Recovery

[Guest guest]

I am going for my third surgery and I can't remember the recovery time since it's been a while since my last two. I'm having it on a Friday; can I return to work on Monday or Tuesday? How about working out? What's that timeframe?

Hi Chris

It depends on various factors. Your age, general state of health, type and length of surgery etc. Most adults seem to take a week or two to get over it. It's not a bad idea to give a little extra rest time if you can manage it. It's possible to feel fine sat at home doing nothing but get back to full time activity and you may find the surgery took more out of you than you realize. Surgery is after all a head trauma and and therefore something of shock to the body's defence system.

You should consult your doctor about taking up vigourous exercise straight after surgery. You're usually expected to avoid exertion, straining or heavy lifting for a few weeks. The reason for that it takes some time for the internal parts of the ear to heal and lots of exertion can open up wounds cause blood vessels to burst etc.

Phil

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[Guest guest]

Everyone definitely is different, as everyone has been saying on here.

I have usually taken 1 week recovery and been restricted to 4-6 weeks

for working out. The working out thing is really going to be awful

for me this time around...I've been doing SO well..hate to have to go

back to square one again. I was planning on doing a half marathon in

Alaska...but no running:-(.

Just take it easy..and listen to your body (and your doctor). You'll

know how you feel and what you should NOT be doing.

Laurel

>

> Hi,

>

> I am going for my third surgery and I can't remember the recovery time

> since it's been a while since my last two. I'm having it on a Friday;

> can I return to work on Monday or Tuesday? How about working out?

> What's that timeframe?

>

> Thanks,

> Chris

>

[Guest guest]

Each person is different. I was able to go back to work in 3 days. However I had 18 staples in my head and quite a stiff neck and head. I had to go slower and my job was pretty active one, up and down ladders and in attics and such. I managed as long as I didn't forget that I just had major surgery on my head. crey702003 <creynolds28@...> wrote: Hi,I am going for my third surgery and I can't remember the recovery time since it's been a while since my last two. I'm having it on a Friday; can I return to work on Monday or Tuesday? How about working out? What's that timeframe? Thanks,

Relax. virus scanning helps detect nasty viruses!

[Guest guest]

, maybe the recovery time is due to surgery on the other ear and there will be an imbalance? Gosdin <leeece@...> wrote: Hi Well I am sorry to hear you are going for your third surgery, I hope all goes well!!! Really I would say all depends upon what the doctor finds and how much work is to be done in your ear. Some people bounce right back and go to work in a few days, others a lot longer recovery time is needed. As for working out, I dont think you will be able to do that for a while, a week at the very least i would imagine. Did you ask your doctor in your pre-op appointment these things? He/she should have answered all these questions for you, not that I mind chatting with you

(LOL). I myself will be having surgery next Tuesday, 5th Ctoma surgery for me, but 1st for my right ear. I have had 4 on my left over the past 10 years. My doctor now told me to expect to be out a week from work. I have never been told the recovery time was going to be so long before. I am a pretty healthy 37 yr old, so not sure why the long time for me. I think every doctor is different as is every Cholesteatoma patient and procedure. Well enough rambling for me. I hope this helps, I would call your doctor if your pre-op appointment has come and gone, and ask these questions. Let us know how surgery goes. crey702003 <creynolds28@...> wrote: Hi,I am going for my

third surgery and I can't remember the recovery time since it's been a while since my last two. I'm having it on a Friday; can I return to work on Monday or Tuesday? How about working out? What's that timeframe? Thanks, Do you ?With a free 1 GB, there's more in store with . __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hey, Terry,

I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. Looking forward to

seeing your post.

Regards,

Robin, a fellow Panhandler

[Guest guest]

>

> Hey, Terry,

>

> I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. Looking

forward to

> seeing your post.

