Max and Eric Hope to Travel After RV Repairs and Hip Surgery

[MN Blue Skies aka Max]

We’re happy and overall, we’re pretty healthy considering our ages.

It’s been over a year since the last time we had the 5th wheel on the road. First, the RV needed some major repairs. Low hanging branches seem to be the bane of our RV experiences. (Those dang trees! ) Another roof replacement plus two slides that needed major work because of snow and weather conditions.

I had two eye surgeries. They want to re-evaluate my eyes this fall for possibly more eye surgeries. I’ve decided to say “no thank you”. There’s always the possibility that my eyesight can get worse. Already been there and done that with prior eye surgeries.

I recently had a total hip replacement. No pain right now however, slow recovery. I probably don’t have anyone to blame but myself. I haven’t been following the prescribed PT.

We hope to get back on the road after Labor Day. Our Travel considerations in case anyone wants to join us.
#1. The new Teddy Roosevelt Museum !!!
#2. Anywhere in MN or WI.

Happy to be back in touch.

 

[Greg Brannon]

Glad you're on the mend and looking forward to being more mobile. Thanks for the update!

And get with the PT plan! (stern face)

Greg.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Got to do those exercises. Will be having my left hip replaced next month. Just had a knee replacement a little over a year ago. Never ending story. Good luck on your recovery. Just spent around $1200 last month on new toilet and fixing the black water tank vent tube. Idiot keystone didn’t do it right.

 

[MN Blue Skies aka Max]

Got to do those exercises. Will be having my left hip replaced next month. Just had a knee replacement a little over a year ago. Never ending story. Good luck on your recovery. Just spent around $1200 last month on new toilet and fixing the black water tank vent tube. Idiot keystone didn’t do it right.

I know Bear. Yes, PT is the key to getting back to things I/we like to do.

 

[Rene T]

Got to do those exercises. Will be having my left hip replaced next month. Just had a knee replacement a little over a year ago. Never ending story. Good luck on your recovery. Just spent around $1200 last month on new toilet and fixing the black water tank vent tube. Idiot keystone didn’t do it right.

My wife had both knees done in the last 1 1/2 years and this past Thursday, 2 days ago, she had her left hip replaced. One of the nurses in the OR said that my wife had the most arthritis in her hip that she has ever seen.

 

[MN Blue Skies aka Max]

My wife had both knees done in the last 1 1/2 years and this past Thursday, 2 days ago, she had her left hip replaced. One of the nurses in the OR said that my wife had the most arthritis in her hip that she has ever seen.

How is her recovery going with her hip? Friends tell me that knees are harder than hips.

 

[Rene T]

How is her recovery going with her hip? Friends tell me that knees are harder than hips.

It’s still a little early to say but just what I’ve seen so far, it will be much easier. When she got her knees done, there was no way she could have walked as far as she did 48 hours after her surgery like she did with her hip yesterday.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Glad to hear things are reversing for you, for the better. A word of advise: PT is just the bare minimum after a joint replacement. The joint replacement is done. It's strong, you can't hurt it. But the muscles around it need to get strengthened up. When you do work the joint, yes it's going to hurt. But you absolutely must work your way through the "hurt". The pain is gain. Make it hurt. You cannot "over do it". The more it hurts, the quicker the recovery. Eventually, the "hurt" will get less and less.

I had a total knee replacement. I worked it aggressively. The day of surgery I walked until I exhausted the nurses. I stayed in the hospital 2 nights. The 4th day after surgery, I mowed my lawn. I walked a half a mile (with crutches at first, and eventually with a cane) a couple times a day. I exercised my replacement by using my riding law mower and used the foot peddle as a rehab tool, pushing it up and down as it had good tension on it. I'd sit there for 15 minute increments forcing the leg.

I had a porch swing and I put the foot on the ground solid and then rocked the swing back and forth. At first the swing was slight. It hurt to bed the knee. After a few moments, the swing became greater.

I squatted, (deep knee bends), my wife constantly told me to "stop" to take it easy, I'd hurt myself. Oh yes, it "hurt", but it did not "hurt" me. I was driving again (right knee) after 5 days of surgery. Everyone thought I was nuts. No, just aggressive.

The bottom line.... PT is just the basics. Keep active and do things that actually cause pain. It's the pain the induces healing.

 

[Bearcatrp]

How is her recovery going with her hip? Friends tell me that knees are harder than hips.

Knees are about the worst surgery to recover from. Before I had that surgery, thought back surgery was the worst. Nope. Think I would prefer a wheel chair before having the other one done.

 

[Rene T]

How is her recovery going with her hip? Friends tell me that knees are harder than hips.

She is doing pretty good as far as the hip. The problem she is having is her legs are so swollen and nobody knows what to do for her. They were swollen for about 3 weeks before the surgery.
She had the surgery 7 days ago and was discharged from the hospital on Sunday. She still had swollen legs. 2 days later she was in the ER for her legs. Once again no one knew what to do for her. They released her and told her to meet with her PCP.. we called her today and she said to go to the ER. So it looks like tomorrow, she may take another ride in the ambulance back to the ER.
I found that in order to get seen right away, have an ambulance bring her. When I left the ER two days ago, there were at least 35 people in the ER waiting room. That’s probably where she would have ended up if I drove her there.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Surprised they did the surgery with legs swollen.

 

[Jackiemac]

Rene hope they find a solution soon.

 

[Rene T]

Rene hope they find a solution soon.

They have been giving her Lasix through her Ivy. That typically takes like 5 to 10 minutes to start working. Yesterday in a six hour period, she must have urinated at least a quart of of urine. I’m anxious to see what her legs look like this morning. Now they have to keep a close eye on her electrolytes so she does not get kidney damage or extreme low blood pressure. These are a couple of side effects of Lasix