Well, it's been 5 days since my MOM THR surgery. Here's
the info from Surgery day onward. Oh, particulars - I'm 44 years
old, and still need my right hip replaced - that will follow my
recovery on this left hip. OA - a little bump in the road of
life.
1/16/08 - Surgery Day! Today I arrived at UCSD Thornton Hospital
in San Diego, CA for my left hip replacement. Check-in is at 12
noon. I arrived early, so as to relax a bit. 5 days prior, after
stopping anti-inflammatories, my left knee swelled up, and had
to have 50cc of fluid removed. By the time the surgery date
arrived, my left foot was also inflamed. This was probably
caused by a gout attack, but still caused me alot of pain. After
being admitted, I went upstairs to get undressed, and vitals
taken. My BP was 164/108 - pretty high but considering my pain,
not an issue for them. surgery was scheduled for 2PM. Got into
surgery a little later than that. It took them 4 attempts to
insert an IV flow into me. My veins, usually very obliging,
weren't being co-operative that day. The surgery table wsa very
narrow. I found out that was so the doctor could get very close
to me for the work to do. They put a med pump catheter in my hip
prior to surgery to administer pain med and start numbing the
area. Once on the table, they started sedation, and said I'd be
out in a minute or so. It was no fade to black! One moment I'm
looking at thr OR ceiling, I blink, and suddenly I'm looking at
the recovery room ceiling, 3 hours later. I'm told the surgery
went great with minimal blood loss. After waking up more, I was
taken to my room, and got some water, as it was too late for
food that night.
1/17/08 - 1st day post-op. After sleeping 45 minutes at a time,
all night, the new day arrived. Now, along with my left knee and
foot hurting from swelling, my right knee is also very sore. I
order some breakfast - UCSD gives you a menu similar to what you
find in a hotel, and you can order what you want when you want
from 7am to 7pm every day. Very nice. After breakfast, Dr. Ball
visits, and grabs my left foot to move my left hip a bit, which
almost puts me on the roof with the pain in my foot. I explain
the situation, and he tells me that he will see about me getting
something for the swelling. PT shows up around 10am, and it's
all I can do to get out of bed, and I can only move about 3 feet
side to side and about 2-3 feet forward, due to the pain in my
knees and foot. I get back in bed and my knees start throbbing
badly. I'm given morphine and ice packs for my knees. Mind you,
my left hips isn't doing much in the way of pain, it feels
pretty good. BTW, my BP went back down to 134/85 - and even
lower over the next 2 days. That afternoon, PT tried again to
get me walking, and I couldn't even get out of bed. So, PT was
no good that day. That evening, around 7pm, I'm given a
cordizone shot in my left knee. I'm also given Ambien for sleep,
which didn't work too well - I needed a 2nd dose to get to
sleep, but then slept a glorious 5.5 hours!
1/18/08 - 2nd day post-op. Woke up, and moved my left foot. My
foot feels SO much better! I can move it with very little pain.
The knee is still sore, but getting better. The right knee, no
shot yet, and still sore. Had breakfast, and then PT shows up
around 10am. They usually want someone to walk around 100 feet,
so I do 200 feet that morning. I felt very happy to finally get
moving. That afternoon, PT showed up again, and I walked 400
feet (with a walker, of course). I was hoping to get a shot for
my right knee that day, but it didn't happen. Had dinner, and
more sleeping meds. Ambien doesn't seem to work well for me.
1/19/08 - 3rd day post-op. This morning, I got my cordizone shot
for my right knee. After my wife and extended family left the
house to drive down and visit me, I find out I'm being
discharged today. Already have a full car coming down, but I had
a hidden 3rd row seat in the car we opened up and allowed all of
us to go home. When my wife got there, we used my crutches to
test me on stairs. My knees are weak, so I would probably need
watching for the first day or so. I had some prescriptions to be
filled, but decided to do it locally instead of at the Hospital.
MISTAKE!! I was given Oxycotin and Lovenox (injection blood
thinner). These aren't carried by alot of local pharmacies, so
if they can fill prescriptions there at the hospital - get it
done there!!! After getting home, I needed to get a bath seat -
to use the shower. Went to the local Medical Supply store, and
got my seat and 2 new knee braces. After getting home, I used
the seat to take a shower - HEAVEN!!! Felt SO good. The knee
braces firmed my knees up enough so I could go up and down
stairs with no other help. Had light dinner, and off to bed.
1/20/08 - 4th day post-op. Today I felt much better. Still not
sleeping as well as I'd like, but getting better. Hip surgery
site a little sore, but the stability in my new hip is GREAT!
Also, I'm taller now, as I'm not leaning due to 1.5cm regained
in leg. I'm really noticing the right hip more now, since it
needs replaced too. Left one is like a rock - stable. Relaxed at
home, and did my exercises.
1/21/08 - 5th day - Today. Well, tomorrow, PT shows up at the
house to start me getting stronger. In a little more than 3
weeks, I have my 4 week follow-up. After that, if all looks
well, the right hip will be scheduled for replacement. So 5 days
out - Totally worth getting done. I have a MOM THR (not sure
what the brand is, but will let you know). some things to
prepare for prior to surgery, if/when you get this done. Get a
good grabber - the hospital one was a weak one. A sock puller -
also, get a good brand, as the hospital one wasn't as nice as
mine. Get them a bit early, and get used to using them. You'll
be glad you did. If the Hospital wants to fill your
prescriptions prior to discharge, DO it. It's a real drag trying
to fill what you need and no local pharmacies can do it, due to
the type of meds. Make sure you have some help at home for the
first few days if at all possible. You may want to get your
shower/bath chair prior to surgery so you don't have to get it
the day of discharge, like I did. Prepare early at home first,
and you'll have a much better recovery after. I'll post more at
a later date, and let you know how PT goes, and my prep for the
right hip to soon follow. Minor update - toilet seat riser. The
one I got from the hospital felt low at the hospital. but was
great at home. My home toilet sits higher than the hospital one
did. So, before going into the hospital for surgery, I recommend
you measure your toilet, from floor to top of ceramic bowl, NOT
the plastic seat you sit on - this will be lifted up for the
riser. If the hospital toilet is taller than what you have at
home, be aware that you will sit a bit lower at home. The
opposite will be true if your home throne is taller.
Terry
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