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Day 9 post op LTHR

Posted , 10 users are following.

sarah010
sarah010

A few questions to ask please..........I had my op on 12th Dec and came out on 14th. SInce day 7 i have had a tightening feeling in the front of my operated side thigh - is this normal? I'm hoping it's part of the healing process. Also, how on earth does anyone get conmfy??? I lie for 20 mins on piles of pillows before my bottom/leg aches, then stand up and my leg begins to ache and so sit in a chair but again that's not comfortable! Any tips gratefully received!!

I have been reading this forum for 4 months now and find it so very helpful. Hope someone out there can help. I know no pain no gain but......

2 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • rose0000
    rose0000 sarah010

    Posted

    I know the feeling well! I am on day 20 and only really just comfortable the last few days.

    The tightening is the same as mine - I think it is the wound healing and I remember the same sensation with other operations.

    Keeping the operated leg on a soft supportive cushion - seems to help and I always sit on a soft pillow for comfort with pillows to support my back. That is comfortable in a chair. Night times can be difficult, I have used three pillows to lay more upright but I wouldn't say it was comfortable! And only just slept through last night for the first time.

    Just a few more days and it will get easier I promise. It is very early days for you. Just keep trying, and you will find a system of pillows to comfort you x

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sarah010

    Posted

    You have been wrenched and pulled around in the operating theatre, that hip of yours has been dis-located to be able to put in the new parts.

    My sister who is a nurse and did a surgery stint, said she was shocked at just how much brute force they have to use to do the THR surgery.

    Little wonder you are hurting. Have you ever sprained an ankle or strained a muscle, you probably have both sprain and strained muscles.

    It does get better, if you are in pain take some painkillers, they do ease alot of discomfort.

    When you are ready and I would not advise straight away, some months down the road, watch a hip replacement surgery, there are out there on youtube. Almost too much for me, and I thought I had a strong stomach.

  • renee01952
    renee01952 sarah010

    Posted

    hi sarah, 

    official warm, welcome to our family .... 

    wow, that was a short hospital stay ... I am sure you had some physical therapy, at least some basic exercises given, right? 

    you are very very early in recovery ... that pain is normal and like Lyn mentions, there was a lot of twisting and turning needed to dislocate the hip and all that - I did watch the video on youtube ( 21 days post-op though) and was so in awe of what my body went through - and the healing that needs to take place -

    restless legs and not comfortable was also an issue for me - still is sometimes - I just go with it, to be honest - when my legs start twitching I move them, do ankle or foot pumps, stretch them - 

    try to relax and take deep breaths - it is part of the journey, darling - 

    oh, in my book There is NO gain in having pain post-op THR   

    big warm hug'

    renee

  • vicki00016
    vicki00016 sarah010

    Posted

    Sarah I was just about to post the same question! I've currently got a small mountain of pillows to try and get comfy but the bottom of my back is aching so much!

    Repeatedly rearrange the pillows to no avail.

    My hands and arms ache from the crutches (I'm only walking on one leg for 3 months due to complex surgery) as I was advised to put all my weights on my arms.

    My heel feels raw as my foots always in the same position and rubs on the bed, I've just put my slippers on to see if that helps.

    I would appreciate any advice too!

    • renee01952
      renee01952 vicki00016

      Posted

      I wish I could tell you something new --- only thing is that it will get better ... it is exhausting, isn;t it ?   and by the time you think you're comfy, your bladder needs to be emptied -  YIGHHHHHH .... 

      I read somewhere that a recliner would be the most comfortable thing post-op THR -- I don't have one but I can imagine that it would - 

      like I told sarah, keep taking deep breaths and relax - 

      big warm hug

      renee

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 vicki00016

      Posted

      Have you got a roll cushion of any kind or can you make one up with a towel, when you get in bed tuck the roll under the bottom of your legs, about where your old sling back shoe strap goes, just high enough to lift your heels off the bed, you musn't compress your muscle in the back of your legs, that makes for a clot.

      Found lifting my feet, off the bed when resting gave me some relief from your heels drying out, and getting sore, also get some moisturiser rubbed into your heels if you can.

      You can still do the heel rotations, stretching out and strecthing back towards your leg with the roll in place, just hold it with the other foot.

      It does get better, and I know that is not very reassuing at the moment.

