Hip Replacement Long Term Pain and Slow Recovery
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi there
Its 53 weeks since my THR. I was 51 and fit and not fat for my age. To keep my sport going my hip was put in tight - turns out too tight and this left me unable to drive any distance for 5 months, struggling to sit, walk upstairs etc. Working was out of the question. Nothing seemed to help for months apart from the meds which knocked me out.
I have had physio - acupuncture, after manipulation under anaesthetic in May the pain got worse and I was tripping up and very down by June. So I was rested for a month then have had phsyio for 6 months weekly being stretched and wiggled and massaged over all the different tight parts including directly over my scar tissue. I also have a range of stretches to do every day - takes around 30 minutes as I do both legs. I have also been going to the gym 5 times a week for the past 3 months- started off like a 4 year old where the changing time was longer than the gym time - but now I can manage 45 minutes on the bike easily and 20 minutes on the cross trainer. Slowly pain is reducing and my stamina and ability to manage walking and tackling slopes is recovering. I can now sleep on my operated side. Still working on sitting for long times. Meds still messing with my concentration but I can see a time when they will be reduced and then hopefully go completely.
So whats the message? Its dont give up - however long it has been since your operation - keep on pushing for help and dont give in - chances are that like me there's not a single problem to fix - but lots of them, especially as time will have complicated your health. I was - according to my physio - "A right mess" - and got worse due to my body trying to compensate. My consultant reckoned it could take up to 2 years for it to loosen up enough - but I will beat that, and have hope now that I could not have dreamed of 6 months ago.
Got to keep on getting better as I cannot have the other hip replaced til the new one is even better. So to all those post THR posters who are feeling like giving up because you havent had the outcome you felt you were promised - dont ever give up on your body - It wants to get better and needs you to help it. Happy and Positive New Year to you all
4 likes, 6 replies
beryl29765 christine2107
Posted
I all so cannot walk for long with out having to seat down
christine2107 beryl29765
Posted
Sitting and walking were both very tough and slopes and stairs out of the question - I was playing hockey before this so really fit
Never feel as if you are being a nuisance - its your health and you need to make sure that everyone who can help is made aware of your problems. So many of my letters got lost or went unanswered so you do have to keep hope and perservere.
When was your replacement?
Take care
Chris
beryl29765 christine2107
Posted
markbeekmans christine2107
Posted
Thanks for sharing your story. Can you xplain more in detail what you mena by "put in too tight"? Is there more information on how the hip was placed as compared to they would normally do? Many sympthoms my mother shares also but I am not sure if she has the same problem. If the hip was put in too tight , was there some other solution for you? Redo surgery for example?
christine2107 markbeekmans
Posted
Too tight - means that there is inusfficient rotation without it getting stuck - muscles and tendons try to work around this and bio-dynamically you end up a mess and its hard to work out which is a primary and which is a secondary problem. The consultant used this phrase and said that the offset was too high - and admits I have a leg length difference which is in part a real one due to the surgery and in part due to my lopsidedness arising from the compensating I am doing, Very sad as I have good strong long legs and never appreciated their symmertry til it was taken away.
Redo surgery is very difficult and results in more cutting through previously cut muscles and tendons so my surgeon and a second opinion is very cautious and would not contemplate doing this until he had given my hip 2 years to loosen up -so thats 11 months 23 days to go.
I would encourage you to push for your mum to get physio and maybe see an osteopath - mine was a godsend as he confirmed I had lots of problems and was able to support my petition to my GP and consultant to get continued care.
Wish your mum good health from me and keep on fighting for her
markbeekmans christine2107
Posted
Thanks for your elaborate reply and feedback and explanation. I fully understand it.
I will tell my mom to consult the surgeon about this possible problem also and hopefully they can take in into consideration also in their search for possibe answers. The road to recvery is hard and long I read, I am soory for this. Must be very difficult. My mom is desperate, in so much pain that she´d rather have her leg cut off and live without pain then continue like this. Unbearable. Unbelievable.