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Messages - susygray
1
« on: May 12, 2012, 03:26:18 AM »
Hi Mike! I haven't been here for awhile but wanted to chime in. I am just two years out now from a THR due to a dislocation. I had a long recovery due to waiting too long for the surgery, but anyway, I finally feel about all rehabbed now. I can climb stairs using both legs now vs one legged. I felt gimpy on my operated side for quite a long time....it just took time and wouldn't seem to be rushed. I am glad to say that I bounce along great now and am not aware of my hardware....I think it was achy for a long time, but it just finally goes and voilą! Good as new!!! My surgeon is great and he said he knew he had several options but really wouldn't totally decide until he got in there to look around. In my x-rays, I can see that the two hips, the operated one and my natural one, match perfectly. My doc has training above and beyond, and he did indeed choose the metal hip and ball with the polyethylene cup lining. I am very pleased with it all and am having no kinds of reactions etc from anything.....my follow up appt is in June and I am planning on sharing what's happening with Pat and you all here. Pat helped me keep it together while I was waiting and very sick with pain--- take care. and my hip had all but dissolved and I was way way beyond resurfacing, but that sure sounds like a slick option.... Oh, I do see that I need to keep up with some PT exercises.....
2
« on: November 05, 2010, 01:47:48 AM »
Hi Pat and Everyone!
I have not been at the board for several months!
It's time for an update and hope all of you are progressing along.
My THR was March 1, 2010, so I'm eight months out.
My new hip is wonderful!!!!!!
About a month ago I noticed that I was not feeling aware there was something
different about that hip and leg. Does that mean that it's finally all settled in?
Also, another question-- we are supposed to keep the hip precautions going?
I am being mindful of that.
It's nice to be able to lie on my side! I missed that so much!
I just notice that the other hip is achy at night and I am thinking, "Yikes. Oh no you don't!
Don't even think it," etc.
It sounds like everything is re-xrayed at the one year appointment and we can
get a look at the other hip then.
It's just great to feel well!
Pat promised this time would get here, and I think this is it!
Take care, Everyone. I am going to enjoy catching up with you.
Thank you, Pat!
3
« on: June 02, 2010, 02:43:57 AM »
 Just lol at "leaping around".
4
« on: June 02, 2010, 02:41:55 AM »
You split your head open!!!!!?   Good heavens. You'll be able to balance better and be safer after your surgery. This I know from experience  . It's late but I wanted to talk a bit about the after hospital care. While some ppl are able to go directly home after the surgery, I was not in that group. I spent nine days is a wonderful rehab place...actually a "skilled care" wing of a place that has nursing home and assisted living under one very large long roof. I went there the second day after my surgery. I really could not have been home I think....not safely. The physical therapists and occupational therapists help get you on your feet and moving safely. I improved very fast after one week and convinced then that I was ready to go on the ninth day. Woo-HOO. Oh, and I know that a staff doctor there was in charge of my care while I was there. The care was fantastic. For the rest of the month when I was home, there were visiting nurses who came twice a week. Is there such a service there? It was something that was arranged by the surgeon's office. These nurses simply did blood pressure, pulse, temperature and some on-the-spot blood work. A home physical therapist came twice a week also. I learned some home exercises to continue gaining strength and motion. The nursing service ended at the end of March, while the physical therapy continued into mid-April until I felt confident that I could get to my own physical therapist's office. These were ppl who came and went....the nurses about ten minutes at a time, and the physical therapist stayed about thirty minutes. The rest of the time I just tried to manage myself and my two little dogs. We did okay though I had to pick up quickly on work around the house. I didn't get much "time off", you might say, lol. The physical therapist showed me carefully what things to totally avoid or risk trouble. And I've had enough. I appear to have loose flexible joints for some reason so don't need new parts sliding in and out of sockets. Here is some good new for you and Pat!!!!!!!! This past weekend I felt strong enough in my lower back and leg to take off without my crutch!!!!!!! YAYAYAYAY!!!  I've gained confidence a little at a time. I have my exercises and things to practice while I'm walking, such as managing my gait and taking smooth steps. I am impressed by the number of things there are to monitor so a person can walk smoothly. I have to correct four year's worth of gait that I shifted so I could stay on my feet. Gotta go. Thanks for writing! When is your surgery date? Coming up soon, I think. Take care. Keep us posted please. sorry for any grammatical errors, etc....I'm hurrying and not taking time to proof this.
