Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[Katied]

Hello everyone and welcome Lynn! I have not been on the site for a few days and wow am I in the dark! My brace comes off on Monday and I can't wait! Mom is slowly improving, but still has a loooong way to go. I just keep my chin up and think positive thoughts. Lynn, get plenty of flushable wipes! Also, since I don't have a walk in shower, I have a transition tub chair that works for showering and "sitting" out of the brace. I ordered a great computer holder that allows me to use the computer while laying down or reclining. I also have Netflix for movies. Just allow others to care for you and DON'T overdo it! Take your pain meds too! Keep us all posted and good luck to you. Everyone else seems to be healing nicely. Tricia, BE CAREFEUL and ice the knee. Everyone take care.
Katie

[syl]

Lynn, Ive been off the site for a couple days and was pleased when i read you had decided to have surgery. You are younger than most of us (except squashpain and maybe a few others:-) so you will do well. The hardest part was climbing into my husbands SUV coming home from hospital. i had a 6 mile trip compared to your 200 mile. if you can afford special transport, do it to be comfortable. We are here to encourage you so keep us posted on your progress.

[syl]

Katie i remember how good it felt to take that brace off, even for a little while. i think it was a very good thing to have it on because i tend to want to do to much. However, when my family saw the brace off they thought i was well...... soooo keep it handy just in case you need to remind them,

[brewski]

Hi-- Many of you asked about my 200 mile trip for the surgery this coming Thursday. . .I cannot sit that long now, and we have a minivan and a svu so my husband will drive and I'll lay down in the back of either car. As of now we are leaning toward the minivan b/c that's how i went to the hospital when i injured myself. we just put the back seats down and I laid on the floor. We will do a trial run this weekend with an air mattress and TONS of pillows. The plan is to stay post op at a hotel across from the hospital through the weekend. So we'd be returning home on day 3 post op or day 4. Thinking back to your day 3 or 4, would you have been able to lay in a car for 3.5 hours? I almost scared to hear your answers. . .

Thanks for the suggestions about toilet seats, baby wipes, tv trays, pain meds, etc. I do not usually ask folks for help but today two of my friends offered to start a meal schedule for the month following surgery. Reluctantly I gave them the foods and grocery items I like, arranged to have someone clean our house and walk the dogs (my two running buddies), and scheduled extra playdates in May for our 4 year old. I would not have done ANY of this if I had not read your advice about not over doing it, so thanks again. Now I'm trying not to get nervous about the surgery, I've only been under general anesthesia once and I'm nervous about the post op pain. I am however, encouraged by all of your positive progress. Lynn

[drq]

Lynn. I remember my ride home from the hospital. Maybe not 100% since I was medicated but I do remember most of it. The one thing I regret is that I should have stayed overnight after surgery instead of thinking I would be more comfortable at home. First night was a rough one but being in the hospital will be much better for you. 5 hours after my surgery I was lying in the back of our Honda Pilot with thick long cushions we took from our outdoor furniture. I had extra pillows as well. I did a practice run with them the day before surgery and of course it all felt fine at the time. Especially since there was no incision on my butt at the time. I only had a 45min drive though. You will just have to keep adjusting your position. You will be making that trip 3-4 days after surgery so that shouldn't even be a problem at that point.
My advice on the pain. Everybody is different. Some people here took them for one day only and others took them for weeks. What I suggest to you is to take the pain medicine as directed every 4-6 hours starting right after surgery. Even if you don't feel too much pain by the time you take the next pill, take them anyhow. I set my alarm in the night to make sure I took them every 4-6 hours. I needed them for 4 days then started taking ibuprofen. Again, everybody is different.
It sounds like you are completely prepared so don't worry, it will be over before you know it and then you will be offering your advice to all the new members joining in the future. Soon you'll be on the road to recovery. Good luck. drq

[syl]

Lynn, you are so much more prepared than i was before surgery. i didnt find this site until a week or 2 after surgery when i was surfing hamstring
injury. it has been 3 months now and i rode a bicycle today at the beach. i felt quite proud of myself :-). partly because i had vertigo for so long i didnt make much early progress in the physical activity area.
You will do great and i think you are wise to spend a few nights in the hotel close to the hospital. Stay in touch. God Bless





do

[I Fell]

Lynn,

The operation is over before you know it. In fact you won't even remember it. Sounds like you are all set to go, have a good support system and a good plan. I stayed overnight in the hospital and it was the most uncomfortable I was during the whole process. The reason I stayed was for pain management and to prevent clots because of other conditions. I was 61 at the time of the operation. I was really lucky because I didn't ever have to take pain meds. It was unbelievable. I kept waiting for the pain to start. Not everyone has a lot of pain. I only had a 12 mile ride home from the hospital. Get them to show you how to use the crutches before you leave the hospital preferably before the operation. They showed me how to go up steps, get in and out of a car, use the toilet, get in and out of the tub and get in and out of bed. If you have a fitting for your brace before surgery that might be a good time to get some crutch training with the brace on. I never had a fitting before the operation because I saw the surgeon on Friday and was operated on Monday. I woke up from the surgery with the brace installed.

You should be fine for the way home but with such a long trip you should probably be prepared to use the restroom on the way home. Plenty of tips on this site.

One thing that is important is to accept the fact that you took the best choice by having the surgery and that you would still be out of commission for awhile even if you didn't. Don't fight the brace. It is protection you from doing too much. I am a very active person, hiking , biking and working out at the gym, I don't sit still very well. I just made up my mind to accept my condition and kept occupied with reading and surfing the web. I found an internet music station and played relaxing music constantly. I had good support from my family but did not have the challenge of a 4 year old.

This site is great. When I found it there was only 15 pages but helpful none the less. There is a lot more information now and a lot more personal experiences. You are well prepared. You will be fine.

Heal well, Ned

[tricializ]

Haven't checked in for a while and am 7+ weeks now. Brace has been off for 9 days and so far so good. I felt like I turned a corner this week and felt like I was walking normally with very little limp. But in typical fashion with this injury and recovery, I am having a tough evening. Obviously did way too much this weekend and am paying now. I went to the grocery store a few hours ago and the pain was pretty bad. But now, sitting and resting and I feel good.
Lynn, I will be thinking of you as you go through your surgery. It's so good that you got some help lined up. Being young, with little ones, it's hard to just stop what you do. But it will help your healing overall.
Katie, I think tomorrow is "No More Brace Day" for you. Congratulations on making it.

Tricia

[Katied]

I cheated. I took the brace off this morning; one day early. I had a pretty good day with it off spending all day with Mom. She's having a tough time so it is hard for me to even worry about my condition.
Good luck Lynn, I will be thinking of you. You will do fine. You are VERY well prepared.

[tricializ]

Katie:
I did the same thing. The day before I was allowed to wear the brace was the hardest day for me. What is with that! haha Hope you are doing well.
Tricia