because you will start to see little gains like not having to use your foot noose to swing your legs in and out of bed.
I see you are on crutches for six weeks; you know from your arthroscopies that you'll be tooling around on them very shortly, but the hardest part must be not being able to hold your baby, you poor thing. I do agree with everyone that because you were in such good physical condition prior to your bilateral, Amy, I'm sure you will be enjoying the small moments of recovery.
For now, maybe writing down or giving some thought to your gains in your 'Bed PT' and continuing to give your focus to the 'easter eggs' you find along the 'hunt' of your recovery time, might help you not miss being as active as you're used to. Also, for me, it helped a lot to make elaborate and detailed plans for pleasurable rewards I'd give myself along the path to mobility, and to mentally go through all the works outs that I'd soon be nailing with my new hardware.
Good luck, Amy, and my best energies and wishes are for a calm and peaceful, strong and steady, recovery that's just right for you.
2fer
Welcome Home Amy! As 2fer said - take real pleasure in the small gains. Don't try to get off the meds too soon - I did, got cranky and didn't feel good, but for sure get something to help the nausea.
Do you have the 'ice claws' on the crutches? I'll give you more info about them if you don't. Since hubby's had 4 knee surgeries, ours are well-worn ;-) Although I did move to a cane yestereday, I may use them if I have to go out in this snow. I am at 9,000' and already have over a foot. expecting 18" I think they said - good day for old movies and a few naps.
If you ever want a visitor, let me know. I get to the boulder area frequently. Hubby's a firefighter there. Sharing a cup of tea and some cookies may be fun. Stay Strong!! It does get better, little by little.
Thanks WTW15. I'm glad to hear your surgery with Dr. Kelly went well.
I *truly* cannot believe that it just dumped more than a foot of snow here now that I am conveniently on crutches, unable to ski and unable to even leave the house! >:( It was 60 degrees most of January in the Front Range!!
Woodstock - loved your story, especially the part about never telling your doctor that you fell. I don't plan to chance it and try to do too much while I am this gimped up.
I plan to NEVER have hip surgery again. I am having a bit of Deja Vu at the moment because it is 3 years ago exactly that I was stuck inside from the end of January through mid-March while recovering from my first (failed) arthroscopic surgery on my right hip. The difference is of course that 3 years ago I didn't have a baby to care for in addition to myself. :-\
Bitching and moaning aside, I'm definitely doing ok. I know its just time more than anything. By May things should be dramatically improved and I'll be enjoying the trails out back again. Its going to take a lot of patience and willpower not to overdo it but I really need to be careful of that given my borderline bone density. I've essentially spent the last 4 years of my life going through surgeries and recovery and the other part of it I was pregnant and then recovering from that. I'm looking forward to having this out of my life once and for all. I still have to schedule a scope on my right shoulder at some point this spring or summer but at least that doesn't leave me completely immobile and the recovery is a lot less significant, at least it was for my left shoulder.
I dream of the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho where I'll be in August....hiking, biking, playing with my daughter in the aspens, soaking up the mountain sunshine and the clear waters of the Salmon River. :)
This week definitely went a lot better than last and I'm feeling a bit more positive about things. Having the flu just took so much out of me that I was having a rough go of it. I've been getting out for short crutch walks around my neighborhood and doing some errands so I feel a little more human. I've started making plans with friends to get out for a drink or dinner which at least breaks up the monotony of all of this a little bit. I'm planning to go back to the office this week at least part time. I'm an attorney so I won't be doing anything too strenuous...just a lot of mindless paper-pushing ;) And as I had hoped, my husband and I have figured out ways for him to leave me unattended with our baby for short stretches of time. That takes a huge amount of pressure off as I just hate feeling like I am keeping my husband trapped babysitting for both of us.
