Originally posted to my Facebook page January 22, 2016
Post-Hip Replacement Surgery: 5 Weeks and 4 days.
This week I finally got to do what resembled a workout in PT. I got to lift weights (hamstring curl, leg extensions, leg press, all double then single leg), some chair squats holding a weight, and climbing steps holding two 5-lb hand weights. In addition to my 10-14 minute warm-up on the recumbent step machine.
Today I got to ride a bike!! Even if it was only for 5-minutes, I pedaled like I was late for work. Hahahaha. And then I got to walk 5-minutes on a treadmill.
And now….I am really sore. Lol. It all kicks in at once. One minute I feel great. The next…I’m laying down for a nap.
I’ve been off all pain meds for 11 days. Those yucky meds are slowly working their way out of my system. It’s crazy how quickly your body can develop a dependence on Schedule 2 medications. I tapered for a week, then just stopped taking them last Monday night because I didn’t need anything for the pain (because I didn’t have any pain). Wednesday morning I had a withdrawal headache….just like the one I had the ONE time I tried to quit coffee. Lol. I’m lucky that’s the only withdrawal symptom I had, and that it only lasted for one day. By Thursday I felt fine. I know other people have far worse symptoms, so I feel lucky.
I discovered last week that someone, at some point, didn’t pull a little string out of my incision…like a string from a piece of gauze got stuck in the scab and never removed. So I have about a 1/8 inch piece of string stuck in the scar tissue of my incision. It freaked my physical therapist out. My doctor, not so much. He said as long as it’s not bothering me, they’ll deal with it at my follow-up appointment.
(Btw….If anyone wants to see a 10-second video clip of them removing my staples, let me know. Haha. I’m saving it on my phone. Maybe I’ll YouTube it. Ha.)
Speaking of my appointments, my 6-week follow-up is next Tuesday. I’m looking forward to driving again (freedom!!!). I’m REALLY looking forward to throwing these compression tights away. I’m looking forward to taking Advil again…and my iron supplement. I’m curious what restrictions might be lifted…like when will I be able to bend at the hip beyond 90 degrees? When can I start working out on a bike, elliptical, or water running or swimming? Or return to the weight room? Or the big question for me now…WHEN can I sleep on my right side again????
It feels weird and great at the same time…that my right hip joint feels so relaxed. I can take a full stride with no pain, no impingement. It’s been years since I felt like that. I get worried sometimes, thinking it’s going to give out on me, or start to hurt. But nothing yet. I can move it laterally with ease. I’ve not been able to do that since late 2011.
This has been an experience. A positive one. I feel much better going into my next surgery knowing what to expect, and knowing how to prepare.
Wozani Was'te 