4 weeks post hip op
Posted , 11 users are following.
hi everyone out there who has just had a hip operation. I would love to hear how everyone is finding it.
I myself was quite pleased that at two days post op was able to walk with 2 sticks and climb stairs ( if there was a hand rail) and was a sent home. I had no pain at all in my groin/hip just obviously discomfort of the healing scar which was to be expected.i was really happy .
But 4 weeks in I seem to be very anxious that things haven't moved on and I fact I feel less well than 2 weeks ago.
1: My legs are still soooo swollen I can hardly bend my knees , my legs are too swollen to get those stockings on.it feels like I have a tight elastic band on the back of both knees stopping them bend, nurse just says it's a major op you will have swelling ,but this bad ?
2: been getting sharp pains in my scar ,which apparently are just the nerves firing back up in there I have been told, didn't have any last night 😀
3: I have a bit of groin pain and some buttock pain which I didn't have for the first few weeks ,bit like old pre op pain so am walking slower and turning with even more care than before to stop this from happening.
4: an annoying twitch on operative leg bottom cheek twitching ,no pain but goes off on these strange spasms ,is this normal.?
5: still can't lift my operative leg whilst lying flat on the bed to do the work sheet exercise. Fine on the other leg . But it just won't move ,try several times a day but no movement at all.
6: feel like my operative legs is going out slightly to an angle ,finding it so hard to walk with that foot forward ,it keeps wanting to turn out to balance me.
I feel we are sent home with no extra follow on care other than surgeon check up at 8 weeks ,we get told to get moving and get back to normal ,but then again don't over do it .
On a more positive note ,I was so worried I wouldn't be able to sleep on my back as I usually sleep on my stomach or sides but I have been sleeping really well slightly propped up with my v pillow so pleased with that as I really love my sleep 😀
Would love to hear from anyone who has had total hip op and there experiences .Would be good to help and support each other.
Warm wishes
suzie
1 like, 33 replies
hope4cure Suziemo
Posted
HimSuz.
All youe symptoms are going thru THR heeling pains of THR. Stay with exercises and stop them when it hurts.mthe most effective exercise ate the glute squeezes. It stabalize sthe girdle muscle around the stimach tha goes to the kne on a wrap around. Walk exercise don't over do. The biggest mistake I did was after feeling better I would get over confident and over do and down for a few days.
Many Heeling blessings sent your way.
keep posting your not alone there's a lot of hippies with great advice and positive attitudes to help you along.
Suziemo hope4cure
Posted
Thanks for encouraging message ,will keep exercising ,glute squeazes seem to be quite easy luckily and do them whilst watching tv 👍
kevin24066 Suziemo
Posted
just got to keep going with the excercises and maké sure you are taking a good AntI inflamatary to help with your swelling your foot will go back to normal with excercises and physio. just remember there is no set time or process to heal everybody is different .
Suziemo kevin24066
Posted
Thanks Kevin
will keep up with exercises ,but afraid dr took me off anti inflamatories as he said I shouldn't have been on apixaban and ibuprofen at the same time ! Even though that's what the hospital had prescribed me and sent me home to continue taking . Can't believe hospital made a mistake surely .
She also said ibuprofen was what was encouraging swelling !
Finish my apixaban in a couple of days so might try some ibuprofen I bought from the chemist myself ,as he would not let me have them on my prescription.
Were you on apixaban ( blood thinner ) for a month after hip op . ?
sandra_84282 Suziemo
Posted
Hi Susie.
You are exactly where you should be by the sounds of it. In the first few weeks the nerve damage is numb. Like a bad burn. At first there is no feeling except recovery from the anathetic and the actual op.
I'm 8 weeks post op and saw Physio at 3 weeks. Then like you nothing until I saw surgeon at 8 weeks and he doesn't want to see me for another year.
The 8 weeks recovery has been a roller coaster. Each week a different pain in a different place. I found weeks 3 and 4 were worst.
This op is brutal ! I watched it on you tube. It takes up to 12 months to recover.
Physio and Surgeon were delighted with my progress but I still have a bit of groin pain and terrible pain in unopereated buttock. The reasons were explained. Nerve and muscle damage. Deferred pain to other areas.
On a positive note it will all get better in time. Keep positive. It will all be temporary and it is a roller coaster so hang on tight. Xxx
hope4cure sandra_84282
Posted
Lots of exercises after THR is absolutely the key for successful recovery.
it took me about a year to get thru all the annoying and more than it tatting pain issue. But til this day imstillmsleep on my back?
the best part I still have my mobility and a better quality of life!
Suziemo sandra_84282
Posted
Many thanks for encouragement Sandra . Sounds like your doing well that's great to hear ,well done.
Was going to look for it on you tube but then got a bit scared and decided not to . Had a neighbour who had the same op a year previously who told me about all the noise i would hear if i had a spinal rather than full anesetic which I did opt for so wasn't so shocked there .
Some days definitely feel better than others and can't really pin point why ,guess it's just the healing process .
Many thanks X
madla39168 Suziemo
Posted
Not sleeping still well. I went to see doctor and he gave me
Diazepam take 3 times a day and night 2 tablets. I do still have some but they are not so painful like before.. it will get better but all need time. I have good days and not good days. Trust ur body
U will be fine. . Hug hug Madla
hope4cure madla39168
Posted
I hate those spasms. I took magnesium and used magnesium spray for them worked well for me.
sleeping seems to be the universal issue for most THR .its tough to sleep on backs and taking a pain med before bedtime is a good way to relax for sleep. It's also great that you have diazepam for sleep. Sleeping is an important factor for heeling.
