The morbid word....Recovery, or rehabilitation.

When someone gets a surgery or has a accident in which requires surgery or a long recovery....They know, without a doubt there will be a long rehabilitation process.

The hardest part about rehab is Thinking that you have to rehab. There is many times in which you feel lazy or down on yourself because the tremendous pressure you endure on the recovery. This is a bad thing, there is a time you do worry, it is life...Regardless of who you are, everyone worries about such a major stepping stone in life which is surgery. But do not worry to the point in which you lose sleep, when you lose sleep, you lose control of your body, your brain reacts and shuts down the Drive that you need in order to be as happy as one can be when they are going through a time some would call "Hell".

In most cases, a surgery is a good thing...In others it might not be, i am only 20 and i have already had 3 Failed surgeries, that only caused more problems.

Now, dealing with your recovery time...I found this works the best.

1. Occupy your time, do NOT get bored, when you get bored you contemplate things in your head, usually bad outcomes or hurt thoughts. This leaves a big mark on the mental aspect of recovering, and could hurt you in the future process of rehabiliation.

2. As soon as you find you do not need medication, stop taking it! 1 week after my total hip replacement, i completely stopped taking medication, this even includes tylonel. The problem with medication, although it is a very good thing when you are going through unforgiving pain, is the after effects of painkillers. When i was 15, i was on morphine for 30 days straight, i went off cold turkey and i had withdrawls for over 6 months...Sick every single day. There is a issue with painkillers in which alot of people fail on, it is the perception that they are needed...When 75% of the time they are not. Medication is meant to be tooken to help yourself with a situation. What many people do not realize is that a situation might just need physical and mental strength in order to recover.

3. Never quit on yourself. I am young, but i have eyes...I always see people who go through a serious manner like they had just been shot in the heart. "Oh, it is useless". There is a realization that going through anything that has a difficult manner is very hard on someone, if you have a sense in which you wish it would all go away, your brain is triggered and it tries to compress the feelings you would have that would push you to recover quicker. As i have said before, the mental aspect is majority in rehabiliation.

And the last point i will make, is probably the most important.

4. Even in pain, in recovery, in the part of your life where you think nothing could be worse....Love the fact that you are able, and you are alive...Enjoy every single minute you can do something you may have not been able to do before...Jump at the fact that you can walk again, Praise the fact that you can finnally get in and out of a vehicle without having to manouver your body 20 times over. Charish the fact that no matter how bad a situation can be, you know with your mind and soul that you will overcome anything.

The recovery does not happen by the snap of your fingers. You are the recovery, and you determine how it will go. I wish everyone the best of luck in there recovery, or a loved ones recovery....Since it is the only thing holding you back from making your life a greater, funner...More exciting experience.

Hey Young Guy,
Another Inspiring Story.

Yes, This Morning, I Did Not Want To Get Up. Did Not Want To Go To The Gym/pool. Ached All Over In Both Legs. Had A Headache....but, You Know What, You Said It And Wish I Had Read It Before I Left This Morning.

It Is Called, Get Up And Get Going....i Felt 100% Better When I Got Home And I Am Doing This 4 Times A Week. At 4 Months Post Thr, I Realize It Is Up To Me And Me Only To Get Myself Better. Four Kids And A Husband To Think About And They Need Their Mom.

Thanks Again Young Guy....patty

Wow you sure had me relating with some feelings I know I had while in rehab for three weeks.I definitly agree with all you said and mostly about the pills. Because some people have such a hard time getting off of them.
Sorry you have had such bad luck with your surgeries, thats a real bummer, but keep up your good positive thinking. You just need a decent break in that surgery room. God Bless

This young feller needs a gold star! In fact, I gave him 4.

YoungGuy, totally

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Left arthroscopic menisectomy 4th October 09
RTKR 17th March 09
Right arthroscopy June 06

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You are pretty smart for such a "youngin"! Thanks for the advice. It came at just the right time for me. This is week 2 postop for me, and all the mental garbage is churning around in my brain. I'm turning on the garbage disposal now! I think I will flip over to a vacation site and plan something fun for when my knees are all better.
Sharon

