2 days post op

experienced before, during and after your surgery

It would be greatly appreciated!

Happy to share but please do remember we are all different so if you have particular questions you may get different answers from different people!

First of all I am 64 and live in the UK. After several years of pain it was getting harder and harder to move/walk etc without pain killers. I was referred to a specialist who after 2 xrays and an MRI SCAN said I had severe osteoarthritis and I needed THR in both hips. That was in October last year and I am now 7 weeks post op and getting stronger every day.

I had a pre-op assessment 4 weeks before my op they check blood pressure, height/weight, blood tests, ECG etc. Then my husband and I went to hip class when they go through your stay in hospital, preparation and aids to help you when you get home. etc We were given a pair of crutches and a raised toilet seat and I bought a couple of other things that had been recommended including a grabber. In fact I bought a second grabber and toilet seat so I had one upstairs and one downstairs which really helped.

I had a right THR and was in hospital 4 days (slightly longer than the average as my wound bled slightly for a couple of days). I was given a spinal nerve block with sedation which wasn't too bad and helped the initial pain (from the operation) once I woke up. The operation took about 1.50 hours and as you will have seen on this forum everyone is anxious in the days just before the operation but once you get to hospital the time goes quickly and you are soon back after the operation and looking forward to a cup of tea. I was put on strong pain killers including Morhphine which although you could feel sick with it they give you anti-sickness tabs and it does help you sleep! The hospital staff were wonderful and their support and care made such a difference as well as the others I was on a ward with who also had THRs - I have kept in contact with a couple of them so we email/phone each other which really helps. (As well as this forum).

It was wonderful to get home and although I thought I had got things prepared it was a bit of a culture shock after being looked after in hospital but my husband was wonderful. He took a week off work and then I was on my own in the day but it was fine. I bought a pill dispenser for the medication they sent me home, I just found it easier to organise them a week in advance. Also found a messenger bag useful to carry essential inc phone, pills , iPad(!) etc.

A week after I got home I went to my local doctors surgery to check on the wound and they removed the dressing. Two weeks after I got home I went for my first Physio session and have just had my last session, they gave me more advanced exercises each time. Every day you find can do a little bit more. After two weeks I started walking round the house with one crutch, then no crutches by week 5. Although I still take a crutch when I go outside.

My main advice to you as has been said many times is although you can get wonderful support and advice from this forum listen to your own body. Ensure you drink plenty, do your exercises every day, take pain medication as you need it (no medals for bravery!) and get plenty of rest. You will be surprised how tired you get in the first few weeks even doing the smallest things, this is normal. I used to have a nap every afternoon for the first 4 weeks still do if I go out for a few hours. 😃 Sorry this goes on a bit (a lot) but hope it has been useful. ☺

Linnet x

when I'm reading here. I'm in so much pain I just pray I can have the surgery in May. I already have to take a lot of pain meds for chronic pain. Plus I'm bipolar so I take meds for that. My surgeon is trying to work out a plan so I can safely have my

hip done.

Well, I am glad you seem to be healing and I would love to follow your progress on here. Stay in touch and you can always chat with me if you need an ear

Linnet x

Lovely post and has been very useful for my post op recovery, now 7 days on.

If anyone would be interested in my op experience then I will more than happy to add to this discussion

Best wishes to you all.

Thank you, this is what is so great about this forum, you can ask for help when you need it and also share your own experiences to help others. Just wish I had found it before I had the op!

Best wishes for your recovery 

Linnet x

my name is Linda and I'm 63 years old. 

i came home last evening after my left hip replacement on Monday evening. Everyone in the hospital were really kind and helpful. 

Previous conversations with other post op patients were very encouraging , I was informed many times that the pain I've been experiencing would disappear afterwards, I'd just be left with the normal pain from the wound, more or less!

The first epidural didn't work so I had to have another. As a result of this, I think the muscles in my leg have taken longer to relax, repair?  All I know is I have dreadful cramp like pain when I stand.  Did you experience anything like this?

I find my left leg is very heavy and I find it difficult to move. Did you experience this?  

Your experience seems to be very encouraging to others, and I know we all experience differently. Should I be doing the exercises recommended already? Perhaps just a little to begin with? I don't want to start too soon or leave it too late. What would you suggest?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks

Linda 😃

Congratulations on getting through the operation and now you are home!

i haven't had the cramp like pain you described. Yes they do tell you that your old pain will be gone and you will only (!) have the pain from the operation but when you think what's been done to you it's not surprising that it can be quite significant. But as you say we are all different.  My operated leg felt heavy to begin with until I started to build muscle strength back again. Are you taking any pain killers? The hospital sent me home with quite 

strong meds to help with the pain.

i saw the Physio the day after my op and started bed exercises straight away then the following day they tried me with some standing exercises. I have been doing these every day ever since. The physio also ensured I could do things like getting in and out of bed, going up and down stairs before I was allowed to go home. Did you see a physio in hospital? We're you given any information or a booklet about exercises to do?

Exercise and rest are the two main parts of getting you better so unless your doctor or physio has said otherwise you should be doing your exercises everyday. 

If you need any more advice just drop me and/or the rest of the forum a line.

theres so much great help and support out there.

Linnet x

Yes the Physio did give me a list of exercises to do, which I've started, although I wonder if  whether I have started too  soon. Anyway, I'll do what I can. I set the timer every hour to remind me to walk about and it is getting better.  Also, they didn't let me come home until I could climb up and down stairs.....going up is easier!!

thanks for your advise. 

Linda x

It is still very early for you only a few days since your op so just don't push yourself too much and get plenty of rest.  The bed exercises are less strenuous to begin with and if you have been given standing exercises start with a few each day and increase the number gradually.

Linnet x