Had a LTHR on 16th Oct. How is recovery for everyone else?
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi there. As the title says really. I don't think mine is going particularly bad at the moment but would like to hear about all the aches and pains that people are facing, probably to put my paranoid mind at rest! I had a pretty terrible first night at home the third day after the op as they only prescribed me paracetamol to take home. I had previously been on Tramadol for hip pain so they assumed that I should just take that. Had to call the GP who kindly gave me a script for two bottles of oral morphine to tide me over the first week or so. I've been taking less than prescribed with the Tramadol in between as and when. I have been sleeping in four hour slots it seems and when not sleeping I've been tenderly sitting. The obvious problem is the incision site hurting and getting comfortable. It appears that my leg prefers to be bent at the knee whilst laying down and my hamstring is really tight. i get a pulling or cramping sometimes when attempting to lay down or sit up. this is resolved by me bending my knee it goes quickly then i can straighten again. I'm paranoid that I'm not sleeping in the correct posture and that my muscles will mend in a haphazard fashion! I did have some pain at the acetabular site for one day and it was as though i couldn't weight bare. this seems to be resolved, think i over did it the day before. A few times it's felt that I've popped the hip out when made a mistake with bending or whatever and then I'm concentrating on every little niggle! I've not done any of the exercises in the booklet i was given and will prob start with them today. (in hope it will settle the hamstring out) I do realise that I've had major surgery with bone and muscle cut etc. amazing really how quick we heal afterwards.
very long post i know but wanted to know how other people are getting on. no two people are the same but just for some reassurance probably.
should change my username to MrParanoiaUK42!
Cheers everyone. All the best x
0 likes, 31 replies
dan99872
Posted
Hi everyone,
Just thought i'd update as it's nearly two weeks from my op and ask how everyone else is doing at the moment.
Overall I don't think I could be recovering any better to be honest. The tightness in my hamstring and cramping appears to have subsided. I'm using one crutch more and more around the house and only use two when tired. I haven't been out and about yet but want to walk around the block this week. I'm due to have my stitches out this week so will walk to the GP surgery for that, it's a five minute walk to be honest. I'm not expecting to run any marathons or anything but feel that I could walk quite a distance. What is putting me off is I know I will probably overdo it, catch 22 really not knowing where my limit is and what's expected at this point in time. I can walk unaided and have been concentrating on my gait and trying not to limp after all this time. I'll maybe give that one a couple of months longer. Have an appointment for physio in 2 weeks in the hydrotherapy pool, so will see what that entails.
all in all apart from some mild pain at incision site and a bout of unbelievable constipation yesterday (dont ask!) I've been ok, touch wood.
I hope everyone is feeling well and if not hoping you will be soon. All the best xx
chele59 dan99872
Posted
Sounds like you're doing well and about the same as husband who had his op on 16th. He has been out for a few 15 minute walks daily with me. slow but sure. he is going to hospital today to have his dressing changed but has dissolvable stitches so no need for removing. He also has physio in a couple of weeks and back to see surgeon on 3rd DEC!
He says he has a slight clicking which is concerning him and feels low in himself but think that is a symptom caused by coming off pain killers.
hope you get on ok with it all. keep us posted.
take care.
dan99872 chele59
Posted
Thank you for the reply. Glad your other half appears to be doing well. I see the surgeon again early Dec too. Hope he doesn't feel down for too long. I'm just starting to reduce my pain meds and know I will find it difficult as I've been on Tramadol for quite a while now for the hip pain and other ailments. Dreading it to be honest. At least I have lots of time off work if I feel crappy coming off them, and an excuse to crawl into bed! All the best xx
monkeypearl dan99872
Posted
Hiya Dan,
Good to see ya coming on well with your recovery, I'm 11days ahead of you 😊 last week i was getting out and about on the dog walks, nothing crazy but 3 x 30 min walks a day, this week starting to go that little bit further 😀 but be careful not to over do things, I can tell when I'm at my limit, then it's home and a nice rest on the sofa 😊
I'm also trying to come off the tramadol, been on them for a long time, would love to be off all meds one day.
All the best to you all who's on recovery, we will all be in the right place very soon....👍
Stay Safe & Stay Happy 🎃
Pete...
dan99872 monkeypearl
Posted
Thanks a lot Pete.
I'm going for a walk shortly whilst the sun is still shining. I've not needed to use the crutches in the house lately and was wondering if it was too early to ditch them inside. Don't want to put too much strain on things if that doesn't sound silly. I also don't want to forget I've had an op and do something stupid like doing the Twist if Chubby Checker comes on the radio!
Going to be using one crutch whilst out.
Think I may have slightly pottered about to much or laid funny last night because got a slight groin pain. Ah well.
All the best. 🎃🦇⚰️👻
monkeypearl dan99872
Posted
Hiya Dan,
See ya on crutches, they wouldn't let us use crutches,🤔 at the hospital I used they would only send you home on sticks. 😁 You are doing well if you're down to one crutch, take it steady our there....
Don't tell me ya going trick or treating 🎃 🤗 How ya getting on sleeping! on your back, I've just been out on walk with the wife and Hugo our black Labrador, managed about a mile and half round trip, also was out this morning with them too.
That's one thing I missed before the op, not being able to get out on the dog walks, you still got the stockings on, 😀 I got mine on for another two weeks...
All the best on the recovery..
Stay Safe & Stay Happy 😁
Pete...
dan99872 monkeypearl
Posted
That's fantastic about walking the dog. I bet he loved it that you were out with him too!
