Movement after THR

I was doing heell slides in bed day one. I simply put my foot flat and slowly moved it towards my butt. That's one of my exercises i do daily. I do have to stop and think not to cross my feet!

Haven't had the op yet - two weeks to go! But some people have a genetically induced immunity to morphine. It doesn't work on me either. And now we believe my dad when he said that it wasn't working - unfortunately he always was a bit of a complainer, so nobody believed him! Apparently it's something that medical researchers have only recently found out, and a lot of doctors still don't know about it.

Hi Julie, take care, no crossing! Think it's ok to slide your foot towards you, and raise your knees while you're lying down. I used to do that a lot during the night, because I was usually uncomfortable on my back. (Just don't raise your knees too high, remember the 90 degree rule.) Good luck with your recovery. I was mostly pain free with codeine and paracetamol. Wishing you all the best.

I agree. I was so worried I would automatically roll onto my side while I was asleep. That was before I knew that you don't sleep after THR for a while!

Codeine seems pretty good for me too Julie. I haven't had your urges thank goodness. Don't go there...!😊

Hi Julie,

​It is funny what our legs want to do but we are not able to.   The one exercise I had was to slide my foot up to bend the knee gave some relief.

​Having had both hips done at the same time I so much wanted to cross them at times, and the one thing I found when sitting with my legs up, feet were itchy and I was trying to rub them together... not a chance my legs we so swollen I could not ge the feet to meet. 

​I am on Tramadol, have been now for 9 weeks but decreased the amount now, I only take at night time, unless I have overdone it and I will take one with dinner in the evenings.

Early days but you will have strange feelings of what you want to do and I think it is the mind trying to get over what our bodies have been through.  All those nerves fighting to repair must confuse the brain.

​Good luck and come back if you have any other questions.  

I woke up one night trying to lift my knee!  Did it, was so terrified...whizzed it down.  Never happened again.  Who knows?  

Hi all.

Thanks for the input. It is reasuring. I won't cross my legs or try to now. I will sleep better tonight I think.

Onwards and upwards hey.

Cheers j

Hi Julie

Yes weird not being able to move leg .. But if u can't ..Don't ! I finally was able to move my keg about day 11 and it is now day 14 and I can move it up about one foot . Don't try yet .. Wait . Codeine gets changed to morphine in the liver .. I took 90 mg codeine and paracetamol l for first week only thing that worked .. U will raise ur leg but takes a while certainly not at day 5 !!

Hey Julie, I know how you feel!! I'm so used to bending leg up. The good thing is we can do this. As someone has mentioned, the "heel slide" is one of the beginner exercises they have me doing. Therapist suggests putting your foot into a trash bag, (or any plastic bag should work) to facilitate sliding your foot up and down. Also, you can grab the bag to assist if you need. Also, just remember the 90 degree limit. Crossing the legs is a tough one. No solution except to uncross the second you realize that you've crossed them. I did sleep a bit better when I started to use a regular pillow between my knees. The abduction pillow was just not working at home. I slept on my back or even on my good side with the pillow. It was more comfortable and I don't think any of us are getting to that good deep sleep yet. I was comfortable enough with the pillow yet aware and it did keep me from crossing legs. Good luck!!

hi julie, 

I hope you had a couple of hours of uninterrupted sleep - 

well, as it has been said here many times, you are in the early days of recovery from a major invasive surgery ... 

in bed exercises are important, the legslides mentioned here, ankle rotations and foot pumps - please do not attempt the dead leg lifts yet - it is too much - muscles and tendons were severed and are not repaired yet - 

standing exercises as told by PT in hospital are good...

first couple of weeks are challenging -

big warm hug'

renee

 

Hi Julie all these things are part of what we're

going through don't be worrying I no that's easy

to say when your not sure what the heck is

going on, other Hippies are correct heel

sliders are good you get that knee higher little

by little no rush I'm 14 weeks now and have to

say this is my best week nearly back to normally

still a little stiff when starting off and those

nerves still dances round my scar but I'll take

that after bone on bone pain o/a ,so be kind to

yourself ,plenty of naps don't try to over do it

you'll get there big hugs and keep on healing

🙌 👍