>

> Regards,

>

> Robin, a fellow Panhandler

>

Hey Robin,

Every day is a good day. Well, surgery, as far as I know, went

well. With my prior conditions, I did loose more blood than

expected. But the next day after surgery, tuesday, I woke up

with " GOUT " in my other leg. So, I really couldn't walk. I still

went ahead and pushed myself through PT. After they got the gout

under control, I needed a transfussion. On friday morning I went to

PT and I was able to walk with little assistance. Used walker for a

bit then a cane. I was able to walk up/down stairs-no problem!! So

they sent me home on saturday. Only troubles I had was some

headaches, low blood pressure and pain in leg with gout. I'e been

pretty much pain free. UNBELIEVABLE!! I can get in and out of my

truck with no poblem. Ran into my hematoligist at church this

morning and and if you could of seen his face!! I guess I'm waiting

for the bubble to burst and I start experiecing pain. Obviously

from my past of not being able to use meds, my pain threshold is

pretty high. I've been so blessed. So far, every day has been a

good day!! So what can I expect at Therapy? I'm giving myself my

own blood thinner injections. Thanks for your advice.

Terry in Tallahassee

[Guest guest]

Terry,

I so very happy that your after-surgery is going so very well. I hope

the " bubble " never bursts for you. Yep, I'm giving myself the shots,

too - 5 more days.

Isn't this cool, dry weather wonderful? It's a real treat to have

fresh air for a few more days until the hot-humids return.

Regards,

Robin, your fellow Panhandler

[Guest guest]

Hi Robin,

Yes, its beautiful out. Went to PT at my rehab site. They told me

rehab was going to be boring for me since I'm so lucky to be ahead of

the game. I'm walking with out and assistance. Only thing they have

found that is odd is. When you press down on my skin on the replaced

hip side, the skin does not pop right back up. Leaves like an

indention for a short period. Think it could be my lymph system,

since I do have some swelling in my thigh, knee and ankle. Doctor

will check it out tomorrow. Has anyone heard of that happening?

Also do you know of a good stool softening agent?

Other than that I'm waiting to get into the pool for therapy.

I feel so blessed!!

Hope you are well.

Terry in Tallahassee

>

> Terry,

>

> I so very happy that your after-surgery is going so very well. I

hope

> the " bubble " never bursts for you. Yep, I'm giving myself the

shots,

> too - 5 more days.

>

> Isn't this cool, dry weather wonderful? It's a real treat to have

> fresh air for a few more days until the hot-humids return.

>

> Regards,

>

> Robin, your fellow Panhandler

>

[Guest guest]

I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple of weeks

and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work. The Dr. said

I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off that long.

Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after surgery.

Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful, but it can

be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with bone on

bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few days.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

The unknown is by far the worst fear I dealt with regarding having a

total hip replacement. I know that I needed strong pain pills in

addition to taking 4 ibeprofins 3 times a day (I took a 24 hr. Pepic

AC because of the 800 mgs of ibeprofins I took 3 times a day) just to

be able to work. I was doing cooking and had a cleaning business.

Most surgeries do cause pain, but they have good pain meds now and

there is no reason to have to deal with pain. I figured it would be

the beginning of the end of the pain.

The day I went to have my staples removed I asked how soon I could

drive and was told as soon as I could get in and out of a car

comfortably. He also said I better not be taking pain pills and

driving because if I was in an accident I wasn't taking him down

alone because of pills. He'd make sure I went down, too. I had no

real restriction on the driving even though I had had a right hip

replacement. I had my staples out on a Thurs. and made an appt. to

get my hair permed the following Mon. and drove myself to the appt.

and then stopped for lunch on the way home. I moved a lot slower

walking so early on, but I did go! It felt good to be out again.

When he mentioned about the pain pills and driving (which I was no

longer taking anyway) I thought.... " If you only knew how often I had

done that in the past just to be able to work! " I had my surgery done

on Wed. Jan. 24th a yr. ago and I worked the Sun. before my surgery.

The pain was such that I had to take 2 pain pills right before

leaving the house to go to work (5 mins. from my house) and then

needed to take them again in 3.5 hrs. just to be able to finish out

the time at work. Due to the blood thinning of the ibeprofin I wasn't

taking them for a wk. prior to the surgery so I needed the pain pills

more often and of course they had the side effect of making me

constipated! Between the pain pills and the iron they wanted me to

take! So I also took stool softeners. (sometimes telling things like

this is just wayyyyyyy too much information... sorry)

I was off the walker a week before I went to have the staples out but

since it was snowy here in north western PA I used the walker when I

went for that appt.

The pain following surgery CAN be managed with pain meds. I am a

whimp when it comes to tolorating pain (even though my surgeon

laughed at me when I told him that since he knew my hip was bone on

bone by the time I went to him) but I figured everything would be OK.