I still really struggle with paranoia about every little twinge. Just this morning I was out walking just a short distance and I stumbled a bit at one point and landed too forcefully on my left hip. I felt a sharp twinge that made me say "Ouch" and now my leg is pretty sore although I can still put weight on it. I know *rationally* that mis-stepping and landing too hard on one foot should not result in a femoral neck fracture but my "anxiety brain" so often gets the best of me and the obsessive thoughts start taking over. I think because I've made this whole fracture thing out to be such a terrifying nightmare that I spend way too much time worrying about it and not just moving forward with my recovery. Even with my borderline bone density I still am only at a small risk for something catastrophic happening to me given that I went to a top surgeon and have not done anything stupid. But on some level the last 4 years of dealing with hip problems and needing a joint replacement at age 36 I just lack some basic confidence in anything going right for me anymore. I never could have imagined only 4 years ago when I was still running 30 miles a week and doing ski trips across the Continental Divide with 50lb packs on that I would end up having two prosthetic hips in my mid-30s. I've gone through a lot of stages of anger and grief and now I mostly accept that this is just what happened to me but it has definitely impacted my ability to feel confident that I will ultimately be ok. I guess that is why seeing a counselor through all of this is so essential. 3 hip surgeries and 2 shoulder surgeries in 4 years as my husband likes to remind me on a daily basis.
One other thing I wanted to ask people - is low-grade aching at night fairly normal at this stage? I only have it in my right hip and it generally goes away as soon as I get up in the morning but I do have what feels like "bone pain" in the middle of the night. Its not even enough for advil or Tylenol but its pretty consistent for the last 10 days and only in one hip.
Thanks.
Amy
Hi Amy,
I just tuned in... Good to hear things are back on track with you. I also live in the Front Range area and I am not enjoying the return of winter either. I wonder if Dr Gross's office (Nancy Smith?) would have any comment on the low grade aching?
My surgery is scheduled in May with Dr Gross and I wanted to ask if you had any insights about flights between Denver and SC. It does not look like there are any direct flights to Columbia or Charlotte, and the flights into Columbia look like they are all on smaller jets. Did anything work out or not work out regarding your flight back after surgery? I want to make the trip back as non-disruptive as possible.
Thanks,
Hi Metoo,
My suggestion for flying to SC would be to take a direct flight to Charlotte and drive the 100 miles to Columbia. The reason for this is because Charlotte and Columbia are so close that it wasn't even worth the time in the airport during the layover - it would have been less time to drive and I wouldn't have had to deal with a small plane on the way back after surgery. Plus, the Columbia airport is a full 20 miles from the hospital anyway so you still have to drive for half an hour once you get there.
I do think US AIR flights direct from DEN to Charlotte. Maybe not but my flight went DEN-CHarlotte-Columbia so I would have just assumed skip the last leg.
Good luck!
Amy
Thank you for the information on flights.
I was pretty hard on my body when I was younger. I have had shoulder and knee surgery and am now sheduled to have the hip worked on. I have had to adjust my activities over the years and have faced some of the same questions you are facing now. I decided what was important to me was to have some activity to stay fit and some activities for having fun (bonus points for a fun fitness activity). I now ride a bicycle and lift small weights to stay fit. Our entire lives are a continuous process of change and adaptation. It is just harder when we have to adapt at quicker rate than we are used to.
Best wishes!
Hi Amy!
QuoteOne other thing I wanted to ask people - is low-grade aching at night fairly normal at this stage? I only have it in my right hip and it generally goes away as soon as I get up in the morning but I do have what feels like "bone pain" in the middle of the night. Its not even enough for advil or Tylenol but its pretty consistent for the last 10 days and only in one hip. - mountaingoat
Yep, I do believe it's normal; I still have it in my Right Hip, to the point where recently Hubs was wanting me to go to Commerce, MI, up by Detroit, and see Dr. Schmitt & get an X Ray. For me, I think my Right Hip is normal because when I rested it at my Sis' for a night and two days, it felt great! Also, as of now, my Right Hip is generally not getting to that 'stabbing pain' point anymore, and
that we DO have to be on the lookout for!
If your Right Hip keeps acting up to where it feels like that deep down 'stabbing' bone pain vs. a 'hot knife muscle spasm' in your hip flexor,
by all means call your surgeon!!Unfortunately and unfairly, Colorado has left a bad taste in my mouth after being ripped off by flying pre op Bilateral BHR to Vail
twice this year to see the famous Dr. Philippon, by feeling kind of pissed off about being dangled on his year and a half waiting list, and by knowing that A Rod never had to wait a hot funking minute!
