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only 6 days post op need some inspiration

Posted , 13 users are following.

cheryl47408
cheryl47408

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

29 Replies

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  • cindy6649
    cindy6649 cheryl47408

    Posted

    By the way, pain meds will help with the depressing times too. As others have said, take enough pain meds regularly. It helps with the pain which indirectly helps with feeling a little depressed at times. I have post traumatic stress disorder from the accident that lead to the thr and my therapist told me the dumbest thing for me to do is think I can handle the pain without enough meds. All it did was make me suffer with depression AND pain. When I got back on my pain meds Regularly, I felt better physically and mentally. Unfortunately I've been through that cycle multiple times and reducing the pain always helps my mental status. 
    • cheryl47408
      cheryl47408 cindy6649

      Posted

      Hi Cindy,

      Thanks for your reply. I am taking pain relief and it is defo helping. I am 7 days post op today and am wanting to be back to normal just like that! Small goals, I know and hopefully all be worth it in the end

      Hope you are still doing well and I bet ur pugs are gorgeous, I love dogs bet they keep you smiling

       

  • kay88399
    kay88399 cheryl47408

    Posted

    Re your swelling Cheryl....  I was very, very swollen and found that if I lay down with my leg raised on a pillow or cushion it went down quite well thankfully. I found it a bit scary, but it went quite quickly after being raised for long enough. I too felt much better after two weeks.  I am now in week nine and doing great. Doing my exercises in the swimming pool has made a big difference. Also, my physio pointed out that I was holding myself very stiffly around the pelvic area and now that I am focussing on my posture the leg length difference isn't so great.  Keep going.  It most certainly will get better. 
    • cheryl47408
      cheryl47408 kay88399

      Posted

      Hi Kay,

      the swelling isnt quite so bad today! Do you feel a major difference at 9 wks???

    • kay88399
      kay88399 cheryl47408

      Posted

      Gosh yes Cheryl. A huge difference. There is still minor tenderness at the top of my thigh, but I am now at the stage where I have to be careful about the 90 degree rule as I don't have pain to remind me. I am able to do adapted versions of some yoga poses.  I haven't taken any pain killers at all since week four. I over did it in the pool yesterday so have some muscular discomfort in the front of my thigh. This was self inflicted and no pain killers required. At this stage the only hurdle I feel I have to overcome is being able to walk upstairs normally. I don't have quite enough strength for that yet. I am thrilled.  It is hard now to remember the first few daysat home, but I know I was miserable, nauseous and exhausted. I left hospital after 3 nights and felt nervous about not having a nurse for the first few nights. But I was fine in the end.  
    • cheryl47408
      cheryl47408 kay88399

      Posted

      I keeping reminding myself its only a week since I had the op!!! You sound like you are doing brill - very very encouraging. I guess its normal to panick and feel like things wont get better at this stage so hearing how much better you are is good news. Being careful bt 90 degree rule wow I wish, haha. Hope you manage the stairs

       

  • ann32700
    ann32700 cheryl47408

    Posted

    I am waiting for my op, it's supposed to be within the next month but we'll see!  Can anyone tell me how post op you're supposed to get yourself in and out of bed for instance without putting your thigh at a 90 degree angle to your body?!?!
    • crissy_wissy
      crissy_wissy ann32700

      Posted

      you'll be shown how to do it...you sort of lean right back and shuffle to the edge of the bed before lowering your  legs..its uncomfy for a couple of weeks but you learn to manage....do a google search for post op thp care I think there are some pictures...its these little things that we all worry about, I know I did ..but honestly you just get through it and it isn't as bad as you think it will be!...Any other questions, just ask!
    • cheryl47408
      cheryl47408 ann32700

      Posted

      i worried about that but like Chris said I kind ov just shuffle and avent really had any problems getting in and out ov bed apart from a lot ov the time lazy me just doesn't want to get up. I know a lot find sleeping on ur back difficult but I have slept fine probably because I am getting tired quite a lot. When is your op Anne?
  • mel83609
    mel83609 cheryl47408

    Posted

    Hi - I too had my left hip replaced first - and had quite a significant leg length discrepancy (longer), whereby I had to have shoe lifts/inserts to equal me out.

    I just had my Right hip done 5weeks ago (7 months after left).

    I am now equal re leg length - a huge relief!

    Re initial leg length discrepancy - My surgeon said he had to build up the hip joint to make it stable, and to prevent dislocation. When I got my right hip done, he spent extra time ensuring my leg lengths would be equal...and they are:-)

    You are only six- seven days post op - just remember, this is Major surgery, and you need time to heal. Don't push yourself too much at first...rest up lots. You will feel stronger as every week goes by. Six weeks is usually a turning point in the healing process....as is the three month mark.

    I took the homeopathic remedy Arnica (30c), 4 x per day - as well as my pain meds. It really speeds up the healing process

    It helps with swelling, bruising and healing in general.

    You will find you will need less pain meds as time goes by...but you are in the early stages here, so make sure you take them.

    Also, gentle exercise (heel pumps in bed, and whatever else physio recommended)

    and a little walking around at home, with the walker. Take it easy. Don't overdo anything Rest up....Most important in the early stages postoperative.

    You will get stronger every week, and your energy levels will improve soon too.

    Honest! Just be patient!

  • eck2go
    eck2go cheryl47408

    Posted

    Hi Cheryl, I am 3 weeks post open and I too have a leg length problem. It was a strange feeling, I bought a couple of heel wedges from Amazon and at £6.45 each I thought I would give them a try. It was a fantastic result. They just go in your shoe or slipper and it works for me. I raise my leg as often as possible and this keeps the swelling down, it was awful for the first few days at home. The surgeon had a hard time with me and he told me that the open took twice as long as normal, he had to cut several ligaments so he could dislocate my hip joint so I am still building up the muscle strength in my affected leg but I'm getting there. 3 weeks today and I am walking around the house crutch free. My body tells me when I am pushing too far so I stop. Make sure you do the exercises and you will Get th ere
  • joliejulie
    joliejulie cheryl47408

    Posted

    Hi, Sorry I am late in replying.  You might find it will even out a little as even now you will still be a little swollen up inside.  I had uneven leg length until my other hip was replaced and used heel lifts, they were a massive help and enabled me to walk straight.  Hope you are recovering well, take care and keep in mind everything the physio tells you.  Good luck.
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