Six weeks post hip replacement

Life if gradually settling into a familiar pattern for which I am eternally grateful. I am back to work and back driving. I have a disabled pass which enables me to get a decent parking spot - life couldn't get any better surely!! The weird pain stopped and I
have stopped taking pain medication during the day. The nights can still feel a bit achy but nothing too bad. My limp is still quite pronounced and you can still see where my thigh has wasted away. The job is to build the damn thing up again. I have no idea when I'll walk again unaided but I will probably move next week from my crutches to a walking stick. Melbourne's wet weather is regularly providing a perilous path, slippery leaves, shiny pavements - all things you'd generally take for granted, send my body into self preservation mode.

I'm about to start a painting and the children's book I'm working on is coming along. Don't be jealous, but check out my Joint Replacement Card - I can't wait to flash it at the airport as someone prepares to check me for explosives.

Week 5 post hip replacement recovery status

I considered the blogging of my hip replacement recovery initially to provide a handy resource for folk either undergoing a replacement or a revision and secondly a bit of a project designed to keep my eyes on the prize (walking unaided without a limp)

Not many forty something year olds have had two revisions. They only last around 15-20 years so I'm already thinking about how old the kids will be when I'm having my next ones. Frankly it's not a pleasant thought.

Yesterday (hello) the thought occurred to me that no two hip replacement recoveries would be the same. At the same time, suggestions that can make the often painful journey more tolerable are valuable so I hope this blog provides some sort of value to someone other than me.

In the case of Total Hip Replacement revisions, these are complicated operations that can often go pear shaped so I consider myself lucky that my right hip revision, now two years old, is gloriously pain free. My new hip, now 5 weeks old is still sore.

This week my surgeon Peter Wilson said this was normal so I have to take his word for it. In particular I have a bit of my thigh that aches every morning and I can't wait for it to stop. You ask yourself, has something gone wrong, did I screw up by cleaning the kitchen without my crutch? It's a waiting game. Is this pain temporary or permanent?

As you can see from the photo below,I have a sort of a steel ring which is basically holding the bone around the titanium rod in my femur.

I hope my new bone is having a party down there and regenerating like a time lord in doctor who.

My $32,114.00 hip replacement

This amount covers bone grafts, the revision, hospital accommodation and er....there must be other stuff?

New hip turns four weeks old.

The new hip is four weeks old today. I am sleeping better, and miraculously took an antihistamine which within 15 minutes stopped the itching. I am eternally thankful to Karen for suggesting the crazy itching might be an allergic reaction. I am gratefully no longer eyeing off the bbq cleaning wire brush as a source of relief.

The pain's still around and seems linked to whatever I did the day before. It's a thigh pain and a left bum cheek pain and my overactive imagination can visualise the new titanium hardware settling into my bones and my bone graft muttering WTF.

My operated leg feels a couple of cm's longer than my right one, but I remember this last time also being the case. It's like my muscles are whinging about having to recover. Today the hire company picked up my raised toilet seat, ugly grey cripple high lounge chair and shower chair. I'm getting by using one crutch but not quite ready for the walking stick.

I'm surprised by my weakness when I attempt to take a few steps without my crutch. My leg is quite sloppy. Baby steps, will get there eventually.

I'm getting by during the day on Panadol osteo and at night have two panadene forte. My daughter generally wakes up at 6.30 am and comes in for cuddles and cartoons. I wouldn't recommend anyone attempt a hip replacement without a tv in the bedroom. The distraction of watching the entire back catalogue of Sex and the city at times of pain or sleeplessness has been a godsend.

I can now sleep on my side and on my stomach for short periods. The joy of it.

So it's been four weeks. It honestly feels like its been much longer. I also thought that I'd be using this recovery time to write, draw, paint. But really I've not achieved anything much creative wise. Frida Kahlo managed to paint up a storm from her sick bed.

At the moment I'm simply not that inspired to do anything other than to walk properly again. The art will have to wait.

Day 18 post hip replacement

It's just shy of three weeks post op and I've made it through my first day without pain medication. This is a bit of a milestone. My day started with a glorious drop in from a good friend and set the pace for gratitude and happiness, great pain distractions in themselves. Yesterday girlfriends revamped my bedding which was starting to feel like an oil slick. Last night I enjoyed a glass of wine with neighbors and the resident possum joined us, at one stage biting Cato on the thong (not his jocks).

My affair with pain relief hasn't exactly gone to plan. While in hospital I spewed like a bourboned up teenager as staff tried to find the right relief. And it would seem I am one of those unfortunate souls who itch like a lice encrusted Kerobokan prisoner in reaction to Endone, the pain killer I take at night.

I have no rash, but the itching is pissing me off. It looks like the universe wants me to complete my healing on nothing more than Panadol osteo. Where's the fun in that?

Anyway that's enough whining. Tomorrow the children return home which will be great. Having a four year old with the energy of Bear Grylls will provide it's challenges and I steel myself for impact whenever she 's nearby.

I'm now walking with one crutch and am moving around the place with speed and can pick stuff off the floor by sticking my operated leg out behind me and holding onto something to steady myself. I can sit in normal low chairs including finally, my own couch without fearing my hip would pop out. Your body tells you when something feels dodgy.

The other day my 4 year old asked if I needed my 'crunches'. I laughed for ages. And from now on they shall be called mummy's crunches.