Hip replacement 4 weeks 4 days advice
Posted , 12 users are following.
Hi,
I'm 38 and had a THR 4 weeks and 4 days ago. I am walking ok albeit slowly without sticks. Only issues I have is stiffness in the leg mainly thigh and back of the knee and still some swelling in the foot. I have noticed a clicking sensation near the wound and a bit of soreness at the top of my leg leading into the joint. Nothing bad just a bit sore from time to time.
I think I am after a bit of reassurance that this is all normal and things are progressing well ? are my symptoms normal for 4 weeks 4 days after operation
thanks
0 likes, 28 replies
nicole66881 philip15771
Edited
u should be still walking with the crutches I'm only 3 weeks post op from an emergency surgery when I had clicking it was cause my stem was loose if ur only 4 weeks take ur time and it's only been 4 days listen to what ur dr says take the time u need to heal if u have an pain that u are experiencing talk to ur surgeon
Zillahandp nicole66881
Posted
NONSENSE PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT. I NEVER NEEDED CRUTCHES AFTER LEAVING HOSPITAL ON DAY 3
Nat666 Zillahandp
Edited
I think most people need crutches for a time.Thats why they are provided
nicole66881 philip15771
Posted
u should be still walking with the crutches I'm only 3 weeks post op from an emergency surgery when I had clicking it was cause my stem was loose if ur only 4 weeks take ur time and it's only been 4 days listen to what ur dr says take the time u need to heal if u have an pain that u are experiencing talk to ur surgeon
Zillahandp philip15771
Posted
DEPENDS ON YOU AGE AND FITNESS LEVEL BEFORE, i am 77 AND was walking normally and going upstairs on alternate feet after 3 weeks, foot swelling slight but stiffness and calf and foot cramps really came on after 10 WEEKS AND SAY 1 MILE WALK. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE OK MAYBE DO MORE EXERCISE ?
Mart76 philip15771
Posted
Hi I'm 43 and had THR just before xmas. I was pretty fit pre-op and muscles around wound were strong before the wound.
I followed advice and used crutches for a full 2 weeks post-op. I gave my muscles and leg the time they needed to heal. Although you may feel you don't need the crutches, you dont know whats going on inside your leg and body, so I recommend still using crutches or supports when walking.
I had no weird sounds you mentioned, so that could be a warning sign you might need to slow down and give your body the time it needs to heal at it's own pace.
Its really hard when you're active to simply not do as much as you did before whilst in the healing phase. In fact, its one of the hardest things I've found, being patient with the week-by-week healing process. Every body is different, so just listen to your body to figure out your own healing pace, I guess?
Good luck with the healing...I'm 9 weeks post op now, have followed all the physio exercises to the letter and although I feel fit and ready to start cycling again, I'm fighting the urge and trying to stick to the 12wk recommendation .
philip15771
Posted
I've only stopped using the sticks in the house. I went down from two to one then none a couple of days ago. I have 3 little ones 2,4 and 6, so recovery has been a bit tricky, we have also moved home!
I am still sitting in my NHS provided chair and following the precautions about sleeping on your back and no crossing legs etc...
The leg does feel a bit weak due to the muscle loss, the clicking isn't drastic, its just so worrying when you feel a twinge as the early couple of weeks were horrific, the hip had fused so it took them 3 hours to separate it.
So the consensus is use 1 stick, and seek advice if any bad pain, I can walk down stairs normally, it that a bad idea too? don't want to de-rail the progress.
The horrible weather isn't helping !! keeping me in the house.
Really appreciate all of your support and advice!
Thanks
KeithMcC philip15771
Edited
Philip
Sometimes if you listen to others you will be weeks in the mending and tending not to push yourself. At 38 your young . I used crutches for the day I came out of hospital and then a stick until day 10 and was walking well without limp . it's not going to come easy so keep up the exercises. By 4 weeks I was back at tentative running so it shows the vast difference in people and you can take anything from the advice and which one you prefer.
michelle89100 philip15771
Edited
Hi Philip,
I'm 42 and had THR 12 weeks ago. My surgeon told me that younger people take longer to recover because a) they have more muscle that is cut through, b) they have more pain receptors (you lose pain receptors as you age) and c) younger people have higher expectations of what being recovered actually means. Pay no attention to when others say how soon they were off crutches - it takes as long as it takes. I'm still on sticks at 12 weeks, have done all physio, have done lots of walking, but still have slight limp (hence continued use of sticks). I personally would contact your consultant about the clicking if it continues for more than another few days/becomes painful rather than just a little sore.
nicole66881 michelle89100
Posted
I am 37 yrs old younger people dont take longer to heal well at least not me. I am taking longer to heal cause a) I was born with hip dysplasia b) my surgeon is butcher my simple hip replacement ended up in in 2 revisions 2 dislocations. my advice to u is try to listen to what ur dr says and when u feel comfortable take the extra step. and take it easy if u are having more and more pain and clicking go back and see ur dr.
