2 Weeks Post THR with nighttime back and knee pain
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi all
I had a total right hip replacement just over two weeks ago aged 38 due to AVN after a previous fracture. Very fit and well pre-op having cycled 2,500 miles this year already.
My progress has been good, doing all my physio exercises, out for one or two 5-10 min walks daily for over a week and not a lot of pain other than some aching in the day.
Night, however, is horrendous. A few nights back I was waking up with strong aches in back of knee and thigh that i put down to swelling. However, it has now moved to be stronger pain in lower back on operated side as well. It seems to ease somewhat if I get up for a couple of hours, sit and move around, but comes back after an hour or two.
It feels like nerve pain, as if there's pressure caused by swelling causing pain in the back and down the leg. Similarly, I still have the dull aches when moving position, which seem to radiate and move before they subside, again as if swelling is moving. No visual signs of DVT or excess heat in the lower limb.
I'm resisting taking oral morphine right now as at this point I thought I should be away from the heavier painkillers.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Chris
1 like, 3 replies
barbara66703 chris90455
Edited
taking pain meds will help you recover important .....follow direction on the rx bottle......don't wait for the pain to start. its important to stay ahead of the pain, to get sleep , eat good diet , take vitamins and protein shakes helps . it all adds up to help improve your recovery. your not going to become addicted to the pain meds during this short time recovering. ....take pain meds according to direction on the rx bottle...
short term healing is after 6-12 weeks your released by ur surgeon to drive and less restrictions. mostly doing things for yourself.
long term healing 8-12 months. no pain is realized and you have improved daily living and mobility. learn to take care of your new shiny hip and it will serve you for many years.
your just 2 weeks into recovery the hardest time period are the first few weeks. it will get better in time as healing continues thru the trauma post surgery. ice the swelling as much as possible, dont over do. take it slow and easy does it. your bone is still growing to secure the components. your brain is trying to wrap its nerve center around all the trauma , pain and accept the new components. this is serious and major surgery. at 35 and your in good shape you need to respect your body has been thru a huge trauma. slow down and in another few weeks your recovery will be movin in a positive direction as long as you listen to your body do not over due. you don't want to undo all the surgery..take every precaution seriously for months.
..............no amount of exercises will help your body heal faster. none ..nada... .....
after three hip replacements i hope you can follow the =take your time and let your body heal advice.
just walking is all that's needed to heal properly.
chris90455 barbara66703
Posted
Thanks. How much walking were you doing in those first couple of weeks? I've been getting out and doing around 5-10 mins a couple of times a day - but also moving around the house generally
barbara66703 chris90455
Posted
thats good and all it takes. keep movin practice heel to toe gate. only walk in small increments the first few weeks dont push...never over do. in time work your way up walking longer periods flat land . then in a few months increase to riding incumbent bike and walking up and down hills. if u have accesss to a non weight bearing incumbent bike after a few weeks is helpful .
most important exercise right now for muscles are bum squeezes take time ro build up to 25 three times a day and keep doing them. this will get the back muscles i better tone along with the major weight bearing muscles.