Re: What's causing this

[Guest guest]

I would like to share - I had major foot and ankle reconstruction

surgery in June. One of the hardest parts of the recovery from that

surgery was the hypersensitivity of the skin around all of the

incisions and of the pins and needles feeling that I had of the whole

foot and ankle. The thing that I HAD to remember is that all of the

nerves and muscles around the surgical sites had been disrupted and

during the recovery phase - all of those little nerves were settling

back in and building their little condos in the area. :-)

The nerve pain is MUCH better now - as a matter of fact it is about

gone. So, I am hoping that when it happens after my hip replacement (

next Friday morning at 8 am - eeks!) that I will be ready for it.

I am trying not to wig out about the fact that my reconstruced foot and

ankle ( left side) that are just now starting to be relatively stable,

need to be my "good side". My THR is of the right hip. Soooooo - I

hope that the physical therapists don't expect me to jump right up on

that left foot and ankle and do too much!

I just want to get better so that I can start to move and WALK again.

I lost almost 100 pounds about 3 years ago. I went from a size 24 1/2

to an 8. Sitting in a wheel chair (non-weight bearing) for all of the

last summer AND quitting smoking (in June) means that I have regained

40# and am back to a size 14/16. I hate myself and I want to get back

to the size that I was happiest. But - in order to do that I am going

to have to be able to walk and to move - of course if I would stop

stuffing my face at every opportunity it would help.

So - anyway - those of you that are having nerve pain or nerve issues -

give it time - it just may get better as you heal. And - the nerves

may take up to a year to get settled back in. I know that for me -

sometimes I tend to look back over the last few days and say to

myself..... "I'm not getting better". But, if I force myself to look

back at where I was a MONTH or two ago - I have to admit that I am MUCH

better. Healing takes so long sometimes.

When you come home from the hospital after a total hip, are to totally

non-weight bearing, or are you able to bear some weight when using a

walker or crutches? Am I going to be back in a wheel chair? Or -

maybe will I be able to get around a bit with a walker?

Due to my advanced degenerative joint disease, I do not do well with a

walker or crutches when totally non-weight bearing. And, I am sure

that my new ankle and foot will not be able to totally support me. I'm

getting a bit nervous here. :-(

Beth Wills

bwills91@...

My Webshots Album

http://community.webshots.com/user/bethw165

[Guest guest]

Beth, I had right THR 3 weeks ago. I'm 77 & the OS __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Beth, I had right THR 3 weeks ago. I'm 77, & the OS put in the new larger femoral head--says it should last the rest of __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Beth, this is my 3rd attempt to reply! Something keeps sending my note before I want it to go. Hope this time works.I had right TKR 3 weeks ago tomorrow. I'm 77, & my OS tells me he put in the new, larger femoral head that should last the rest of my life! Also some kind of cross-linked poly-something lining in the joint that doesn't break down. The joint is cemented (I guess the part that goes into the femur), so I was weight-bearing-as-tolerated from Day 1. I'm using a walker for going more than 10-15 feet, but can get from my chair to the kitchen or powder room with just my cane. I put my full weight on the operated leg when I walk.I haven't had any nerve pain such as you describe, so maybe that's not an inevitable part

of__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Beth, Thank you so much for this perspective on what we're going

through. That's what I was thinking - I know a lot of cutaneous

nerves were cut and the outside half of both knees are numb - maybe

slightly less numb than at the beginning - And who knows how many

other nerves were damaged in the process? So, like you say, maybe

that damage manifests as that antsy unbearable twitchy feeling.

You have really been through a lot - and accomplished an amazing

amount. Stopping smoking is so hard - congratulations! And gaining a

few pounds back in the process is worth it, because you are going to

be able to walk and exercise and get back in shape after all this is

over. I am walking - up to 1/2 mile around my neighborhood - using my

exercise bike - and so much looking forward to getting back in the

pool to get some all-over exercise.

Good luck with your hip surgery and keep us posted on your progress.

Judy

-- In Joint Replacement , Beth W <bwills91@...>

wrote:

>

> I would like to share - I had major foot and ankle reconstruction

> surgery in June. One of the hardest parts of the recovery from that

> surgery was the hypersensitivity of the skin around all of the

incisions

> and of the pins and needles feeling that I had of the whole foot and

> ankle. The thing that I HAD to remember is that all of the nerves and

> muscles around the surgical sites had been disrupted and during the

> recovery phase - all of those little nerves were settling back in and

> building their little condos in the area. :-)

>

> The nerve pain is MUCH better now - as a matter of fact it is about

> gone. So, I am hoping that when it happens after my hip replacement (

> next Friday morning at 8 am - eeks!) that I will be ready for it.

