So thank you again

@cindiwass You ROCK!

You made my day!

You've been through some serious surgeries. I am going to the doctor's office this coming Friday, it's about 3 weeks from the surgery. The knee is not doing well, don't really know why, lots of pain and inflammation there. I had problems with the knee before, he told me sometimes knee problems leads to hip problems. Hopefully he (or the assistant) can tell me. I'd hate, hate, hate to go through another surgery, but like the last one, the pain is so intense that it prohibits me from doing anything. So we'll see. Hope you also continually get better. Thanks for your experience.

Thanks, still walking a little bit but not enjoying the pain in my knee, it's so inflammed. I hate to complain, but I will. So hopefully the doctor (well not really the doctor but his assistant, he's just so busy I guess) will tell me what she thinks is going on. Naturally I hope I improve without another operation. Took me so long to get this one. I'm pretty sure he's a good doctor. We'll see. I'm trying to sleep on my side, but not sure I'm putting the right thing between my legs. I have that memory foam thing but it's not doing the trick, but it helps. I love sleeping on my side but can't yet do it on the surgery side.

I hope you get some answers and some relief!

@cindiwass. Please keep us posted. We are rooting for you!

Hello, @bustrbrwn22 & all, today is a few days short of a month after the hip surgery. The hospital was good, the recovery is not the greatest. The first three weeks were tremendous pain, but I must say that my knee was in trouble before the surgery, and it's still giving me trouble, inflammed and painful. However the hip is better. But I still have work to do on the hip, I try walking as much as I can (not as much maybe as I should do) and I fired the health care agency because of their bad administration, however now I have to go back to doctor and ask for another agency. Oh well, I'll do that today.
The surgeon put on a tape over the incision which the nurse took off a few days ago, leaving behind a section of the tape which is still over the incision, so I have to speak to the office about that and if the doctor is supposed to take it off when I see him in about 2 weeks. So -- to sum it up -- the hospital was good, the doctor apparently is skillful. I got a numbing agent rather than total anesthesia. Don't know if I would have it again if I need a knee operation, which I'm pretty sure the doctor will tell me I need. I'll talk about the knee thing on another thread.
So -- just to keep you updated -- I am driving, I can't walk without a walker more than 2 or 3 steps, I can lift my leg to press the gas pedal and get to the brake easily enough. Now it's the knee that's holding me back.
Thanks for all the help you guys have given me. I will still keep you posted.

@cindiwass You "sound" so much better through your postings! Congrats to you

When I had a serious back injury, I tried not to take painkillers until the physical therapist pointed out that they have a positive role in healing so trying to 'tough it out' as I was doing was counter-productive. Her point was that the body can become so pain-sensituzed that it begins to expect pain at the first sign of little twinge and tends to 'freeze up' in anticipation of pain. That, in turn, can create more stress and muscle tension. So becoming less aware of pain can be a good thing.

I took some painkillers for a short while and it really did help break the cycle until I started using a TENS unit which was my security blanket and best buddy for the year while my back was healing.

Hi @callalloo, Many of us have the tendency to "tough it out", but it isn't always the best thing for our bodies as your PT noted. In addition to a TENS Unit, I find an infrared heating pad and portable ultrasound helpful for pain relief. Take care.