I elected to have a spinal as well as the drug so I wouldn't remember

the surgery. The spinal wears off slower so you don't have that

instant pain feeling following surgery when you come to. They have

the doses so well figured out now that you don't get more than is

needed. My surgery took longer than he figured it would because of my

fat thigh which made it harder for him to manipulate the bone to work

on it. Because it took half an hr. longer I came to still on the

table hearing metal pounding on metal. I couldn't feel it, but I did

hear it. Due to my carpal tunnel both of my hands hurt because of the

position they had them in so I was moving my fingers to try to get

them to stop hurting. I heard my surgeon say to go ahead and close. I

DID feel them putting the staples in and that was sure no fun since

they couldn't give me anything else. But I lived through it. I doubt

that happens to too many of us. It was just because of the doseage

and added time required.

I asked for pain meds every 4 hrs. following the surgery because I

didn't WANT to feel any pain. After I came home I really didn't need

them except at night so they would relax me and I could sleep better.

I didn't take any the first 2 days home, but the visiting nurse said

not to be afraid to take them at night if I felt I would benefit from

them. If I didn't take them I was uncomfortable and so restless

(painful restlessness) by the end of the day when I did go to bed. I

didn't need them for more than a few nights. Just the first week home.

I always noticed after I did my exercises I could walk better and

without the cane, but by the end of the day from walking around so

much I needed the cane because my muscles were probably tired.

Because of the snow here I did NOT go anywhere if it was bad outside

once I did start driving again. I figured why take the risk of

possibly falling on ice or snow. I figured having the surgery in Jan.

when it is bad out was a good time to be off work.

I wasn't able to go back to the cooking or the cleaning. I took a sit

down job at a golf course 3 mos. after my hip surgery and 2 wks.

after my right carpal tunnel surgery. I was up and down and could

walk around and check on things any time I felt the need to walk. I

considered going back to cooking 1 day a wk for Mother's Day but

phyically I knew I couldn't stand on my feet for 6 hrs. so I gave up

the idea.

By Sept. I was cooking again in addition to the desk job. Fortunately

my manager is understanding and was fine with me bringing a stool to

work to sit on in the kitchen.

A yr. later when I look back I can see what a long way I have come.

What was a chore at first following my surgery passed in time. Prior

to the surgery if someone asked me to stop for this or that at a

store I would tell them NO. Just thinking about how painful it was to

get in and out of the car and walk around... no way. I realized a few

wks ago that isn't a consideration these days.

I am very thankful my surgeon did such a good job. I am thankful I

can do a lot of things again that I wouldn't/couldn't do a yr. ago. I

may always know I have had this surgery because of slight stiffness

from sitting too long on something too hard or walking too much or

trying to lift things I probably shouldn't because I am so

independant, but there is no doubt in my mind that I am glad I made

the decision to have this done. 6 months ago I wasn't so sure. I

expected instant changes and it just doesn't happen that way.

Each one of us is different as has been said over and over again...

just listen to your own body and what it is telling you. You will

know when you are able to go back to work by what you are able to do

at home.

I will be thinking about you and keep you, your doctor, and the

medical staff in my prayers. Let us know how you are when you feel up

to it.

Ms Carolyn

>

> I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple of

weeks

> and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work. The Dr.

said

> I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off that

long.

>

> Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

surgery.

> Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful, but it

can

> be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with bone

on

> bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few days.

> Thanks!

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you. It sounds as if you're doing well and your message makes

me feel much better. I'm in so much pain now, I'm looking forward to

getting this done.

Did you have muscle cramps the leg with the bad hip? My muscles

cramp in my thigh and below my knee, I think in response to my

limping and inability to support weight on my bad hip. I'm hoping

that gets better after the LTHR.

> >

> > I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple of

> weeks

> > and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work. The

Dr.

> said

> > I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off that

> long.

> >

> > Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

surgery.

> > Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful, but it

can

> > be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with bone

on

> > bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few days.

