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one week after right total hip replacement.

Posted , 21 users are following.

michael6972
michael6972

well ,had some tiring good days where i have slowly but steadily been going upstairs and down stairs.

My raised toilet seat is in the upstairs bathroom as physio suggested that this would help with exercise.

Have noticed over the last couple of days that i have lots of bruising coming out on my knee,right up my thigh and to my inner thigh of operated leg.

My knee is also very badly swollen.i have been using icepacks on my knee and thigh.

Am resting as much as necessary,but combined with exercise is very limited due to knee swelling.

Any tips?Is this normal?confused

5 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • AnnieK
    AnnieK michael6972

    Posted

    I don't think that going up and down flights of stairs for "exercise" one week after THR is necessary and may indeed be contributing to your swelling. Just the bit of walking (with aids) that you do from bedroom to bathroom to table are all you need this early on. Your body is in intense recovery mode directly after a THR, and your hip is probably moving just fine without the extra activity. That's my two cents, anyway! 
    • michael6972
      michael6972 AnnieK

      Posted

      thanks for your reply.just another question,have been supplied with dressing for wound how often should this be done.im due to go to nurse on 3 march to have wound seal removed not sure how it was closed staples?
    • AnnieK
      AnnieK michael6972

      Posted

      You are welcome, Michael! I think that whoever gave you the dressing should have told you exactly when and how to use it. If not, then a call to the surgeon's office should tell you what you need to know. I never changed a dressing myself, but had it done by a home nurse. I had 24 staples, which I had been informed about in the hospital, but I never saw until I had my dressing changed. They didn't hurt while they were in or being taken out. Again, your surgeon's office would know how the wound was closed.
  • kathy47763
    kathy47763 michael6972

    Posted

    Hi, I am one week as well.  Had Anterior approach with total hip on 02/16/17.  Have had LOTS of swelling.  Have been using ice almost constantly.  Dr. said no heat yet.  Still have dressing on.  Won't get that off until next Weds.  Have been doing sink baths.  Dr. prescribed Oxycodone 5-15 mg every 4 hrs for pain.  It seems to help but does make me sleepy.  Have been having in home PT everday since we got home. Do you feel like you are slow on the healing process?  I sure do.  Any help or reminders would be good.  I just feel like I am moving slow. 

     

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK kathy47763

      Posted

      Kathy, THR is a big deal with big-time trauma to multiple bones, muscles, tendons, connective tissue, skin, etc. It takes a long time to fully heal. At one week I still felt like I had been run over by a truck. We must be as patient as we can while this process happens, and there is no way we can rush it. We CAN delay it with trying to do too much too soon. You are moving slowly, and for good reason! Hope you feel better soon!
    • kathy47763
      kathy47763 AnnieK

      Posted

      Oh, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I am glad to hear you say that at one week you felt like you had been run over by a truck.  Makes me feel better, seriously.  I haven't been doing anything more than I am allowed but, having been active prior to surgery, it just seems like a much slower pace.  Had PT today in the home, she notices differences in my gate and such but, I just don't see it.  Must remind myself, baby steps, baby steps.  Did you use a walker?  If so, how long?

       

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK kathy47763

      Posted

      Kathy, yes, I did use a walker. And I agree that how active a person is before surgery has a big impact on how he/she is affected by the forced inactivity afterwards. For me post-op, I was using all of my energy just to shuffle from room to room with the walker and to do some basic self care things for the first few weeks. I didn't have enough spare energy to be wanting to do more. In the next couple of weeks you will see big changes for the better, I am sure! 

      As far as how long I used the walker, you can't use me as a guide, since I have a complication that requires me to still use a walking aid at 7 months post-op. That is very rare. I use a walker with wheels on all 4 legs, a rollator, and I can really move around fast with that! Outside I use one crutch. Some tendons that were cut for my anteriolateral approach have not healed properly, and I'll have surgery soon to repair them. I expect to be going on long hikes again this summer!

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK AnnieK

      Posted

      Totally agree on your comment on activity before surgery affecting your recovery.  

      I was at work right up to the day before my initial surgery, and recovery from that was much easier than my recovery from revision 10 weeks later. I was in a much better physical state the first time, this time I have very little stamina.

      Graham

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee kathy47763

      Posted

      Just wanted to add that my first THR was done with the anterior approach and I was walking unaided, perfectly normal as if I had never had surgery, by my fifth week.  But the beginning was just like you are going through.

      Dawn, USA

    • kathy47763
      kathy47763 DawnDedee

      Posted

      That is awesome, This is my first THR and even though I went to classes, watched videos, I still wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Today is the first day I have felt "decent" and I am 10 days out.  Pain is getting better, the biggest issue is swelling.  I have ice on it whenever I am down.  I even sleep with it, changing packs as needed.  I hope I do as well as you at 5 weeks.  Thanks for the info
  • Lallydye1
    Lallydye1 michael6972

    Posted

    Hi Michael

    I got a lot of swelling and bruising and this is normal.  It will get better over the next few days.  Use ice intermittently but also to reduce swelling have periods where you lie down with your legs elevated (to above level of the heart).  I am not sure I agree with your physio making you go up and down stairs but do try to do your bed excercises.  It will get beeter with time.

    BW

    Alison

  • MichaelTN1UK
    MichaelTN1UK michael6972

    Posted

    Hi Michael

    I would suggest that you are over-doing it. You have just had major body trauma and you should allow your body time to recover.

    When I was ejected from hospital, I was only given bed-based exercises, so it did not occure to me that I should be doing more stressful ones until I had mastered these – took about 2 weeks.

    I only conquered the stairs twice a day – first and last thing. I would be inclined to rest BIG TIME and allow the passage of time to help. You have heard of the old wives tale that sleep is the best medicine...well, I would add rest to it too.

    I had a lateral approach with dissolvable stiches. I went to the nurse (at the GP) to have my dressing changed at the end of weeks one and two. She then said I could do it myself after that as it was healing up well.

    What approach did you have? 

    Good luck with your recovery and if in doubt, always check with the doctors. 

    Michael

  • hil123
    hil123 michael6972

    Posted

    Hi Michael

    I agree with what everyone has said about rest , rest and a bit more rest . You body is going through the ' yikes , what have you done to me ' phase so slow and steady wins the day . Bruising and swelling is inevitable but if you are in anyway concerned always consult your doctor / nurse / surgeon .

    All the best

    Hilary

  • DawnHU5-UK
    DawnHU5-UK michael6972

    Posted

    Hi Michael,

    I was lucky in that I didn't suffer from swelling or bruising, but what I did do was keep the raised toilet seat in the upstairs loo from about week 2.

    It was hard work at first and I had to make sure that I gave myself plenty of time 😊to make it up the stairs, but I think it really helped me.

    I'm week 7 now and I don't use crutches in the house and can walk up the stairs normally, even without holding on to the bannister.

    As others have said, rest as much as you can in between periods of activity but it's the exercise that will eventually get you up and moving again.

    Good luck with your recovery.

    Dawn

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