bill_schubert (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bill_schubert) wrote2024-06-24 03:23 am
bill_schubert) wrote2024-06-24 03:23 am
Hip news 3AM edition
I woke up to go to the bathroom. They tell you to walk frequently. I call it going to the bathroom. Either I dehydrate or I get lots of short walks in. I have a sports squeeze bottle that stays filled up with ice water and I sip on it all day. Liquid in, liquid out. My kidneys are happy and I get my exercise every hour or so. On my way back from this morning's trip I realized that I wasn't really sleepy right now and wanted some milk and graham crackers.
The seat at my desk will be replaced soon. I've got the one from Ikea sitting in a box in the living room, another casualty of 'things I should have done before surgery'. It joins pedicure and cutting the grass. So I'm sitting right now on my old chair which is a little wonky. But I'm not too uncomfortable. It is nice to be able to sit here and type this. Some of the comfort is attributable to hydrocodone but some of it is healing and that is encouraging.
Saturday morning was my low point. I have one every surgery. My blood pressure in the hospital was low on Thursday morning I think as a result of being a little dehydrated. So they did not give me any meds for pain after Wednesday night until I was about to be discharged at noonish on Thursday. I got behind and didn't really catch up until mid day Saturday when I just doubled up my dose for a bit to the maximum allowed. Before that time I was becoming depressed by the continuous pain and my inability to find a tolerable position. Once the pain meds caught up I was much better. And could move. And this morning I'm back on a normal pain med schedule and sitting at my desk typing. I feel like I turned a corner Saturday and headed back uphill from my low.
It is always a bit hard to tell what is real healing and what is just good chemistry. While I'm certainly seeing the latter I think my hip is quickly recovering.
Formaisydaisy: The surgery documentation says: "A standard posterolateral style hip incision was carried down to the deep fascia." They have a step by step description of the entire procedure. Best line: "Complications: None; patient tolerated the procedure well."
I think I had an anterior one last time but it was with a different surgeon and different hospital system and I don't have those notes. They may be the same but this scar will, I think, be slightly less vertical. I get the bandage off in a couple of weeks so I'll find out then.
I did not get any kind of pain block put in this time. Of my four surgeries, only my shoulder had a nerve pain block.
In some ways I can already walk better than I could last Tuesday. My left knee, which was in constant pain for the past few months having to handle all the weight of my left leg, is now pain free.
The seat at my desk will be replaced soon. I've got the one from Ikea sitting in a box in the living room, another casualty of 'things I should have done before surgery'. It joins pedicure and cutting the grass. So I'm sitting right now on my old chair which is a little wonky. But I'm not too uncomfortable. It is nice to be able to sit here and type this. Some of the comfort is attributable to hydrocodone but some of it is healing and that is encouraging.
Saturday morning was my low point. I have one every surgery. My blood pressure in the hospital was low on Thursday morning I think as a result of being a little dehydrated. So they did not give me any meds for pain after Wednesday night until I was about to be discharged at noonish on Thursday. I got behind and didn't really catch up until mid day Saturday when I just doubled up my dose for a bit to the maximum allowed. Before that time I was becoming depressed by the continuous pain and my inability to find a tolerable position. Once the pain meds caught up I was much better. And could move. And this morning I'm back on a normal pain med schedule and sitting at my desk typing. I feel like I turned a corner Saturday and headed back uphill from my low.
It is always a bit hard to tell what is real healing and what is just good chemistry. While I'm certainly seeing the latter I think my hip is quickly recovering.
For
maisydaisy: The surgery documentation says: "A standard posterolateral style hip incision was carried down to the deep fascia." They have a step by step description of the entire procedure. Best line: "Complications: None; patient tolerated the procedure well."I think I had an anterior one last time but it was with a different surgeon and different hospital system and I don't have those notes. They may be the same but this scar will, I think, be slightly less vertical. I get the bandage off in a couple of weeks so I'll find out then.
I did not get any kind of pain block put in this time. Of my four surgeries, only my shoulder had a nerve pain block.
In some ways I can already walk better than I could last Tuesday. My left knee, which was in constant pain for the past few months having to handle all the weight of my left leg, is now pain free.
no subject
Since I've got no physio and I don't meet with the doctor post op I'm on my own for such decisions.
Previously I would have started in home physio this past Monday and gotten lots of good advice. I'm falling behind a bit now. I've done some exercises but not as focused as if I had a physio come to the house.
My leg is pretty strong. Getting in and out of chairs is (and will be for a bit) difficult mostly due to the pain but once I'm vertical I'm better off and healing much faster if I just use a cane. I already move around the kitchen without anything since the counters kind of wrap around and I can catch any wobbles.
So I'm going to create my own physio from what they gave me and what's online. Two a days as I've done before.
And I'm going to complain when given the chance and let them know that if I could go back I'd chose a different system to have my surgery done, one that supports post op better. It's a bad way to save money.
no subject
Bill in reality you can go on you tube and get the exercises you need and walk in front of a mirror to see what you are doing.
The pain bit is a worry because it will prevent good progress. Look on UK NHS web pages for post op hip exercises and pain management. You will get some ideas hopefully.