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fainting spells, extreme tiredness and back pain

Posted , 13 users are following.

nikki52902
nikki52902

Hi everyone. Im new to the group having had my THR on Jan 25th. The op went well but when I came home the slightest thing i did made me feel faint and dizzy. I ended up back in hospital as my doctor said i was dehydrated. I am fuly hydrated now and home but am wiped out all the time and still feel faint . I could cope with the mobility problems and pain if i felt better and had some energy. Did anyone else have this problem? How long did it last? Also sleep is impossible due to a stabbing pain in my lower back.  Im worried now that all the pain i had previously wasnt coming from my hip but some from my back. I feel miserable and tearful all the time, just hope this is normal . My expectations of how I would feel were too high i think 

3 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • renee01952
    renee01952 nikki52902

    Posted

    Hi dear nikki, 

    warm welcome to our forum of fellow hippies where we share our personal stories and experiences -

    You are so early in your recovery of major surgery and your body is working so hard to repair all the damages done - 

    DId you have posterior method?  If so, then tendons, nerves etc are cut through - If you are up to it, you might want to watch the THR video on you tube - If you don't want to see the "real" thing, there is  a virtual, interactive, THR surgery which is also fascinating - 

    Your leg/hip have been manipulated and that might cause the back ache - If  the pain is really bad and you are terrible worried, please contact your surgeon -

     

    Sleep is a challenge for many post-op THR - do you have a recliner ?  

    DO your ankle rotations and foot pumps as many times as you can - walk and move around for as long as you can - it will get better - rest is oh so important right now -

    be gentle with your self and know that all is well!

    angel blessing

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • nikki52902
      nikki52902 renee01952

      Posted

      thanks renee.

      I would walk around more but feel faint and wiped out so spend too long sitting either on my bed or chair. I have a comfy sun recliner in my lounge but my bottom and back hurts after halfan  hour. I supposed im worried as i have had sacroilliac joint disfunction before and for the months leading up to the op had the stabbing pain in my back . I really thought that would have gone by now. i know i needed it as my hip was very arthritic . Just wish i wasnt so tearful all the time too. 

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK nikki52902

      Posted

      Nikki,

      I didn't have back pain the first time around, but I did when I had my revision - the reason was probably because they were trying to belt the ceramic liner into position with a big hammer - I was awake, so I could hear it, and feel it in my upper body !!!

      As Renee says, it is a very physical operation, they bend and twist your leg around, and do all sorts of unnatural things to you to get you fitted with your new hip.  Hopefully it will pass in a few days like mine did.

      The strain takes it's toll on us, like anything else, some of us are able to stand the mental trauma better than others. Itis natural to be concerned and upset that the pain has not gone away as you thought it would. 

      I was in despair at the start of this week, thinking I would never walk properly again, then I woke up one morning, and everything seemed to fall into place, and there I was for the first time in over three months, walking without sticks, crutches or frame.

      It's a roller coaster ride, my advice would be to just hang in there, and come to this forum for support.

      Best wishes

      Graham

  • susan47173
    susan47173 nikki52902

    Posted

    Hi sorry to hear you are feeling out of sorts, very early days for you and as previous reply states our bodies have taken a lot of trauma, you will feel better day by day except your tired achey days and rest, just do the basic exercises. I too have back problems so getting comfortable is a pain in the backside so to speak smile take your time the first 6 weeks let your body heal. Big hugs take care
  • DawnHU5-UK
    DawnHU5-UK nikki52902

    Posted

    Hi Nikki, it's horrible feeling out of sorts and in pain, but it does get better. We have all been where you are now, to a greater or lesser extent. You will always find sympathy and advice on this forum.

    One item that I have found incredibly helpful whilst sitting and lying down is an electric heat pad. This really does ease my aches and pains. As for your high expectations, I was the same! I brought 2 books into hospital with me and they stayed in the suitcase. When I came home I anticipated a super rapid recovery and I thought I would be bouncing around all over! No way! It takes time for our bodies to recover and we have to be patient with ourselves. I am 4 weeks PO today and I feel so much better than even a week ago. You will too.

    • nikki52902
      nikki52902 DawnHU5-UK

      Posted

      thank you so much Dawn. 

      I also took in books and havnt touched them. I also wonder if people forget the first few weeks as I had friends tell me their 80 yr old mums recovered so fast et etc and i began to feel a failure. 

  • Gaby21
    Gaby21 nikki52902

    Posted

    I felt like you for about a month . Had tests no cause. Just felt awful! I did sleep a lot thigh.

    Wish you better. Xx

  • deb76651
    deb76651 nikki52902

    Posted

    Hi Nikki, Im 3 weeks post op and know the first week was hell. Couldnt sit at all , not even for a few minutes!! Dizzy , exhausted, bad pain, sad yep. All, part of the trauma weve gone through. Up side is I can now sit for about 15 mins or more and I am quite mobile but still cat napping. Dont hurry, be kind to yourself. Every day, every week we get stronger, happier and better.
    • nikki52902
      nikki52902 deb76651

      Posted

      thank you so much. Its so nice to have this reassurance that other people have felt the same. x
  • Kate53CornUK
    Kate53CornUK nikki52902

    Posted

    Hi Nikki, I went through exactly the same until I got on this forum and found I wasn't superwoman. My GP said, what did you expect, the surgeon has just chopped the top of your femur off?

    We are not in plaster so expect that we will recover quickly. I also think it's worse if you were fit and active before.

    I was very weepy for a couple of weeks and during this time everything was a supreme effort.

    I am 53 and turned a corner at 4 weeks and I believe that you have to let go and stop fighting for a while. After the initial horror you will find small differences in your mobility and pain and stiffness.

    It is a brutal op but will give you back your life. If you are in the UK message me for my phone number if you want, it is really good to talk.

    Love and light to you x

  • renee01952
    renee01952 nikki52902

    Posted

    Oh nikki,

    it is an emotional roller coaster ...post-op bluesy. .waves of sadness, crying, weeps spells seem to come out of nowhere. ..

    Some say it is a bit like mourning the loss of a part of yourself. .

    hormones are all over the place ....

    nobody can understand it, not even you ....

    just go with it, darling .....

    Big warm hug

    Renee ❤

  • rose0000
    rose0000 nikki52902

    Posted

    I had the same thing - every time I stood up I would either feel dizzy and lightheaded or be sick, or faint. It is very difficult because the last thing you want to do is faint or feel dizzy with a brand new joint!!!

    But the feeling will gradually day by day ease away. Certainly by day ten - fourteen it just goes. I would not even attempt anything very much until you are completely well. Particularly the stairs etc. Sinply do your exercises in bed, and focus on getting yourself stronger. You are so early days still - and soon you will feel so much better. I promise.

    Sachets of key essential salts will help with replacing what is lost, and resting during the day so you don't become exhausted. It will pass, any day now, hold tight.

  • rose0000
    rose0000 nikki52902

    Posted

    Ps back pain often comes from spending too much time in bed ( which you need to do because you feel so ill) and sleeping on your back and not moving all night. And crutches can cause back ache too.

    My bad back has eased considerably since I am back to normal activities. Try sitting in a chair for longer periods if you are not too dizzy to give your back a break. Changes positions regularly in bed. Lots of cushions will help.

    I used heat patches on my back ( can but from the chemist) and these worked brilliantly, you can keep them on all night.

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