>

> I am trying not to wig out about the fact that my reconstruced foot and

> ankle ( left side) that are just now starting to be relatively stable,

> need to be my " good side " . My THR is of the right hip. Soooooo - I

> hope that the physical therapists don't expect me to jump right up on

> that left foot and ankle and do too much!

>

> I just want to get better so that I can start to move and WALK

again. I

> lost almost 100 pounds about 3 years ago. I went from a size 24 1/2 to

> an 8. Sitting in a wheel chair (non-weight bearing) for all of the

last

> summer AND quitting smoking (in June) means that I have regained 40#

and

> am back to a size 14/16. I hate myself and I want to get back to the

> size that I was happiest. But - in order to do that I am going to have

> to be able to walk and to move - of course if I would stop stuffing my

> face at every opportunity it would help.

>

> So - anyway - those of you that are having nerve pain or nerve issues -

> give it time - it just may get better as you heal. And - the nerves

may

> take up to a year to get settled back in. I know that for me -

> sometimes I tend to look back over the last few days and say to

> myself..... " I'm not getting better " . But, if I force myself to look

> back at where I was a MONTH or two ago - I have to admit that I am MUCH

> better. Healing takes so long sometimes.

>

> When you come home from the hospital after a total hip, are to totally

> non-weight bearing, or are you able to bear some weight when using a

> walker or crutches? Am I going to be back in a wheel chair? Or -

maybe

> will I be able to get around a bit with a walker?

>

> Due to my advanced degenerative joint disease, I do not do well with a

> walker or crutches when totally non-weight bearing. And, I am sure

that

> my new ankle and foot will not be able to totally support me. I'm

> getting a bit nervous here. :-(

>

> Beth Wills

> bwills91@...

>

> My Webshots Album

> http://community.webshots.com/user/bethw165

>

[Guest guest]

beth don't worry, I was weight bearing within a day or two - you want a walker at first, then a wheelie then a cane or two, but you can weight bear - itreally isn't difficult - good wishes for your surgery, you'll do fine

ann

Re: Re: What's causing this

I would like to share - I had major foot and ankle reconstruction surgery in June. One of the hardest parts of the recovery from that surgery was the hypersensitivity of the skin around all of the incisions and of the pins and needles feeling that I had of the whole foot and ankle. The thing that I HAD to remember is that all of the nerves and muscles around the surgical sites had been disrupted and during the recovery phase - all of those little nerves were settling back in and building their little condos in the area. :-) The nerve pain is MUCH better now - as a matter of fact it is about gone. So, I am hoping that when it happens after my hip replacement ( next Friday morning at 8 am - eeks!) that I will be ready for it. I am trying not to wig out about the fact that my reconstruced foot and ankle ( left side) that are just now starting to be relatively stable, need to be my "good side". My THR is of the right hip. Soooooo - I hope that the physical therapists don't expect me to jump right up on that left foot and ankle and do too much! I just want to get better so that I can start to move and WALK again. I lost almost 100 pounds about 3 years ago. I went from a size 24 1/2 to an 8. Sitting in a wheel chair (non-weight bearing) for all of the last summer AND quitting smoking (in June) means that I have regained 40# and am back to a size 14/16. I hate myself and I want to get back to the size that I was happiest. But - in order to do that I am going to have to be able to walk and to move - of course if I would stop stuffing my face at every opportunity it would help.So - anyway - those of you that are having nerve pain or nerve issues - give it time - it just may get better as you heal. And - the nerves may take up to a year to get settled back in. I know that for me - sometimes I tend to look back over the last few days and say to myself..... "I'm not getting better". But, if I force myself to look back at where I was a MONTH or two ago - I have to admit that I am MUCH better. Healing takes so long sometimes. When you come home from the hospital after a total hip, are to totally non-weight bearing, or are you able to bear some weight when using a walker or crutches? Am I going to be back in a wheel chair? Or - maybe will I be able to get around a bit with a walker? Due to my advanced degenerative joint disease, I do not do well with a walker or crutches when totally non-weight bearing. And, I am sure that my new ankle and foot will not be able to totally support me. I'm getting a bit nervous here. :-(Beth Wills

bwills91charter (DOT) net

My Webshots Album

http://community.webshots.com/user/bethw165