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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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  • MichaelTN1UK
    MichaelTN1UK LDW

    Posted

    Morning Lindsey

    How are you this morning?

    I echo all the other comments here, Just wanted to add: Don't let them ship you oout today if you are not confident about going home. I stayed an extra night and found that really helpful. My mind was not in the 'right place'.

    Please keep us posted.

    Michael x

  • hil123
    hil123 LDW

    Posted

    Good morning Lindsey

    I remember feeling exactly how you feel , it is overwhelming . Have a good cry ( it does help ) but please believe that things will get better .Your body and mind have just gone through a major upheaval and so you are bound to feel very vulnerable but things will improve . I too felt my legs were different lengths but now I am 4 weeks down the line things are settling down . Our bodies have been used to walking to compensate for a dodgy hip for so long it just needs to unlearn how it walked and then relearn with the new one . Go with the flow , keep your pain under control and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel ( and it won't be a train coming the other way !)

    Lots of warm wishes and hugs

    Hilary

  • shirley28014
    shirley28014 LDW

    Posted

    Hi

    It all seems pretty bad now, and lets face it a THR is a pretty traumatic affair.

    But things will start to get better, take everything at your pace its quite a slow process and different things  crop up to make you wonder if what you are experiencing is normal, but the forum is always here  for you.

    I am now 9 weeks post op and am still experiencing different problems , but every day gets a little better. My consultant says everyone is different and we each recoup at a different level

    Kind regards

    Persevere it will be worth it  in th long run

  • Lallydye1
    Lallydye1 LDW

    Posted

    Hi I totally understand how you feel.  I didnt want any morphine the first night but I then conceded.  I also asked for morphine the second night.  My main problem was with lack of sleep and an emotional realisation of what I'd had done.  I probably could have managed to limp on for a few more months with my hip so I was seriously questioning my decision.  Once I got home on day 4 I felt much better as my sleep greatly improved but I still had the odd meltdown with tears.  Its now day 11 and I am feeling much better and mobilising well. Im still very weak and heavy in my operated leg but am confident this will get better.  I get my stitches out tomorrow.

    So stick in there.  It is a major operation but you will be surprised how quickly you improve.  Its OK to have the tears I found that actually helped release a bit of tension.  Big hugs xxx

  • rose0000
    rose0000 LDW

    Posted

    You are right, this is the worst part and feeling the shock and upset will pass, really it will, and every day you will feel much stronger and much more comfortable. I too was on paracetamol and as long as you take it religiously it should see you through once home. I would take some back up pain killers just in case you have any breakthrough pain, but I didn't need them, and hopefully you won't either. I found resting to be the best and only thing that made me feel better, lots of sleep when possible, rest, and quiet.

    I am sure your surgeon is right and your legs are the correct length, he would tell you otherwise and it is not difficult to check (check at the knees) and you are just getting used to the slightly different feelings of walking and swelling, all of which will right itself in the coming weeks.

    You are through the worst, now you just need to be very gentle with yourself, take things at your own speed, and slowly get better each day. If you need to cry, cry it releases all the stress inside, and will make you feel lighter and better afterwards. 

    You will soon be walking and living your life again, it will happen slowly but surely. You are doing brilliantly ~ 

    • LDW
      LDW rose0000

      Posted

      Lovely kind reassuring words rose. Thankyou.

      Have slept/rested most of the day, and feel better for it.

      Elevation and icing seem to be helping too.

      Am calming down about the leg length difference too. Makes sense to believe the surgeon, and I'm beginning to understand how the pelvis can begin to level off as recovery progresses.

      Take care.

      Lindsey

    • rose0000
      rose0000 LDW

      Posted

      It is all quite a shock isn't it, we talk about the surgery for months possibly years beforehand, prepare ourselves as much as possible but when it actually happens....it is still a severe shock to the system. Even a few months later, I have 'moments'. It is quite something.

      How are you feeling today? 

      It really will get better in the coming days, and soon you will be doing things you thought were impossible before...so stick with it, it is worth it in the end x

    • LDW
      LDW rose0000

      Posted

      Yes, the shock to the system is quite something.

      i feel it rolling over me and I start shaking and teeth chattering. No pain, just this shock reaction. Arnica helps with it, as does calming meditation music and being tucked up in bed. Am expecting to feel like this for the next couple of weeks as the injuries from physical trauma heal.

      otherwise, I think things are going ok. There's no real benchmark though is there? 

      Check in with surgeon 2 weeks post op (which I think is now around 9 days away). Just going to take it slowly and steadily until then. Do my exercises, regular little walks (waddles) around the house, plenty of rest, good nutrition, ice and elevation. Just want to stay cocooned for now.

      think I might be rambling, as not long ago had codeine .....

      bye x

       

  • andy1960
    andy1960 LDW

    Posted

    5 Days after op my leg is really swollen and very tight ,like it's been wrapped in cling film,anybody else experienced this.Much worse on a night
    • My2boys
      My2boys andy1960

      Posted

      Hi Andy,

      Yes the leg being swollen is the result of all the trauma to your body. I remember feeling pain near my knee and thinking " why does it hurt in this area too if i had surgery on my hip?". But then I really thought about all that happens during that surgery; how the entire leg is held, bent, pushed and pulled in order to get the old hip out and new hip in. Then when you think of the rest of the surgery, it is quite amazing but also quite brutal. As it was explained to me, your body doesnt know it had necessary surgery, it just knows it experienced serious trauma and is responding accordingly. You are still very early in tge recovery phase and I'm sure you will be feeling much better in the next week.The swelling will go down in time. I am 5wks post op and i still have some swelling in the hip area. I also had muscle spasms at night, which I was told is quite normal. I'm not sure if thats what you're having or not. I've used bags of frozen peas wrapped in a cloth to use as ice since it kind of molds to ur body. That helped soothe some of the discomfort, but I would ask your doctor what would be best for you since the area might be too tender yet. Wishing you the best in your recovery.

      Lori

    • andy1960
      andy1960 My2boys

      Posted

      Hi Lori

      Thanks for that it has reassured me.

      Getting this cramp like feeling quite alot

      Suppos it's going to take time

      Good luck to you Lori with your recovery

    • LDW
      LDW andy1960

      Posted

      Hi Andy,

      i am 4 days post op and since being home have elevated the leg and iced the swollen area. The hospital sent us away with an icing contraption, but frozen veg def work just as well (wrapped in tea towel).

      there is a website called bonesmart (us based forum and info site)  which has a section on pain management and shows photos of how to use pillows to correctly elevate. Reply to me via this site if u can't find it.

      im also using arnica tablets at 200 strength. Lots of people use this homeopathic remedy pretty successfully. At this higher strength level you may need to order on line or try your local Holland and Barratt.

      hope this helps.

      these early days are exhausting aren't they?

    • My2boys
      My2boys andy1960

      Posted

      Hi Andy,

      I'm glad that you feel reassured. The cramping is all part of the healing process as well. It will get better with time. Its hard when your mind and spirit are farther ahead of the body., at least it was/ is for me. Listen to your body and rest when you need it, sometimes the fatigue will seem as if it comes out of nowhere. You will feel improvement each week. Good luck in your recovery!

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