YoungGuy,

Thanks for the motivational essay; I'm feeling better already. I was a little blue this morning, I missed my appt. with the OS, because I felt so bad for my Wife who was too tired to take me to the appt. She had a bad night at work; pulled a guy over on a motorcycle who was speeding, and when he finally stopped, he got off, turned around, walked back to her, and reached behind his back to pull out his wallet. For some reason, her "Spidey-sense" went off, she thought he was reaching for a gun, and she drew down on him. Anyway, the guy turned out to be a Fire Fighter, and all was well in the end, but it scared the hell out of her, as she almost shot him. (been there, done that). It's not a good feeling; and after the major adrenyline dump, she got home and was physically and mentally exhausted. Since I'm not yet able to drive, I let her sleep; I'll just reschedule my appt. I got to feeling bad, since I missed the appt., and since I've been slacking on my PT, (due to a miscommunication, my PT went out of town and his relief hasn't visited), but I just did my own PT, and boy did it ever hurt. After reading your post and seeing the tenacity and positive attitude you have, I felt rejuvinated. I'm 17 days post op, and still on pain meds, but I'm going to self impose half doses starting today. Tomorrow will be even better...
Thanks for reminding me that I'm in charge of my own recovery pace!
~Dalton

Dalton,

That was very sweet of you to let your wife sleep. I can't imagine what the whole body goes through in such a situation. She is very brave to be out there .

I am sorry your pt is stll messed up. Some days I feel like I have been lazy when it is bedtime and I have only done pt once.
I keep planning to cut back on pain med too. i think I have naturally just a little. I don't take any when I go to bed. Trazadone still works wonders for me. When I get up I am still in a lot of pain or major discomfort and it is difficult to do anything but get downstairs, drink coffee and wait for the precocet to kick in!!!!

I did go for a walk around the block last night. Hard to get my hubby to go with me and I am still worried about going alone. I did determine that I am not ready to walk the dog alone with crutches. I need to be a lot more steady. But as far as cutting back, when I am trying to do any pt or walk, everthing works well on percocet, not so well without it.

Soon it will be 3 weeks post. I really should start writing down on a weekly basis where I am in case I cannot see the changes!!!

Take Care,
Judy

I just wanted to say that in my 5th post op week, I'm finally feeling like I am getting stronger. I seem to be walking a lot more "normal". My PT has had me on the treadmill the past week, and he thinks that is why. Last time I got up to 25 minutes on it and that was doing almost 2.0 speed!! Also for the first time ever I noticed I didn't have my old pain in my hip while I was walking on the treadmill. Great feeling!! I even feel like maybe the leg length discrepancy will be something that soon I won't even notice as I walk. Positive thinking does help! (I'm still a little sore at night, and still not ready for Disney, but that's OK, because I'm taking things as they come.)
Bridget

hey young guy,

i just joined this forum and created a new thread and then came across yours. I'm also 20 and had total hip replacement 4 wks ago. I wrote about my nervousness in my thread, just about going back to school and living on campus. Your threads were really helpful and encouraging. Did you have any problems at school or work? How are you doing at this point? And how were you at 6wks? I have no doubts that your doing well, its so nice to see so much optimism. I'm trying to keep my head up too. Anyway, I just want to let you know, that I can relate ...getting this surgery so young and all. Thanks for posting, hopefully ill hear back from you =)

Hi,
I have just registered for this website but have been browsing it for the past couple weeks since my TRH surgery. At 3 weeks tomorrow I am very pleased with the results. And my legs are very close to the same length again--I am thrilled about that. Walking short distances w/o cane and walked over a mile today with cane just in case. No real pain, just a bit of discomfort now and then (I am only taking tylenol when I need it). My biggest challenge will be to strengthen right leg muscles and flexibilty from years of underuse. I go to my Dr this Friday for x rays and he will probably give me the go ahead to drive. Next step is to decide when to return to work. Everyone says it takes longer to heal internally than you may realize.

My only real problem is not being able to sleep much due to restricted position on back and on the non operated side. How long does it usually take before it doesn't hurt (incision and some swelling still) to lie on the operated side?

Also, when do you get the go ahead to take a bath? I was told a few days ago that it was too early.

This website has been a terrific support and has also helped with some boredom while at home recuperating.

Laurie from NJ

Hi Laurie
I am about 3 1/2 months post right hip replacement.
I did not have a job to go back to so I can't help you with that one. From what others have posted, I would wait as long as you can. There is an awful lot of healing that needs to happen.
Also if you are not sleeping well yet, you would be exhausted. Of course you should as your doc for guidance.

As far as a bath I was allowed to swim after 3 weeks. It was all dependant on the incision healing. I waited an additional week.

Funny how things like sleeping on the operated side were major events and now I can not remember when it happened.
Welcome to this wonderful place .
Judy in socal

Thanks for the quick response Judy. Nice to know that some things are quickly forgotten. I do hope to get some good info from Dr. on Friday.