Whether you're Coloradans or Coloradicals, you 'real' people from Colorado are helping me through my rage and prejudice against the "Vail Types". I love your visualization, Amy, it's so beautiful, and it makes me want to take Hubs this summer to where I took Former Hubs, The Grand Tetons at Jackson Hole.
QuoteI dream of the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho where I'll be in August....hiking, biking, playing with my daughter in the aspens, soaking up the mountain sunshine and the clear waters of the Salmon River. :) - mountaingoat
Hubs has wanted to take me for a long drive through the West our whole marriage, and I think late this summer is the time! Eight years or so ago, I drove out to Albuquerque, by way of Texas, on a flight away from him. About a year and a half into my 'Gregor Samsa' Kafkaesque like incarceration, I gave my blessing and my heartfelt benediction, "Godspeed!" to Hubs and Bonus Son driving almost to California and back. Now, I want to go to Idaho too, Amy!
I want you to know that you Colorado Hippy Women (and Men too) hold a special place in my heart because of your toughness and 'Can Do' general way of life.
Thank you for a beautiful Idahoan peace of mind today.
2fer
Hi Amy, glad you're feeling better, it is a relief to see progress. I found that I also had a lack of confidence; definitely felt weird pangs and twitches, was sore, etc.
The thing that built up my confidence was just doing the little things - the long walks, getting outside as much as possible, even doing things like strolling through a mall or some flat outdoors area (gawd, I sound like a dating site).
Anyways - when I started walking, the process of teaching my body to walk again gave me more belief not just in the immediate thing I was doing, but in reaching my goal of walking, then eventually running. You're on your way.
Quote from: Two4One on February 12, 2012, 09:00:13 AM
my Right Hip is normal because when I rested it at my Sis' for a night and two days, it felt great! Also, as of now, my Right Hip is generally not getting to that 'stabbing pain' point anymore, and that we DO have to be on the lookout for!
.
Now that is great to hear, 2fer! You can see what's coming up for you. The only pain I have now is muscular, some IT band issues when I really push myself working out.
Quote
Unfortunately and unfairly, Colorado has left a bad taste in my mouth after being ripped off by flying pre op Bilateral BHR to Vail twice this year to see the famous Dr. Philippon, by feeling kind of pissed off about being dangled on his year and a half waiting list, and by knowing that A Rod never had to wait a hot funking minute!
.
I didn't have the really bad experience you did with that, but I had the usual share of doctors telling me to do a THR and refusing to talk about HR. I was pissed at them after the surgery, but along with the feelings from my divorce, just decided to let'em go. I'm doing well, can't let the bad things in the past shape my future.
He's doing just fine, you should be too.
Quote
Hubs has wanted to take me for a long drive through the West our whole marriage, and I think late this summer is the time! Eight years or so ago, I drove out to Albuquerque, by way of Texas, on a flight away from him. About a year and a half into my 'Gregor Samsa' Kafkaesque like incarceration, I gave my blessing and my heartfelt benediction, "Godspeed!" to Hubs and Bonus Son driving almost to California and back. Now, I want to go to Idaho too, Amy!
I want you to know that you Colorado Hippy Women (and Men too) hold a special place in my heart because of your toughness and 'Can Do' general way of life.
Thank you for a beautiful Idahoan peace of mind today.
2fer
You'll definitely be ready by summer. I expect a full 'One report, maybe a cross country trip is something I might look at in the future.
TwoForOne,
I had a similar experience with Phillipon which is why I chose to go out of state to California to the much-esteemed Dr. Thomas Sampson for my previous hip scope surgeries. I only live 2 hours from Vail but I was never very enthused by Phillipon. He was never able to tell me what exactly was wrong with my hips- just that I needed a second surgery. I too did the 3 hour wait for an 8-minute appointment. I was very impressed, however, with his colleague Dr. Peter Millet who is the Steadman Clinic's top shoulder surgeon. He fixed my shoulder this past October and will hopefully do my other one in the next few months. It was a whole different experience with Dr. Millet thankfully.
Yeah, not so sure what is going on with me right hip at night. It could be soft tissue pain or it could be bone but its odd that it is consistently only in one hip. Now that I'm getting out and about more during the day my back isn't so stiff and I'm actually sleeping a little better finally. I used a "regular" toilet yesterday for the first time and did just fine.
