6 Weeks today, my experience.
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi All. Had a left THR posterior in the UK on 12th Sept . After being told i was too young, you might need another in 15 yrs,you're not stting here crying in pain etc by 3 consultants over 4 years , the last one even referred m e back to Physio !! I took matters into my own hands , picked my hospital and surgeon , and got referred through my doctor. Within one minute of my consultation he said " Your hips shot at , you need surgery"! At last someone had listened to me . That was on the 23rd Aug.
Of course i was nervous leading up to the day but found lots of very helpful info on here.
For anyone waiting for surgery and worried all i can say is there is no need to be at all. The "dreaded" spinal was completly painless and as i opted for full sedation i knew nothing at all until i woke in recovery, fully awake, no pain, no nausea , and chatting to staff the same as i was before surgery. I had op at 9.00am ,was back on the Ward at 11.30 ,and was tucking into my lunch at 11.50. I had to pinch myself that i felt so alert and well.
I stayed in hospital for 2 days where i was looked after fantastically well. The pain relief meds did their job and was up and about doing the usual exercises in preparation for going home. The only negative experience i had was the fact my bladder didnt "wake" up quickly enough so had to have a catheter, I would rather have 20 spinals than having one of those again!!!!! As you find out though with this surgery, everything is temporary and it was a great relief when it was removed 24hrs later!
My time at home has been different of course since surgery but everything you encounter, raised toilet seats, using the grabber and other devices, remembering your hip restrictions , doing exercises and building up walking gently isnt really a problem or burden. Take everything slowly and steadily and you soon get into a routine. Accept the fact that sleeping on your back can be a challenge but it isnt for ever. I got severe heel pain for the first few nights so now i have a very soft pillow under my calfs so my feet dangle over the edge of the pillow and not in contact with the bed sheets, no problems since. My thigh and knee did bruise and swell but ice packs do help and it has reduced by 80% .
This is the day i discard the TED stockings which have been fairly comfortable to be honest. Ive been advised to continue to walk with two crutches outside for the full 12 wks to avoid getting a limp and im now doing 2 miles a day.
it really is life changing surgery and im continuing to be positive going forward and im really enjoying the recovery process. Ive had no pain since surgery, i stopped the pain relief after 2 weeks and all i get now is muscle stiffness which i take as a good feeling that my "chicken leg" is slowly getting back to normal.
Thank you for reading
John
4 likes, 14 replies
Osca31
Posted
Meant to say lateral , not posterior .
RichardKen Osca31
Posted
Congratulations. John and it does pay to be proactive and be positive. Glad that you were advised to use two crutches but would suggest that once you are walking strongly and with a good even gait that that is the time to put them aside. Check your walking in shop windows. Best Richard
Osca31 RichardKen
Posted
Thanks for the advice Richard. Funnily enough i have already done the window check thing!
RichardKen Osca31
Posted
Its all about being positive and properly supporting yourself as you regain lost muscle strength. Using both crutches until you are well on the way to recovery from all reports seems to be very important. In addition it means that it is less likely that you will put part of your frame out of kilter causing lower back ache...
been there got the T shirt. Richard
david60044 Osca31
Posted
Glad to hear you're well on the road to recovery. I am at the early stages of limping, in pain all day every day, struggling to get upstairs in and out of the car etc and have also been told despite the MRI scans confirming bone on bone left hip, I should wait a few years otherwise it's a another hip replacement in 10-15 years. I've managed to at least get an appointment for a steroid injection first of all and the consultant will evaluate the situation after that. I'm 52 and being told too young. I have been very active paying squash hockey and climbing mountains so my hips have had a battering over the years. I don't understand the significance of age? there are plenty of people younger than me who have had surgery and many older. Surely it's a benefit to fix the hip, returning the patient to an active lifestyle rather they become couch potatoes, put on weight and get all the health issues that are currently costing the health service millions
RichardKen david60044
Posted
I'm sorry that you have been told such utter nonsense! well it is unless there is something that you have not told us about.
A hip replacement competently done should last at least twenty years unless you are very unlucky or decide to carry on running as a regular thing in which case all bets are off!
Mine done in 1997 lasted for over twenty years and only failed because the poly cup wore through! I did a lot of very heavy work BTW. People far younger than you are granted THR. surgery. I would be very wary of the surgeon you are under and would seek a more knowledgeable one. If you are in the UK you have the choice of hospital and surgeon and can check their level of success unless they practice in Wales I think. Its your body it pays to be proactive. !! Cheers, Richard
Osca31 david60044
Posted
Hi David. Sorry to hear you're having a struggle, its exactly what i went through, too young (55) etc etc. If you are in the UK then do what i did , pick a reputable hospital and insist ,through your GP a consultation. I also picked my surgeon originally because i thought if i went down the Andy Murray re surface route then ,because of my age , i would be sucessfull. At the consultation re surfacing was ruled out straight away and was offered THR.
Osca31 RichardKen
Posted
Its terrible that people are being put off and denied surgery depending on which NHS Trust they go to.
RichardKen Osca31
Posted
Agreed and you being proactive is often necessary. Many people however are not but it is our health, our responsibility so well done. Hope. all continues to go well for you. Richard
Mart76 Osca31
Posted
Im 43 and going in on Friday and cant stop over thinking it. Thanks for posting such a useful, positive story and I hope my experience is as good as yours. My pre op situation sounds identical to yours and I just keep thinking I'd rather be completely knocked out than even having a spinal and sedative, but sounds better than i thought. thanks again. Martyn
Osca31 Mart76
Posted
Hi Martyn
im glad you found my post useful. Im now at week 13 and having my follow up appt on friday. The time has flown by and each day is a step towards full recovery. I kept on 2 crutches until week 9 then went down to one for a week. I found that all of a sudden i was able to walk unaided with no limp and that has continued.
With regards to the spinal and sedation, if you dont want to be aware of the op then just ask for full sedation and you will be awake again before you know it but without any nausea etc.The spinal doesnt hurt and the warm sensation you feel in your legs as it takes effect isnt unpleasant at all.
Good luck on your recovery ,embrace it ,and before you know you will soon be enjoying the renewed mobility and increased energy that i now have.
Cheers
John
ptolemy Mart76
Posted
A spinal anaesthetic is brilliant. I had an op three weeks after my hip where they offered GA only. I asked for a spinal and they agreed to use one, I am so glad I had heard about them when I had my hip done. I had no sedation for my hip op as I wanted to know what was going on, but you can be knocked out if you want or have a mild sedation and listen to your ipod.
claire92048 Osca31
Posted
Fantastic result! That's interesting the advice you received to continue using both crutches whilst walking outside for the full 12 weeks to prevent a limp. I'm 7 weeks today RTHR and last week just started walking inside unaided, but with a slight limp. I still continue to use one crutch whilst out and about for the additional support. I haven't really been given any clear advice to follow, so have just gone with what feels right. I have my final physio appointment on Friday, so will ask for their viewpoint then. Thank you for your helpful post. It's always good to know the experience others have had.
vickie1976 Osca31
Posted
I keep hearing to use crutches to stop the limp. what however if you already had a limp as my good leg is already shorter than the leg that is being operated on this thursday? wonder what happens then 🙄