My recovery isn't exactly what I expected. I was given the impression that I'd be leading a fairly normal life after the first week, but just doing everything very carefully, on crutches. That's nowhere near what I'm experiencing. Every patient is different, so it's possible I'm more of a wimp than others. But since I'm "young," the doctor and nurses all seemed convinced I'd be "active" and that my recovery would be quicker and easier than the average THR patient's. I don't have a lot of pain, but I am exhausted and sore off and on all day, and I'm always completely pooped by dinnertime.
My average day:
Wake up at 6:30 am, stiff and sore from sleeping in the same position for hours.
Walk up and down the hall a few times, then sit up in bed, watch a little TV.
Drink a cup of coffee and eat breakfast in bed (not because I'm spoiled, but because it's too uncomfortable for me to sit up in a chair) at about 8 am.
Go downstairs at about 9 am. Walk around, spend five or ten minutes (or as long as I tolerate sitting) checking email and internet.
Back up to bed at 9:30 am to elevate my leg and watch TV, occasionally getting up out of bed to walk around the room on my crutches.
Eat lunch in bed, then head downstairs at about 11:30 am. Maybe go outside, take a walk up and down the driveway.
Back up to bed at 12:30 for an afternoon nap.
Wake up at 3:00 pm. Walk around the room or up and down the hall. Elevate leg, watch TV.
Come downstairs again about 5:00 pm. Walk around on crutches. Check email or internet for as long as I can tolerate sitting.
Back upstairs and into bed at 6:00 pm to elevate my leg and rest.
Back downstairs at 7:00 pm. Stay downstairs for about an hour, or just long enough to eat dinner.
Back to bed for the night at about 8:00 pm, or a little bit later if I'm not too uncomfortable.
That's it. Doesn't exactly sound like normal life, does it? If this is "young and active," I'd hate to see what the elderly THR patients are going through.
