Ruby you could try sleeping on your good side with a pillow between your legs. Worked for me. X

Hi Ruby

Sorry to hear about the swelling.  sometimes if you are too active, it will cause more swelling.  Are you walking a bit too much?  I would elevate, ice and take my meds as much as possible.  Ice on and off thru out the day.  I would definitely check with the nurse.  Make sure all is well. 

Most people put a pillow between their legs to sleep on their sides.  Usually they can't sleep on the operated side for a long time.  Some can.  So you need to try things out.  Even if you can do the unoperated side for 1/2 hour, it feels good.  The pillow keeps your leg in the optiumum position.

I sure wish you could be having an easier and faster recovery. 

Pat

Hi Ruby

If its any comfort to you the swelling in my leg has got worse over the last few days, especially by the end of the day.  I thought my leg was going to explode by the time I got to bed last night, quite scary! No amount of rest, ice or elevation was helping.  As Pat says perhaps walking a bit too much. 

Amazed that by the morning the swelling is down to usual level.  I find that lying down for about an hour couple of times a day does help.  Every day brings something new!

Ka

I'm exactly the same regarding swelling and bruising- a monstrous looking black & blue limb!
When I take the stockings off for the shower,it's such a relief and the last thing I want to do is put them back on but I've stuck with it-or more like, my wife & son have!
I'm also struggling with sleep-only getting an odd hour through the night, then down for a brew at 3am, back up, shuffle and squirm a bit more etc.
When I've been sat awake in the dead of night, I've been wondering what Ruby, Sal, Ka & jono are doing-pretty much the same, it seems!
Clips out Tuesday-looking forward to that.

Hi All recovery guys, I'm the same, swollen and tender and longing for sleep. I tried Bilateral Bliss's suggestion or was it Hern's to put two pillows under the knees, it's better. One night I decided to sleep on my front and had to dive bomb into the bed, wriggle up using the brass bed head to help pull me up the bed, flip the covers with my unoperated leg and lie with my feet hanging out the brass bed foot. I lasted an hour then had to repeat the procedure in reverse, lots of oofing and puffing, would have been comedy gold had poor old hubs filmed it, he was pretty bemused as I insisted on doing it on my own! I know the future is rosy, I just need to get further along the recovery path but it's early days yet! Thinking of you all, we are not alone! Sal x

10 days post op...

The sleeping is getting better but i'm still sleeping during the day. Just woken up from a 4 hour nap! I'm sure it's the morphine!

The stockings still refuse to be put back on. Thank the heavens the nurses are back tomorrow to give some help as they're just not playing ball with me anymore. The swelling is massive! I've new bruises turning up in all sorts of places on my operated leg. The latest is right behind my knee cap.

I tried to cut my pain meds down, to see if I could handle things, but the night before last was awful pain-wise so i'm back on the full prescription again.

Sal, you did make me laugh the the images of you dive-bombing the bed!! Everything is such an effort isn't it? Just trying to get comfortable. Especially in this weather. Last night I put a rolled up pillow under my thigh and a cushion under my heel, and had a much better night :-) x

Hey Ruby,

Wow, 10 days has gone fast! Are you hobbling around now? Have you been on any adventures outside? I think a giant thigh and millions of bruises is only natural. I always look like that after a days mountain biking  ;D

Glad to hear everything seems to be going well. x

I've not ventured outside since I returned home last Wednesday. Planning on going for a short walk tomorrow with Mum. I'm moving around the house pretty well though. The stairs are so much easier than before but i'm still having to use the toilet seat raiser, I just can't bend that far down yet.

I'm must admit though, I keep forgetting to do my exercises :( x

Ruby- you are EXACTLY the same as I was! Had no trouble sleeping :)
Bruising and swelling all perfectly natural. As for the surgical stockings- they were the worst part, I was lucky being winter, must be worse in this heat! Only the nurses could do mine too, even my brother whose a dr had trouble. Raised toilet seat lasted til 6 weeks were up.
Happy healing to everyone :)

The good news is guys that I'm feeling less and less like a patient now and I feel like I'm returning to humanity.

Showering is still out of the question due to having to cock my leg over the bath tub so i'm making do with strip washes which are a pain - especially in this heat -  but needs must and it won't be forever :-)

I think my clips are dying to come out now. They keep pinching me at every opportunity and are my main source of pain now. Roll on Thursday! x

That was such a relief to me when the staples were out. Felt like I was on the mend properly then. Those surgical stockings are bloody horrible but if it stops DVT then you just have to put up with it.

I've spent 2 days without the stocking due to swelling. Thankfully the nurses are coming today, so they should be back on by this evening. x

All of what you guys are describing brings back memories and it was only about 9 weeks ago.

Ruby, I've been following your posts and am so glad that you finally got your HR! I had bilateral HR  from Dr. De Smet in Belgium  July 3, 2012, and am so relieved to have it over with and very happy at the 6 week mark! Just know that you will feel better gradually not day to day but..... please do your excercises every day-it makes a huge difference and walk ....everyday -short walks 2 or 3 times-don't have to do marathons!!! This will make a huge difference in how you feel and aid your recovery tremendously. I am having some issues with right leg strength (my left-worse hip, is terrific) so decided to ramp up my excercises to 2x day and it is making a difference . Good luck with everything -you've had a lot of obstacles but the worse is over and with some effort and discipline you will start to feel GREAT! :)

Thanks Torontogirl!

I've just done my exercises and been for a very short walk to the bottom of our road and back. I'm shattered! x

Keep it up Ruby!!!!  :)

Thanks Anna,

Had a rather sad couple of hours. Very tearful. I've just found out one of my closest friends has just had her baby, but i'm unable to go and see her with everyone else cos of this bloody hip  :( I don't know why, but it just broke me  :'(

Aw Ruby, hugs xx

Well Done Ruby!!!-you should be feeling pleased with yourself reg. xercise & walk. Keep it going! Give yourself a week and you should feel up to visiting your friend's new baby (they don't grow much in a week!!!) Hope you got your TEDS back on with nurses help.

Thanks girls  :)

My friend just told me that she's going to be so busy for the next couple of weeks that i'm not going to miss anything, but give her a fortnight and we'll have a meet up :)

No joy with the TEDS today! I had a bit of a stroppy nurse who couldn't wait to get out of my front door so didn't feel I could ask her. I rang the GP in the end and i'm seeing the practice nurse tomorrow at 4pm.