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Just realised I am not as recovered than l though

Posted , 15 users are following.

lors23
lors23

Hi

I had my 1st lthr on 9th Dec 2015 and my 2nd rthr on 15th Fed 2016 so l had both hips replaced in the space of 3 months.

I thought my recovery has been amazing and am driving and doing normal things l would had done before l developed OA in both hips over a year ago. I have been off my work for 6 months now and this month will be my first at half pay. I seen my surgeon last week for my 6 week check up and was signed off as he was happy with my progression. I don't walk with sticks infact l rarley have used them.

I still am a routine with pain meds l take my 1st lot in the morning as soon as l get up and some in middle of day and then my last lot at night.

Well l got up early done my usual routine of taking my morning lot abiout 9am. Then got ready fot a 40th lunch l was going to at 1pm. Its about an hours drive away sat and had lunch for maybe 3 hrs which included climbing 2 sets of stairs to get in and out. Then afrerwards me and my hubby decided to go to the shopping centre we walked round that got a few things then drove to a local retail park and was in 3 of the big stores. By this time l was late at taking my mid day painkillers we go home around 6pm and l ended up in tears with the pain in my back and hips. I straight away took my painkilllers and lat down but for half an hour l felt awful the pain was intense.

I just realised what l would be like without painkilllers. I am no were near as healed as l think l am in my head. In the outside l might look ok and taking my meds makes me live a pretty normal life. But l did say to my surgeon l did not feel ready to be back at work as l think sitting is my problem

He advised me not to go back until l feel ready myself. But yesterday just proved to me that without my painkillers l would be no were near as ready or healed as l think. My surgeon says it takes up to 9 months for a body to fully recovér. Well l am only 8 weeks on monday since my last op and l made the desition l am taking another few months off my work as my healths more important at the moment and l thinknģ for 7hrs a day at a computor just now kills me.

I just got a fright yesterday and reallised l am no where near fully recovered and a lot of how l am is too do with the painkillers masking what pain l reaĺly am in after 2 hip replacement in such a short time. Plus my sleep pattern is still upside down and my hair is still falling out a lot when l wash it same as a lot of other people on this forum which is a sign my body is still under a lot stress.

Just though l would share with you that how much stress having these ops puts on your body and your life.

Laura xx

3 likes, 45 replies

45 Replies

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  • belleAUSSydney
    belleAUSSydney lors23

    Posted

    Hi Laura

    I was still using a stick at 8 weeks and even now at four and a half months I limp a bit and never do stairs if there's an elevator around. I found the 12 week mark to be a bit magical for me. Before then, I wondered if I was ever going to recover. In the past two or so weeks, I can walk more and with less limping. I can do stairs one foot at a time, but if I'm tired and/or sore, I will still do the toddler thing.

    I was not an athlete, ballerina or gym junkie before my op, so I know that having a miracle recovery was never going to be on the cards for me. The past two or so weeks have been pretty amazing. 

    Hang in there. 

    I get the work thing. I don't wanna, either. I am trying to get a business going from home so I don't have to deal with someone else's schedule.

    If you find yourself still dependent on painkillers in another month, start pushing your surgeon more to see if there is nerve/muscle damage that needs further treatment.

    Keep your spirits up. We will heal in our own good time. 

    • lors23
      lors23 belleAUSSydney

      Posted

      Thank you l still am not grest with stairs either l do the same manover as a child.. ha ha

      I try to be posative most of time but sometimes it just beats you and you have a bad day. Xxx

  • sarah1996
    sarah1996 lors23

    Posted

    As you always tell me lady, take it slow. Theres no need to rush and i dont want you hurting yourself. Take care hunnie. Om always here for you xxxxxx
  • renee01952
    renee01952 lors23

    Posted

    Hi dear Laura, 

    cheesygrin - I recognize this - was thinking the same thing recently - 

    Goodness, Laura, you did a lot in one day though - Even without THR surgeries , it sounds challenging - especially the 3 retail stores at the end - and it is not normal walking - it is walk, stop, look, touch and go and repeat .... 

    Now you know where your bounderies are and that is good - 

    I also am dealing with the pain medication - now with the trochanteric bursitis in both hips , what to do - Took myself off the Omezaprol (stomach protector) as the side effects make me feel soooooo bad - 

    You are doing really good - Look what you have already accomplished in 8 weeks after 2 THR surgeries ... Just bask in your own light ...

    If you don't feel ready to go back to work and can stay home longer, do so - 

    Have a nice rest today ... you have done really good, so allow yourself to just enjoy ....

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • lors23
      lors23 renee01952

      Posted

      Yes it seems a lot but this would be a normal weekend possibly more but l just can not do it yet l am not ready for normal just yet. I am doing well but l still have a long way to go and rely on my painkillers still very much l hate to think the pain l would be in without them at the moment.

      Laura x

  • CelsB
    CelsB lors23

    Posted

    Hi Laura,

    How quickly we forget what our bodies have been through!  We do a little and feel okay so we believe we can push our bodies further then the truth hits home. Sorry you're in pain again hun.  I hope you feel better soon.

