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
Rocketman_SG6UK Suziemo
Posted
Oh it is slow at the start - sounds like you are having a textbook recovery to me.
Swolen legs, some scar pain, groin and buttock pains, twitching, spasms, 'concrete leg', leg length differences due to pelvic swelling, feet at funny angles, wonky penguin walking are all part of a 'normal' recovery, but they shouls all get better - just never as fast as we think we should.
See my website for my blogs, advice and tips from the hippies on this forum, the address is in my personal info here ...
https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025
and on the moderator's "useful resources" page at
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Best wishes
Graham - 🚀💃
Suziemo Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
Hi Rocketman
thanks for encouraging words . Yes have read lots of other blogs now and don't feel like like I have a problem think your right it's just the healing process .
The night spasms seem to have calmed down ,think me stressing was making them worse . Trying to keep that operative leg forward to keep it inline but first thing in the morning it definately wants to twist out more. Think it's as when I sleep that leg relaxes and the foot flops out a bit.
Will look on your web site later.
Thanks hip buddy 😀
dave63380 Suziemo
Posted
Hi Suzi, you're doing good, first 4-6 weeks are the hardest. I couldn't lift my leg onto the bed or anywhere else at 4 weeks, used an exercise strap or crutch to lift it onto the bed. Do your exercises and walk, I used one crutch opposite side for 8 weeks at least on walks. Walk the dog every day, getting back up to about a mile a day. I'm almost 4 months post op and feeling good, getting stronger, it just takes a while. You should begin to see steady improvement if you're doing your exercises and walking. Stay positive you are still short time, wish you a steady recovery. Be careful at this stage of your recovery, try to think before you move, slow and easy. Don't try to move or kick something with surgery leg! I found out the hard way that was a bad idea. In pain for a week. This was probably at 8-10 weeks. But it healed and feeling better all the time.
Suziemo dave63380
Posted
sounds like your doing really well . I still feel I need both sticks most of the time . I do use one when I walk with food or drink to the other room ,but feel quite wobbly ,terrified I will fall and do damage . Sure I will feel more confident in a few weeks.
Great that you have a dog ,sure that encourages you to go out walking each day too.i just go out ( weather permitting) for a walk around the block ,it takes me 11/12 minutes so probably not even half a mile.
Its pouring down again here at the mo ,hope it stops later so I can go out.
Thanks foe advice ,keep up the good work
ann43383 Suziemo
Posted
I don't fell like after care instructions are good enough.....they say do exercises and walk, walk, walk.....well I think I did too much walking today and am now back on the bed in pain. I have to wait until 9 Dec to see surgeon again. It makes me wonder if he is going to say......' oh, didn't somebody tell you to do/not to do that?'
It's great to read how others are coping. Anyone still using 2 crutches after 3 weeks?
beth2509 ann43383
Posted
Hi Ann
?You really need to be less tough on yourself.I've not even finished week 2 yet, but if there is one thing I have learned from people here and elsewhere, it is that everyone has a different journey; and you can't compare yourself to others. And, in fact, you also just need to be a bit cautious of what you read here! Not because it isn't all true - quite the reverse. But posts can go through phases. When I first found this board back in September (knowing I had to have a hip replacement - my hip bone had collapsed and with crumbling away) I wondered what on earth I was going to face, because almost every post was full of dire consequences and awful experiences of hip replacement. If you check back my posting history to my first post, you'll see that the board scared me more than the op did! Of course, in some ways, there will be some worrying posts from peoples whose experiences aren't as good - because (a) there are some people that is true for, and (b) the sorts of people who are likely to be attracted to a site like this will be the ones who have something to worry about (even if it's nothing really!). When I found the forum I was in dire straights too, although for a different reason pre-op, and was looking for information.
?So you might "overdo" it sometimes - ten days out and even I have managed that already! All it does is provide you with a timely and painful hint not to do that again! We all have to experiment with what our personal limits are, and what we can and can't manage, and there is no exact science. I've been doing way beyond my wildest dreams since surgery - but that doesn't mean that it is all plain sailing or that there won't be rough times when it seems to go backwards. I have to be ready for those times and press on.
I can't see anything in what you are saying that I haven't heard from others before. But if you are genuinely worried, then talk to your GP / doctor; or talk to the hospital team and/or physio.
?And look on the bright side. It's spring, coming up for summer, where you are. I was out walking in the snow? yesterday, and believe me, it was anything but fun! I was orginally planning this op for next spring (when it was just arthritis), but circumstances decided otherwise, so what I would give for a recovery period with sunshine and warmth...
ann43383 beth2509
Posted
Thanks Beth, I enjoyed reading your reply and agree with you about everyone has a different journey to their recovery, I guess I just felt that there was a real lack of rehab info after leaving hospital. My surgeon just told me to 'walk', which I am trying to do, a little more each day but obviously today I overdid it. Please be careful you don't overdo it. The thing is, you feel fine and think you will push yourself a bit more but no, take it easy. Sorry to read you are coping with the onset of winter and snow....you must be up the north of UK? My son lives in Hampshire and he hasn't had snow yet. Keep warm and toasty and I hope you recover well, safely and quickly!
beth2509 ann43383
Posted
Yes, I am in the northern Pennines. You could get a bit higher than me, but not by much! I was hyping for a mild winter, but all the forecasts say it will be a harsh one and snow already is unusual. That said, they've not got a great record of predicting the weather the day after tomorrow....!
I think the problem is that "walk" plus do your exercises, is alk they can tell you. How far is up to the individual recovery. To be honest, for me, I am confident that the hip could go a lot further than I do, but I have some problems with three ankle on the other side that restrict me a bit - if it weren't for that I could probably throw the crutches away. I can manage short distances in the house without any support, but it always feels to be the ankle that is stopping me.
