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How long will this last

Posted , 13 users are following.

heather22024
heather22024

I'm miserable. I've never experienced pain like this in my life. It's been one week, exactly, since the surgery. Total right hip arthroplasty. I have my post operative appointment Thursday, so more will be revealed. I am super swollen and bruising all over the back of my leg. Can someone tell me about how long they went through the same. Seems like many people are doing great, but each individual is different. The pain I had before the surgery seems to be gone, but the new stuff (post-op pain, bruising, and swelling) is the pits.

1 like, 19 replies

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  • kim83257
    kim83257 heather22024

    Posted

    Heather I am 9 weeks post RTHR and I know how you are feeling. The pain that first week or 2 was terrible but I felt as if others coped better than I did.

    Hang on in there. For me it has been a slow process but it really does get better.

    I remember being in awful pain just lying there doing nothing but even at 2 weeks post op that had gone. Obviously the pain on moving lasts longer. I have been pain free for weeks now. Keep taking the painkillers as they need to build up in your system.

    Just a thought but did you have an uncemented hip replacement? I did and my surgeon told me that this can be more painful post op.

    Good luck with your recovery and take care.

  • Saltspringer48
    Saltspringer48 heather22024

    Posted

    I had the swelling for about 2 weeks. Had acupuncture which helped. As for the pain , probably best to speak to your practitioner. They are they to help manage the pain. It does get better. I will be 3 weeks post op tomorrow and Ii feel much better than even yesterday.
  • AnnieK
    AnnieK heather22024

    Posted

    So sorry you are having such an awful time. I'm sorry to say that your experience is typical, and could take as long as several weeks to get better. It sounds to me like you are undermedicated. A THR is a major surgery, and is brutal to bones and soft tissues. If I were you, I'd be on the phone to my surgeon's office about getting proper pain medication. I was on a fairly high dose of opioids for 4 weeks, then tapered off over the 5th week. I didn't have much pain until close to the time the next dose was due, but did have lots of stiffness, swelling, and disability. 

    Swelling is very common, since your tissues are working hard to heal. Bruising is also very common. For the swelling, you might try rest, ice and elevation. I hope you are resting as much as possible and elevating and icing whenever you are resting, walking only as necessary from bed to bathroom to dining room and back, and that you are getting lots of help from others. My swelling stopped at about 3 weeks out.

    The first two weeks are the worst, in my opinion. I started feeling a bit better by week 3, but it was still very difficult. And the energy drain after a THR is real! I didn't get over that until about 3 months.

    I hope you can get the pain relief that you deserve. You shouldn't have to experience bad pain!

  • kerry92684
    kerry92684 heather22024

    Posted

    Hi Heather I'm so sorry ur in so much pain I had mine done 4 weeks ago and although it's still sore it does seem to get better each day I know it may not feel that way at the moment are you sleeping?I seemed to find getting comfortable quite an issue and the lack of sleep but again this does come with time are you taking all the medication they prescribed? Xxx

    • heather22024
      heather22024 kerry92684

      Posted

      Hi Kerry,

      I've been prescribed eloquis for clotting and percocet 10/325.  The percocet is one every 6 hours, but I'm not lasting 6 hours.  It's murder.  I should call the Dr.  Don't know why I haven't.  And, yes, it's hard to get comfortable, and I am not sleeping through the night's.  My follow up appointment is Thursday at 10am.  Thanks for your input.

      =)

  • renee01952
    renee01952 heather22024

    Posted

    dear heather, 

    Warm welcome to this wonderful hippies forum where we share personal stories and experiences ...

    I am so sorry to read in how much post-op pain you are ...

    it is still very early days in your recovery from a major invasive surgery where a deep incision was made - muscles, tendons etc were severed, leg manipulated to get the old hip joint removed ... thigh bone cut  and protheses placed ... 

    I had handprint (bruise) on back of my leg and also major swelling ...

    I agree with Annie regarding maybe being undermedicated ... 

    were you in this much pain while in the hospital?  

    I hope that you did call your surgeon and have stronger pain medication now .. 

    please let us know how you are getting on otherwise and come back here anytime, okay ?

    you are not alone

    big warm hug

    renee

     

  • hazel14263
    hazel14263 heather22024

    Posted

    First week was total hell Heather.. Lost it in a haze of drugs and incredible pain. Each week gets a bit better... I remember turning a corner at 4 and 6 weeks. Saw surgeon at 7 weeks and he seemed surprised I had been in so much pain ! He said in lots of people the pain just stops ! Would like to give you a fairy tale ending but seeing him today on my request as still in pain at 11 weeks. Not like the hellish pain of first few weeks but still worse pain than before the op.Good luck !!
    • sandra_84282
      sandra_84282 hazel14263

      Posted

      Hi Hazel. Your a couple of weeks behind me. I'm still in pain. Some groin and some muscle. Can be very bad when first rising from sitting. Also getting in and out of car.

