You Can't Get These Screws at Home Depot
A crop of my left hip x-ray image post hip joint replacement surgery
Even if they were precision surgical tools!
When I'd returned home from surgery, several weeks ago, my left leg was colored yellow because of the disinfectant they'd used; but that washed away after my first showering. Yet, weeks later, I still had some yellowish tinge to the back of my thigh, along with some nasty-looking bruising. I wasn't sure if that was "normal" or not. It turns out this is perfectly normal for when two skilled surgeons wail away at your hip and femur with sharp instruments, after having folded back the tissues away from the bone.
After Dr. B.'s vivid description of the procedure, I felt like I understood, viscerally, why I am still in pain and why it'll take weeks longer to heal. This kind of surgery is literally traumatic to the strongest bones in a person's body. When he described hanging onto my knee with all his might as Dr. T. dislocated my hip, prior to cutting it apart, I could almost hear the pop it might have made! Okay, I get it now!
But when he told me that those long, self-tapping titanium screws sometimes strip out, I could imagine them asking a nurse to pick up another box at Home Depot. Not! I'm sure they had plenty of parts on-hand.
I don't yet feel like The Six Million Dollar Man, but I'm using a cane now instead of a walker, and every day it seems a bit easier to walk. Getting a good night's rest, finding a comfortable position, is the main challenge so far. But luckily I have Mrs. Six Million Dollar Woman to help!
posted by Joe V at 2:47 PM
6 Comments:
Good to see you are doing well enough to write about the experience. I suspect you will be outwalking me is a short time.
Heh, yeah - they're basically just doing controlled demolition and then pasting the bits back together and hoping your body does the actual healing part. Of course you hurt, you're doing all the hard work (:
Here's a term for your lexicon Joe: dependent ecchymosis. Following surgery there is some bleeding initially - bruising. As time and gravity do their work the old blood starts to settle southward. It also degrades as your body works to gobble it up and discard it. That were the purple/red turn to green to yellow. it looks gross (not a medical term) but is perfectly normal. As for what goes on in the OR, think of a contractor doing a demo and rebuild.
Glad to see you on the mend Joe and you seem to be progressing well. It won't be long before you are back on the road and trails sending us news reports from around town.
Pardon the anonymity - Blogger isn't always friendly. :D
Heal well Joe!
Good to hear the surgery was successful.
I wish you all the best for a full recovery.
2 of my neighbors had hip replacement surgery when I lived in FL. One walked frequently and little by little increased the distance. In about 6 months he told me things were very good.
The other did not get out walking and complained constantly about stiffness.
Walking not only increases strength it will help get all the other things out like Mike A. stated.
Post a Comment
<< Home