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Recovering from Addiction to Prescription Medications

I never thought of myself as an addict, but I did end up addicted to anti-anxiety medication after developing Generalized Anxiety Disorder. At some point, the medicine stopped being a way to deal with the nervousness and panic attacks, and became something my body craved. I knew that I needed help fast. Fortunately, a local drug rehab program includes support for people like me. They helped me wean off the medication, use methods like massage therapy to help my nerves heal, and even provided ongoing counseling for our family. I don't know how I would have made it without their help. If you suspect that your medication has crossed the line from being helpful to hurtful, take heart. Let me tell you about my journey out of addiction and back to wholeness.

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Recovering from Addiction to Prescription Medications

What To Expect Once You Get Home From Having Hip Replacement Surgery

by Valerie Stevens

When you have hip replacement surgery, you will have a long recovery ahead of you. However, it will be worth it after you get your mobility back and can return to your normal lifestyle. After your surgery you will spend a couple days or so in the hospital where your pain will be controlled. You will also be taught simple exercises to do and given instructions on what you can and cannot do during your recovery. This article will inform you as to how life will be once you get home from having hip replacement surgery.

You'll need someone there to help you

You are going to need some help while you recover. If you don't have someone who can be there with you for the first couple of weeks, then you should see about having a home health nurse come by. If there will be more than a few hours in the day when you are alone, then you may want to have your room set up before you go in for surgery. You may want to have a bedside toilet in case you can't make it to the bathroom in time, a small refrigerator stocked with pre-made meals and water, a microwave, your walker and a phone all within reach.

Life the first couple of weeks

When you get home, you will have become familiar with using a walker, and this will help you to a certain degree. You still have a long road ahead of you and can't expect to be independent for a few weeks or so.

Your doctor will send you home with pain medication. You want to set up your daily schedule so you take your pain medications about 20 to 30 minutes before you do your exercises. This way, you won't find yourself experiencing bad pain and not being able to take more pain meds.

You'll want to follow the exercise program you were given at the hospital. You should expect some discomfort, but don't continue doing anything that causes you extreme pain. If you aren't able to do the exercises as long as you should at first, take a break and finish them as soon as you are able to.

Use your walker until you feel you are steadier on your feet, then give crutches a try. Crutches will offer you much more mobility than a walker will. Have someone with you while you are mastering the crutches, and use them on level ground only.

Progressing at a steady pace

After a few weeks or so, you should be able to do your light daily duties. A few examples would be dusting, doing dishes and taking a short trip to the store. You should be able to drive yourself after about a month and a half, as long as you feel you have enough flexibility, control and strength to safely operate the vehicle with ease. If there is any doubt, you should put off driving yourself.

As you recover you will be able to get back to a normal routine. Albeit, it may not be quite as active as it was before the surgery, but you'll get there. Start getting back into your light-level activities first. Some examples are going on walks and swimming. Make sure you talk to your doctor before you push yourself and consider more strenuous activities.  

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