10 weeks post op and still hurting

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hello all, can someone please advise me on something I'm sadly clueless about? I know I've had ceramic/ titanium THR and I've been told something like a "honeycomb" thing has been used in order for my bone to grow around and into,  is this making sense to any of you clued up people out there? Also, is recovery harder because of this as I'm walking ok without sticks ( unless I'm really tired and it's hurting) but I still have a lot of pain down the outside of my thigh and I can literally "feel" the implant and my leg feels heavy when I walk, thanks and wishing you all well xx

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  • Posted

    Hi Jackie, what you described sounds just like me. I have the same materials and, yes, it takes longer for this type of implant to heal because the bones have to grow into it.  The cemented kind is just glued to the bone but our type is used for younger people with healthier bones because it becomes more stable over time. By the way, I'll be 16 weeks post op tomorrow.

    It all sounds like normal recovery pains but depending on whether yours was anterior or posterior (front or back) approach, you could have some nerve damage to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve causing some thigh pain. If that's the case, you'll feel more burning, tingling, numbness and those kinds of things on the skin and other soft tissue in your thigh. The deeper "bone pain" is from your femur adjusting to have a big metal stem hammered into it. I have "stem pain" which apparently happens to about 30% of patients. The femur hurts when I put weight on it and at night after I've been very active. I'm still on a low dose of pain meds because of it but the doc says it should get better by about 6 mons post op.

    Lastly, the 12 week point was a pretty big milestone for me. I noticed quite a bit of improvement at that point. You're getting close to that so hang on a little longer and I'm guessing you'll noticing significant improvement over the next couple of weeks. 

    Take care,

    Cindy

    • Posted

      Oh how amazing to have found someone who understands what I mean, thank you so much for the advice, mine was posterior and I am numb midway down my thigh to the knee, but I'm not concerned about that as it's a small price to pay, stem pain, that's sounds right to me but it's comforting to know that it won't last forever as I have to go back to work next week, standing all day, although I am only going back part time for a couple of weeks, I'm pretty active and have been doing all my excercises but sometimes wonder if I'm doing too much or it's just normal healing pain, that's fine if it is but it's the difference between knowing that and worrying that I'm doing something wrong and should be pain free by now, many thanks x
    • Posted

      Cindy thanks for sharing UR experiences. U have helped so many..

      STAY WELL.. STAY STRONG...

      CHEERS

      HOPE

    • Posted

      Thanks Hope! Many of us may have oceans between us but we're all in this together. 😊
  • Posted

    Hi Jackie k,

    I had revised toal hip replacement it does take time im at 9 months revised take alot longer just keep doing exercises walking , and i started doing swimming . I couldnt even walk on my hip for 6 weeks so my recovering is alot longer everybody is different things will get better I wish you the best .

    Take Care

    Jackie

    • Posted

      Its one thing to read all the horrors and success of going thru a revision THR surgery. Yet another to hear from someone like u it sends a reality check that revision surgery isn't for sissies... It's down time & pain is really. really difficult as well as rehab twice the time as regular first time THR.

      Having faith & confidence in UR surgeon helps yet there r fewer revision surgeons to choose from. As the old saying goes ya gotta go with the flow

      and pray for the best. The irony early revision is never what we expected. 

       

      I have a revision surgery coming up and I am avoidining the thought like the plague.

      In my case they will have to break the femur bone to remove the recalled implant and they have to .....well.....let's just keep this next description out of print. I'll just say that various surgical tools similar to those used in remodeling a room are used to remove the old and add the new. Sometimes I feel like an appliance with parts constantly needing replacement for one reason or another. 

      U are so brave ..Stay Strong & keep me posted..

      CHEERS 

      HOPE

    • Posted

      Thanks so much I will keep you posted and good luck to you

      and please keep me updated as well

      Thanks

      Jackie

  • Posted

    Sounds just like me. Especially 10 weeks post op.  Keep doing your home PT ( that's what we call it where i am) do not overdo exercise and just wait.  When you reach 19 weeks all the pain will be gone.  That is where i am now.
  • Posted

    Ur only 2&1/2 month off major, major surgery.. The body needs 2200 calories a day and minerals and vitamins to continue to heal.  Proteins shakes pre made at the store always, always made me feel so much better. Eat hardy it takes a lot of energy to heal.

    The femur bone implant into the bone has a surface designed for bone to attach, nit & grow onto & thru small microscopic openings and heal . That's a lot for the body to do.

     This design in UR case is a honeycomb design. Same design I have in my first one 14 years ago. The bone grows into the device stabilizes the implant because it is not cemented into place( which has a history of loosening in 3-5 years) , UR implant is pressfit into place. In other words the hole is strewn into the bone , the implant is pressed into place then tapped into a tight fit into place once the length has measured up correctly to the other leg length with the correct angle.  The long end into the femor bone needs time for the bone to nit and grow into the implant device. This is why the honeycomb description was given to u.. This is the insert into the femor. This will give u stability and mobility in years to come.

    My hip was always in /out of pain daily for 9 months to a year. My hip was done using the posterior surgical system which is known to take longer & have more movement restrictions than the anterior surgical system.The bone is surrounded by soft tissue which grows with the bone to support new bone growth with the implant device with blood supply and oxygen to heal and stay healthy. 

    Please see more details online a google search will help u identify with the whys , how's & where's of the pain UR experiencing, growth and healing.

    There's a lot going on with healing inside UR body.  I refer to it as the giant sea reefs structures with many things supporting those reefs at the same time. The skeletons growing & feeding on the sea plankton while the sturdy growth supports many strong sea currents & creatures. The movement and flexability of the reef is imperative for the structures survival.

    Right now the pain is getting really really old and the walking & the exercises u just wish it was all over. And I don't blame u one bit. I think there a time during this healing process that we just hit a wall. Hate every minute of it ....yet stuck with doing the grinding drill day after day .

    Try to stay with all the post surgery strengthening exercises u need to support a important structure YOU..be kind to UR new appendage don't over do. Rest is important every day just another important thing for healing. Most important  post OP tip r always eat UR share of chocolate. Best medicine ever...

    CHEERS 

    HOPE

     

    • Posted

      Read and re read all you have said and the word CHOCOLATE stands out! Haha, seriously though, thank you, you are incredibly well informed and I'm very grateful for your reply, I feel better already knowing that it's all perfectly normal, would you happen to know what the " honeycomb" thing is called? X
    • Posted

      I also needed to read this at 9 months feeling little depressed and tired of the pain . Thats why im so glad i found this site I went to different doctor yesterday they took xrays and blood work to rule out infection waiting to her I still cant work my work is standing bending stocking etc. The days get long but im trying to stay positive

      Thanks again

      Jackie

    • Posted

      Boy oh boy t just gets soo old. I went on a fishing trip 12 weeks out. It was heaven so peaceful in a cabin out in the words floating on the river in a boat just enjoying the sights. 

      If u can just take a short time away 1/2 day or spa day a message comes to mind. I would talk my doc into writing a prescription for message. Now we don't have the same insurance so it spendy for a message and the result is well worth every penny. After al fully body message Finally a full body total relaxation. Not one tense muscle. Almost better that well u know.....

      Message is heaven a treat just when UR spirits need a pick me up and UR body needs a huge break.

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