    • rose0000
      rose0000 vicki00016

      Posted

      I ended up with bed sores on heels - so it is important to use cream on the heels, out socks on them to protect them and try and sit in a chair for as long as you can with your feet on the floor to give them a rest from the sheets. The more you can walk the better.

      It is enormous effort to do anything - and my heart used to sink at the prospect of going to the loo, honestly I could cry with the effort. But with every passing day the pain diminishes, and now I am not springing out of bed but I am not dreading it either.

      I even managed a Christmas shopping trip be it to one shop, you will get there, quicker than you think, and setting goals and walking as much as you can bear will help you no end.

      My issue is hives of all things - has anyone else had them??? And how do you get rid of them? It his whole thing is a test isn't it!

    • renee01952
      renee01952 rose0000

      Posted

      Oh Rose  ...I know ... all these weird things that are popping in and out - hives and itchy spots at places I cannot get to - and I live alone and nobody around to scratch (sorry) -

      Just on a side note: I noticed that I smell funny cry - 

    • rose0000
      rose0000 renee01952

      Posted

      Unfortunately I can scratch mine and clawing away at leg is not helping smile you need to invest in a back scratcher no? Can be used anywhere!

      There are moments I wished I lived alone, my children are bubbling over with huge amounts of energy, dogs yapping endlessly, husband running out of goodwill...all I want is complete peace and quiet to get better. Which is not going to happen!! So maybe in some ways it is good for your recovery to have your own space. Do you have friends nearby?

      Do you know no one on here has mentioned the smell - but it was overwhelming for a few weeks - something horrible that I have never ever had before. I wondered if it was the medication or the operation. Or something rotting. It was hideous. Do you know what it is? It frightened me as it smelt a little of death or very serious illness. My grandmother said your smell changes when you are seriously ill. And boy she isn't wrong. I thought it was just me ....

    • colinTN17
      colinTN17 vicki00016

      Posted

      Hi Vicki 

      I had all the same problems. The sore heals I overcame by sleeping with a 15x15 inch cushion diagonally under my calves as far as the Achilles so that the heals weren't touching the sheet. It worked

      My back ache improved by lying with my knees up for a while. 

      Im 8wpo and still have the golf balls on op side doesn't hurt but uncomfortable so keep to lying on the op side with pill between knees.

      Hope it all improves for you

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK sarah010

    Posted

    Sarah,

    I think most if not all post-op hippies know the feeling you have - front of thigh pains.  Mine has now subsided (I am 7 weeks post-op).

    Getting comfy - that also comes with time, but I found that was only after it gets worse.   Once I was able to shift onto my side and change position, it eased considerably.  

    Then there's the 'sitting on a golf ball' feeling which many get, and I am now experiencing. 

    All part of the recovery and healing progress I think.

    Best wishes

    Graham

  • sarah010
    sarah010

    Posted

    Thank you for all your kind words and advice. I shall keep patient and carry on! A friend has given me some Nytol so I will try that tonight and hopefully get some sleep.

    It was a short stay in hospital as I'm 50 and I thinkn they try to get you out asap. The physio was marvellous and I am trying to do the exercises 3 times a day most days.

    Rose - re Hives - I had this rash and my district nurse recommended E45 cream which does help. Apparently it's a side effect of the codeine that I'm taking so now i only take 2 tablets a day rather than the 6 prescribed.

  • vicki00016
    vicki00016 sarah010

    Posted

    Lots of good ideas and kind words to your post. I will be trying out some of the tips!
  • anonymous333
    anonymous333 sarah010

    Posted

    I've been using Nurofen gel on my very hurty bits this week.

    Like Vicki00016, I've been lying against a mountain of pillows, but still having lower back pain. Upper arm pain from the crutches. Upper thigh pain from the op...

    The gel has really helped reduce the pain when it gets bad. I didn't really believe the TV ads about it directly targetting the pain until I bought some on Thursday and tried it.  It works!

    The can't get comfy thing is inevitable, I think. I was at the hospital on Friday morning to get my stitches out. After enduring the uncomfortable waiting room chair for about half an hour, I had to move. Stood up at the magazine rack to read. Was just about to sit again when I was called in and VERY grateful for a chance to move at that point.

    I told the nurse there is no such thing as comfortable at the moment. It's just a constant shifting of positions to reduce discomfort...

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