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AMIS Anterior thr progress

Posted , 6 users are following.

bridie000
bridie000

Just had my first check in with the surgeon after 6 weeks, all is hunky dory as far as he's concerned. I have no restrictions and can carry on as I have been. AND I can ride my bike again woohoo!

I still have pain in the knee, thigh and groin but it is intermittent, diminishing and expected. Doing too much causes the thigh to flare up but not doing enough causes the groin to tighten. 

I've mainly been using the stationary bike and the exercises I was given at the hospital as well as the usual housework and light gardening. My gait is not quite correct but it seems to be coming good. I haven't had any physio aside from what I'm doing at home.

The worst I've had was after week 2 when I ran out of strong pain meds (oxcycontin) the advice sheet said to go onto paracetemol when I finished with the oxy and I have come to realise that was a cruel joke! I admit I am a sook. The pain was really bad and paracetemol just wasn't cutting it so I took over-the counter Codeine, reducing the amount until yesterday now i'm just on a couple of paracetemol. I can see why people get addicted to oxy that was really nice!! sigh.

The bills for the operation just keep coming - We had to pay over the odds for the surgeon, the surgeons assistant and the anaesthetist, as well as for the medication and crutches.

It was a lot more that I expected but it pales into insignificance when compared to what the private health insurance covered.

I can't remember the fee for the surgeon, something like AU$6000 I think. The hospital (where I had to share a room because of lack of single room availability, right near the nurses station) cost AU$20 000 for 4 nights!!

The first night was redundant because they just wanted me there for their own convenience and the other 3 nights I could have hired a private nurse and been in a nice, quiet hotel room for less than that.

I could have waited and gone through the public system but my partners employer paid our health insurance for years so I decided to make the most of it.

Of course the best part is no hip pain!!! It has definitely been worth it for me if all continues to go well... until the next one.

There is a pdf booklet that has some good exercise and guidelines for anteriorists.  Search for: post op anterior hip replacement exercise book and it should come up otherwise it can be found at Matthys Orthopaedic site: jointpain dot md patient library 

Best wishes to all.

1 like, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • susyp
    susyp bridie000

    Posted

    Hi Bridie great news. I'm 5 weeks post op THR posterior approach. Ouch what a hospital bill.!!

    I live in the UK and was very fortunate to have my operation funded by our National Health Service in a private hospital. I only had a 12 week wait. I am very grateful for this.

    Glad to hear your restrictions have been lifted, my surgeon keeps them in place for 12 weeks with the exception of sleeping on your back and driving which are lifted at 6 weeks. I see him soon so I will ask him why.

    I have been lucky as I have been off pain killers since week 2. Still taking blood thinners for another week.

    I love cycling and can't wait to get back on my bike. Were you nervous at 1st.

    Enjoy your freedom and the very best wishes for the future.

    Sue x

  • bini31328
    bini31328 bridie000

    Posted

    Hi Bridie - thats so much money ! Like Sue I had mine done on NHS - i do have private cover through work but it doesnt include pre existing conditions which this was. Im also keen to get back on my bike -,seeing surgeon tuesday so should allow me to do so from then. Back to work wednesday and will be lovely to see everyone again . Im still in pain though - very sore and stiff first thing so taking  paracetamol, ibuprofen and small dose of codeine first thing and i get a general ache right across the pelvis , back pain etc if ive done too much - actual new hip isnt hurting just everything else ! So i often take more paracetamol mid afternoon - you all seem to be doing much better than me painwise 
    • susyp
      susyp bini31328

      Posted

      Hi Bini when did you have your operation. I see my surgeon on the 27th and was thinking of returning to work following week. I will be be 7 weeks then. I'm returning to a part time job.

      I have been telling everyone I'm pain free and have been since week 2 and today I am in pain for some reason and taking paracetamol. I do feel stiff in a morning though. It just goes to show that just when you think you are over something it can return. Other than that alls good.

      Take care and let us know what the surgeon said. Mines very strict and says cycling outdoors is restricted for a while will clarify the actual time span for this.

      Sue x

    • bini31328
      bini31328 susyp

      Posted

      Hi Sue I had op on 4th March so I,ll be 6 1/2 weeks post op when return to work. I work full time as a Clinical lead nurse in a big 80 bedded nursing home - i will stick to 8 hr days rather than my usual 10-12 hrs . Luckily as its a nursing home its set up for people with mobility problems so I can use the lifts / slopes etc . As I,m nota nurse ' on the floor' I can choose what to do so can alternate sitting / standing / computer time etc . I went back to same job at 6 weeks after my last op 2 yrs ago and was ok - i just took it easy. I had much longer off after my first op 8 yrs ago but I worked for the NHS then so got full pay for months - thats not the case now ! Plus to be honest I love my job and really miss doing it ! Part time would probably be better for a while but I cant afford it , and my boss the overall home manager is heavily pregnant so needs my support xxxxx
    • renee01952
      renee01952 susyp

      Posted

      Hi Sue, 

      I guess the incident of falling is part of the restriction on road bicycling ...