I am actually thinking I'm going to try and schedule my shoulder surgery for late April which will be 3 months post-op for my hip. That way, just as my hips are feeling better and I'll surely be tempted to push it I will be forced to slow down a little and take it easy. Plus, I really want to limit the amount of carrying and lifting I do with my baby girl at the 3 month mark when the fracture risk is highest so if I have my arm in a sling I can kind of get that recovery over with at the same time.
Amy,
I had times when if I was just laying in bed and I shifted a certain way I would get a shooting pain, that went a way after 2 or 3 weeks.
Your body is still healing, you will have a twinge every now and then, just feel assured that since you picked a very experienced surgeon you will have the best chance for a great outcome. Patience for now though.
Chuck
Quote from: mountaingoat on February 11, 2012, 02:22:47 PM
I still really struggle with paranoia about every little twinge. Just this morning I was out walking just a short distance and I stumbled a bit at one point and landed too forcefully on my left hip. I felt a sharp twinge that made me say "Ouch" and now my leg is pretty sore although I can still put weight on it.
Not having a great week and I'm not sure what went awry (other than the fact that both of my hips were recently dislocated, sawed open and banged up with a sledge hammer ;)
Right Hip is doing quite well - really no complaints at this point, seems to be healing consistently and feeling smoother every day. The left has been the slow hip. It was doing ok and then this week just began to get really stiff, sore and tight as hell. I described it to my husband as "Feels like someone punched me in the butt really hard 20 times" whenever I walk. Hamstring is also quite sore. I called Lee this morning on her cell and told her my situation, said that I was a bit nervous as this hip had always been giving me problems since the first week. She told me (again) that if I had done something to the implant or fractured anything, I would know because I would not be able to put any weight on it and would be in extreme pain. Seems reasonable enough and I'll take that as a good rule of thumb except it doesn't get me out of my current situation, unfortunately.
Would like to be back walking my dogs on a regular basis in another month but I know not to set arbitrary goals like that at this point. Its really true what everyone says about how much recoveries vary. I was in great shape beforehand but I know that doesn't necessarily mean I'll have an easier recovery.
Yeah, Amy - I would chill out as much as you can about it. It really is pretty normal to have one side chugging along and the other not so much. Each side is doing its own recuperation, so treat one or the other as the more favored, but slightly slower child.
What you describe may be either the tissues healing at their own pace, muscle spasms or just tiredness. Remember you did have the hips exploded and then put back together, so just let them heal at their own pace. I've had freak out moments with each side, and yet it turned out fine. I always watch out for anything serious, but like they told you, a real issue would be a hell of a lot more painful.
Amy, 'nanu is right. I'm sorry you you're not feeling so hot, and I hope you feel better soon or have an accomplishment that helps lift your spirits. Just today, my PT says that every bilateral case she's ever seen, knees or hips, one side always takes longer to heal than the other.
For me, it's the R hip that's hanging on to a level '5' pain, and the L hip is the resurfacing poster child that usually hovers around a level 2-3 pain. At the end of the day, before my last bedtime pill, I lurch and lumber up the stairs.
I meant to tell you earlier that at the beginning 2010, that I also obtained Dr.Sampson's opinion. He is wonderful. When I sent my films out for 2nd opinions all over the country, two surgeons correctly diagnosed me right away. Dr. Sampson gave me the correct diagnosis of end stage OA within 2 weeks of receipt of my films even though he called it as a blind spot too and described my anatomical issue in great detail. Dr. Sampson was so kind to call me, send me a his opinion and diagnosis, and furthermore recommended I get my hips resurfaced or replaced immediately. Unfortunately, Dr. Sampson doesn't accept insurance, or I would have flown to him immediately.
The 2nd correct arthroscopic only surgeon, Dr. Kelly, New York, also gave his opinion of immedidate THR or BHR in writing to me. When I took those findings to three more Midwestern surgeons, they had the temerity to say if they didn't see anything on my films then I most certainly did not have end state OA and completely discounted the TOP two and three surgeons in the United States! These Midwestern hacks also joined the chorus labeling me a drug addict with nothing wrong with menother than a drug addiction.
