Had to have a break from posting, but needed to note each day still in journal form to remember each bit of recovery. While I am dealing with grief and illness alongside this massive recovery.

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Day 10 groin pain has started but I am able to put surgical stockings on both legs myself, and strip wash in sink. Using 1 crutch. Awfully poorly feeling, aching all over body wise.

Day 11 I’ve actually managed to complete 2 X my physio exercises at 10 reps each. Also managed to lie down on my front for some change of position. It felt surprisingly nice. Considering I’m ill, I’m so impressed with my activities.

Day 12 Restless legs at night but it’s easing now. Couldn’t do physio today, but I managed stairs a few times, as we were away from home all day. I have Laryngitis so being physical is tiring.

Day 13 Physio feels like it’s getting easier, though heel slides and hip abduction are not my nicest ones to do. Standing hip abduction made the hip feel like it wasn’t my own.

Day 14 Two Weeks, it’s wound check day, I’ll be so glad to change the dressing. Restlessness at night are annoying me, but it’s all good apart from that. Dressing change went well, all healed and given the go ahead to shower. Pleased with how it well it’s going, can remove the new dressing in a couple of days to start airing.

Day 15 Physio going well and I’m getting it done at least twice a day. I’ve let things get on top of me, so we popped out for a drive to observe nature, watch squirrels play, and birds dart about. We managed a small walk too. Just what I needed.

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Day 16 Dressing removed today, and omg it’s so neat and healed, I’m impressed. Now it’s time to air it. Getting physio done more regularly now. Only mainly having issues with pain at 6am each morning. But my leg is so so long still, I hope physio does shorten it, I do worry .

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Day 17 Been more mobile on 1 crutch around the home, doing more chores to help out, and feeling pretty independent. Restlessness at night still an issue, but I know it will pass.

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Had some devastating news, and while the family have time to pick themselves up and grieve, I’m stopping the blog from posting for now.

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Thank you for your understanding.

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The first 2 weeks are the worse and I’m almost half way through, so I thought I’d be open about the pain and expectations.

I’m starting to notice knee and ankle pain on the operated leg, I figure this is due to traction of this leg, it’s a pretty brutal surgery so it’s no wonder these areas hurt.

• Moderate pain due to the trauma of surgery.
• Prescribed oral and IV pain medications to keep pain controlled.
• Bruising, swelling and inflammation beginning to set in.

Tips

• Keep your affected leg elevated (ideally above your heart). This will help with bruising and swelling.
• Understand the pain medications you are on, when to take them, and how these meds may interfere with others prescribed or over-the-counter meds you will take at home.
• With the help of your care team, perform the recommended movements as best you can. You will be required to stand, go up and down a stair, get on and off the toilet etc. If you can master these movements, you may be able to recover at home and avoid a secondary care location.

Depending on your surgeon and pain medication plan, two weeks is often the time you’re dose of narcotic pain medications will be lowered, if not stopped completely. Prescription-strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are continued longer to help with swelling and inflammation.

For hips, the two week mark and beyond is when patients report feeling a significant drop in pain, experiencing only mild discomfort. Right out of the gate, hip replacement patients are forced to movements that help increase range of motion. This helps fast-track recovery and shorten the window of pain. For all replacements, the incision site will likely still be tender and painful.

Following some personal news I’m halting my blog, while I process the news and grieve.

I’m beginning to feel like myself, movement in my core is becoming a bit easier, so I can twist at the waist. But from more movement comes more leakage, not concerned really, but if it gets too bad I will have to cover the dressing with another one that they supplied me with.

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Some sleep is getting hard to achieve,mainly because I’m on my back and I don’t naturally love that. But also due to the aches and pains settling into the leg. Knee and ankle pains are wild at times.

But I’ve been managing to dress myself since I came home, so that’s faster than last time. It makes me feel less poorly when I can do some things myself. Though I’m careful not to push it. Socks I still opt for Mr Moon to help with those. I’ve even managed a lovely head to toe strip wash out of the sink, using the perch. Having a level of independence is hugely healing for my mind and body.

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Day 4 post #HipReplacement

I’ve started some real standing physio exercises today. I felt a little more confident to give them a go.

Starting with Long Arc Quads

Moving onto Tip Toes

Shallow Squats with Chair

Hip Abductions, find these incredibly hard at the moment

Hip Extension, like the abduction I found these quite difficult and quickly tired myself

Felt good to be productive, but I quickly tired myself out, and my “good” leg was getting sore and worn out, purely from excessive weight going through it. So plan is a little each day.

Day 3 post #HipReplacement

Last night was a bit of a rough night, I felt poorly with tummy cramps, like I’m full of air. So I needed a hot water bottle on my belly to help me get to sleep.

The wound itself is ok, but it’s starting to sting as I move, and I can see it’s leaked a little more. TW for picture below.

Now that the anaesthetic from the surgery is wearing off and leftover spinal, I can feel the need for medication more. But I got away with 3 tramadol and 8 paracetamol yesterday, so hopefully I can do the same today.

I attempted some heel slides, but I have no strength yet, I can lift it a little.

But short arc quad exercises I can do.

First Night home, Day 2 post #HipReplacement

Oh what a glorious sleep!! I am very very grateful that I managed to go home and dive into my own bed, and be gently lulled to dreamland in my cosy fresh bedding.

Water seems to be my greatest love to drink, and I’m not knocking it, as it’s good for healing.

