It's been a long time! 2.5 Years

Ocean Shores April 2011

My grandsons “Jeremiah and Jaden” and Me

November 1, 2011;

It’s been a year since I have entered any thing here!! How time flies. Where did it all go? My new hip is doing great! No more pain but as I said in the last post, it’s now in my back and the other hip (left). Will I do surgery? NO, Well I would if I was in better shape. I now have stage 3 COPD, I never did stop smoking. So getting out to exercise or even just walks is pretty much impossible for me to do. I have started up low impact yoga and will continue it. “Boy I am so out of shape”. I have talked with many others via internet and in person that have had this type of surgery; some even opted to have both knees done at the same time!! How brave… And they are going strong. There is a story of one lady that is now back to major hiking and running!!! My Aunt had this surgery 9 months ago (age 65) She recovered faster then me and would do it all over again if needed. It is my conclusion that the better shape you are in the better chance you have with a positive out come after any joint replacement surgery. As well as for some unknown reason it works out positive for some and not others, regardless of prior shape they were in, age or what ever.

Wishing all a wonderful cheerful and safe holiday’s

Arlena

Wooo Its been a long time!!! Nov 2010

My Journal: I cant remember those good days any more, so sad I now have this horrible disease in my back. I was sure that the surgery did not work, But after more MRI's and other test, No it has just spread, Can that be??? I will not have surgery in my back no way no way.. In posting this update I can only hope that It gives me motivation to take action, and start a good exercise program and to put myself in a good mental state to overcome and move on with as little pain as possible and as little drugs as possible.... I will once more go into research mood....

My Journal: May 23, 2010: I cant believe it, One more month and it has been a year since my surgery.... Had follow up a few weeks ago, I was sure that my Left hip was now going south... MRI revealed that : First Right hip the replacement side is healing fine, Left side, no signs of degeneration. But Sad news I do now have it in my back: "Multilevel disc desiccation" - "Mild to moderate w/posterior annular bulging" Great Great Great!!!. No way will I ever ever ever have surgery on my back...Strong Recommendation prior to Hip Replacement: Get in the best condition you can prior to surgery, If you smoke STOP..... So Now ? what? I must really get motivated and start a program walking, swimming and such. Get all those muscle in good strong working order... Wish me luck...

6 Months!!! OMG already that long???

My Journal: What June 22nd was the surgery day. and now it is already December 14th. One more week and it will be 6 months!!!.. I am now finally doing so much better. I lazed out on doing my exercises: NOT A GOOD THING. So started them up again and I can so see the difference. I have developed other arthritic problems in my other joints, But hopefully I can go till I die. For truly I will never do the this type of surgery again. I really thought it would be easier, I guess if you can just lay around and or already in good shape, then ok... So at this point I say if you need to have this kind of surgery do it, Yes it is worth it, But warning!! You really need to be in shape first as to make your recovery better and getting back to your activities. POSSIBLE I am hard on my self, and 6 months is normal, But I just hate depending on any one and the pain................. So next I imbark on my next hurdel. I am going to stop smoking!!! Possibly I will create another blog on that/?? Closing out and I will visit back soon. Thanks to all my loved ones that gave me support and all. Love you all.....

12 Weeks & or 3 months:

My Journal:

Sept 12, 2009 Saturday

Well doing pretty good, I still have some pain but no limp any more, with exception of when I first get up. I still can not lay on the operated side for very long at most 1 hr. For it will start to throb. I still use a pillow between my legs. If I forget I will know for it will hurt if moves inward to fast. My other leg now hurts when sleeping I don’t know if it is because of sleeping on that side to much or what. But the thigh area will throb with pain and also on my good leg, my heal (or back of it) always hurts too when I first get up. Feels like the skin is too tight. Weird!!!!! Yesterday I noticed a bruise on my operated leg on the side of my knee. This (my knee has been giving me problems for a while) but where did this bruise come from??? I know I did not injury it… It’s a little bigger then the size of a half dollar and right now is yellow in color. I still can not put on socks, can’t bend that far or lift my leg that far. So good thing it is not winter yet… I did notice last week when it was raining very hard and for about 2 days that my leg hurt more. Or was this all just in my mind??? I am still carful too when sitting, especially at the computer to have the wedge between my legs, Again when I forget I tend to let the leg go inward and when that happens it is not a good feeling!!!!

Sept 26th:
Well not much has changed since the 12th. Other then the bruise is gone, But that area of my knee still is tender. I still don’t get a good nights sleep. After about 5hrs tops I awake with pain. So that’s not good. I don’t understand why my good leg is hurting and the pain in the back of my ankle? I will not “WILL NOT” ever do the surgery again. I so hope I don’t have this degenerative arthritis in all my joints??. And if so, I hope that a good non addictive drug is out their. As I said earlier, I don’t use a cane any more other then if out on long walks. I can now raise my leg all the way up, not as good as the good one but still I can. I still can not bend as to put on socks and or shave my leg. So I still use my make shift razor. And as far as the limp, I do still limp but only when I first get out of bed or from setting. It takes about 10-15 steps to lose the limp. But then if like today (a lot of walking) I still feel it and it hurts and It Clicks. So this is when I use the cane.

8 Week Mark Aug 17, 2009

My Journal: The Last 2 weeks I must say that I was feeling that the surgery was not worth it. As I said on my 6 week mark. I am done with pain killers, but so wished I still had a few. For those days and especially at night. It is still somewhat uncomfortable and painful at night. I still toss and turn a lot. I don’t really get a solid nights sleep. And the pain is not the typical arthritic pain we all learned to live with over years of time. It’s a different pain and a pain I am not use to. I don’t like it!!! The Aleve and other over the counter do not work!! 3 nights ago I found some Tramadol 50mg. !!!! I forgot I had it. This has helped to sleep at night.

While it takes some effort I can now raise my leg up while lying down. But will I ever be able to bend the hip out-ward? And will I ever be able to sleep on that side again? And will I always feel the heavy metal? I still follow those Do Not Do Rules. Sometimes it is hard though.

Yesterday I saw my doctor for my 8 week post op. X-rays look good. We are very hopeful that my leg will not be longer. But still need to give it more time. She did tell me to slow it down a bit. For it has only been 8 weeks and that I may be walking to much and this is why I still have some pain.

I asked her about Physical Therapy and why I did not receive any once discharged from the hospital. She said she doesn’t normally order it. But could if I wanted to receive PT. I strongly suggest people do go to PT. I feel it will help with all your questions and with making sure you are doing your exercises right.

After my Dr. Appointment I felt more encouraged and realized that I am just pushing it to fast. So the next time I post here I hope I am able to say for sure IT WAS WORTH IT!!??

6 WEEKS !! Aug 3rd, 2009

My Journal: Today I hit my 6 week mark... The last 2 weeks have been good. I no longer take any narcotics just over the counter pain reliever. Which I still need mostly at night. The Pain can still at times get bad, but this is when I know I have over done it. I no longer use my cane and I can sleep on the good side (w/pillow between my knees) I can also raise (with a lot of effort) my leg about 8inches now when laying down. The upper 90's hot weather we have been having did not help much, I swear I could feel the metal swell up causing pressure like pain. I hope the cold cold weather wont effect it... I limp very little, mainly when I am first getting up. So I am pretty sure that I will not have one leg longer then the other. The scar is healing very nicely. In 2 more weeks I will start the road of my long term recovery. So hopefully by the end of October, I will have no pain at all, able to walk more then a block and more!!!! SO YES!! I am now feeling like it was all worth it!!!!!