      Shudder by the thought of falling ....

       

    • susyp
      susyp bini31328

      Posted

      Hi Bini I had my operation 12th March so just a week behind you. I'm returning to work at 7 weeks like you I enjoy my job and I need a focus again. I think it will be tiring at 1st. I'm hoping to be sleeping longer also by then as I will be able to sleep on my side.

      Best wishes on your return to work and your continued recovery.

      Sue x

    • susyp
      susyp renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee

      Yes I understand the restrictions on road bicycling. Falling off would be a tragedy not worth thinking about.

      It's just that there are so many inconsistencies amongst surgeons regarding restrictions. Think I would be too scared to get on my bike yet.

      Looking forward to driving next week.

      Best wishes

      Sue x

  • annie.conway
    annie.conway bridie000

    Posted

    My problem with those exercises is that I can't stand on my 1 operated leg to exercise the other .... So the 'bad' side gets the exercise but not the good side. So, at this stage, I'm doing only the lying down exercises and going for walks. Roll on 6th May when we'll hopefully find out why the bad leg won't take weight. The hip is in spasm and it's just not letting go .... 😡
    • susyp
      susyp annie.conway

      Posted

      Hi Annie sorry to hear you are having problems weight bearing.

      Everyone is different in their recovery so I have learnt from this very valuable forum.

      I remember how difficult it is non weight bearing when I broke my ankle funnily enough the same leg as my new hip. Sure it's all connected some how. You need strong upper arm strength.

      Hope you get to the root of the problem soon. Will look out for your post's.

      Wishing you the very best in your recovery .

      Take care

      Sue x

  • renee01952
    renee01952 bridie000

    Posted

    Hi Bridie, 

    so happy for you, darling !!! 

    not the bills though ... how much is covered by your insurance ?

    take care and

    big warm hug

    renee

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK bridie000

    Posted

    Wow, what a cost ... I am so thankful for UK NHS system -

    total cost to me was £0.00

    Thanks for the info, I'll see if I can find it and add a link in my website.

    Hope to be back on a bike as soon as the rain stops - I used to use the public hire bikes in London as part of my daily commute, it helps with the pollution, and does me good too.

    Best wishes

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • bini31328
      bini31328 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Not free / £0.00 Graham , you have prepaid for it via your NI contributions throughout your life ! I always think its Important for people to remember that ! Plus , dont know about you but so far I,ve paid over £100 in precription charges , £25 for a memory foam cushion, £50 for dressings on Amazon as couldnt get the right shower proof ones prescribed , about £100 in taxi costs and previously £100,s of pounds for private physio  as the local NHS provision is so poor etc etc -it all adds up , although I get your point that in the UK we are not given bills for thousands of pounds 😀- thank god 
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK bini31328

      Posted

      Yes, we do pay via NI, but not at the point when we need the operation(s).

      Prescriptions - all free as I'm over 60 now, dressings free from the hospital.  Hospital was just 3 miles away, so my wife ferried me there and back in our car.

      Grabber, shoehorn and stick clips - probably just over a tenner.

      No extra charge for having two operations sad, and now I have my appointment at Stanmore to see the experts in 'difficult cases'.  We'll see what they say about it, and whether or not I need a third operation on it sometime.

      Graham - 🚀💃

    • bini31328
      bini31328 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Lol, id expect a discount if you needed a third ! And sincerely hope you dont. Ive a few years till I get free prescriptions - was quite shocked at the cost of 4 dressing items eg £8 + for ten tiny squares of gauze ( on amazon for 89p ) - i do hope all goes OK re Stanmore for you Graham , they are the experts. Hows commuting/  work going ? Xxxx
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK bini31328

      Posted

      Commuting and work are very tiring, but getting just a bit easier.  Still on a 3 day week, and almost back to normal hours.  Have to see the work nurse next week, I think she wants to see my scar (as I said to my wife, "yet another young lady who wants to stroke my rear end!!!")

      That's a shocking price for something so small - would the hospital not provide them?  They gave me a whole handful of waterproof dressings, gause dressings, spare TEDs, quite a party bag.

    • bini31328
      bini31328 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      They gave me 3 dressings which got used in 24 hrs once the wound started leaking - practice nurse at GP,s gave me some but only enough for a couple days - when it was really leaking I was having to change the dressings 3 times a day as it kept getting soaked through - thankfully all stopped now . I got the spare TEDS which Im keeping for NY flight at end of May. I think your commute is probably doubling how tired you are, am glad I dont have that. And I did borrow a high arm chair from my nursing home , which has been a comfortable godsend over the last 6 weeks - although ready to give it back now! Am back 3 days next weel and then 5 the week after but get a lift to / from work (5 mins away) and will make sure I do only my contracted 8 hr days and no more for a while . I Won,t  comment on young ladies wanting  to stroke you ...😂😂😂😂😂 But feel Mrs Rocket has to put up with a lot ! 
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK bini31328

      Posted

      Yes, Mrs Rocket has been wonderful, and we are able to laugh (and cry) at it all together.

      Have a great time in NY.

      Best wishes

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