only 6 days post op need some inspiration
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hi, I am 6 days post op lthr. Only home from hosp yest but today am struggling. Have been left with length discrepancy which is very difficult and wont rectify until October when I have rthr. left leg is aching from top to bottom and is incredibly swelled although the pain is more ov a dull ache than the hip pain I had pre op. IConsultant and nursing staff were fantastic and tell me patience and staying on top ov meds is the only way but its soooo depressing. When does it get easier? I have been given some exercises but physio told me walking is the best thing to help. Feeiling very disheartened today
0 likes, 29 replies
cindy6649 cheryl47408
Posted
I'm 5 weeks post op lthr today. I know it's tough the first few days at home. I tried to sleep as much as I could to let my body heal. Take more short walks than longer ones. I would walk to the bathroom and back even if I didn't need to use it because it was close and I felt like I had accomplished something with a round trip rather than going all the way to the kitchen and barely making it back. It helped me to have my husband gently rub my thigh. Not massage but lightly touch it. There's something about sensory nerves being activated that distract you from other pains. I still do it every day when I feel pain.
Try to stay hydrated because dehydrating will make you even more miserable. I would also set little goals for myself every day so I had a better way to see that I was making progress even when I was feeling down and that I wasn't getting better.
I know it doesn't help much to tell you that it will get better but it will. After a couple weeks (when my incision was more healed) I had my husband put a bunch of pillows on my hip and leg then put my two pugs on the bed with me. They really cheered me up and helped me focus on something other than myself. I do that almost every day now. It really helps.
Hang in there and try to find things you can do instead of things you can't do.
i wish you the best!
Cindy
louise22940 cheryl47408
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cheryl47408 louise22940
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thanks for your reply. the swelling isnt as bad today and yes am wearing the delightful surgical stockings. I am walking quite a bit around the house but I dont feel confident enough to leave the house at the moment. Am hoping this will come in time. having some pain throughout the entire leg and hope its more surgical and muscular than hip if u know what I mean
7 weeks and only nurofen sounds really encouraging
ros007 cheryl47408
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Keep on top of the pain, it is much easier at this stage to not let the pain break through than it is to get on top of it later. Find something distracting to do between exercise sessions, if you can achieve something it is easier to feel positive. I like knitting and embroidery as well as reading so I had things to do. But have faith, in a while you will be encouraging those who are finding the going tough.
cheryl47408 ros007
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ros007 cheryl47408
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Keep smiling and learning a new skill like knitting or crochet will give you something to concentrate on and a sense of achievement. I learned to crochet when I first moved away from home to a job where I knew no one and it filled the gap until I sorted out my social life.
crissy_wissy cheryl47408
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Dont compare your recovery to anyone else..we're all different. Try some heat on your op site too ..one of those wheatsack things...quite soothing...ice on your swollen leg and elevate and keep rotating your ankle....we've all beem thru it ...it gets better and better...keep smiling..that helps too!!
Chris
cheryl47408 crissy_wissy
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Hope going back to work is good! Wish it was me ooh to feel normal .
Swelling gone down a bit today so feelin bit happier and had my daughter help me shower yest which she thought was hilarious so finding time to laugh and smile ...... so pleased to read your comments
crissy_wissy cheryl47408
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Jodi-France cheryl47408
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For me, it started to get better at 12/143/14 days.
These were the factors in why I got better
#1- I got the right pain medication and I take it. (You can read my topic Oh Lord give me rreief) pain will sap your eneryfy, even just low grade pain.
#2- Getting a LOT of sleep. Taking full pain pills at night allows me now to sleep 10 and 12 hours. I can tell that I really need that kind of sleep, and while I am sleeping I am healing.
#3 Nourishment. In the hospital I went for a week without hardly eating anything. Now I am home and my husband is making me good meals and with being nourished I am stronger, better.
#4 For the first two weeks I did not focus on rehabilitation at all, just focused on getting stronger overall. I am day 16 Post Op and I cn already tell I am 2x better today on my new hip than yesterday.
I hope somebody comes and and gives you advice on your swelling, I didn't have any swelling at all so I am not in a position to help you ith that, but I know some people had swelling so I hope they will offer you advice.
Eat well and rest, sleep, when you are stronger you can worry about waking, IMHO. How old are you BTW?
cheryl47408 Jodi-France
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Jodi-France cheryl47408
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juliette39133 cheryl47408
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cheryl47408 juliette39133
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kaleani75551 cheryl47408
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The leg discrepancy will resolve when you do the other hip. I went thru this myself, but the pain and full recovery (or even half full..) will take longer. Patience my friend.
cheryl47408 kaleani75551
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