8 weeks after total hip replacement

Posted , 15 users are following.

I am 8 weeks into total hip replacement surgery , and most things are going fine with the exception o the following .

My legs and feet are still so swollen and painful this is both legs and feet

not just the operated leg

When sitiing on my buttocks it is so painful  its like sitting on a pile of rocks.

Has anyone else experienced the above

Kind regards shirley

 

7 likes, 41 replies

41 Replies

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  • Posted

    Is that sitting pain like sitting on a golf ball ?   Lots of people experience it, including me.  I noticed this week that it has disappeared, so it will go with lots of muscle strengthening and bum clenching.

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • Posted

      Hi Graham

      Yes it sure is like sitting on a golf ball or even a small pile of stones.

      I am going for the bum clenching in a big way and hope it does the trick .

      Many thanks

       

  • Posted

    Shirley I am now 4 months out and the soft tissue in my buttocks isn't sore anymore. It was pretty bad until about 12 weeks. I had posterior approach and I feel like I had a lot of soft tissue damage. I couldn't get comfortable while sitting. I slept on my back until 4 weeks ago. Now I sleep on my good side with a pillow in between my legs. The swelling in my legs went away after 3 weeks after NP told me to increase fluids and when I did the swelling resolved. I also layed down twice a day for at least a half hour with leg up on 2 pillows. I wishmyoumwell. It's a long haul but the end will be good.
    • Posted

      Hi Free Spirit, I had 2 hip surgeries 1 with 3 Screws ( didn't work)so I had to have another surgery & have a real THR surgery I went to Nashville,Tennessee to have the 2 surgery(titanium hip put in)!! Now I'm 10 weeks after the 2nd surgery. The dr. In Tennessee said he would never do a"posterior approach) he never does because the recovery will take 3 times longer then a " anterior approach)  Hope this nightmare will end soon😢😢hope you feel better each day if you want to keep in touch, feel free to post anytime !! God bless you CAROL
  • Posted

    Hi shirley

    I am 8 to 9 weeks post op and did not get any swelling in my feet or ankles and l have nobproblem sitting it just feels normal. I go innon monday for mt 2nd hip replacement l just hope this one goes as well.

    Sorry to hear that l would maybe call the hospital and ask why you are still like this

    Laura x

    • Posted

      Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery! I'm sure you'll do great.
  • Posted

    Hi Shirley, 

    So sorry to hear this ...

    Did you have your 6 weeks followup appointment  and if so, what were you told about the swollen legs? are they swollen from top all the way down to ankles?

    I am not a doctor but I think 8 weeks post-op and swollen and painful legs are something to go see a doctor about - Just to make sure that it is part of the healing process - 

    My right, operated, leg was swollen for about 4 weeks and I thought that was long -  

    You had major surgery, sweetheart, and it takes time for your body to recuperate from the trauma and manhandling ...

    Big warm hug and please let us know how you are getting on.

    renee

    • Posted

      I did have a six week review , i mentioned all of my problems to the consultant and he thought it was quite normal.

      I have even been to my gp about the swelling in my legs and feet and even at 8 weeks he thought it was normal and was very early days .

      He also said that the pain in my butocks was a problem for some people but he thought it would go  in time .

      My swelling is in the leg below the knee and the feet .

      Thank you for your best wishes

      I suppose all will be well in the end

    • Posted

      Hi Shirley, how are you now, has the swelling gone down any??  I see your consultant is like mine "it's normal", it might be for them but to us it definitely doesn't feel normal!!!

      Have you managed to sleep on your side yet?? I still can only sleep for very short periods (minutes) on my op side as it's still so painful😕😕😕

      I so long for the day to be back to normal, my consultant said that you will feel so much better by 6 months - guess I'll just have to be patient for another 3 months 😃😃😃😃

      Anyway, hope things are a bit better for you now, let me know how you are getting on, xx

    • Posted

      Hi Carol

      Nope the swelling has not gone down , and the rocks are still there in my bum.

      My consultant mentioned  6 months as a good recovery time  too.

      I have not really tried sleeping on my side yet , if the truth be known i am a liitle bit scared, but i will have to persevere because i m in such pain when on my bacK

      Looks like we both have another 3 to4 months to get our act together ,and our life back .

      I just feel so sorry for my husband and all the chores he has been landed with.

      I dont know what i would have done without him , he is my rock.

      Keep me posted on how you are progressing

      Very best wishes

      Shirley

       

    • Posted

      Shirley,

      It takes some time for the golf ball / pile of rocks in the bum to disappear. I suddenly noticed last week that mine had disappeared.  it made a brief reappearance yesterday when I was out in the cold on my first long walk (3.5 miles) with walking poles instead of a stick.

      I had swelling the first time around ... not the second time.  It just disappeared eventually, I think it depends on how roughly they had to handle the leg to dislocate it, and do the things they had to do. Obviously for me, dislocation the second time with an artificial hip joint was much easier than the first when I had my old worn-out natural joint.

      Sleeping on the side - I am slowly getting back onto my sides now, but it takes time, but as the wound heals internally, it gets easier.  I think massage with oils/cream (I use Superdrug's acqueous cream which seems very good) makes the internal scarred tissue break down and pliable much faster.

      3 or 4 months- yes, I know, Ikeepapologising to my work about the time I have been off.  I haven't worked since late October, and don't expect to go back until April.  At least the weather is better now here in Hertfordshire, so I can get out and walk a bit, which makes me feel a whole lot better.  Rocketwoman and I went out to lunch with friends in London on Saturday which was good for our morale.

      I know just what you mean about our long-suffering partners, I would havebeen lost without my wonderful wife.  We have been through thick - and - thin, but this takes some beating for the disturbance to our life (I do all the driving to unfamiliar places normally as she hates it) and the amount of time it's all taking.

      Here's hoping your 'pile of rocks' disappear soon.

      Best wishes

      Graham - 🚀💃

    • Posted

      Hi Graham

      Thanks for the reassurance that the rocks will go in time .

      The swelling to my foot on the operated leg last night was the worst it has ever been.

      The pain was excrutiating. i had to get up and wrap foot in an iced flannel, it got a little easier after that , what a night.

      Do you know of any reason why my unoperated leg an foot should also be swollen.

      Oh how i long for a restful nights sleep .

      Thank again

    • Posted

      No idea - that seems odd, the operated one i would expect, but not the unoperated one.

      Ice (packet of frozen peas etc) is usually the recommended method of reducing swelling.

      Only another hippie would know how much you long for a good night's rest.

      Graham

  • Posted

    Hi Shirley I will be 9 weeks post op this coming Wednesday and also have a swollen operated bottom half of leg at times.yesterday quite swollen although not painful.what I struggle with is severe backache especially once I've been walking around indoors for a bit or more so if I've not used my crutches. I feel at the moment I haven't improved over the last couple of weeks and i get quite down about it all.I read what other people are achieving and feel like I'm way behind. I should of had my 6 week check up 19th jan but it was cancelled till 16th Feb so that hasnt helped...is this all quite normal to be like this just wondered what other people may think .

  • Posted

    It hurt me so much to sit. Keep getting up And walk then use ice packs. I’m no dr. But maybe u should elevate your legs when resting. Good luck to you! 

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