Going backwards

A suggestion for sleeping:  unless I have a thick pillow under my knees I can't sleep. Either both or just the bad leg. Hope that helps Im just into my second week. 

Hey Pam 31 days RTHR, 64. Sleep still not so good. It's almost 200AM here, awake again. I've used crutches which doesn't seem to be the norm but works for me. Still using 1, new pain here and there but not too bad. I've gone back to work so get plenty of moving around, doctor recommended I stay on crutches for another week. It takes the load off the hip. Let it heal ! If it hurts don't do it. I have been through knee replacement 2 years ago and all is good so I know it just takes time. Keep your spirits up somehow, feels better than before surgery, right ? You are only about a week ahead of me, sounds like you're doing good. Are you doing PT Exercises? Dave

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Hi Pam, maybe you trying to do too much, I am on my second hip which seems to be a slow process this time, I am eleven days post op, tiredness is the worst thing keep waking up during night this morning I was in kitchen making cup of tea, good luck keep going. 

I'm almost 5 wks post op and am now dealing with a very achy psoas. Not sure if its tendinitis or if the tendon is rubbing on the cup because it might be too big. So walking is fine but lifting legs in out of car etc feels too much like the beginning. Sorry for your backwards step, I can relate. I'm sure we'll look back at this as part of a recovery no one told us would be this difficult 🙄

Hi Pam. First of all, sorry for your wound getting infected, but glad it cleared up. You are still very early out as I was told to give it a full year to feel back to normal. My surgery was 8 months ago and I still have some weakness and pain and my gait is still somewhat off. I did come into it with an injury which is different than most on here who had OA. But, one thing I have learned is to be proactive and to ask questions and find answers either by asking my surgeon..I emailed him with questions since he is so hard to get hold of and he gave me some basic answers...or on internet. One thing for sure is everybody is different and it is a process. Hang in there! You woll see progress. Hugs.

Cindy

Oh many times .... it's one of those recoveries, you take a few steps forward, then a couple backwards.  

Recovery always seems to be slower that we think it should be.

When people say it takes 12 months, believe them !

I am 10 months post op, just over 8 months post revision ... and I still get 'backwards' days when things just slide.  This is a massive operation to recover from, both physically and emotionally.

Best wishes

Graham - 🚀💃

Hi Pam,

Sorry that you got an infection, but I am happy to hear that it is cleared up.

I doubt there is anyone on this forum who hasn't hit the 'doldrums' and had the feeling of taking a few steps backwards.

This operation is just tough and NOT a quick fix and surgeons rarely tell us how recovery will be (lengthy, bumpy, roller coaster ride). I guess that is normal as in their minds - they have done their job to replace your hip and put everything back in its proper place!

A few people recently mentioned the importance of Morning routines to get them up and moving and feeling ready to tackle exercises and walking and I second that. And the support of family and friends to distract from the pain (movie or pedicure night) and to get out of the house. It was mid winter here when I got my first hip and it was too easy to say ... oh no thanks, too hard putting on the boots, too scared to fall on the ice, blah, blah, blah.

Take a walker with you and go for walks - it keeps you even-keeled so you don't limp as much and permiss you to go further (or sit down if you need a pause) and it is great in crowds).

Big hugs. I hope the rest of your recovery gets better.

L

Hi Pam

It is very important when you hit highs and lows, to think back to week one and remember what you did then, then progress through the weeks as to what you did further or less, usually by the time you get to the week you are in, not only can you see an improvement but sometimes you can trace the low to too much exercise or even too little.  Be guided by your weeks not what other people say they can do at wk 6 or wk 9, they have have got that far, but for all we know, wk 10 they could hit a brick wall and then realise it was from wk 6 when they tried too hard.

Next important thing although if we THRs had a top ten chart it would be number one is sleep!  Why are we all so surprised we cannot sleep!!  Whoever sleeps on their back other than our snoring hubbies, we are just too refined to snore: and sleep on our sides, although hubbie would say that does not stop the train going through our bedroom every night!!!! I do not SNORE!!!

 Anyway, you have to grin and bear it, there are many tricks = morphine is the best = if you are still awake, who cares……  Any way you can try propping yourself up, you can try mild sleeping tablets, or you can come on the forum and moan about it.  Then you find you can sleep sideways on the good leg, I have a pillow between my leg, I am knockkneed as it is, so need a pillow to accommodate those bony bones.  Then, for me at 8 weeks, I actually slept for one hour on my bad side, then woke up, no pain but I think the hip was going aaaaAAAAARRRGH.  My sleep pattern now is 3 2 2 or 2 3 2 –

I always think I have had a good sleep if I get the 3 hours first before the proverbial run for the bathroom, well walker and heel toe, heel toe, to the bathroom.  I am informed it will get better……..

​Do not under any circumstances get low - only for half an hour - and then come out fighting and laughing at the silly side of all this, the way we walk, the way we have to organise the toilet - not every bathroom has a raised seat, the lack of hygiene, who knew how many of us were so hairy and bemoaning that rather than the pain and discomfort.........  Just think what a glorious time you will have at Christmas especially as you can call on friends and family to go out and get all your pressy shopping for you, bash your eyes, look soulfully at the walker or cane and slightly quiver the lips.  Then you can shop like hell December for yourself............