All in all am amazed at how quick recovery has been. Am 55, in decent shape but had put off surgery for years due to denial---at the end all the exercise I could tolerate was elliptical even though before I was a power walker... Already walking better and seeing the neighborhood like I used to--very liberating and amazing how small pleasures mean so much.
Laurie

Laurie,
I just re read your post. I know at 3 weeks, I was just transitioning from crutches to a cane. Certainly not walking a mile. You are doing great. I too have to work on quad and glute muscles from years of underuse!!
I am 51 and consider myself in excellent shape , I am a bit of an obsessive exercisor.
For the last 2 weeks, I have been hiking almost every morning , then swimming with occasional bike rides.
Before I was allowed back on the trails, I was walking a lot and swimming. It is just such an amazing surgery.
Judy

Hi, Had a great PT session today. Rode on the stationary bike for 10 minutes and felt so good as I had not been able to rotate my right hip completely w/o lot of pain before the surgery. Was told that my walking gait is looking good as well. The hardest exercise continues to be the leg lift while on my back. My favorite is the electrical stimulator gizmo that I am hooked up to afterwards. Wish I could find something like that for home.

Over the past week am seeing the value in not pushing to get back to work even though I am sleeping better every night. Will talk with Dr about this on Friday..but do look forward to driving again. Anyone have any problems with getting back to driving after THR on right leg? We have lots of traffic here but don't expect problems with an automatic.

Laurie

Laurie,
I did not have problems with driving. I had a right hip and waited until my 6 week check up.
Dr. was very surprised that I was not driving yet. I was probably ready at 5 weeks.
don't rush the work thing if you don't have to .
Judy

Hi All! My name is Mary and iam 49 y/o and 8 weeks post-op! I have been on a cane since 4 weeks p/o! I still have a limp( i feel like i walk like a penguin) lol! With a cane i walk much more normal! Dr wanted me to get off the cane, so i just utilize it when iam out in public! Also how long have each of you wore the Ted stockings post hip replacement?? Any info would be appreciated! Hugs, Mary

Hi Mary & welcome to Bonesmart. You will find lots of friendly concerned & wonderfully empathetic people from all over. I'm a newbie myself. I can only speak for myself but you will see that we aare of all different ages & we all recuperate at our own pace! That's the most important thing to know! Don't push yourself! Yoiu will definitely have your good days and bad days! And you will quickly learn that sleep is your friend, No matter where you can, whether its a recliner, or your bed,,,,try to sleep whenever you can those early days & even weeks!
No doubt about it, you've just had major surgery! Tomorrow, I'll be 1O weeks out of a RTHR! I had bone on bone arthritis! From the moment I woke up when the surgery was over, I've been feeling dramatically better!
As far as the TED stockings, lucky me,,,,I never needed them! I would also say that I could bear weight right away, just using a walker only in the house & subsequently a cane for the first 3 weeks, Tje best part is,,,,,the worst is over, every day, you will get your strength back. On my first post op visit, I kissed by OS & thanked him for giving me my life back! Amazing surgery!!!! Good luck to you!

Hi

I also was reading this site prior to my tkr. It answered a great deal of questions I had

I do sleep on my sides with a pillow between my legs. I cannot sleep on my back. I hope this is okay.

I am 8 days since my surgery and I am having a very difficult time sitting up.
The top of my leg burns and feels between numb and pinched. I am sure the stockings don't help. How long do I have to wear these??? Has anyone else had this problem. If so, what did you do????? My leg was not straight prior to surgery so I developed a walk that allowed me to walk. I am not walking like that it would appear.

I hope I don't become a pest here. Each day passes and I have other questions.

Deb

Mary and all, Wow, just read my message from Sept 16--3 weeks after my RTHR. It really is amazing how far you have to go yet to feel the great results. (I am now almost 5 months post surgery).

I can remember that 8 wks seems so far in recovery (I returned to work then) but for me, I have continued to improve in every way even up to now. I do remember how important a balanced gait was as I had a shorter right leg for so long. Fortuately that is fixed and I am not limping fo rfirst time in years. Think that I used my cane for as long as I felt I needed for balance and no limp---better than the alternative.

In any case, welcome to the forum. Great supports and lots of learning and laughs along the way.

Laurie

Hi. I am at 5 1/2 weeks. I had big trouble sleeping, too. Now, and for a week, I have put 2 pillows, 1 under my bad hip just above the cut, and one just under it, and can sleep some like that. I can lie on the bad side, but there is discomfort, so I don't fall asleep unless I have the pillows.
Good luck, sounds like you are doing well.