KeithMcC michelle89100
Posted
Michelle
that's just a load of nonsense to be Frank. A doctor actually told you younger people take longer to heal lol and the toothed fairy is real . Muscle strength and fitness before surgery is the best indicator of how things are going to go after the op . As far as cutting muscle this generally does not happen anymore and muscle fibres are pulled and pushed not cut
michelle89100 KeithMcC
Edited
Oh dear Keith!! You seriously think you know more than my surgeon?? Or are you insinuating that I'm lying about what he told me? I can assure you I'm not. Muscles ARE cut through using the lateral approach - which is what I had. You seem to have had a remarkable (or unbelievable!!) recovery if your other posts are to be believed, ignoring all precautions and being made of far superior tissue, muscles and bone than the rest of us! Quite frankly, I find your posts both condescending, and misleading. There are lots of other people on here who were fit before surgery but are not some kind of superhuman (or rather do not claim to be) and find that it takes a while to recover from MAJOR SURGERY.
michelle89100 nicole66881
Posted
Nicole, I'm only telling the OP what my surgeon told me. We are all different granted, but this isn't my opinion, it is that of my surgeon who knows more about this than we do.
gill74306 michelle89100
Edited
Well said Michelle89100! I personally find it quite depressing reading these posts when I am struggling to get around. This is NOT a competition. I worry that people are pushing themselves too far. Listen to your body. It's about your body healing not who gets rid of their crutches when. By the way I am recovering from a RTHR.
KeithMcC michelle89100
Edited
Michelle
You are at odds with my surgeon totally and you seem to be peddling doom and gloom . There are around 90k THR in uk every year and everyone does not sit around for weeks just because it was your advice doesn't make it right . My surgeon advised that in general the advice was given for people well into their 60s and 70s about the do's and dont's and that for younger people the evidence is just not there about people who want to progress quicker . The only thing stopping people pushing on is them selves and misinformation. It seems to me if anyone heals quicker we are just being silly or just throwing caution to the wind . I just thought it was normal and wanted to get fit again . There seems to be no tolerance at all for people who want to be different .
michelle89100 KeithMcC
Edited
Keith, I don't know where you get the idea that I'm peddling doom and gloom, or that I think people should sit around for weeks - I have not said anything of the sort. I simply shared my experience of recovery (which has been reasonable) and repeated info that I had been given by my surgeon. But of course, you, and your surgeon know better. Please refrain from hijacking the OP thread any further with your obviously correct opinions and experience!!! Of course, nobody else need respond on this forum if it differs from your opinion - because you are obviously right in everything that you say.
KeithMcC gill74306
Edited
so what is advocated is everyone take the pace of others and then everyone thinks they need those time when potentially they don't. I think its depressing too that someone who does well does not have a voice at all and is castigated
ptolemy KeithMcC
Edited
Keith, I don't think anyone is saying you should not have a voice, if things go well or not so well, people would like to hear how other people cope. What people do not like to be told is that they are preaching doom and gloom and are telling other people to lie around and not try to improve, when I do not believe anyone on this forum is doing that. I too abandoned my crutches at the front door when coming home from hospital and never used them again. I was extremely lucky to have no pain, no bruising and no swelling. I put a lot of my good fortune down to having an EXCELLENT surgeon, not because I was superman.
gill74306 KeithMcC
Edited
Keith Did you actually bother to read my post or did you not understand it. It is like a child boasting in the playground reading your posts and it is depressing if you happen to be struggling. It just comes across as bragging. personally I, having had very serious surgery, did not want to hear about you skipping around after 2 days. No I am not discouraging anybody from trying just don't preach. Let others decide what they can and can't do. I could say that my surgeon thought I was amazing 2 months after surgery but I guess that wouldn't have been quick enough for you?
nicole66881 KeithMcC
Edited
it also depends on which approch u get done I got the anterior approch and they dont cut the mucsle as much as the anterior is becoming more common then the posterior which is the back and they have to go through all the muscles back there and the healing depends on the person. not your age
KeithMcC ptolemy
Posted
PT
Very pragmatic but do we always have to preach the doom and gloom and I just thought I was normal nothing else. I don't see why we should always be telling people were all different take it easy don't push yourself . Where is the flip side if everyone is allowed a voice ? Your Superman comment is not something I am comfortable with and never preached this at all . It's just me and my progress
KeithMcC gill74306
Posted
yes I did read your post. I do apologise for having a good recovery and wanting to talk about it with others if they ask . Before I make comment the brigade has come forth to advise to take it easy , ie don't push yourself etc. I didn't have it easy and coughed on whether sore or not. Was this right , time will tell . Did I listen to the advice of others ,not too much . Did I push my self too hard probably yes, did I do exercises I shouldn't have probably , did money push me back to work most certainly , did I start running again too early yes . Would I do it again . In a heartbeat yes. I know however the next time could be totally different.
ptolemy KeithMcC
Posted
Keith, I am not really sure that I understand exactly what you are talking about and what is upsetting you. I never even mentioned that you were preaching being Superman, I just said because I had had an easy op did not make me Superman it meant I had had a good surgeon.
glenn81535 ptolemy
Posted
who was your surgeon?
ptolemy glenn81535
Posted
Gian Singer, I think he is a workaholic and does loads of hips in a year, he did mine on a Saturday and dropped in to see me on the Sunday or alternatively he does not get on with his wife!!!