An Update to the Hip Replacement Story

Thanks to many of you who have called, e-mailed, or written comments on Road Tips or on my Facebook page.  I haven't been too comfortable sitting up after my surgery, so I've worked on this entry about three times over the past 24 hours.  And each time I had to quit as I became a little sore.   I think I can get finished this time.   

I've always believed in the miracles of modern medicine.  Now I believe in them more so than ever.  After going through a total hip replacement four days ago, I'm truly amazed at how mobile I really am.  Oh, I'm not out running sprints or jumping rope, but with the help of a walker and a cane, I'm scooting around the house pretty well.

First of all, I really had no idea what to expect - other than the worst - for the procedure.  And, for that matter, after the procedure.  I didn't know if I would be a big bowl of gelatin writing in pain, or if I could "man-up" and do the little things that are needed to make me fell better.

Cindy and I got to the Mississippi Valley Surgery Center a little after one on Wednesday.  I got all checked in and then it's the usual "hurry up and wait" procedures where we could have easily come two hours later and not missed the surgery.  Actually, I was told that I would be in the surgery around 2 p.m. and out by 3.  It didn't work that way - I was taken in around 4:30 and back in the room around a quarter to six. 

Now, you have to understand, this is my first major surgery in my life - not counting the tonsillectomy that I had when I was three.  And I remember many aspects of that surgery - screaming for my mom when they're trying to put me under, seeing concentric rings when they put the ether in my face, and not being well enough to enjoy any of the oodles of ice cream they offered the kids after they came out of the tonsillectomy.  I'd heard from a lot of people that I'd be sick from the anesthesia.  I was told that I'd be in so much pain I wouldn't want to eat for a week.  I was also told that the initial pain in the hip would be so excruciating that I wouldn't want to continue the rehab process. 

But I also heard that some people do well coming out of the anesthesia, that the pain may not be so bad, and, in fact, the pain from the stiffness and swelling in joint would feel tremendously better than the pain that I was going through with the bad hip.  So, in other words, I didn't know what to expect. 

When they took me in, they tried to maneuver me around and that was a chore.  Even though I've lost about 25 pounds, I'm still a pretty big guy.  They finally got me into a position where the anesthesiologist could administer a spinal tap to numb my body below my waist.  When I felt something sort of burning going into my hand via the IV, I said, "I feel something burning in my hand."

The anesthesiologist said, "Oh, that's the 'joy juice'."  And that's about the last thing I remember.  I was out. 

I woke up about 45 minutes later, the procedure was just wrapping up.  Dr. Hoffman's assistant, Dean, was putting the staples in to close up the suture.  Actually, I woke myself up singing Aerosmith's song "Janie's Got a Gun".  The song must have been on the little stereo they had in the operating room.  Then I remember saying, "Oh, you guys have such a RIGHTEOUS set of tools in this room!" 

The anesthesiologist was laughing and I heard her say, "Oh, we've got a fun one in this guy."

They put me into a hospital bed, secured a large foam rubber piece between my legs (so I couldn't either move or cross my legs) and wheeled me back in.  Cindy was waiting for me and she said, "I heard you were a model patient!"

Dr. Hoffman had come out to talk to her about the procedure and he said I came through with flying colors.  He told her it was a lot easier than he expected. 

But I still had no feeling below my waist and that was sort of disconcerting.  Cindy was playing with my toes and I told her to knock it off because it was sort of scary that I couldn't feel her pulling on my toes.

I finally got up to walk around 10 p.m. that evening before I went to sleep, and I have to tell you, I amazed myself at how easy it was to get around.  I was using a walker and the two night nurses were standing on either side of me.  I made a couple laps around the patient area and back into the out-patient surgery area before I went to bed.  To me, it was simply amazing. 

The next morning, they got me up at five and started to get me ready to get out of there.  Physical therapy was due in at 8 and all I had to do is pee and I could leave.  Physical therapy got to me around 8:15 and we went for another walk.  In fact, I was saying that I wasn't certain I needed the walker.  Well, I'm glad I said something about that (and don't ever think you DON'T need a walker if you get a hip replacement - you will) because I wanted to have them see how good I could walk with a cane. 

They found a cane for me and I started to walk with it in my left hand.  The physical therapist said, "Oh, no.  You've got it in the wrong hand." 

I stopped and said, "This is the hand they set my cane up for when I went to get fitted for it." 

The P.T. said, "Oh, no.  Always opposite hand from the injured leg."

One of the other physical therapists heard what was going on and he came over to see what was happening.  He said, "Who told you to use the left hand for the left hip?"

I said, "It was the lady who fitted me for the cane at Genesis Home Health Care.  She set my cane up to use for my left hand.  I've been practicing the past couple of weeks with the cane using my left hand."

Well, the male physical therapist was pissed.  "What was her name," he asked angrily.  "She should know better than that!" 

I was able to leave a little after 10 a.m. - 18 hours after the procedure.  I'm tellin' ya - the miracle of modern medicine.  I got home and went to bed.  Now, I have to tell you, the toughest thing about this whole procedure is getting in and out of bed.  As one of my colleagues up in Montreal told me on Saturday, "Your bed can be your friend and your enemy."  Once I get in and get settled, I'm fine.  But I have no strength in my left leg and it's been tough to get the leg up into bed.  And because of that I've strained the lower muscles in my back.  That's not fun.  

Initially, I told everyone that I felt like I took a 95 mile an hour fastball in my left butt cheek and that a horse kicked me in the thigh.  A couple three days later, it's still pretty stiff in those areas.  But I'm getting around as well as could be expected.  The first couple days I was home the weather was beautiful and I was able to walk outside up and down the sidewalk.  Not too far, but far enough that it qualified as a good workout.  Since it's been rainy for the past couple days, I've been able to get around our house in the hallways and walking out through the kitchen in to our four=season porch. 

Cindy has been an absolute angel through all of this.  Her biggest test is putting the TED support hose on my lower legs every morning.  I have absolutely no flexibility in my legs yet and I can't bend over at the waist to put them on myself.  And they are absolute BITCHES to put on.  She's getting better with putting them on, however.  She's been very encouraging and she's much more amazed than methat I'm getting around as well as I can.  She's rubbed my lower back and helped make me feel so much better.  She's the best.

So that's it for now.  I'm doing a lot better than I expected.  Thanks again for the concern, comments, messages and phone calls.  I'm really looking forward to each new day because I can't wait to see how much more of the stiffness and soreness has gone away.   

Comments

[Norman]

I don't see any tennis balls on the back of your walker legs, to prevent sparking your oxygen tank.....
OK, so in keeping with a previous post from almost a year ago, it's the Centennial Relays. Will you be spry enough to venture up the stadium steps on Friday?

[Tim Lake]

Will - I'm sorry to say that it's been sometime since I looked into Road Tips. Wow! Two hip replacements? I hope you're getting along the best you can. I'll be thinking of you and look forward to more updates.

Tim