2fer
Hi Everyone,
I'm 9 weeks out today. I feel badly that I only tend to post when I have a question to ask or when I'm looking for reassurance...need to be better about that for sure.
Generally, I'm doing ok. I've taken a few 2-3 mile hikes around the trails by my house, some even with incline. I'm still using hiking poles and will probably do so at least for another week or two. Sometimes, I push my daughter in the jog stroller (not jogging of course!) and use it as kind of a walker for support. I'm up to about 1.5hrs walking every two or three days but not every day as my life just doesn't allow it at the moment.
Oddly, the hip that was initially a problem (left) has now seemed to heal and feels generally good. My right hip is still quite sore when I walk although I am trying not to worry about it too much yet since it does not seem to be anything catastrophic as I can clearly walk for a couple miles and don't have pain at rest or at night. But I am still really hoping I will be pain-free in that hip soon. My right hip has been surgerized now 3 times in 3 years (with resurfacing being the last) so I'm sure the soft tissues are none too happy with me at the moment. But it still amazes me that the soreness and inflammation I feel when I walk can be all muscle-related.
On some level, now that I am more than 2 months out, my biggest fear is not so much a catastrophic event like femoral neck fracture which I think is still a very small risk but more that perhaps the lingering pain will always be there to some degree and this is as good as its going to get...which isn't good enough. I know its rare but there are a few people out there who for whatever reasons just have on-going issues that aren't debilitating but are still very limiting and I just hope to god I'm not that unlucky person. It seems to be pretty uncommon with the top surgeons but even Gross, Su, et al have patients out there who have problems. SO, being the constant worry-wart that I am I have this nagging fear that it will be me...and having been through 3 major hip surgeries (plus 2 shoulder surgeries) in the last 3 years doesn't give me a lot of confidence as you might imagine. :-\
Still, I'm trying to remain positive. I'm finally carrying/lifting my chunk-face baby around (she is 11 months and 22lbs!) but I do make her crawl up and down the stairs...I pretend its a game where she has to crawl up in front of me...she seems to go for it anyway ::)
Sounds like most are doing well these days. I'm so looking forward to spring in the mountains when I can enjoy some longer hikes.
Amy
Hi Amy, I think you're still pretty early in the recuperation. Your hips will be healing for a while (1-2 years), but as you know, you will be seeing marked improvement as you go.
At 2+ months, I was just barely exiting PT and happy to be mostly limpless. I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself - I had pain / twinges / discomfort for a while after where you are. You sound like you're doing pretty well with the walks, you don't have pain when at rest or at night, which to me says muscles / tissues.
Remember also how long your body bent itself to accommodate the OA, not only are your muscles / tissues healing now, but your body is restructuring itself back to the way it was before the OA hit. No wonder you have twinges. I understand, given your multiple surgeries with unimpressive results that you are afraid that this might not help, but it is IMO way before you should worry about that. Give it a few more months and you'll be much happier with the results, I think.
When you're carrying chunk-face baby, how does it feel compared to before the surgery (remember she weighs more now)?
Amy - I was feeling the same way, and we are just about the same post-op time. Still have muscle pain, still not full ROM, still not very strong, even with PT, and I've been battling a stomach bug to boot - needless to say I am worrying. My glut is so weak - they have me doing one-legged squats and I was almost in tears cuz I could not get back up the first couple of times without help. I was in pretty good shape going in to this. I ride a 225lb motorcycle and could pick it up when I fell without any problems, and I'm only 5'6" 130# - now I doubt I could pick up my kid's little bike.
But reading up here helps so much. We are still so 'fresh' into this. I'm looking down the road for the 3 month mark, 6 month mark and 9 month mark and reflecting back to where I was at the 2wk mark and 4 wk mark - yes, I am making progress! And everyone's support sure helps!