I’ve had a lot of hiccups this time round, apparently caused by mild nerve damage when the tube is down the throat. But my teeth haven’t been broken, so that’s a win. And the itchy skin has settled as I’m not on morphine anymore.

Only needed paracetamol at 2.30am and I had 1 tramadol at 9am. So far so good. Had 2 paracetamol at midday.

Wrist is sore and bruised but expected after the cannula, and will soon heal.

First jobs today for me is getting dressed. And maybe tackling some of the many physio exercises I’ve been given. Heel Slides and Hip Abuction are a no go at the moment, not enough strength yet.

Noticed my knees are very out of alignment but as I’ve had this before, I know it eventually settles down and becomes equal. Still always a shock to see at first.

Pain wise my lower back is bad, but that is from the spinal, and I expected this, and I’m using hot water bottles to combat it. Wound feels tight and a bit stingy. But manageable so far. Knee on the left replaced leg is nagging, again I expected it as I felt it after my right hip replacement.

What I didn’t expect was my right hip to feel so tired and achey, but perhaps as I’m leaning on it while walking, as full weight bearing thrpugh left feels impossible at the moment though allowed. It’s bearing the brunt of all my weight, and I was rolled onto that hip during the operation.

So full on rest and recover day, I’m not rushing to be active in these early days.

Day One post #HipReplacement

Well barely any sleep on my first night, but I feel brilliant. Pain is managed, and I have full feeling in the leg now.

Had breakfast and coffee, washed and changed into my own clothes, and got seen by Occupational therapy for exercises, I got my crutches too, so that means I have full independence now.

Cannula is out, thank goodness as it was awful and each time antibiotics went in the pain flared up.

Had bloods done, so awaiting Pharmacy and X-ray, they being all good it should be home time today. Physio signed me off as they are happy with the fast pace on crutches. Leg feels so long though, but I know it will soon be equal with regular physio exercises.

Dinner time came and it wasn’t too bad, Tomato and basil soup, Ham sandwich and Black cherry yogurt.

Very very busy today and not enough staff, so I’ve just been listening to podcasts to pass the time, as it’s looking to be a late departure for me.

Finally got an x-ray around 4pm and got the all clear to ring home at 5pm. Just managed to get my tea, which means as soon as I get home I can fall asleep. I’m so shattered from all this walking, and not sleeping well for 2 nights.

Tea was lasagna, Green beans, Carrots and New potatoes, Crackers and cheese, with pure Orange juice. I have saved the crackers and cheese for later on. Lasagna was a little too tasty for me, though lovely. I seem to be better off with plain foods at the moment.

At 7pm ish we got home, flowers and presents waiting, feeling very spoilt, but also very tired. Changed my clothes, and managed a hot water bottle for my back. I was sent home with only paracetamol as pain relief as they knew I had tramadol at home, so at 9.30pm I had 1 tramadol, hopefully that will get me through the night.

First Night after #HipReplacement

Now the scary part is done, it’s time to heal and recover. I had a spinal so my waist down was numb until around 8pm.

I’ve managed to eat toast and later on a cheese sarnie and lemon yogurt. And drink plenty of water, so that’s good news.

Due to the spinal an ankle wedge is needed to stop the replaced leg rolling or twisting wrong whole you have no sensation, and in turn means dreaded bed pans, Boo!!!!

Medicine is paracetamol and slow release morphine so far, and my worse antibiotics through the cannula. It still really hurts my arthritis in the hands sadly, for an hour or so. Grateful I only need 3 doses.

Spoke to Consultant and he’s pleased with it, but we have to understand we’ve removed the Legg Calve Perthes and it’s had multiple surgeries, so may take time, it’s also lengthened a bit.

Sleep alas does not come easy at all. Thank goodness for podcasts to listen too and block out other noises. And eye mask to block out light.

I’m checked on for observations twice in the night, but it’s like an asmr nurse all quiet and subdued, so it doesn’t keep you awake.

I have a window so the dawn awakes me, but I’m pretty happy with that. It’s nice to gaze out of.

I have compression cuffs on the legs, which periodically tighten and twist, and torque in different ways, to help prevent dvts, along with usual compression stockings on as well.

Now it’s morning I hope to have some breakfast, and be visited by Occupational therapy to get moving and some independence back.

Surgery Day

It’s actually here. There is no visitors allowed or partner allowed into the building, so this time I’m going in all alone.

Thankfully I’m ok with that, as I usually feel guilty when Mr Moon starves with me and sits there all bored, as I’m pulled off to various rooms to be weighed, checked, have discussions with surgeon and the anesthetist.

Armed with my trusty rucksack, hair in plaits I’m super ready for this. Got to be there for 7.30am.

Traffic wasn’t too bad, though we had mini drama of running out of petrol. But still made it in time.

Found out I was on ward 12 bed 6, and 4th on the list so a bit of wait for me.

Surprisingly it went quick enough and by 11.20am I was measured for stockings and off to theatre.

The team remembered me asking about avoiding my cmc joint arthritis for the cannula, and remembered my teeth are weak. Fell asleep about 11.50am.

Came round high dependancy at 2.15pm with compression sleeves on the legs and a wedge between ankles.

Back onto the ward by 2.50pm having toast and coffee. Feeling pretty good to be honest. So glad it’s all done.

Hoping I can go home tomorrow, but it depends on blood pressure and occupational therapy.