No trick or treating tonight. I'm having my stitches out instead, 7:30pm.
Still got the stockings on. I've been fine on my back until about 2 days ago. Now it seems I've had enough and desperate to sleep on my side. Heels beginning to hurt and butt cheek where incision is getting on my nerves. I'll have a good look in a bit when the nurse takes the dressing off.
Take care x
monkeypearl dan99872
Posted
Hiya Dan,
How did ya get on with your stitches coming out, be good to get shut of them dam stockings yep. How did ya get in with walking round the block!
I've been very lucky, as my wife works from home so I have a lot help during the day, 😁 if ya don't mind me asking, where in the UK are you based. I'm 54 yrs and live in Beverley Nr Hull.
All the best with your recovery..🤗
Stay Safe & Stay Happy...
Pete
dan99872 monkeypearl
Posted
Hi Pete,
I had to go to a different surgery from mine for the dressing changed and the stitches out. The nurse peeled the dressing off slowly (ouch) and there were no bloody stitches there. It's been glued! It looks ok. She cleaned it up a bit and redressed it. All good. I'm going to see the nurse I know at my own practice next week so that she can have a look. Been out today and walking fine. Went out for a meal with family and didn't bother using crutches once inside. Can walk quite well without. Got told off by my other half though. still unsure whether i should be doing that. have used one when in the street. I'm from Sheffield and 43. My cousin lived in Beverley for a while many moons ago. I've also been lucky that my mrs has worked a lot from home this last fortnight.
All the best. Take care 😊
chele59 dan99872
Posted
wow you are doing great! You're young for the op ....... my husband is 61 so also not that old to be having the op! He has had a bit of clicking which concerned him and he phoned hospital. The physio phoned him back and said he'd been overdoing it as he'd been walking without one crutch and he'd also done a half hour walk. He was told that it is probably muscle clicking. He's 6'3 so having to have large blocks under chairs and bed etc so doubt he could sit in a restaurant? How did you cope with sitting? Also are you still wearing your anti embolism socks?
Thank you for communicating 😃
dan99872 chele59
Posted
Hi Chele,
I've not found sitting in low chairs that difficult to be honest, just the getting back up! As long as I keep my operated leg straight in front it's been quite easy. now getting comfortable is another matter, although the incision pain is easing with time greatly. I went for quite a long walk yesterday on my own with one crutch. Think I've laid funny the night before because i now have a pain which is probably the IT band? quite tender but not worried, .
dan99872
Posted
Still wearing the stockings!
Hope your hubby carries on making great progress xx
stevieleeds dan99872
Posted
I'm amazed reading all these comments about how very differently post-operative hip precautions vary from area to area. For instance with me, the hospital were very careful about furniture heights and i had to measure everything in my house to ensure the 90 degree rule was never broken. This means booster seats on lower chairs and a booster on the toilet. They supplied a perch seat for the bathroom for me to do strip washes. certain furniture was deemed out of bounds especially the sofa which would break the 90 degree rule very badly indeed. I asked about visiting my Mum and was told categorically, "no" as the furniture has not been measured. Restaurants would be out for the same reason. I had prophylaxis mechanical leg stocking in hospital and sent him with anti-coagulants for 35 days and no stockings. They sent me home on two crutches and again the advice is very clear: two crutches for three weeks then down to one stick for a week, then nothing provided you feel confident. I was sent home with dihydrocodeine which i quickly ran out of but a quick call to my doctor resulted in a prescription being sent straight to my pharmacy on the same day. the care from day 1 has been absolutely superb here in Leeds and i for one am so proud of our amazing NHS.
chele59 stevieleeds
Posted
Yes I agree with you.
Very stringent 90 degree rules here in Hampshire - blocks had to be put under any chairs or sofas my husband would sit on and our bed had to have raisers too! He also has the most horrendously deep toilet seat to sit on :0) We haven't visited our normal Yacht Club because of not being able to sit on the chairs there. Husband has blood thinning tablets and stockings for 6 weeks. A couple of days ago he did a 30 minute walk and was told he'd done too much and had to slow down. We are now back to 15 minute walks but twice a day.
Good to know that everyone is doing well though, whatever rules they have been given! 😃
dan99872 chele59
Posted
Hi all,
I am also under the NHS and was given a form to fill in to measure the furniture, bath, bed etc in my home. I found that the chair in the hospital that the physio had me getting in and out of was lower then any I had at home! I have been given a raised toilet seat and a bath board which rests on the sides of the bath so i can sit under the shower etc or maybe have a quick paddle with my feet! I found that the seating in other places maybe lower but the difficulty is getting up from them not necessarily breaking the 90° rule. I wouldn't even have attempted such a thing at week one. The big concern is if you have furniture that kind of sinks in at the back then you have the probability of sitting less than 90°. As regards to recovery my physio didn't give me any kind of timeframe as regards to aim for this point at this particular week etc. I would've preferred that to be honest. All was said was you are more robust than you think, goodbye. I for one am going to have at least 12 weeks away from work because my job can be physically demanding at the drop off a hat (work with people with challenging behaviour) or i might just be sat at a desk all day. I can't be certain from minute to minute. I've found I ache if i lounge about and probably ache if i walk too much. not been out today. might give physio a call and ask them for more specific advice. hydrotherapy session next week.
It really does alter from region to region, mad really.
Hope everyone has a good nights rest tonight. Sleep well on your backs everyone!