just over two weeks post op

Hi Amanda I had a general and after reading some others probs with spinal block I am glad they didn't give me. A choice . It was great . Look after yourself , don't do too much too soon and rest rest rest x 

MaryMary

i chose the GA over the spinal and am glad i did, take it easy and listen to your body, things begin to settle down after 2 weeks and soon you will feel much better xxx

Hi Amanda

I am 11 days PO, your right Ted's and jabs are hard work but I find sleeping on my back the worst thing!! My knee is still really swollen and feels really stiff!

Do you struggle sleeping on your back?

Kate x

Well done for gong through with the op and your not alone in how you felt pre op. 

I am 14 days post op with swollen left knee but keeping feet up from time to time nd exercise will slowly cure it. As others have said take it easy pace, your pace, be relaxed as possible and when doing the exercises no new moves and sing to yourself. For some reason it helps me but driving my wife and neighbours barmy as am Strictly no singer.

Let us all know how you are getting on. Very best wishes from Gravesend Kent

No one tells us how much stress of surgery places on the body!!  None of us are totally prepared to deal with what the body is going through.  We are on the outside of our bodies looking in, but if we were inside looking out, we would be able to see the tremendous work our bodies are going through as it works on the fantastic job of healing.  It just takes time.

I had plans of being an "ideal hip replacement" survivor!  I was going to be a "star" patient and breeze through this surgery.  Well, guess what?  I didn't breeze through it!  I had a terrible reaction to Xarelto, the blood thinning medication, and had to go off the medication due to weakness and dizziness, and many other side effects.  I had an appointment with a new internist, before I was released by my ortho to drive.  But, because I wanted to be a "star" patient, I told myself I could drive and do it all by myself.  

That was a bad decision!  Because my daughter left a week after my surgery, thinking I would be just fine, I had a terrible time being alone so soon after surgery.  I needed help!  I was alone for 5 days, and she had to return to help me.  So, when I went to the internist, before my ortho released me to drive, I was not only too weak to be out by myself, but not healed enough to just be on my own.  We want to be able to do things we did prior to surgery, but we can't.  I was 4 weeks out of surgery, drove for the first time, couldn't find a handicap parking space, had to lift my walker out of my trunk on my own, and then walk across a big parking lot, go up an elevator, and walk down a long hall to get to the doctor's exam room.  I was EXHAUSTED!!!  

When I sat down for the nurse to ask me questions.....I just broke down and started SOBBING uncontrollably!!!  The nurse said, "What's wrong?".  I said, "I have no idea!".  I just sat there sobbing!  Then I said, "The only thing I can figure out is that this has totally worn me out and I shouldn't have driven so early.  I think it's triggering the aloneness I felt when I was by myself for 5 days, unable to shower or fix meals for myself due to the reaction I had from the blood thinner.  I just feel all alone right now!".  The nurse squeezed my hand and said, "I'll stay right here with you!"....I cried, and said, "Okay, thank you!".....and then....she got up and walked out of the room!  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!  She said she would stay with me, and immediately left, causing more aloneness!...LOL.  I was a total mess!!!  The doctor came in and it started all over again.  He ended up putting me on an anti-depressant and told me to stay on it for 3 months.

What happened?  My body was just under WAY too much stress!  I teach stress management and how to manage the mind and emotions....and here I was falling apart, and I knew it was all due to the stress of wanting my body to heal much faster than it was capable of healing.  Healing takes time, and we live in an age of wanting instant results.

So, Amanda....your meltdown was totally normal, because you are just 2 weeks post op.....give it time and be sure to take care of yourself in the meantime.

Well, I am also 2 weeks today - just back from physio appointment (Bridport UK). I had a revision after 22 years, so it's a bit more complicated than first time round. I want to remind myself and everyone that we all heal at our own pace, and that listening to your body is the most important thing to do. I am determined to go slowly in getting back to everyday life. I want my third prosthetic hip to last a very long time and I'm willing to wait as long as it takes to make sure it beds in properly and that my muscles heal well. Forget the 'star patient' competitions and the rush to walk a mile, just keep to the precautions (no twisting, 90 degree minimum bend etc)and let all those sliced muscles heal gradually and carefully. I believe that my first two hips lasted so well because I was so careful when I first got them done (18 years and 22 years ago). We'll never know that and it may have just been luck, but I am so grateful and appreciative and I'm going to have another try the third time around!  Good luck to all of you and best wishes for a long lasting new hip.