6 Week Post Surgery Check Up
[ Thursday May 15th 2025 at 1:18 pm ]
I have had my big adventure today. I used the train to travel to my medical appointment today. This was instead of using the paratransit service I normally take. It was wonderful seeing nature after all I've physically endured over the past 6 weeks. I am really glad I did this for myself. The various staff members of VIA Rail Canada and public transit have been very good to me and the travel with my power wheelchair.
At the start of my appointment I wanted to apologize to my surgeon. I had made a mistake during my previous appointment with him. At the time I told him the bandage I had on was changed 20 hours earlier. After this appointment ended I realized it had been 1 day 20 hours. I got this detail wrong from all the pain I've been enduring. I've not been able to catch every mistake I've made over the past 18 months courtesy of the pain my artificial hip has been causing me. But I remembered doing this and wanted to apologize for it. I am trying my best to have good relationships with people while I endure the challenges of my body.
We spent half of today's appointment discussing the pain I am experiencing around my incision. This pain is making me feel like I am going to vomit. My surgeon is fine with me using the Lidocaine gel on my hip if this is what I need to be more comfortable. Over 3 visits to my local hospital emergency department we worked out that my body simply needs Tylenol to reduce this as much as possible. The ultimate hope is that when the incision closes this pain will be gone.
The pain I am experiencing wasn't present while I was in the hospital following surgery. When my incision started draining we needed to switch to using surgical bandages. As an adult I've never had to wear a dressing beyond 2 weeks. This got me thinking as I was traveling home. I have been using 4" x 10" bandages for the past 6 weeks. But the area that is now open is much smaller. I am wondering if these large bandges are putting pressure on the open part of my incision and causing the pain I am experiencing. After I arrived home I purchased a 5 pack of bandages that are 2" x 4". This is large enough to cover the area that is open. For $1.50 it is worth testing the idea.
My surgeon gave my incision a really good look. Then he got a tray of medical tools and cleaned the area that is still open. I saw what he was fishing out of me. This needed to be done. The surgeon hopes my incision will close in another 2 weeks. He acknowledges that my body hasn't been reacting normally and we need to wait and see. I have been taking photos of the incision. There is clear evidence that it is healing. Based on the hopes that the incision will fully close in 2 weeks I proposed that my next appointment with my surgeon be in 3 - 4 weeks. He thought this was reasonable. When I talked to the orthopedic clinic medical secretary June 10th is his last clinic before he takes a holiday. This will be my 3rd appointment with the surgeon after my operation. I've never needed this before. It has made me feel cared for.
We also briefly talked about my knees. He wasn't surprised that they worsened as a result of my artificial hip being replaced. The bottom line for physiotherapy is that I've re-gained the modest amount of walking I was capable of before the surgery. To build up the muscles I am going to need to use a swimming pool. This won't be possible until my incision is closed and stays closed for at least 2 weeks. My incision has burst open a few times now as fluid has built up inside of it. We need to know that my incision has closed for good before I start using a swimming pool. It would be horrific to get an infection from using the swimming pool prematurely. I don't want to re-do the surgery and the healing from the past 6 weeks.
I am happy with how my appointment went. I enjoyed getting out. I treated myself to lunch at the hospital cateteria. This was tiring. But it was energy that was very well spent.