      Seems to move from one place to another. I'm fine with walking.

      I spoke to physio just before Xmas. I was 12 weeks post op. He told me he wouldn't expect me to be pain free at 12 weeks so I'm assuming the residual pain goes on much longer. I was speaking to a friend who had one a couple of years ago. He appears fine now. Says he still gets the occasional aches but overall he is ok.

      People say it can take up to a year to recover. It is a brutal op. I watched it twice on you tube. I just wish the professionals had been more honest regarding recovery time. I was told I would be more or less back to normal at 6 weeks. !!!!!

      Then when you are not youstart to think something is sadly wrong. I just take each day as it comes. I am back to work but just a few hours a week. Guess it's right what they say on here. It's more of a marathon than a sprint. Take care. I am sure we are all exactly where we are meant to be in the healing process. We are all so impatient. 😫Xx

    • hazel14263
      hazel14263 sandra_84282

      Posted

      Yes Sandra everyone is so different. Nice to hear someone like me in a macabre way! Are ur legs equal? Physio spotted leg length discrepancy but surgeon did not want to check till March 2017 so I rang his secretary and am seeing him today . A woman in hip class was 63 and 7 weeks post op and seemed shocked I was in pain ! Yet last night someone mentioned a brother who went through hell . I think they purposefully don't tell you as it would put people off . I am in pain most of the time and getting out of the car I have to cling onto the side to get going and the pain is bad . Can't sleep at night groin and scar pain . Can't sleep on bad side and have to walk stairs like a crab. Doing phased return to work on January 10 Th two hours day at

      First . Will let you know what surgeon says . He is very nice but quite vague in a smiley way.. But I have written it all down and what I want answered. Wish me luck !!

    • sandra_84282
      sandra_84282 hazel14263

      Posted

      Hi Hazel. Physio told me I had leg length discrepancy. Surgeon said not and was able to prove this on X-ray.

      My groin pain was unbearable before Xmas. It would wake me up if I turned over. A guy on this site suggested it was illopsoas tendentious. Google this as it really helped me. He advised that this muscle can have small tears in it following op and exercises. He advised stopping any exercise that would aggravate it. Also starting the massage technique. I found tat the actual pain was on my hip bone and the groin pain was differed pain. I did this for about 3 weeks. No physio exercises and massage. It has helped enormously.

      I don't think here in the U.K. We get enough physio or advice. As you say we are all different. Haven't heard many people being totally pain free at a few weeks though.

      Keep me posted. Love and a warm hug Sandra.

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie heather22024

    Posted

    Hi Heather, you may find its nerve pain. I woke up from surgery with awaful pain every time I moved. although pre op pain gone, think nurses thouggt I couldnt take pain, I have a strong pain threshold. I was very swollen too. Brusing came out in bits and bobs, once one bit out it moved to another. I went to GP after I was still in pain a few months later although it was abit easier and I have nerve damage, A course of amitryptaline for a month settled it. I had same hip replaced as you. Found having a lay day for 2 hours in the afternoon, helped get rid of excess fluid.

    Good luck it will get better.  xx

  • susan_106
    susan_106 heather22024

    Posted

    Hi Heather

    I concur that you will experience pain, bruising and swelling for several weeks but you should be managing the pain with medication. I was progressing quite well from week 5 but seem to have slowed at week 8 and now at week 11 I'm back on paracetamol as my problem is from sitting to standing. I'm okay when I get going and can walk quite a good distance. My partner is 7 weeks post op and has had no problems except lack of sleep. I think the difference is that he was really fit before the op and has disciplined himself with the exercise regime unlike me as I'm a bit haphazard! I've been getting regular physio and also had a deep tissue massage which helped. I'm back next week for more! I've just resigned myself to the fact that everyone is different and had different circumstances coming to the op in the first place. It will heal when the body is ready. Merry Xmas everyone

    Suz

  • Msky
    Msky heather22024

    Posted

    It seems that is commen to have a lot of bruising post op .I remember that was worse during the first couple of weeks.It should start to slowly resolve .Glad you are going back to have it checked
  • beth2509
    beth2509 heather22024

    Posted

    I always feel awful answering threads like this, because before my op (7 weeks ago) I did loads of research, and yes, it all said that what you are feeling is absolutely normal, and it will improve but it takes time. I feel awful because I haven't had a drop of pain since the op. So it feels bad telling people it'll be ok! But it will. And once you are through that, your hip will be just like mine- you'll feel that time has rewound and you've got that old hip back, the painful one having been some sort of imposter. A week is very early. But you will feel better. Start planning now what you will be doing with your shiny new hip next year!

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