Holiday fun

Thanks Graham,

I was shocked to read of your recent troubles with your hip, and all that followed! I know you will continue to recover well 

Hi there,

I had my surgery 10 months ago, after initially being cancelled in July as my ECG was abnormal, which the anaesthetist wanted checking out. The wait was really hard to get over, especially as my surgeon had offered April (only six weeks from deciding to do it). I mistakenly said no as my work rota was scheduled. The rate of decline in the last six months was huge, although I had seen my surgeon two years previously. He would have done it then had I wanted. Maybe my recovery would have been even better had I been in a better physical state if I had done it earlier. I was mistaken in thinking that I was too young for surgery. Now I know differently I shan't be hanging around waiting if the other one gives up on me. This forum has also been a huge source of information and inspiration which I really feel every patient should know about

I was wondering how long after surgery that you had your holiday. I'm going on a trip in September (9+ months after my THR). I've been doing quite well since the surgery. Only issue is thigh numbness that slows me down when I walk. Sometimes it aches a bit so I'll take some Tylenol and that helps. Icing helps a lot. I know I can do that when we're back in hotel. Not planning on heavy duty hiking. We will do a lot of walking so I'll have a cane with me just in case I need it. Considering how I was last September on a similar trip, this will definitely be better with no hip pain.

I agree about this forum. It has been extremely helpful from when I first found it (just before surgery) and during the recovery period. Anyone who hasn't gone through the "experience" of the surgery doesn't really understand some of our issues and concerns.

Hi Jen86183,

I'm already planning! I would like to improve my fitness by maybe getting back to home boxercise / step type programmes that I enjoyed once I stopped kickboxing. I don't feel confident enough to join a class as there are definitely moves that would just be too awkward, and it's difficult to get down to the floor quickly!   I haven't done anything specifically other than day to day activity, lots of walking and some swimming. since surgery. 

Jools, were you just uncomfortable when you lay on your stomach or did you have any pain. I am 16 weeks and have started floor exercises but, I find lying on my operated side on my exercise mat really uncomfortable.

Hi Jen,

I didn't really have pain in the hip, but more so at the back of the pelvis on that side if I stayed too long on my front. Also I found it awkward to roll over on the sunbed to get back up. I think you are doing fabulously well at 16 weeks if you are already doing floor exercise. How does your hip feel if you lie on it on your bed? An exercise mat is not that comfortable at the best of times  I've only been able to get down to the floor by bending down on my non operated side whilst keeping my new hip straight, ending up on both knees and then sitting since around May. I  learned how to get down to the floor from an online tutorial as I've started minding my granddaughter!. It took me a while to be able to lie on the new hip as well, and in comparison to some people on the forum I have been incredibly slow to achieve milestones; but we are all different I guess. I sometimes find it's more comfortable now to lie on my new hip than the non - operated side. Before my replacement I had absolutely no idea of the journey ahead, which in some ways was probably a good thing! Recovery is very hard work, but still better than the life of constant pain and immobility. 

Lying on the operated side in bed is okay. I tried it at 8 weeks and did not feel anything but, being over cautious I left it another week or so before sleeping on it properly. About 4 weeks ago I started weeding the garden, I have a kneeling stool and it makes it much easier to kneel down and you have the arms to push up on. I have taken my time and not rushed recovery, waited until it felt the hip could cope.

Like you jools, I had no idea how long for hard recovery would be, everyone mainly people who had never had it done said "it is so easy to recover from a hip replacement". Looking after your granddaughter will certainly keep you exercising the hip.