5
« on: May 26, 2010, 02:08:00 AM »
Hi Newbie in England! Good for you for collecting some information! Your surgeon does sound wonderful---I'm so glad for you. Like you, my hip was way too far gone for hip resurfacing. The doctor had studied my xrays and suggested what he might like to use. I assume he was even able to judge the size with all the experience he has. The catheter is no biggie, as Pat said. Since I had full weight bearing right away, I was up immediately with the nurse and a walker after returning from the recovery room. (no mercy, lol---) I had physical therapy today, oh yay, and am just about ready to get rid of my forearm crutch for good! I just have some tight muscle issues in my thigh and hip areas related only to my unique situation. I am working hard and have made great gains in just a couple of weeks!!!!!! Yay! I think most people are finished with all that stuff much sooner than me, but I'm doing okay. Glad to be rid of that hip pain. I do all my jobs here at home now. It really hasn't hampered me much and I won't let it, anyway, lol. Take care. Oh I have a titanium one also....I think the doc preferred a different style based upon his experience. It's fine with me!!! He said he likes tried and true things also, as yours does. I don't have cement. I had no restrictions from walking and all that. As soon as my husband smuggled my forearm crutch into rehab, I had fantastic luck moving right away!!!!! I just didn't take it out of my room---- I was bad------bad to the bone. Talk with you again soon!!!!!! I am sending positive thoughts your way!!!!
6
« on: May 23, 2010, 02:20:00 AM »
Hello again! Nice of you to post! Glad we can be in your group of cheerleaders who will indeed cheer you on! Unknowns are difficult to deal with, aren't they? I was pretty anxious about everything also. Like you, I waited way too long but have an excellent result! You should be able to meet with someone knowledgeable in that office who will spend some time with you and answer some of your questions. I don't blame you for NOT wanting to lose your surgery date....don't miss that! I got a lot of support here from Pat and found her links incredibly helpful as I processed through my anxiety. As you learn everything you want to learn, you will feel more confident. Glad your doc checked out great; that is a big thing. Glad to hear that you'll have the spinal anesthesia. My hip was my second experience with that. After getting organized with the spinal, I was positioned very comfortably on pillows and padding. I don't know what was in the "happy juice", lol! I was a little sleepy for a couple of days but was up and around with assistance. I have good memories of the surgery and how kind the professionals were to me. I was admitted to an excellent rehab facility on the second day. It was wonderful really. The staff kept me pretty busy right away with physical therapy and strength-building. The food was great, what can I say?!? It's amazing and impressive what there is for support for folks in need of it due to rehab! Oh golly, once I got onto my feet I gained strength very fast and was eager to get home. Oh, great idea to build up your blood with some supplements....I was coached for that by an MD acquaintance and also a doc in charge of blood(?) at the hospital. I found an iron supplement that was very agreeable and also B-12, but there is a limit about what is a healthy amount of B-12 to have on a daily basis, so check that out. I took my other supplements with the knowledge of the surgeon's office. I loved that you said you were looking forward to this as a learning experience! That was my feeling also, especially after being here awhile (this website) and looking at some of Pat's posted links. Knowledge is power!!!! Yay!!! It seems like this stuff doesn't seem as bad if it can be taken on as a project.....sort of. Oh, I was also going to say that some folks here have posted excellent diaries of their experience day by day. I found that somewhat helpful as long as I could view it objectively.....if you're not scared by that, it's very helpful...or was for me. These patients took it on as a project for sure. Hope you are having a decent day as you are reading this! We're looking forward to hearing about what response you get from the doc's office. Take care, write again. susygray 
7
« on: May 20, 2010, 01:10:56 AM »
