Hip replacement recovery at 12 weeks is not as good as at 6 weeks?

Hi April,

My first thought is did you do any strenuous exercises?  I am about 9 1/2 weeks.  I bent down to cut my toe nails a few days ago, and I feel a lot more pain now than I did at 6 weeks.  I’ve been getting comments from this sight that it’s just muscles and I should be alright soon.  Take care!

Regards,

Steve

I will sure be following this thread. I had my bilateral surgery August 23 and am experiencing the same thing you are. It’s the reason I joined this forum.  

april, I am 40 year old contractor. own my own company. I had thr right side posterior august 17. I have my 12 week appointment with surgeon Tuesday. For me it has been a roller coaster! I felt great after surgery , just weak. about day 10 post op, I had major swelling problem, my skin was splitting! I was ordered on my back for ten days, leg in air, and pressure wrapped, after that things progressed quickly at PT. I went from walker to cane and no cane. And I am on uneven ground every day on jobs. Last Friday I really did a lot of work on a job, instead of watching the crew, all weekend my leg throbbed, my thi burnt, and I have tendonitis in knee cap. Right now I get muscle spasms in my right but. It feels like bubbles popping in there???? Enough to wake me up for sure. I had arthritis back pain before surgery, and now I think with a limp walk sometimes the back pain is a lot worse. It could be me just pushing things to much and wanting to get back on jobs. I wake up at night every 3 hours, and roll around, from either waist,back,thi pain, or the bubble popping feeling in my but cheek.

I hope this helps, I will let you know what feed back I get Tuesday from surgeon.

Sounds like you need to build up those muscles to me.

My back ached more after, but I put that down to actually being able to feel it once the hip pain had gone.

I had to revert to sleeping on my back after my revision, and have only just been able to get back to sleeping on my side at about 2 years after the original operation (22 months after revision) because of leg, neck and shoulder pains.  Sometimes it takes longer to get better than we think it should take.

Graham

I just returned from seeing my surgeon. Same issue - good recovery until week 4 & then memb knee shin, calf & foot. Lots of tingling & also pain but that is reducing. Turns out I have nerve damage - however it's not numbness which affects muscle function - even though it feels as if it does. I have to push through this & it is stated with certainty by the surgeon & the neurologist that it will gradually resolve itself. I really hope it will!! I also had severe knee pain but x says show some arthitis but nothing remarkable. Couple of cortisone shots helped a lot. It seems unrelated & due to a different gait. If the problem persists I recommend you request an ENG test. I have been advised to do nerve stimulation treatment tho not sure what that is yet. So the recovery hill seems a little steeper! Trying not to be too discouraged - my muscle testing was good. Best of luck! Maureen

My physical therapist said the pain for me was from increased activity.  I am almost 8 weeks and can’t sleep on my side without 2 pillows between my legs. I sleep on my back also with two pillows under my shoulders. It’s hard but I get about 5-6 hours per night. Everyone days time is the healer but it’s hard to work hard and not see big changes!  Good luck if you try the pillows! Keep us posted on your progress.