Posted , 14 users are following.
My surgery is six days away so how bad is it day one...I get out of the hospital Thanksgiving Day and I am coming home to my 16 year old grand daughter to help me. She is only staying till Sunday...will I be okay on my own pretty much after almost a week?
0 likes, 43 replies
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barb0722 m0rningangel1
Posted
Just a comment on the stockings.... the pair I received was too small. By the time I got home from the hospital my legs were aching and bulging at the top. I took them off and did not put them back on. I took 2 aspirin daily to thin my blood for 30 days and I did fine. I'm now 5 weeks post op. I did LOTS of foot pumps, got up and moved around and wiggled my toes whenever I could. Talk to your doctor if the stocking are maddening. The rules they give us are for our own good - but there's always more than one way to achieve success! This is a long journey and little things can make a huge difference!
m0rningangel1 barb0722
Posted
I really dread the stockings probably more than the surgery. He has me taking 2 aspirin a day for 30 days I can only do it for 28 days he may as well get used to that one. I have another surgery scheduled for December 27 and that is the only day I can do it. I have to be aspirin free for 7 days..means I am a little short on the 30 days. I am going to hope that the stockings fit right so they don't hurt so bad. I know I bought some and tried them and they hurt like crazy
beth2509 m0rningangel1
Posted
Not everyone has stockings. I didn't have them at all. During and just after surgery I had air socks that inflate and deflate. After that, nothing. My surgeon said there was no evidence they worked, and as long as I took the blood thinners to the end of the cycle, plus did all my foot exercises, those would be far more effective.
Rocketman_SG6UK m0rningangel1
Posted
It depends .... on lots of things, your tolerance to pain generally, how the suregery goes, any problems or unforseen things.
I was weight bearing on day one - and had no real pain at all, the medications (morphine and other strong painkillers) kept the operative discomfort down below my low tolerance to pain.
I have no idea why, but others report being non-weight bearing after the operation. I guess it's all down to each operation being very individual to you.
m0rningangel1 Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
I am pretty determined to be able to at least walk a few steps to the bathroom when I get out of surgery and into a room. I have three days in the hospital for all the care and rehab I need and I plan on taking advantage of the fact they are there to help me. I normally have a pretty high tolerance to pain, even now I am not taking hardly any pain killers. It hurts but I think I might be so used to it that I don't let it bother me so much anymore. I just want to be able to walk without a walker, able to tied my shoes, put on socks and no limp
beth2509 m0rningangel1
Posted
You won't be able to tie your shoes - give that one up. You will need elastic laces or slip ons. Bending to tie your laces could dislocate the hip. That is a long lasting prohibition - several weeks at least. No limp - well that's not very realistic after surgery as your body needs time to adjust to a lot of things. It'll likely be a lot better, but there's a road to be travelled before you are recovered.
?Determinatuon is great asset - as long as you don't overdo it! I was determined like you. My goal was for my dog to come back from kennels, and today he does! Like you, I have a high tolerance to pain (according to the doctors - that wasn't my opinion!), but it wasn't necessary. I could walk well and pain free from immediately after the op. I'm now home a week and there are a few things I can't do (the vacuuming!) but otherwise I manage really well on my own. Not had any pain at all and now reducing my pain meds (I have other conditions too, so it isn't as simple and just stopping - I have to find the right level for what remains).
Rocketman_SG6UK m0rningangel1
Posted
You sound determined, I'm sure you will get there. It really is so much better after the operation getting rid of the pain of OA.
Oh and Beth, I CAN tie my shoelaces .... at 12 weeks I was told there are no limits any more - but then we all seem to get different advice don't we.
Graham
beth2509 Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
I did say several weeks! But I meant she won't be able to manage shoe laces after surgery for several weeks. Maybe it is my definition of "long lasting" - anything that stops me doing what I want to do for more than two days is an imposition in my book! I have got to be honest, and without even thinking about it I have gone way past 90 degrees a few times - with ease. I know I shouldn't so I make an effort to stop myself, but my physio did say she expected me to be able to because despite my nightmare year, I am very flexible and have very strong muscles. Her view (and she's very experienced in this area) was that if I did thing gently and with caution, the limitations are more "guidance" than rules. Which I think is sensible. I won't be doing anything that hurts. I won't be doing anything suddenly or jerkily. And I will leave the full lotus for a few weeks more I think
? But just as everyone has a different journey, the real limits we can reach and when are different. But immediately post op - elastic shoe laces were invented for this!
Rocketman_SG6UK beth2509
Posted
I am sure elastic shoelaces are great post-op, I just made do with slip-on shoes. As you say, everyone's journey is different, and the best advice of all is not to do anything that hurts.
Best wishes
rose0000 beth2509
Posted
I couldn't tie my shoe laces for ages, but did eventually and what a joy that was! As Rocket rightly says, best to avoid doing anything at all that might disclocate your lovely new hip Morningangel - and you will gradually feel very confident with the passing weeks and months, and will be hitting all sorts of milestones as Beth descibes. I have to say over cautious is no bad thing!!! Given the alternative