The NRG office is back open

[ferretmary1]

Yes, we are back open again, but I'm moving a bit slow, so please be patient.  If I don't get to the phone fast enough, please leave a message, including your first and last name and your phone number, and I will call you back ASAP.  Thank you!

 

Mary

[Michael Mash]

That' good news Mary.

Perhaps a little activity (not too much) will help with recovery.

I am curious:  Was the knee problem on the same side at the hip surgery?

[Desertanimal]

Welcome back Mary! 
You take your time, nothing is more important than recovery for the long term. The phone messages will be there when you get to them! 
Chris

[ferretmary1]

1 hour ago, Michael Mash said:

Was the knee problem on the same side at the hip surgery?

Unfortunately, yes.  My other knee is also bad, but not as bad.  This one feels like someone is hitting my funny bone and won't stop.  It's especially bad when I try to stand up.

[Dziadeczek]

Sometimes knee pain on the same side as the hip prosthesis, is a referred pain radiating down the leg from the operated hip. I remember I had it for some time after my hip replacement. It went away eventually...

It is important to keep with physiotherapy to maintain the muscles healthy and strong (prevent contractures and atrophies there) but in the beginning please don't weight bear on them too much, rather only flexing and extending the joint in the bed or standing and holding the side of a chair while doing the movements... This also improves the local blood circulation and hence speeds up the healing process.

And keep swallowing the pain pills from your doctor...

I wish you a speedy progress and recovery.

Thomas

Edited July 22 by Dziadeczek

[ferretmary1]

The only problem with the pain pills is they make me fall asleep!  I'm taking extra strength Tylenol during the day and I take something stronger when I go to bed or if the pain just gets to be too much during the day.

 

I had problems with my knee before I had problems with my hip.  I tore my left lateral meniscus many years ago.  Most of the time it didn't bother me, but as the years went by it deteriorated more.  They plan to do surgery on my knee eventually, but the hip had to be done first. 

[thibaultron]

Try Arthritis Strength 8 Hour Tylenol. That's what I took, and still do, after my replacement.

[ferretmary1]

Thanks - I'll look into it.

[Michael Mash]

Many here are trusting that your recovery is going well.

 

There is an old saying:  “Trust  .   .   .  and verify”

 

Can you provide some “verification” Mary?

 

Best Regards, Mike

[ferretmary1]

LOL!  Yes, my recovery is going well - a lot better than my last hip surgery (right hip - 2022, which got infected and still gives me grief!)  My current hip surgery (left hip) was done by a different doctor with a LOT more experience.  I still have some mild pain, but nothing a Tylenol Extra Strength can't handle.  I even went out to eat this week and didn't take my cane with me.  Good news indeed!

 

Thanks for asking!

 

Mary

 

"Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better and better!"  From a Pink Panther movie - but I don't remember which one.

[Capt. Kelso]

I feel your pain! No pun intended. Have had both hips done and currently recovering from left knee joint replacement (7/18). Actually, recovery is going well, tossed the cane away! Fortunately, right knee is in good shape.

 

Good luck.

[ferretmary1]

I still have bad knees, so I'm keeping the cane for now, but I don't use it much anymore.  Mostly to keep jerks from bumping into me (Shopping in grocery stores is hazardous to your health!)

[Dziadeczek]

After my hip replacement 6 years ago, I was recovering from this trauma for 6 weeks, doing a lot of physiotherapy and exercises and swallowing tylenol. One day, I was able to walk for 1/4 mile without a cane and the following day I went shopping with my wife!

Patience!!! Everything will be OK!!!

Thomas

PS: If anybody faces the prospect of hip replacement, I think that you should rely on an orthopedist that specializes in knee/hip replacements ONLY!

These people have enormous experience (they do 4 or 5 of them daily!) and know what they are doing, unlike "regular" orthopedists, which do everything and nothing! Experience counts, like in shipmodeling!   😁

Spoiler

 

The 'anterior approach' for hip replacement offers less complications and faster recovery, by the way...

Edited Wednesday at 11:07 PM by Dziadeczek

[ferretmary1]

22 minutes ago, Dziadeczek said:

PS: If anybody faces the prospect of hip replacement, I think that you should rely on an orthopedist that specializes in knee/hip replacements ONLY!

AMEN to that!  My first surgeon was a 'sports doctor' and had only done a few hip replacements.  My second surgeon was a specialist who only works on hips and knees.  He does over 500 hip surgeries a year and I don't remember how man knee replacements.

 

Both of my doctors did the anterior approach, but with the infection in the first surgery and having to remove a lot of necrotic tissue, it took me months to recuperate from it.  the 'divot' in my leg was almost big enough for me to fit my fist in it, and I have fairly large hands.  I had to have therapy to learn how to walk and climb stairs again.  I could only lift my leg an inch or so off the ground at first and my husband had to help me lift my leg off the ground and put it on the bed when I wanted to lay down.  The second surgery was a breeze.  I went home the same day and didn't need any physical therapy at all.