Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi
I am due to have my right THR surgery this Friday. I'm obviously feeling apprehensive about it. Can anyone enlighten me on how I will feel immediately post op and what I should expect in terms of after care and mobility? I am 47
0 likes, 4 replies
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andrew77015 andrea77423
Edited
I think there are lots of dependencies. Your underlying condition necessitating the surgery, your age, your level of core, leg and upper body strength will all play a role imo.
i have had both thrs 18 months apart. Immediately after the operations I felt euphoric (meds?) but the pain soon kicked in. Worst unsuprisingly was moving the leg around. Getting it back onto the bed was agony for about a week. using an appliance, having someone lift it and different back angles all seem compelling but don't remove the pain. Getting about was difficult but improved over time. Operated leg was stiff and I really wanted to stretch hamstrings, glute and adductor to no avail. Using a hard ball for massage alleviated that a little. Getting into car the first time with rthr was most pain ive ever suffered. First time round I felt nauseous for about a weekand stopped all strong meds to try and counteract that. Second time I chose minimal sedation with spinal block and that dealt with the majority of the nausea. If you have the upper body strength you can change positions for sleeping. And you'll need a devoted carer for dressing, shoes etc for at least a fortnight.
andrea77423 andrew77015
Posted
Thanks Andrew, i'm pretty slim with a normal BMI. My original problem started with a groin strain injury about 12 years ago. After that i've had physio, ultrasound treatment, injections into my tendons and my hip joints. I can't say I haven't tried to avoid surgery but at the end of the day it was arthritis that finally took it's toll. Really helpful message as I wanted someone to give me an honest view rather than a sugar coated one
james56388 andrea77423
Edited
I'm about your age, just a little older and my experience was that it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd feared. The hospital will give you drugs to manage the pain and actually I was fine on just paracetamol after a few days. You'll be very tired but comfortable, just make sure you do what the nurses tell you in terms of movement. After a couple of weeks you'll feel pretty independent but you will need help the first couple of weeks.
Rather than tell you my experience, go onto YouTube and search "hip replacement post op". There are really helpful videos that explain exactly what happens after surgery. Just remember there are 80 year olds and older that have this op - so if they can do it then you and I certainly can!
Let us know how it went!
andrea77423 james56388
Posted
Thanks James
I am also on the waiting list to have a lthr as well as both are arthritic with cysts in the sockets . I am really considering asking for a full anaesthetic as if I find it too traumatic to be sedated with spinal anaesthetic I may not want to go through with the other one and I need to to get my quality of life back. I think we are still young at our age to have the mobility of an older person and that is exactly what my surgeon said. I'm expecting a lot of acute pain but at the moment i'm in a lot of chronic pain and on the maximum analgesia I can be without being anything like pain free, the meds just help me walk short distances. I've become resistant to the painkillers and I'm worried the painkillers after surgery won't do much other than take the edge off?