You just take it a step at a time and you'll get there. Good luck!
Suziemo ann43383
Posted
Hi Ann ( over in oz)
was wondering if op is done the same in different countries and what after care was like. So sounds like no extra help there either .
Yes I still use both sticks ,only use one when I bring food/ drink into the sittingroom but go sooooo slowly as scared I will fall .
Does sound like we all recover at different speeds ,but I think get to 6 months a year we will all be at the same stage so we shouldn't worry too much .
Yes we get conflicting advice ,physio said walk ,walk you won't over do it .
Dr says take it easy ,pace yourself don't over do it !
Hard to know ,guess we should just listen to our bodies and go by how we feel.
Sure weather in oz is better than here in uk ,hope it stops raining later as want to get out for a little walk.
Take care Ann
ann43383 Suziemo
Posted
Hi Suzie, I had an anterior hip replacement on the Monday and went home on the Thursday...will be 4 weeks out tomorrow. I was given 3 lying down exercises by 1 physio after 1 inpatient visit and told to walk as much as I can. When I overdo it, I really suffer with groin pain (where the ball socket was fitted). Sometimes I think I have damaged it and get pretty scared. I think getting in and out of the car has been the hardest for me and has probably been the reason I have experienced more pain! We have 2 border collies and I have been going to the beach with my husband and dogs each day. While he beach exercises them, I would walk the flat pathway. But I'm not going to do that anymore, I will just try and walk around the block at home. I get really sharp shooting pains down the front of my leg every now and again.
Suziemo ann43383
Posted
Hi Ann
yes the day I had groin pain was the second day that my husband had gone back to work so convinced it was that I did too much .
I feel great today after my walk around the block no groin or butt pain ,been letting my husband pamper me this weekend and think it's paid off.
It's just so difficult to know how much is too much isn't it. Sounds like walk with the dogs a bit too much.
I hate getting in and out of the car too ,but manage it fine i always get so anxious before and try to put of going out ,silly really . Each time I think I won't get anxious next time ,but I do,silly me.
Love this site ,good to chat to like minded people
keep smiling Ann 😀, we will get there.
renee01952 Suziemo
Posted
hi suzie ,
ditto on all the responses ... you are right on track and doing very well ...
this journey is like a roller coaster ride, ups and many downs, physically, emotionally and yes, also spiritually ... in other words: It takes time for the body, mind, and soul to recover from this invasive operation....
Swelling around scar and leg is common after a hip replacement . This is the normal process of healing and can last for several weeks to month -
Elevating your legs at night and wearing compression stockings during the day will help.
Deep aches and swelling in the hip can persist for quite some time because bone, a living tissue, continues to re-model and adapt around the metal implants. This increased metabolic activity can lead to lingering soreness and swelling after activity, all of which will disappear with time. .
however, suzie, you mention that both your legs, operated and unoperated ones, are very swollen and LED stockings do not fit ...
I remember bizillions trips to the toilet all day and especially during the night ... I did have swelling in operated leg until 4 weeks - started upper thigh and going down, lingering around ankle for weeks .... is it getting worse?
don't try the straight leg lift yet ... healing is taking place where muscles, tendons etc, very cut - still very fragile, darling ...
Recovery from THR surgery invloves the whole body - suddenly you have to learn how to walk again - you are aware how different it feels and it is so easy to fall back in old habits - you know, the one pre-surgery where your body try to find the less painful way - sometimes it is the position of a foot that compensated for the pain, or a limp, or walking bend over ...
congratulations on sleeping well !!!!
try not to compare yourself with others and be very kind and gentle with yourself as well - allow your body to heal at her own speed ..
one more thing : maybe make an appointment with your doctor regarding the swelling - just to get some peace of mind ...
big warm hug
renee
Suziemo renee01952
Posted
hi Renee
Many thanks for encouraging words, yes your right we all recover at different rates. It's just when you feel better one day ,then worse the next you question it , but guess this is the normal healing process.
Yes nurse put stocking on my leg before op but then took it off and said it would do more damage as it was too tight.
Had been on crutches for 4 months before the op as hip so bad so guess it will take me a bit longer to build muscles back up.
Sounds like your doing well
hugs
suzie
rob.nic29 Suziemo
Posted
Hi Suze,
I'm now 6 weeks post op and can empathise with much of what you have said. I agree that you feel a little 'cast adrift' leaving hospital. I haven't had any worrying complications but I agree , I would feel a little uncertain as to who to turn to if I had.
I have experienced swelling, particularly in the operated leg, which makes the skin tight and uncomfortable around the leg above and around the knee. I think that happened around 3-5 weeks. That is slowly easing now for me.
I find it amazing reading the different exercise patterns people have been given. Why is there no consistency at all ?
Be interested to hear how far you are walking and the kind of daily exercise you are undertaking.
I hope you are able to get professional advice about some of the issues worrying you. Sometimes 5 mins with them might ease some of your worries.....which brings us back to your original point about support following discharge from hospital.
Best wishes...
Rob...
beth2509 rob.nic29
Posted
beth2509
Posted
Oops again - it's a card not a crease!
Suziemo rob.nic29
Posted
Hi Rob
i am doing the exercises on the sheet the hospital gave me ,a few bed ones
1: feet up & down ,circles
2: leg slides
3:thigh clenchers
4: leg raises ( can't do this on my operative leg ) it just won't lift
Then holding onto the chair or work surface
1: knee bend forward
2:leg out to the side
3: leg behind
4: leg behind bends.
I try to get out for a walk ,but weather here been so horrid so have probably only managed it about 3/4 times a week ,walk around the block slowly ,say 11/12 minutes ,guess not even half a mile .
Maybe I should be doing more ??
whats your activity like ?
Best wishes
suzie