> > Thanks!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for the information. It's comforting to hear that you're

pleased with your new hip and that the recovery isn't excruciatingly

painful. I don't know how you did a job such as cleaning and cooking

with bone on bone. You must have been in agony. The Dr. said I

couldn't have my anti inflammatory diclofenac for two weeks prior to

the surgery, so now I'm taking vicodin instead now. I can hardly

walk, and I've taken a couple days off work to rest my leg. I can

see that the diclofenac was the only thing keeping me going cuz I

sure miss it.

Thanks again for taking the time to tell me about the surgery. I'm

sure I'll be checking back when I get home from the hospital.

> >

> > I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple of

> weeks

> > and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work. The

Dr.

> said

> > I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off that

> long.

> >

> > Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

> surgery.

> > Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful, but it

> can

> > be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with bone

> on

> > bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few days.

> > Thanks!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I don't remember muscle cramps, I just remember shooting pains down

my leg and feeling like I was getting stabbed in the butt. When is

your surgery?

Eleanor

> > >

> > > I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple

of

> > weeks

> > > and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work. The

> Dr.

> > said

> > > I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off

that

> > long.

> > >

> > > Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

> surgery.

> > > Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful, but

it

> can

> > > be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with

bone

> on

> > > bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few

days.

> > > Thanks!

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I liked your comment " I was a basket case before surgery "

I have been resisting THR for five years now, do yoga, some walking,

tai chi, eats lots of fruits and veggies, anything to avoid the

surgery (I never have any surgery that isn't life threatening because

of how traumatic surgery is to your body).

But

It's now severely impacting how I walk and generally function. I

don't take any pain medication, even aspirin because that's traumatic

tok your inner organs. In short I'm a " health nut " .

So I don't know what to do, since my hip has obviously declined

further.

I've been reading this thread for years and see the successes and

failures, happinesses and sadnesses. It's very difficult for me to

make the decision to allow someone to cut my body.

So...anyone here from the Salt Lake City area who can tell me who is

the very best in this field in this area so I can at LEAST go talk to

him/her? I know SLC has excellent medical people.

Namaste to all of you!

Lynn

> >

> > I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple of

> weeks

> > and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work. The

Dr.

> said

> > I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off that

> long.

> >

> > Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

surgery.

> > Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful, but it

can

> > be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with bone

on

> > bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few days.

> > Thanks!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Lynn, I was like you, trying everything to avoid surgery. At

some point I realized that I was spending a couple hundred dollars

per month on homeopathic products to relieve the pain and that it had

become the focal point of my life. Everything I did revolved around

the pain. I'm still not completely healed and still walk with a

cane most of the time but I am realizing that my energy level is now

higher (at 3 weeks post op) than it was before my surgery.

I also got a good look at my scar today. The incision is a tiny

line about 3 inches long, barely visible. It appears to be inside

of a box, which I realize is where the staples were. The staples

lines are redder than the incision line.

When I made the decision to have the surgery I scheduled it 3 months

out, I think I wanted it to never come. I hated hearing from

people how great it was going to be after the surgery. I found the

looming surgery to be so upsetting that I almost couldn't stand it.

I thought it would drive me crazy to have a phony hip inside my body

but I don't feel it at all. The only thing I feel are the leg

muscles that are now being asked to work after doing nothing for so

long.

I was fortunate to find a great surgeon who did a great job. After

the surgery I spent 2 weeks in rehab (it was so nice to be taken care

of for two weeks) and now I go to PT. I keep hearing stories about

surgeons who have very established reputations but don't do good

surgeries. Yesterday, the physical therapist was raving about the

ortho group that I went to and told me that all of their patients do

so much better than the patients from other surgeons. She said " it

breaks my heart to see what some of these surgeons do to their

patients " .

If you are looking for a surgeon, I think a physical therapist would

know who is good and who is not.

Good luck to you.

Eleanor

> > >

> > > I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple

of

> > weeks

> > > and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work. The

> Dr.

> > said

> > > I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off

that

> > long.

> > >

> > > Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

> surgery.

> > > Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful, but

it

> can

> > > be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with

bone

> on

> > > bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few

days.

> > > Thanks!

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My surgery is 2/5. I started using a cane in the last couple of days

and that seems to help all the aches. I was getting along without a

cane when I could take diclofenac (anti inflamm), but since I went

off that, things have gotten much worse.

> > > >

> > > > I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple

> of

> > > weeks

> > > > and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work.

The

> > Dr.

