Amis, anterior total hip replacement one week on

This day last week i was being deboned like a chicken 😅

I was admitted into Dantes 3rd Circle of Hell last Thursday, the night before the op and managed to escape Monday morning. I did not have a great time in hospital but I won't go on about it. At least, I'll try not to.

My partner Bruce brought me home by lunch time, I hadn't taken any oxy contin slow release because they made me nauseous and I wanted my wits about me in case I had to fight my way out at the last minute.

I crawled into bed with some painkillers and stayed there glad to be home but suffering ptsd from the suffering I mostly heard from other patients.

Next day I did some much needed cleaning!! Vacuumed the living room floor, cleaned the toilet bowl, tongue lashed Boyo until he went and watered the garden. It was the hottest March day on record.

I am taking one slow release oxy contin in the morning and at night, paracetamol for fever when I feel like it, at reasonably spaced intervals, and endone 'after exercise' if needed, also aspirin in the morning and senna pills in increasing doses :D

2nd day I twice walked up and down 16 steps holding the hand rails, but I cheated by stepping up with good leg and then following up with bad leg so not exactly walking.

I lurch about the place on my crutches, or one crutch, feeding the cat, getting the evening meal ready.

Took a shower. Sit in the living room for a couple of hours watching tv, bum clenching and toe stretching, go to bed, sleep intermittently. My main exercise is getting up to go to pee every hour! Nothing unusual there.

3rd day boyo's self preservation instinct has kicked in and he is in good spirits and helpful. I do some housework and call that exercise. I lay about reading. In the evening I evoke the undead spirit of Gordon Ramsay, hehe and Boyo cooks. Food, since I got out of the 3rd Circle had tasted like Manna from the Gods!

Pretty much every day has continued in this manner. Some stretches and a little exertion, wandering around the house like Quasimodo, resting, taking all the pills because the pain is too bad to cut back and a Physio at 3rd Circle said the first rule of Physio is pain relief, so I've taken that to heart. I am such a WIMP compared to all you posterior warriors, sheesh, it's unbelievable! I really feel sore in a lot of different places but I've had it easy in comparison:

"The Anterior Approach for total hip replacement is a tissue-sparing alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery that provides the potential for less pain, faster recovery and improved mobility because the muscle tissues are spared during the surgical procedure. The technique allows the surgeon to work between your muscles and tissues without detaching them from either the hip or thighbones - sparing the tissue from trauma.

Keeping the muscles intact may also help to prevent dislocations. With the Anterior Approach, the surgeon uses one small incision on the front (anterior) of your hip as opposed to the side or back. Since the incision is in front, you’ll avoid the pain of sitting on the incision site."

I can sleep on my side without a pillow between my legs but have read so many admonishments about the 90 degree rule I'm too scared to break it much.

This morning I did a load of washing and hung it up, inside, to dry. I have been getting about on one crutch a lot, needed my other hand for chores and carrying things. There is an intermittent clunk sensation in the new hip area when I pick up my leg to walk, also various creaking and cracks in my back and knees. I can walk unaided but feel ginger about it, and it's heavy and sore, I tend to limp stiff legged. I've walkedup anddown the 16 steps several times. I've been sitting in upright chairs without any bother.

Now it's time for lunch and then back to bed. I hope this makes some sense and is not too overblown. I'm still off my nut on these painkillers and addled by constipation to be much of a judge 🐧

I'm so glad I found this forum, love to you all! 💓

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