Hi moutaingoat and WTW15,
I want to encourage you guys (gals) to remember how early in the healing process you still are. I know that 9 weeks feels like a long time to you, so lets put some numbers to it in order to help your perspective. The bone takes 6-12 months to heal and remodel. The soft tissue takes 12-18 months to heal and fully replace scar tissue with final tissue. You guys are at less than 3 months; your bodies are just getting started on this healing adventure. There is a lot of wonderful progress during those first three months, but I was still feeling progress out to about two years. You can look forward to much continued improvement, so don't let yourselves become too worried about things that are not perfect yet. It is so easy to worry during those first few months; believe me, I did more than my share. As everyone on this site always tells each other: be patient. Things will keep getting better, and the worries will fade away. :)
Amy, I'll see your ''3 major hip surgeries (plus 2 shoulder surgeries)'' and raise you 2 major hip surgeries, 2 shoulder surgeries, 2 knee surgeries, 1 elbow, possibly 2 carpal tunnel surgeries coming up and I'm worried about my left foot when I start running again in May. Just kidding, but that's the count right now.
I was still having inflamation at the three month mark and my doctor prescribed an anti-inflamitory, once a day for two weeks. Bingo! I've been feeling fine since even though I'm pushing harder than ever. I had been taking things as needed and my usual ''heat and ice'' but I think the two week cycle of anti-inflamatories got to the core of the problem. Give it a try, it might help.
Thanks Hernanu, John and Woody. Good tips. I asked Nancy from Dr. Gross' office to prescribe some Celebrex and I'm going to try that for a month. I know that the healing time for soft tissues is 12-18 months...in my case it will probably be on the longer side because of how many past surgeries I've been through.
WTW15 - I'm amazed that you're doing one-legged squats. I'm still on such basic exercises in PT - bridging, clams, etc. I cannot imagine doing a squat right now.
When I pick up my baby now it feels pretty lop-sided and awkward compared to pre-surgery. For whatever reason, my OA did not really seem to impact my ability to carry her comfortably or even to carry a pack on my back when hiking or skiing. Now that my husband is finally back from his 3 week sojourn down the Grand Canyon I am making him do most of the carrying is for sure. :o Even though Dr. Gross does not want us on road bikes for 6 months I'm planning to break mine out and set up the trainer this weekend so I can at least bike outside in place. Weight-bearing activities like hiking are still not really agreeing with me yet.
Thanks all.
Hi Amy,
I'm a Gross hippy a few weeks ahead of you. I just re-read this whole thread, and if you look back, it does seem like you're healing on schedule. Just today, I felt a little groin pain....similar (but not as intense) as the pre-surgery pain. Sometimes my Psoas area is really tight. My IT band sometimes lets me know it's sore.
I find that I still modify certain natural movements because of the surgery. When I sit on the toilet, I put most of my weight on my non-operated leg, for example. I know you're a bi-lat, but I would guess that many natural movements of yours are still modified, and so your body is adjusting and letting you know what it doesn't like.
Your recovery sounds pretty normal. Don't sweat the small aches and pains, and enjoy the spring and your new baby daughter!
Well some good news finally. I feel like I may have turned a bit of a corner in the last week. I was able to walk a lot further last week without pain. And then yesterday, I went on a 4 mile legitimate hike on the trails by my house. It wasn't super steep or anything but had enough incline to be noticeable. I used hiking poles the whole way and today my shoulder is more sore than my hip.
I'm finally at Week 10 where all my slow protocol Gross restrictions are up. I will admit to having cheated a wee bit on this as I sort of ditched the cane around week 8.5/9 when I just stopped needing it. I started carrying my baby girl around about two weeks back and finally last week was able to carry her up and down stairs ok. Not carrying her around on my back yet or anything but at least we are self-sufficient once again.
When asked how I was feeling at the end of our 4 mile hike I responded that I was mainly a bit stiff and needed one of those oil cans like the one used by the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz ~ you know, when he gets all rusted up and Dorothy has to oil his parts to get him working again. Can I get one of those please? ???
Hope everyone had a good weekend and is doing well.
I bet your baby is thrilled to be back in your arms. Your over the hump. :)
Great to hear that you're getting to the good part, Amy. Nice hike and just a bit stiff? excellent.
Congrats Amy!! And now today sidelined only by a little foul weather/snow, albeit needed moisture! I missed my walk today and feel it. I did a bunch of clams last night and paid for it, too. And I am still struggling through one-legged squats, but not using as much help as I did last week. Glad to hear you can carry your daughter up/down the stairs. I am still having trouble carrying anyting too heavy. But it's all slowly getting better, day by day!
Wonderful news on getting back to the things you like. Time really does pass by more quickly than you might think after this surgery!