One week post THR - on the rollercoaster

One week post-op left THR – first of all I need to thank my consultant Mr Phillip Roberts and his team who have been faultless. I write this hopefully to reassure any people about to go in for their surgery and I am more than happy to answer any questions at all.

Day zero (Friday) – The consultant and the anaesthetist came to see me at about 9am to discuss things. I was first on the list due to my misshapen femur and pelvis making a more complicated procedure than usual. We agreed on spinal with a cannula in my wrist to administer sedative (diamorphine) as required. At 11am we met again in theatre and 10 minutes later was in a lovely relaxed sleep. 90 minutes later still I awoke in recovery still very happy and comfortable and was transferred to my bed. As I had no pain at all I declined oxycodeine  and just had paracetamol and nefopam coupled with an intravenous antibiotic and fragmin injected into my tummy to keep the clots away (injection every day for 28 days ). My blood pressure was 90/55 so it was decided that I shouldn’t try getting out of bed today. After going to the loo  normally after the op my bladder changed its mind and went into retention so I had to have a catheter fitted. Also two drains, hydraulic DVT socks, oxygen pipes, cannula. Wound site about 175mm long with approx. 20 staples.

Day 1  (Saturday) – I awoke after a very comfortable night and still no pain – however at about 9am pain began to grow steadily and I asked for the oxycodeine and ibuprofen to be added. Mr Roberts popped in to see how I was at around 10am. At 11am the physio came and got me out of bed with the intention of taking me to x-ray. At the foot of the bed I became very nauseous and dizzy and nearly fainted which prompted the physio to get me back into bed sharpish. The pain continued through the day and proved difficult to get back under control ( probably varying between 5 to 8 out of 10) but by bedtime I was comfortable again. Bad news x-ray now shut till Monday. BP 100/65. Another shot of intravenous antibiotic.

Day 2  (Sunday) – I slept quite well even though on my back and enjoyed a good breakfast. The physio came at 9.30am with crutches but with having had a scare the day before he only walked me around the bed and back. I happily returned to have a nice day in bed. Until the consultant arrived at 4pm and put a bomb under me by telling me that the first days recovery post-op are his biggest indicator of the ultimate level of function of the new hip. He explained that all the muscles work, the joint is secure and will hold full body weight and the wound unlikely to open up. All I had to do was get up and walk. Following this I started getting in and out of bed at least every hour even through the night for very short walks ( tubes everywhere ! – the nurses were lovely ) BP 100/65. Final shot of antibiotic, hydraulic socks and drips removed, still on oxygen to try to lift BP.

Day 3 (Monday) – Wow everything happened so quickly – more physio showing me the exercises to do at home, off to x-ray (amazing pictures ! ), more physio to do the stairs test, a visit from the anaesthetist and consultant Mr Roberts who walked with me 40m up and down a corridor and discussed the success of the operation and  I was discharged by mid afternoon. BP 110/65. I hadn’t realised my last allowed dose of oxycodeine was Sunday night and so dropped to 30mg codeine instead. The weather was horrible on the way home and although only 5 miles home and following all the frenzied activity I was cold to the bone and in some pain ( level 4-5) Getting in and out of the car was quite easy though.

Day 4 (Tuesday)  -  Nice to be home. I managed the stairs quite well and pain was back under control. Steady progress today. A flat spot at around teatime ( 4-5pm) when I became very tired and pain up to around a 4-5. Off to bed not too bad really.

Day 5 (Wednesday)  -  Slept 2-3 hrs at a time with visit to the loo to keep legs moving each time I awoke – not too bad. Pillow beneath my knees and a firm foam pillow at the foot of the bed to rest my feet against. Spreads the weight quite nicely. Off to physio this morning at the health centre. He has added two more exercises – laying on my back

1.       Press back of knees firmly into the bed ( not great at this )

2.       Leg raise 200mm from the bed surface ( achieved zero mm )

Never mind stuff to work on. Back home – another flat spot around 4-5pm. First walk outside today probably about 50m there and back.

Day 6 (Thursday )  - Feeling good today. Almost all the swelling in my hip area has now gone and hardly any bruising left either. 500m walk along the street. Pain levels generally good. I have come so far in a week I am amazed. I have started to do stupid things like set off across the room without my crutches before remembering. My sports physio ( an old schoolmate ) messaged me today to warn me to take it easy for at least a few weeks as this is the time when problems can be encountered by trying to push too far too quickly. Point taken I am just doing the exercises set by the physio and a short walk each day. Leg raises are now achievable but still hard and also pushing foot out to the side and holding is quite hard – Lots to be working on but so far so good.

So all in all a rollercoaster ride this week but feeling like I am moving in the right direction. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions as I got such a lot of great support from folk on this forum I am keen to help others also.

Paul

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