All the roller coaster ups and down we go thru for better mobility and less pain in the long run is well worth all your efforts now. Your hip will be strong & get you on your way for years to come!
Suziemo madla39168
Posted
hi Madla
Thanks for message. My dr did say maybe Diazapan could help and if they continue he would perscibe them so that's good to hear that they are helping you . The spasms seem to have calmed down the last couple of nights, I do think they are worse when I feel stress ,I have suffered with them over previous years if I had a stress in my life.
Keep recovering well .
Sending hugs 😀
wendi27 Suziemo
Posted
I will be 4 weeks on Monday having had both hips replaced at the same time.
I went for physio today and while he is happy with my progress, my right side is weaker than my left, probably to do with that being the worse side pre op so I was using the left side more, therefore muscles where stronger.
I was amazed how wide my butt was following surgery, it seems flattened and pushed sideways! And my legs, well massive is the only word for them!
I have been doing my exercises in sets of 10 for each and doing that 3 or 4 times a day, taking the stockings off for an hour a day (as hospital said) the swelling from the knee up and particularly just behind the knee was awful and painful where the skin was so tight. Then all of a sudden they are going down, not completely yet but each day its a little better.
Sleeping was an issue on my back but I take pain killers before bed, as someone on here suggested and I only wake up once now.
All in all, the pain is minimal, certainly nothing like before the op. My 'wide load' is reducing and the two tree trunks I stand on are getting better!
Everyone is very different in the recovery progress, but when you think 'is this ever going to change' it will.
Sending positive healing thoughts to you xx
Suziemo wendi27
Posted
Hi Wendi
wow both hips at the same time ,there was a lady who came into our hospital just as I left that was about to have both hips done as sadly had first one done and it dislocated within hours so surgeon decided he would do both hips the next day. How do you get on for getting in and out of bed and walking as you don't have a non operative leg to push on or rely on ,must be so difficult ,you must be super woman 😘
Know what you mean about the butt thing ,mine is definitely flatter & wider that side now too.,wonder why that is ?
Glad that the painkillers are helping you sleep on your back ,that was my main concern not being able to sleep and accidentally rolling over in my sleep to my side and damaging my hip ,but obviously it just hasn't happened luckily .
Yes back of my knee really tight ,feels like the skin pinches me there when I walk upstairs ,the extra large stockings were too tight and the nurse too them off after surgery as she said they would do more damage than good . Find it strange that they don't have larger ones ,sure there must be people out there who have larger legs than me ,maybe with nhs budget that's all they can get .
Keep up the good work X
wendi27 Suziemo
Posted
Hi Susie,
I haven't really thought about not having a good leg to push off with, I think because I was in so much pain before I have just got on with it.
Getting into bed, I just sit on the edge and bring my knees up a little and using my arms kinda swivel in. I did do a lot of upper body exercise before the op and I think that has really paid off.
I think the stockings are supposed to be tight, again I am persevering with horrid things and the swelling is going down now.
I was so excited to get the op done, didn't once worry about it, I just saw it as the start of a new life. My surgeon doesn't cut the muscles, he moves them out of the way. A Massive bonus I think.
All in all to have the pre-op pain taken away and replaced with a slightly different but much less pain instead and knowing it will get better and better I think myself extremely lucky.
It's a long road and there are good and bad days(and nights!) But we will all get
Stay positive the light at the end of the tunnel will get brighter I am sure xx
Suziemo wendi27
Posted
Wonderfull positivity Wendi
. Yes it is good to have that awful arthritic pain gone ,know where your coming from. I found it hard getting on & off the bed at first ours is high but my arms are so much stronger now. Good planning on you doing arm exercises first 😘
Wish I could get those stockings on but just not possible legs enormous. I do have arthritis in both knees too ,that certainly doesn't help and could be adding to the reason I am so swollen.
We will get there hip buddy xx
wendi27 Suziemo
Posted
Try ice packs for the swelling? It was suggested to me, 10 mins ice, 10 mins warm. Personally I couldn't cope with the cold! I find keeping warm sitting around doing nothing a real problem! So I get up and do more exercises to warm up.
Sit with legs up as much as you can and circle your feet (post pregnancy exercise for swollen ankles). They have become second nature to me.
Sorry to hear you have dodgy knees too honey, mine crunch and crack a bit when I walk but no pain - yet.
I have also starting taking cod liver oil capsules, no sure how much good they do but trying to cover all options!
Also try visulation, close your eyes and see yourself doing all the things you want to be able to do, imagine walking up that hill with ease or slipping your feet into slim shoes, whatever does it to you.
There will come a time when we all look back in this and say 'that seems ages ago!'
Hugs xx
Suziemo wendi27
Posted
yes have been doing lots of foot exercises to keep the blood moving around ,not sure about ice either ,get cold so easily .
I took the cod liver oil capsules for quite some time ,had to come off them whilst I had my op but should be able to go back on them again soon ,think they said when I finish my apixaban ( which should be in 2 days time) think they really helped my cholesterol levels too,the dr said I had high levels of the good cholesterol .
Hope you slept well last night and have a positive day .
best wishes xx