July 20, 2009

5 days post op today. I am home, getting around on crutches pretty well. I actually just tried one crutch so I could carry my cup of coffee over to the computer and did real well! That was exciting.

My surgery went flawlessly according to Dr. Rector. He is awesome. If anyone in or around Colorado is considering surgery, please look him up. Everybody I spoke to in the hospital had nothing but great things to say about him. The nurses and staff at Boulder Community were so nice and caring as well. And Boulder is a great place to be for your loved ones.

Now begins the healing process. Dr. Rector prescribed a "Game-Ready" machine to ice and compress my hip and let me tell you - it's the BEST. You all should check into it. I use it every couple hours or so. It runs for 30 minutes and makes my hip feel great.

The worst part, I think, so far, is trying to sleep in my bed with the damn wedgie pillow between my legs, having to stay on my back all night. It's almost more comfortable just to stay in the recliner.

I still need a Percocet in the morning and take about two more throughout the day. I'm looking forward to being able to just take tylenol but I'm not there yet.

Dr. Rector has also prescribed in-home PT which will start tomorrow. I've been doing the PT exercises as outlined on my discharge papers. The hardest thing for me to do is to make my hip flexor muscles work. Trying to lift me leg up to walk is hard and when doing PT, laying down and lifting that leg up straight is killer. Anyone experience that?

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts, and thanks Pat, this site is the best!
cj

July 21, 2009

Thanks for everyone's kind thoughts! My husband has been very helpful and loving, but no one know what this feels like but US!

I spent most of the night last night in the recliner, and the last 2-3 hours in bed. Not too bad. Except I wake up at 2 am to go to the bathroom, then can't get back to sleep. Maybe a Tylenol PM wouldn't hurt. I'll have hubby get me some today.

In home PT starts here in a couple of hours. I wonder what we'll do. I will write back and update everyone later.

Thanks again!
cj

July 22, 2009

OK - I tried the stomach sleeping thing last night and was terrified that my leg would turn in while I slept. Scared myself out of staying in this position and spent the night miserably trying to sleep on my back, finally getting up and sleeping in the damn recliner again. Everything is going so great except for this back sleeping nightmare. I have not had a full night's sleep in over a week. I'm 7 days post op today.

cj

July 23, 2009

I am 8 days post op. The surgery with Dr. Rector went perfectly. Everyone at Boulder Community Hospital commented on what a great surgeon he is. The staff over there is phenomenal as well. I had as pleasant an experience as possible.

I came home from the hospital on a Saturday (my surgery was Wednesday - Dr. Rector said it was ok to go home on Friday, but it was late and I didn't feel like making the 4 hour trip over the mountains that day, so he authorized another day in the hospital and I went home on Saturday. The trip was fine by the way. We stopped up in Silverthorne to take a break and continued on to Grand Junction very comfortably.

I have insurance through Rocky Mountain Health who has their own home health care department. On Tuesday they sent over a rep, a nice guy named James. He came over and asked a bunch of questions, watched me walk and gave me tips on what to do better. (I was hiking my hip - probably I was so used to limping before I had forgotten how to walk properly.) Then he went over all the PT exercises that Dr. Rector gave me to do at discharge. He told me what to work on and corrected any bad form. He will come back next Monday for a final in home visit and then refer me to outpatient PT. St. Mary's Life Center apparently has a top notch PT dept. Full gym, pool etc. so I am looking forward to that.

Everyday I get better and better. I can walk with one crutch, take a shower on my own, make myself something to eat, dress, etc. etc.

Good luck to you. Please let me know how you make out.

cj

July 25, 2009

I am now 10 days post op. I'm doing my PT exercises twice a day for about 30 minutes each time. Every day I see improvement. Right after surgery it seemed like my quad muscles just forgot how to fire. I could not lift my leg up and started out with a shuffle. What a difference 10 days make!
My incision is still sore, so I'm still taking Percocet, but cut it down to 1/2 a tablet every 6 hours. I take Tylenol PM before bed and finally found a comfortable back-sleeping position. (The secret seems to be to elevate your legs using 2 pillows.)

I am going to return to work Monday and am looking forward to not being home all day. I have a very understanding boss, since he had this same procedure done about 8 weeks ago!

cj

July 28, 2009

It's getting better every day! I went back to work (yesterday) at 12 days post op and I'm back in the swing. I wake up early, do my PT, go to work and be sure I get up and stretch and walk around a lot, back home for more PT and finally, rest.

Hope I'm not overdoing - it doesn't feel like I am. I've been discharged from in-home PT. PT guy said I was amazing and I'm now set up for my first oupatient PT next week.

Thanks everyone!

cj

August 1, 2009

I really can not believe the progress that I have made in 17 days.

NO pain meds.
Working full time.
Driving to work.
Walking with a cane only.
NO bruising.
NO swelling.
I've increased my PT exercises to two sets of everything at 15 reps.
This week I'm allowed to start stationery biking - can't wait.

This operation is just amazing. NO hip pain what-so-ever. Slight groin pain after pt - but that is it!

I AM LOVING LIFE.

cj

August 17, 2009

I am 4 1/2 weeks post op after my surgery with Dr. Rector. I think you will be very pleased - he is an awesome doctor! Everyone at Boulder Community commented on what a great surgeon he is.

I am walking mostly unaided - I bring my cane for long distances (and it came in handy when I went to the Obama Town Hall meeting this weekend in Grand Junction! I got to sit in the "handicapped" section up front! LOL)

I have progressed to three sets of PT exercises every morning and most afternoons after work I head to the gym for 30 minutes of cardio - stationery biking, elliptical or walking on the treadmill. I've also added some leg machines to that every third day or so. It's amazing how much better I'm getting so quickly. And NO hip pain at all - NONE! Ever since surgery day it's been gone. My surrounding muscles were weakened and that's what I am working on strengthening.