One month post op!

Thursday was 4 weeks and today is one month post op. It has gone by faster than expected. I finally started back to work on Tuesday after losing 4 days pay (no PTO left) due to it taking a while to get a new note sent to be released. Work has gone well. My hip aches when I sit too long or stand too long, but overall it has done well. I have been exhausted though! I came home Thursday night and was in bed by 7:45! I guess I'm just not used to being up that long and busy... The stamina will come back though. 

PT is going really well. I added the elliptical and some leg presses this week. My PT says that next week we can start getting a little more adventurous. I've been fairly good about going to the gym or doing my PT at home on non PT days. I would like to start going to aqua boot camp classes. I think I should be able to soon. 

Other than that not much else is new... Interestingly, my left hip aches quite a bit now. I think it's compensation, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's the same impingement on that side. I may have them X-ray it at my next appt to see. It's not bad enough to really consider surgery at this point, but it may happen in the future :-/ time will tell... 

3 weeks post op

Well, I had my follow up appt on Tuesday to get stitches out. The PA said everything looks good and went over the pictures again. It was nice to hear the explanations not all drugged up ;) apparently my tear was very large- three anchors and sutures to repair it and my impingement was pretty bad where they had to shave the femur. I'm worried the left may also need to be repaired, but we will worry about that later. Don't think it's as bad as the right, but it aches and catches in the same way. It's common to have FAI on both. 

I've progressed a lot in PT, added ball squats and hip/glute bridges using the ball. Going 15 min on the bike. PT said to work up 5 min a day to about 30 min, then go back down to 15 with more resistance and work that up. Since I am driving now (yay) I can go to the gym on non PT days. PT said I'm ahead of schedule! Woo!

Latest challenge has been getting back to work. The pa said I could go back as tolerated, but work didn't like the note. They want more specific restrictions on the note, so the struggle has been getting that from my surgeons office. The secretary is trying to get it but the surgeon, PA and nurse have all been in surgery yesterday and today. Needless to say, the note hasn't been faxed so I can't go back yet. Hopefully they'll fax it tomorrow first thing so I can go back.  I'm out of PTO so I am not being paid past today to be out.... I did enjoy the extra days off with errands, pool time, naps etc... But ready to get back in a routine! 

Steri strips over incisions. No water submersion for one more week. 

11 days post op

The last few days have been quite eventful, especially after being home bound for a week.  Friday started with my first PT session/evaluation.  The PT said I am at/ahead of where I should be with regards to range of motion, which is encouraging. He gave me a few easy exercises to get started with, mostly working on range of motion and activation of glute and thigh muscles.  With the addition of PT, I've had more pain... which is expected. My hip was nice and happy being quiet, but when I added movement, it got pretty angry.  The inside part feels "caught" and has aches that tend to run down my leg.  I am having some compensation pain in the outside back part of my knee as well.  I've had to increase the pain meds some with the increase in pain, but expected that with increased activity.  I'm keeping ice on it 2-3 times a day as there is some slight swelling on the outer part of my upper thigh/hip area. 

I had to get my Remicade infusion Friday as well. I crutched my way from PT to the infusion center, which wasn't as close as it seems not on crutches! Needless to say, I was pretty tired by Friday night. 

My sweet sister came by to help me this weekend and get me out of the house. I got to use my handicapped placard, so exciting hahaha.... I did enjoy spending sister time and she got me hooked on Pretty Little Liars.  Now I just have to convince myself to get my homework and PA school essay done instead of watching it ;) I also got out of the house to an engagement party Sunday morning and a dinner with a friend from out of town Sunday night. As good as it was to be social and get dressed up, I may have over done it as my hip was killing me Sunday night.  It is still pretty painful today, but I'm taking it easy.  I have PT every Tues/Thurs and have scheduled it at 7am once I (hopefully) get back to work after the follow up on the 18th with the surgeon. Early mornings for the next 4-5 months, yay!

I'll update more as I go along... may end up being once weekly as I am pretty busy with school work and other tasks!

Day 2 Post Op

It's day 2 post op and I'm doing my "physical therapy" of lying on my tummy on my bed for 15 minutes (3-5 times a day). It's not painful luckily and will help prevent scar tissue from forming at a bent angle. I called and set up my first real pt session for next Friday. 

So far I've seen a lot of improvement already. I've gotten good at the 25% weight bearing on crutches. I am able to get up and off the lounge chair without assistance to go use the restroom. I can sit in a regular chair without too much pain. I'm still taking around the clock pain meds, but have cut back to 1.5 tablets. I do notice that when I sleep, the normal body twitching hurts and wakes me bc it activates the psoas area where they lengthened it. My incision sites are still covered so I haven't seen them yet but they're starting to itch and are very sore. I get to change dressing tomorrow and take a shower. I feel gross!! 

My appetite has been lacking due to the pain meds but I'm making sure to keep food in my stomach for those and the anti inflammatory. My gi doc said its ok to do the NSAID as long as my stomach feels ok, since I should only need it a couple weeks. So much to think about and coordinate with all my gi problems as many meds don't sit well with UC. 

Timer just went off for my "PT" so I'm going to attempt lunch... Until next time!

Recovery begins

My hip surgery went well and I'm back at home now. To recap the last 36 hours:

I arrived at the surgery center around 5:15am yesterday and checked in.  The nurse brought me back around 5:35am to prep. I went over consents and paperwork with her before the anesthesiologist came in to talk to me.  I missed her call the night before and she didn't leave a message BC she thought it was a work number. She discussed that I would be sedated and intubated for the anesthesia. She also put an anti nausea patch behind my ear that I can wear three days.  The nurse started my IV and she did great. She used lidocaine which was nice! My surgeon came in to talk to me and then I was on my way around 6:45.

Surgery lasted about 90 minutes. He repaired the labrum and had to anchor it with absorbable screws, shaved the head of the femur and I believe a little of the pelvis. He also had to lengthen the psoas so it wouldn't continue to catch and pull the cartilage.

The worst part of the recovery was when I initially came out, I was shaking uncontrollably and freezing despite warm blankets.  I was very nauseated. They gave me zofran and morphine for the nausea and pain.  After an hour or so I was taken up to a private room.  I was still very nauseated and finally had to get phenergan (very strong anti nausea). It not only helped the nausea but knocked me out which was good. Luckily despite the nausea, I didn't throw up.  I finally woke and was able to order lunch.  I was allowed to switch to oral pain meds once I ate.

Before the PT came in, I did have to get up to use the restroom... Boy was that difficult!! With the psoas lengthening, I've lost all strength to lift my leg.  I am on crutches with 25% weight bearing.  I met with the PT who showed me how to do this and she said to act like  I have a hard boiled egg under my right foot and that is how much weight  I can place.  She also showed how to do a stair (good up, bad down first). She emphasised pain will be not be my guide as it'll start feeling better and I will be tempted to put more weight, which I shouldn't.

I finally discharged around 6:30pm. They thought I may have to stay overnight BC of the nausea but luckily that got under control.   I got home and my mom got me set up on my chaise lounge chair as its easier to get in and out of than my low bed.  I've kept pain meds in me every 4 hours. I am getting better at the way I have to use the crutches and am currently relaxing.  I have to start 3-5 times a day laying on my stomach on my bed for 5-15 min each so the scar tissue wont form in an angle. I'm going to try and document my journey as I go along! Stay tuned... :)