> > > said

> > > > I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off

> that

> > > long.

> > > >

> > > > Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

> > surgery.

> > > > Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful,

but

> it

> > can

> > > > be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with

> bone

> > on

> > > > bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few

> days.

> > > > Thanks!

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I can add that I too have spent a ton of money on anything that I

thought might ease my pain, from shoes, athletic braces, glucosamine

and other supplements I read about. I exercised, stretched and tried

to stay in good shape the whole time not knowing that my mild

arthritis in my hip (detected two years ago) had turned into severe

arthritis, so severe that I'm not a resurfacing candidate now. None

of the many Dr's I went to realized what was going on because I'm 51.

I went to three different chiropracters, got accupuncture, a ton of

massages, sat in the hot tub, took water classes, bought more books

than I can count, was in PT on four different occasions, etc., etc.

I was so thankful to find out that what was wrong could be fixed, I

scheduled the soonest surgery I could get. I'm done with all this

pain, and ready to start a new life.

Thank you Eleanor for your support. I appreciate hearing your

recovery story and how well you're doing. I hope my incision is as

small as yours; wow!

Eleanor is right about the Physical Therapists; they do know a lot.

I happened to have an Aunt who just had her hip done at the age of 80

and she loved her surgeon, so I chose him.

> > > >

> > > > I'm having a total hip replacement on my left hip in a couple

> of

> > > weeks

> > > > and I'm wondering how long I might expect to be off work.

The

> > Dr.

> > > said

> > > > I couldn't drive for six weeks, so I'm assuming I'll be off

> that

> > > long.

> > > >

> > > > Also, I'm thinking this is going to be really painful after

> > surgery.

> > > > Someone I know that had a knee replaced said it's painful,

but

> it

> > can

> > > > be controlled and it's not as painful as walking around with

> bone

> > on

> > > > bone. I'm just wondering how I'll feel for the first few

> days.

> > > > Thanks!

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My son's first surgery was at 6 years old. The doctor needed to make an incision behind the ear to do it. It was outpatient surgery and we were home that night. After day 3, he was asking to go back to school. The second surgery was at 7 and it was going in from behind the ear again. Once again it was outpatient surgery. This time he needed the full week to recover. His third surgery, last December, he was 9 years old. The surgery was done through the ear canal this time. However, it did not decrease the recovery time. He needed a full week home from school. It seems to get worse each time.

After the initial week, there was no gym, no swimming, and no trumpet for 6 weeks.

Good luck to you and your daughter.>> My 11 year old daughter is having surgery for her cholesteatoma this > Monday. They discovered the ctoma when she was in for a tympanoplasty > and he wasn't able to remove it all through the ear canal. Her bones > are destroyed so we'll have another surgery in a few months to take a > second look and to repair the bones. Anyway, I was wondering what we > can expect pain-wise, activity etc. after this surgery. She did really > well after her tympanoplasty. The doctor is going to keep her overnight > in the hospital after this one and said she'll probably miss the rest > of the week of school. I'd appreciate any advice on helping her through > this! Thanks->

[Guest guest]

On 5/4/08, Derise <derise.hedges@...> wrote:

My son's first surgery was at 6 years old. The doctor needed to make an incision behind the ear to do it. It was outpatient surgery and we were home that night. After day 3, he was asking to go back to school. The second surgery was at 7 and it was going in from behind the ear again. Once again it was outpatient surgery. This time he needed the full week to recover. His third surgery, last December, he was 9 years old. The surgery was done through the ear canal this time. However, it did not decrease the recovery time. He needed a full week home from school. It seems to get worse each time.

After the initial week, there was no gym, no swimming, and no trumpet for 6 weeks.

Good luck to you and your daughter.

>> My 11 year old daughter is having surgery for her cholesteatoma this > Monday. They discovered the ctoma when she was in for a tympanoplasty > and he wasn't able to remove it all through the ear canal. Her bones

> are destroyed so we'll have another surgery in a few months to take a > second look and to repair the bones. Anyway, I was wondering what we > can expect pain-wise, activity etc. after this surgery. She did really

> well after her tympanoplasty. The doctor is going to keep her overnight > in the hospital after this one and said she'll probably miss the rest > of the week of school. I'd appreciate any advice on helping her through

> this! Thanks->