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2 days post op and feeling vulnerable and in pain

Posted , 13 users are following.

LDW
LDW

hi all,

like many any before me I've read through lots of postings prior to the op. Now it's the real thing.

I had my op at 8am on Thursday. It's now sat night and I can't get to sleep. Have dozed lots during the day though. Each time I got out of bed to do an obligatory walk on crutches I was exhausted. Normal I guess?

was in quite a lot of pain immediately post op so had pretty high dose of morphine which knocked me sideways. Further doses on Friday had me hallucinating and with the shakes. Intravenous paracetemol eventually did the trick, (and I'm avoiding any opiates like the plague)but as I'm going home tomorrow I'm now just on the pills which don't have quite the same pain killing Effect.

the pain isn't a 10, more a 6, which has me dreading having to get out of bed and to the toilet, as I know it'll get worse.

it feels like my pleated leg is longer then good leg too. The surgeon said that the legs are exactly same length, and that post op X-rays showed that my pelvis is tilted. Apparently this is very common and rights itself after a few weeks of walking properly. But I guess I must have some special instruction from the physios to make this happen. Plus it's kinda scary to find myself walking like this.

i think I'm in a bit of shock too - just from the trauma that my body has gone through. I cried like a baby earlier before my husband went home.

im sure this is all normal, and in fact ion reading lots of posts prior to the op, I registered that in the majority of cases the first 2 weeks are pretty bad, then people seem to start to slowly turn a corner.

so, I guess I'm just sharing and looking for reassurance that this stage will pass and things will get better.

thanks for reading my ramblings.

 

6 likes, 45 replies

45 Replies

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  • nikki52902
    nikki52902 LDW

    Posted

    Hi, it's all perfectly normal . I am

    almost 3 weeks post op so can remember the first 2 weeks vividly . I was so tearful , and when I got home cried whenever my friends came to visit . Getting up and down to the loo in the night is such a bother , and painful getting on and off the bed .

    But it does get better, honestly . I feel at nearly 3,weeks ive turned a corner . I'm more mobile, walking well on one crutch and not tearful ..hang on in there, it will get better . Your body has been through a trauma, be kind to yourself xxx

    • LDW
      LDW nikki52902

      Posted

      Thanks nicki.  That's reassuring.

      were you in a lot of pain in hospital and when you first got home?

      did you do the walking amd exercises anyway. Or did you take a day off if it felt too difficult?

    • nikki52902
      nikki52902 LDW

      Posted

      I was in a lot of pain, especially getting my leg on and off the bed . And when you first start to walk you are using muscles you havnt used for a while if you have been limping for some time, so they hurt . I always did the exercises and still do, I just stop when it hurts . It won't be long before you start to feel better . Next week friends are coming round and taking me out for a coffee etc, that's the next step , to go out of the house . I feel so much better than I did last week . . You will soon feel like your old self again . Just take it slowly and listen to your body . Everyone heals at their own pace xx
    • LDW
      LDW nikki52902

      Posted

      Thanks nicki. That's good to hear.

      i think I will be glad to get home to my husband and two young children. Have a bit of normality around.

      good luck with your continuing recovery.

      lindsey

  • carol33300
    carol33300 LDW

    Posted

    Hi, your experience sounds so similar to mine. I had my first op 9 weeks ago. I was in horrific pain immediately after the op as my spinal anaesthetic didn't work. Took ages to get the pain under control. I cried a lot too. It's very hard the first 2 weeks but does slowly get better once your home.

    You need to rest as much as you can in the early days and just do little as possible except for your physio exercises. I felt really low and emotional a lot of the time too.

    I'm having my other hip done this Tuesday so am starting to feel anxious again,hoping the anaesthetic will work this time. It's daunting to have to go through it again so soon but not having the OA pain any more is amazing.

    Best wishes.

    • LDW
      LDW carol33300

      Posted

      Oh my gosh . You are going in again so soon.

      Well done you - brave lady.

      how soon after the op could you appreciate freedom from the OA pain?

      the pain from the surgery is masking that for me a bit, I think.

      sending huge amounts of good luck your way for 2nd op. The chances of same thing happening again with spinal must be virtually nil. Or could you have GA this time?

    • carol33300
      carol33300 LDW

      Posted

      It's probably around the 10-14 days stage that I suddenly realised the OA pain wasn't there just about the time when your moving much easier. I think you concentrate so hard on doing all the right things and moving really carefully and the healing pain does go on for a while but lessens quite rapidly after 2 weeks. Of course my other hip just started to deteriorate which also makes you appreciate the pain free one.

      I'll have to speak to the anaesthetist when I go in and see what's best for me.. GA is definitely a possibility I think.

      Carol X

    • LDW
      LDW carol33300

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply carol. That's reassuring to know.

      was your second hip already bad when you had first op? Or was it a really rapid deterioration?

      lindsey x

    • carol33300
      carol33300 LDW

      Posted

      My right hip was always more painful although the xrays show very similar damage. I think you put a lot of pressure on the unoperated hip while your recovering which probably escalated things for me anyway. The plan was always to do the second one at around 8 weeks if I had recovered well enough to withstand a second op.

      Hopefully by May I'll be totally pain free smilex

    • LDW
      LDW carol33300

      Posted

      Good luck carol.

      and Thankyou for replying to me.

      lindsey 

    • carol33300
      carol33300 LDW

      Posted

      Thanks, I'll keep you posted as we'll be recovering at the same time. Good luck for going home. X
  • My2boys
    My2boys LDW

    Posted

    Hi,

    I am 5 weeks post surgery now and i can tell you it does get better. I remember the 2nd night in the hospital was the worst for me and the first few nights home were pretty rough. I was sent home with vicodin to take every 4 hours( i am allergic to some of the stronger meds). I am not one to take medication but i did take it every 4 hours. The first few nights i woke up from pain almost every 4 hours so i took it. I found after the first few nights i would sleep a little longer and not need the medicine quite so often. I was told it was important to try to stay ahead of the pain to aid the healing process. I remember having some of the same questions as you. It is normal to get tired so quickly because of the trauma to your body and all of the energy it takes to walk even a short distance. My leg felt longer than the other too but for me that has gotten better, even though i am still trying to regain a normal gait. I used a walker for the first week and a half and then moved to one crutch which is where i am now. Try to be patient, although I know that is hard. All the emotion you are feeling is completely understandable as well. It will get better. Listen to your body. Wishing you the best.

    • LDW
      LDW My2boys

      Posted

      Thanks for reply. I'm home now with pain meds that seem to be working better.

      All the crying in hospital seems to have helped a bit too.

      Feel like now I'm home I can surrender to the long process of recovery.

      My husband is being lovely and we've got someone in now to help look after my 8 year old and 4 year old.

      I feel safe here.

      Thanks for listening

    • My2boys
      My2boys LDW

      Posted

      Ldw, as Dorothy once said, "there's no place like home". This is especially true in your case. Sometimes being in the hospital, away from all that is comforting adds extra stress. I am glad to hear that your meds are working and that you have a wonderful support system at home. There will be bumps in the road along the way but the roughest road is behind you. Wishing you all the best in your recovery!
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