Hi Newby! This IS an awesome website for us. Pat has given you some great info that will help you get started. She has been wonderful about sharing what she knows and it has been very helpful with my recent THR. I simply wanted to chime in and say hello and wish you the best. That is very unfortunate that you had such a rude nurse experience! I hope that helped her feel better about herself, because it certainly was not a service to you! My THR was March 1, 2010. I was in terrible shape as you are now, ugh. Here is what happened for me: I had great faith in my wonderful orthopedic doc after I met him and asked a few questions I had prepared ahead of time, but could very quickly see that this doc was superior and at that point, I just needed to let it happen. He used a posterior entry and replaced my hip parts with new parts that matched my remaining hip so that went without a hitch. I got the impression that he has his preferred brands of equipment that he likes to work with, but will make decisions based upon what is going on once he gets to the site. This doc prefers the spinal anesthesia also. I had asked for it and then found out it is what he prefers. The anesthesiologist was there to give me some "happy juice", lol, of some kind so I was aware but sleeping off and on. I had no discomfort or fear of any kind. They reported (and I vaguely remember) of "coming to" a little bit and asking them questions about what was going on. I wasn't worried, but just interested. Oh dear, then back to sleep I'd go, lol. I have had other big major surgeries and this was relatively easy. I have had a great recovery. I still have PT due to needing to work on some muscle issues, but that is going just great! What a relief not to have the discomfort of the osteoarthritis!!! It's been great to be able to ask questions here. I have a lot of confidence that you'll do very well. Pat could tell us better, but I somehow wonder if we younger people can't bounce back well! The technology is wonderful now. Oh, that was a good idea of Pat's to call that office and see if you can speak some someone else.....and I was once advised that it is okay with them to be the "squeaky wheel" if we need to. Often there are nurse practitioners who work in those offices also. I DO hope you'll write again and keep us up to date. This website that Pat is kind enough to have is a great resource for us. Such information is a little hard to come by. Good luck! Thinking of you!!! You'll do great!!!!
8
« on: April 26, 2010, 01:49:31 AM »
Hi Pat! Guess I won't be shedding it as soon as I thought, lol! I started PT again and my lady found several, well many, issues I need to work through, again all related to having needed to wait too long for my surgery.  She said I am not ready to give up the crutch until I get muscles stretched back to a more normal place. She's warned me that I'll have a pretty big home program. I am enjoying the hip and doing fine over all. My poodles aren't so keen on the crutch since it is forever falling over. There must be some kind of Newton's Law or something about '"when you shouldn't be bending over constantly, everything you need is on the floor or falls in short order." Oh well. Have a good week!
9
« on: April 22, 2010, 12:39:48 AM »
Hi Pat and Everyone, My THR was March 1, 2010. This week things seem to have improved a lot in terms of the discomfort at the top of my surgery leg due to how severe my hip trouble was. I have been using the forearm crutch for take-off from a seated position where I stiffen up. Once I get going, there is no discomfort at all! At this point, I use the crutch for a few steps and then park it against something and go on about my business. It is so nice to have two hands to work with again!!! I seem to be pretty much crutch-free around the house and yard, but I'd be reluctant to leave the yard without it. I am apt to tire out in the middle of something-- I am glad for the set of two crutches, for if I can't locate one, then the other one is usually somewhere nearby, which gets pretty funny at times. I couldn't be more pleased with the surgery and wish I had been able to have it sooner. Cheers, SusyGray
10
« on: April 17, 2010, 01:34:19 AM »
No way did you hike all that distance!!!!!!! Good for you; it sounds like a most excellent adventure . So glad you are doing great. I am a THR newbe and like reading such uplifting stories! Take care and have fun!
11
« on: April 17, 2010, 01:31:20 AM »
Hi Gertrude, and Congratulations!!!!! What wonderful news!!!! Your recovery sounds just amazing and I am so happy for you! It sounds like you got going sooner and more easily than I did with the posterior, and it took me a week to get my feet under me, then, likewise, I was off and going!!! We are having an excellent spring and summer ahead for ourselves since we are feeling SO much better! Yay, us! Keep up the great work! Take care!