    I feel this infection has put my recovery back a couple of weeks.  I was relatively pain free and my mobility was improving but I am back to pain meds, limping and wishing the physio had not taken away one of my crutches.   I could cry, not with the pain but with the disappointment. 

    Thanks for sharing.  It's a valuable lesson to learn.

    Cels xxx 

    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 CelsB

      Posted

      Hi Cels, Did you get an infection? I am having been following you since the day before your surgery which was a few weeks prior to mine. I hope you are doing better - CIndy
    • CelsB
      CelsB cindy48619

      Posted

      Hi Cindy,

      Yes, I went to A & E on Thursday evening and got diagnosed.  I knew something wasn't right.  I'm on antibiotics now and due for my 6 week check-up tomorrow, so will be glad for my surgeon to have a look at it.  

      I am so disappointed, it was all going so well.

      Cels xxx

    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 CelsB

      Posted

      I am sorry to hear this. It is so good that you got to a doctor quickly and got the antibiotics started. How did you know that something was wrong?

      I certainly understand the disappointmnent. There is so much emotion that goes into this whole thing pre-op and post op. I too am doing very well and I would be so upset if I went backwards. But these things happen and I really appreciate you posting yours so that we can continue to support each other Cels.

    • CelsB
      CelsB cindy48619

      Posted

      That what this forum is for Cindy.  The medics might know the techniques, but we know what it feels like.

      I've got some swelling under my skin around my wound,  the physio said it's fluid.  Anyway, the swelling got worse, felt hot and looked red.  All classic symptoms of infection so I knew I had to do something quickly.

      Cels xxx

    • linda38528
      linda38528 CelsB

      Posted

      Glad you now know the problem and it is being treated ... but truly sorry that you are going through this. Good thing you 'listened' to your body and instincts.

      Best wishes for a smoother recovery.

    • bini31328
      bini31328 CelsB

      Posted

      Hi Cels 

      how are  you feeling today - does it feel like the antibiotics are working now? 

      Xx

    • CelsB
      CelsB bini31328

      Posted

      Hi Bini,

      Hmmmm, I think they might be.  It's certainly less painful and not so red. Still swollen though but I suppose it's early days yet.  Looking forward to what my consultant says tomorrow.

      Xxx  

    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 CelsB

      Posted

      Good for you... I hope the antibiotics kick in fast. they usually do! You are right, I have learned way more here than from the medics smile Feel better... I am sending you good loving energy smile

       

    • bini31328
      bini31328 CelsB

      Posted

      Less red and less painful  are good signs- you should see continued improvement  now xx
    • lors23
      lors23 CelsB

      Posted

      Thanks cels l.know it just makes you think when thinks like that happen you realise just how much your body has went through. My husband...bless him does not understand he kept saying when l got home whats wrong with you because l was in agony and snapping at him l as l was having trouble just standing and l was trying my best to do my normal thing. I snapped l am in agony he said why its not that much diffrent from what we hsve being doing but it was to me it felt a lot in and out the car a few times driving up a set of stairs sitting on a hard chair for hours then l ate a big meal that l didť enjoy so l felt full and heavy and then it was round the shopping centre walked round it then in a my car again and down to retail park. I know to a normal person this prob does not seem lot and l felt ok l new l was starting to sruggle as l just wanted home. When l got home l had tears no energy l was moody and snapping l just felt l was about to fall down. Mark could not understand why l was he said go to bed .....l said no just give me time l took painkillers and lay on the couch within half an hour to an hour l felt better. But it shook me up. It confirmed to me l was not normal or heeled as much as l though. I am right to take more time off work as l will not be able to sit in my office 5 days a week 7 hrs a day. But there must be some guilt running around in my head thinking l should be back but l know now l am not ready.. thanks for your kind words cels xxx
    • Loral
      Loral lors23

      Posted

      I have a sit down computer job and I sit on a foam pad with a back support behind me, also I'm almost 1 year post op, and too many in and out of the car has me lifting my leg to get in just like before surgery...Tell your husband to chill...wink
    • linda38528
      linda38528 lors23

      Posted

      Dear Laura - you really are having a rough time of it. Could we not commission an angel to spend more time on our group?

      I wish it wasn't so ... but I suspect we will all have a session like this even if we are careful. There have been a number of reminders of this over the weekend. And unless our partners have been through something similar, it will be hard for them to relate as the psychological impact is as bad if not worse than the physical ones - reminders that recovery can reverse itself and worry that it is more than an episode. 

      It sounds though as if it has stiffened your resolve to pace yourself more, take more time before going back to work and spend more time becoming as good as you can become. That HAS to be a great outcome!

      Helping our partners understand the impact this operation and experience has had on us is a whole other matter. But luckily we have our group ....

      xxx  

       

    • lors23
      lors23 Loral

      Posted

      I did l bit his head of as he has no idea how l feel he is great most of the time but he just see's me on the outside and thinks because l look better and walk better l am fine when on the inside l can be in agony ha ha l was quick to tell him on saturday lol
    • Loral
      Loral lors23

      Posted

      cheesygrin Wait till it's his turn.....
    • bini31328
      bini31328 lors23

      Posted

      Yes , mine needs constant reminding at times , although hes been a lot better this time than last xxxxx
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