10 days post-THR, update

[Guest guest]

Hello to all of you out there who are going into the holidays with the hope for

better walking! I wouldn't have had surgery as late as Dec. 8 if I could've

gotten it earlier, but it was that or spend the time barely mobile. Really, in

spite of pain & precautions, I'm walking better than I could before.

I had my right knee done Nov. 15 '05; now I got a new hip on the same side.

It's cemented (I'm 77), with a large head to help ward off displacement. The OS

says he lengthened the leg about an inch. I spent an extra night in the

hospital because my hemoglobin was low & I needed a couple of units of blood.

So, surgery Friday afternoon & home Tuesday PM. I'm getting home care, nursing

& PT both.

I can walk around quite well with the walker, could probably do fine with 2

sticks, but not ready for just a cane yet. I go up & down the stairs once a day

using the cane. Can stand in the kitchen to make my coffee or my lunch.

The pain is well controlled, 2 Lortabs about every 6 hours; I'm definitely not

ready to cut back yet! I'm not back on my arthritis med (Celebrex), because of

the anti-coagulant (Lovenox), & my shoulders et al are beginning to bother me

more.

The incision isn't draining any more. Looks good--much better than the mangled

skin where the adhesives tore me up! We solved that problem, by the way: use

something called Duo-Derm, which sticks without adhesive, & tape the dressings

to that!

I imagine my progress is about the same as others so far? How are the rest of

you recent THRs doing?

The only thing that's worrying me is that I've been somewhat incontinent since

my surgery. I don't have any fever or other signs of UTI, except urgency & loss

of control. Has anyone else had this problem?

Best wishes for a good recovery & pain-free walking next year!

Barbara

Barbara Ward

Macomb County, Michigan

__________________________________________________