I can reduce my painkillers .... Yay!
Posted , 10 users are following.
I have seen my doctor today and he's really pleased with my progress. Said I just need to make sure I don't try too hard. I have this one exercise from the hospital physio, and no matter how hard I try I cannot do it, and yesterday I pulled a muscle in my groin a bit trying to. I wasn't all dismayed though, since a week ago I couldn't move the joint enough to pull anything 
? Yes, my friends all think I am crazy too!
?Anyway, I have permission to start to reduce my meds from Thursday. When my next morphine patches are due, I can halve them and see how it goes for a week. He says that if there is any pain he wants them back up again immediately, as being pain free is more important right now. But I am so "set up" that I can at least think about this only a week later. If anyone had suggested to me reducing my pain killers just seven days ago, I would have turned into the mad axe woman!!!!
0 likes, 18 replies
margaret45049 beth2509
Posted
That's great news Beth, you must be thrilled! Im 10 days post op& managed 200yds x2 today, nice to be out in the fresh air. How far along your journey are you?
Well done
Margaret
beth2509 margaret45049
Posted
Exactly one week ago almost to the minute, I was just coming backfrom surgery. Yes I managed about the same amount today too, and it was even the last of the autumn sun for it. I actually feel my hip could do more than that, but I have some problems with my ankle on the opposite (right) side, so I have to be a little more cautious. But 8 days ago I could barely make it the five / six feet to the gate.
Well done you too. Isn't it just amazing to feel so good?
AlexandriaGizmo beth2509
Posted
Well done, not sure what you have had done or how long ago but you sound made up, so I hope whatever exercise you were doing you pass on so we know what's caused pain.
I try not to use pain relief but I think maybe your Dr is right, no point suffering when you can ease it.
Well done again
beth2509 AlexandriaGizmo
Posted
I'm with you on that, but facts weren't! Over the last few months, running up to the op (LTHR one week ago) I have had a broken ankle, serious tibial tendonopathy (still to be dealt with) and osteonecrosis (my hip should have been replaced in July when the bone literally crumbled away, but the broken ankle prevented that) - and that was on top of severe OA in both hips, the right ankle and the spine. Five weeks before the op I finally capitulated and went on to morphine patches - I was in agony, could barely walk at all, and the hip wouldn't move at all.
?Fixing the hip is a big start, but there's quite a journey still to go, so I am just so excited. The last week is the first time I have been pain free in something like three and a half years; and my personal preference would be to have no pain relief, but realistically, short of a miracle, that is probably never going to happen.
?The exercise? It is completely daft. It's a sitting march. Daft because if I stand up I can do it perfectly! Sitting down I can barely move my hips. It may be something to do with my spine. Anyway - it's history. I'm getting plenty of exercise, so one missed isn't going to be a disaster.
m0rningangel1 beth2509
Posted
beth2509 m0rningangel1
Posted
susan_106 beth2509
Posted
Well done Beth another milestone 😊
I'm now 5 weeks post op and am only taking a 500mg paracetamol every 6 hours. I couldn't wait to reduce the opiate painkillers as they made me sick
The one exercise I can see definite improvement is in my buttock squeezes where I lift myself up from lying to a bridge. I couldn't do over at first but now I do them every time I lay down 😊
beth2509 susan_106
Posted
Well done Susan - that would be a dream for me. I'm only a week and not allowed to do the bridge yet - that comes after my two week check up. I've been really lucky with the side effects and didn't get anything. But even so I would love to be able to throw them all on the bonfire.
elaine23679 beth2509
Posted
Will see how I go could have done with a higher dose today but just rested...
beth2509 elaine23679
Posted
My meds sound like a pharmacy stock take at times! Interestingly, the time I don't need them is at night. I have two "top up" Tramadol I can take overnight and I never have.
How long is it since your surgery?
diane80279 beth2509
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renee01952 beth2509
Posted
Wow !!! that is great news !!! did you have posterior or anterior approach ?
Regarding the sitting march exercise: make sure your back is all te way back and your knees at the edge of the chair - correct height is also important -
then slowly lift knee making sure you feel your thigh muscle ... Apparently i have done this one incorrectly for a long time and always ended up with pain in groin -
as I was using groin muscle - do as much as you can and stop when it hurts ---
you are still so early in your recovery ....
big warm hug
renee
beth2509 renee01952
Posted
Ah. I can't straighten my back. That would explain it. The spinal stenosis prevents it from straightening. I think that one stays of the menu. I have others (other than what the hospital gave me) from my own physio, so it isn't as though I am shirking
beth2509 renee01952
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barb0722 beth2509
Posted
I'm in the US and we start physical therapy immediately after surgery. I go 2x a week for one hour. I get exercises to do at home but my therapist also does manual movements to my leg/hip with met on the table. This stretching allows the hip to move more than it can on its own. Thar appointments also assure I am doing the exercises correctly at home and not causing new pains. It sounds like therapy is delayed or you have to pay for it yourself in the UK. I HIGHLY recommend getting to a therapist add soon as you can. My therapist says "your doctor repaired your hip; I'm going to help you learn how to use it again! " good luck to you all on your journey--we are all different and progress at s different rate. Be kind to yourself!
beth2509 barb0722
Posted
I also started immediately after. Renee has explained the exercise and it's now obvious why I can't do it. I'd have phoned my own physio if it was critical, but it wasn't. With the greatest of respect to the hospital physio, they don't have the same history with patients as individual ones. Not his fault. I'm private anyway, as in the USA. My husband was American, and we had many a discussion about it before I agreed! I'm glad I did now as my only experience of the NHS was a nightmare. I know there are great places and people in the NHS, and it's a great thing, but not where I live it isn't! My physio had me practicing the exercises for two months before I went in! To build up for the op too.
My experience of the USA is that there is a lot of great, high quality care, but many people can't afford it. It's getting that way here now too, and it breaks my heart. Health is, for me, like water - the one thing that absolutely everyone should be entitled to. But I digress!
How long ago did you have your op? How's it been since?
barb0722 beth2509
Posted
My op was Oct 13. I am now walking without assistance - slowly; however I can do almost everything independently. I have sore days (especially after a physio day!l) but then i recover and progress even more. I almost climbed into the car the old way out of habit yesterday! I'm getting much better very quickly now. First 4 weeks- not so easy! US Healthcare is becoming almost unaffordable but if you have a good policy you get the best care...sad!Good luck on your journey!
beth2509 barb0722
Posted
That sounds great. You're obviously doing really well. And hate the "slowly" as much as I do. Unfortunately my ankle is holding me back a bit. I feel I could do more if it weren't for that, but it is what it is. Come the beginning of next month we'll see what the specialist says about that one.
I can't decide whether, at the end of all this, I will more resemble Frankenstein's monster or the Bionic Woman!