2 days post op

Hi,

Is there anything specific you wish to know as I can add my experience. I am 53, 7 days post op for total left hip operation, and was terrified pre op.

Best wishes

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Hope this finds you good and healing well. Thank you for offering to share your experience with me. I would love to know

how you prepared physically for the surgery. Were you given

exercises to do? Told to/not to take walks? I am really afraid of being in more pain, either way. We live on the second story and

it's getting harder and harder to climb those stairs.

Looking forward to hearing from you, Glenna

Hi Gienna,

My best wishes to you and fully understand what you are going through especially the pain when climbing stairs. Awefull.

If you don't mind I will answer your specific questions first then add some more info after as I do ramble and waffle on, so say my wife and friends.

Preparing physically for the operation was very difficult on my hip as I tried to keep mobility by working on the muscles by stretching, gentle twisting and just standing on the leg to help support the hip but also for speed of recovery post op. Also keep trying to walk even though in discomfort. I was advised by friends to keep trying and I would say at my state of recovery It has helped but always always take rest, take it slower, have patience and dont push yourself too hard.  Also, some practice in various day to day activity imitating a operated leg, such as techniques given at pre op stage to getting in and out of bed and on crutches if you can get a pair before your operation. This will set your mind and upper body groups into the awkward few weeks post op. As for stairs....ugggggh..... we fitted a long solid hand rail from B and Q to hang on to especially as our 'loo' is upstairs. This has been fantastic as the practice for climbing stairs on one leg and crutch and weight distribution going up and down has worked. And then reward yourself with a lovely brew of tea. 

I was given a lt of pre op physical routine advice from my Hospital Occupation Health team at Darent who have been marvelous, and iif you go onto the Imperial London Unversity Hospital web site their advice has been great to. But these forums are also great and talking to others has been so helpfull. Cheers everyone.

Briefly, I was admitted into hospital at 7am Tuesday last week, pre op checked and waiting in theatre at 9am. Terrified I was but the medical tens to a person were simply the best and so reassuring.  I was given a epidural , which was discussed before my operation and, please excuse me if you may have already experienced.... I just felt an initial slight sting then applied pressure fr a few seconds then a wonderful warm tingly sensation through my lower body and 10 mins later entered theatre. First thoughts Holby and Carry On Nurse/Doctor. Gently rolled onto the op table ad administered a mild sedative....night night.  The op I understand lasted an hour and twenty and required some additional work on my hip but have no recollection except waking up very hungry as they prepared to take me to post op recovery room where I was well looked after for 40 mins before moved to Cherry Ward for the next three nights. 

I had my first brew and toast at 2pm that same afternoon with just some expected nausea and one short period of physically sick at about 4pm due to operation drugs etc but as for hip and surgery pain....very very little. Since then a heavy leg feeling and swollen left leg but again expected but with regular pain killers, no problems.

The next morning I was out of bed by 8am and into a nice comfy raised arm chair, after much nervousness on my part in the process of moving. But I was greatly surprised about the lack of pain plus the ease in sitting in th chair. Just general leg stiffness. Ths boosted my moral that on wednesday afternoon after some practice on the walking frame I moved onto crutches. Felt very good and some very light weight bearing on the hip, felt good. Again though......more tea and now chocs as rewards !!!.

I have been home now since last Friday very much pain free, settled in now for however long it takes to full recovery and sport again. Advice to me given is keep exercising very gently, no rushing, snooze when you (am expert at this) want as intital sleeping on back is awkward but an airline neck pillow has helped, walks in the sun, just generally everything at your own pace. Some recover faster, others slower, as for me I m not going to rush it and do not try anything like bending. And as for dropping a crutch, do some practice before the open how to recover it.  I have a litter pick up stick which in tandem with crutches has helped greatly.  

As mentioned I can waffle for England and by now earplugs administered but anything else I can help with through my experience then I am more thn welcome to waffle more.  

With best wishes, regards and thoughts to you.

Kev.

 

Hi Kevin,

Glad to know you are doing well.

My surgery is 3 weeks from now, on April 5 and am so terrified, I have had hip problem since long time ago, I am 43 but I can still walk, go up the stairs etc. I am worried what will happen after the epidural effect wears off, is it going to be too much pain? 

Hi,

I was also scared stiff of many things around the op especially the epidural.

What I experienced was initially a short sting sensation in the middle of my back shortly after the medics had sprayed some freezing anisthetic at the point where the epi was to be inserted. Then your positioned in a upright but crouched position on your bed and they then insert the epi which you will feel a slight pressure for about 15 seconds but it is comfortable. You then lie down on your side and almost immediately you will experience a lovely warm tingly feeling from your waist down where your lower body then 'goes under'. Strange but very relaxing.

Next will be a sedation inserted into your hand.....then night night.

When you come round your first instinct will likely be is there pain and movement ?. Just relax, no pain and slow improvements in movement like tes etc will return in the next hour or two. With pain killers starting to be administered immediately post op you will hardly feel a thing.

It is likely I will have my right hip done in a couple of years but I will definitely go through the epi again.

Any other info let me know but you will be ok and very relaxing.

Cheers

Kev

Hi , after being on list for 15 months I was so relieved to be there that I didn't feel nervous at all . I had a general which was brill , no sickness eating toast half hour after I was back in ward . Most people in with me were amazed that their old pain had gone straight away . 

Good luck

Well done and well said.

Super advice.especially saying not to push too much and rest.

My thought is take it easy not push beyond your current ability.blessings to you and your wife

Wow, Kevin, you are a wealth of knowledge! Thank you ever

so much for sharing. It really does help having all of you, so

friendly and welcoming

Hi, more than welcome to help as I have plenty of time these days whilst recovering between walks and exercises, plus munchies..... 

Warm regards.

 

Hi,

Thankyou and very kind wishes .  Hope all goes well for you.

cheers

Kevin.

Hi  moi , well done . You can expect muscle pain for a while . I am 7 weeks today . Still have some muscle pain and a limp when I walk without a crutch . Waiting to start physio . Keep in touch

Hi Mary,

Best wishes to you and hope going well. I would be most grateful if you can add your physio experiences when you start please. Good luck and be pain free.

Regards

Kevin

Will do . Hope I don't have to wait too long for the appt .

best wishes Mary