12
« on: April 15, 2010, 02:05:39 AM »
Thank you Pat! Exactly! I didn't realize that waiting was going to lead to other issues. It just seemed like there would be a good time to get the THR done eventually-- I don't think I understood that things could continue to unravel! I should have been able to figure that out, but really didn't get the orthopedic help til the last minute. We actually scheduled my THR on my first visit there. The other thing to figure in is the amount of wait time for everything to fall into place. The docs here are so busy and few that there was a two month wait for an appt to even see the orthopod, then two more months to get to surgery, and I didn't know from the outset that I'd need to build that time in, so things got pretty bad toward the end. The orthopod did say that I understood now in every way that a THR was necessary without a doubt. No kidding, lol. So true. Well, I hope this will be insightful for folks heading in the hippy direction. I don't know how I survived so long really with such a terrible hip. My RNC again shook her head and rolled her eyes at how bad my hip was. I can only see what they point out to me in the xray. The good news is that the technology and the skills of these people are phenomenal and it's possible to have really good luck really quickly! I am thinking of my slight discomfort really as a sign of getting better now! Best wishes to everyone! Take care!
13
« on: April 14, 2010, 03:00:34 AM »
Hi Pat and Everyone, Hope everyone reading this is having a reasonably good day! Today was my six week checkup. My THR was on March 1. Everything checked out great! I asked my RNC what the feeling of cramping/mild discomfort at the top of my thigh and low back was about. Well, have you heard about not waiting TOO long before having the replacement? A few professionals in my doc's office advised me about this, but I just kept trying to go along the best I could....for four years. Apparently what happens is that not only did my arthritis and hip get much worse and more painful, but my body adapted to this by tilting my pelvis and shortening muscles, those being the only two things she mentioned. I vaguely remember the surgeon saying that I'd have a long recovery because things were so bad, but didn't understand that completely until today. In my case, it will take about a year for all the kinks to work out. I was glad to know what the discomfort was about and that it had nothing do to with the welfare of my THR. The thing I can sort of appreciate about the discomfort is that it will be an indicator of how well I am coming along. Independent of that, I had gotten referred to my PT for some more work after being discharged from home PT. I'll keep gently stretching in the meantime! I thought this info might possibly be useful to some of you who might be in a holding pattern, as I was, waiting to know or decided when it was time for the THR. I do want to add that, other than this mild discomfort, my recovery has been completely wonderful and without a hitch!!! Thank you for reading this and take care!
14
« on: March 22, 2010, 11:36:34 PM »
Hi Carol and Pat, and thank you so much for responding to my post!
Three weeks ago today I had my THR!!!
What an amazing process this has been!
Pat might have to explain this more to us, but my surgeon got to my hip
via sort of a "back door" or posterior approach. I think.
My scars are sort of on the back of my right hip.
I have had recovery beyond my wildest dreams!
I have no soreness now in my thigh at all and have a list of exercises to do
when I can.
Twice a week a home nurse comes and does blood work and vitals,
and a physical therapist comes to the house.
They encourage me to move within limits and observe the hip precautions.
The home services enabled me to leave the rehab place in a week.
The rehab was outstanding! There were a few other "hip" and several "knee people" there. There was lots of time in physical therapy which sped things along for me!
The home services will be done at the end of March I understand.
I am still using my left forearm crutch minimally.
I am sending you lots of positive thoughts and confidence!
The professionals take SUCH good care of us!
I look forward to hearing more about how you are doing!!!
take care! -suzy
15
« on: March 16, 2010, 09:12:57 PM »
Hi, Yes!!!! Hope it isn't too late to reply to you! I had a similar experience and found that the hip kind of dragged my energy out. I had to wait a long time for an appt., so asked to go to PT for awhile in order to see how I could preserve what strength I had and whatever else info the PT could offer. Mine advised me to get a walking aid a.s.a.p. and then taught me to use it safely. It made a big difference in my ability to stay on my feet while I was waiting. I am two weeks out of THR and am doing wonderfully well! It's nice to feel on the other side of all this stuff. Sending you positive thoughts!
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