pain and stiffness when standing...how long does this last

Hi Betty...yes I'm doing physical therapy which helps alot. I'll keep you posted as to when this hopefully lessens and in the meantime I'll get up and walk sooner rather than sit too long.

hi lyn, hi, im having a total hip replacement in Feb 2018, im 61. Im looking forward to it but im also very worried about recovery and how difficult it is going to be to get back to normal. its going to be high risk for me as i have COPD. I would be very greatfull of your experience and thoughts. Thank you 

I suspect you are like I was, in agony with a worn out hip, and unable to walk without pain.

?If my experience is anything to go by, both times, I was wheeled into the hospital in a wheelchair as I was past the ability to walk through the lobby, up the lift to the surgery floor, and down the long corridor to the surgery suites, husband pushed me.

?Arrived in surgery, prepped, had pre-surgery appt a couple of weeks previous, surgery done, and having uncles and cousins who had the surgery, they had warned me it was not going to be easy, but was better then the nightmare of prior to surgery.

?Woke up following surgery, offered a wash, and cup of tea, I had been given spinal block with sedative, you end up feeling good, and because you have been given a lot of painkillers at the end of surgery, other than a bit dozzy from the painkillers felt good, no pain.

?Then to sleep, when I woke up the following morning, nurses said to me I had not used my self administered morphine, button I could press if I needed it, I told her I was in less pain then when I arrived at the hospital yesterday morning, she warned me, not for long, the physio's are going to arrive soon, she was right, they did, at that point they asked me to press self admins morphine, which I found at that point I was highly allergic too, sick as a dog vomiting, but that did not put a stop to them helping me move, just carried a sick bag, walked about 50 steps to the nurses station, amazed at how much difference the surgery had made, I had movement in my hip joint I had not had for 38 years, later explained to me by the surgeon, I had an accident when I was about 23, and the hip was never the same, dead bone within the ball of the hip joint.

?2nd hip much the same, with the same disability prior to surgery, changed my painkiller to fernergan, worked the same as morphine without the vomiting, had a little more problem getting over the surgery, as I had a leg length discrepancy, but have also learnt to deal with that, no thanks to the surgeon.

Physios have been a life saver with 2nd hip, and have worked myself with non-weight bearing exercises to keep myself strong and re-build strength in hip and surrounding tissues.

?Advice, do your physio as per advice they give you, come back to me I have a wonderful website I can refer you to if they give you nothing. regards exercises, and walking is not enough.

?The first few days are not easy, they will give you a lot of painkillers, even when you get home, you need to be careful as they will make you really woozy, sleep the first week, you will need it, get up to toilet, a drink in the kitchen, sit in your nice straight chair for a little while, and back to bed, helps with swelling to keep your feet up level with your body, and going to the toilet, and kitchen and lounge is probably all the moving you need to do, other than you gentlest physio exercises. I was told the first time I should leave the house was to go to the local GP to take off my dressings, check that all was well, and replace the dressings with a lighter one in my case.

?Do not worry if you cannot sleep, seems to be par for the course, get up watch TV, move about a little, helps with using up the time when all the rest of the household are asleep.

Hello lyn1951,

I’m 18 days post op with my first hip replacement and have only had 2 physio sessions since I came home (one per week). My physio has recommended I get an exercise bike, which I have just ordered. I’m only doing the very simple stretches four times daily that I was shown in the hospital, walking up and down stairs in my home and having a small walk with both crutches once a day.  Do you think this is sufficient? 

I’d be grateful if you could recommend a link for exercises that I could do. 

Many thanks

Tingles 

physiotherapy exercises following total hip replacement+coastal orthopaedics western Australia

?If I post the website the moderator will delete my reply, so see if you can get this with a google search.

?Exactly the same exercises as I was given post surgery, and what not to do, which is just as important if not more so,  its a booklet that you should be able to print out if you wish.

?For now you sound as though you are doing very well, don't go overdoing it though, remember this is a marathon NOT A SPRINT.

Dear Jon

Best advice I can offer based on,a hip replacement twenty years ago and a revision a few months ago is.

1. Find a surgeon with a good record of successful hip replacements and do not base it just in one you like.

2. Get as fit as you can.

3. Stop drinking ang smoking.

4. Have a positive attitude.

5. Have some help lined up for when you return home.

6. Do your exercises starting the same day or the day following surgery if possible.

7. Aim to walk in a balanced way with a good gait and use two arm crutches until you are walking well with a good gait.

Good luck, Richard

Dear Tingles

When I had my first total hip replacement twenty years ago (posterior approach) I was not given any exercises to do but I walked as much as possible the moment I left hospital . No physio just walking.

Having had a revision of that hip (posterior approach again) I did all the exercises I was given, I turned down the offer of physio but walked and walked and now just a few months later at 76 I have basically forgotten that I had the revision surgery and no it is not memory loss!

Yes do continue using BOTH crutches until you are walking strongly and with a good gait. Cannot see the point of bothering with an exercise bike unless you cannot face going outside. Walking outside and meeting people is all part of getting your life back to normal IMO. It also gives you a much more varied use of your muscles and is a lot cheaper!

Good luck, Richard

Very many thanks lyn. I will see if I can google search this. Much appreciated. 

Best Wishes

Tingles

Thanks Lyn, that was rearly helpfull, thank you

Thanks Richard, very helpful, i will take your advice seriously. I'm having the opp in Homerton hospital on February 18 and the surgeon "Dr Gulati" has done over 400 opps and never lost anyone. I'm feeling very positive but i still cant help being scared as the date approaches I also have COPD and heart probs and been told it will be high risk

cheers Jon

Good advice RichardKen. Many thanks for responding. Good luck to you. 

Dear Jon

I hope that I can out your mind at ease. When I had my total ankle replacement five years ago, within a couple of hours or coming round I had discomfort in the area of my heart but it was only when it repeated the next day did the doctors get concerned.

It was later found that I had AF. This had been dealt with with medication. when I had my twenty year old hip revised a few months ago naturally I was very concerned about the AF situation and explained this to the surgeon because I really did not want a general ad I think it was to blame for it five years ago. In the event I had a spinal and a partial general as it was anticipated that the surgery could be lengthy. Everything went without any problem.

I'm glad that your surgeon has not lost anyone but do you know how successful his hip replacements have been?

All the best, Richard

Depending on what you mean by "having a small walk once a day", it sounds like you should probably be walking more. That is really important. How far are you walking, or is it just a little in the home?

That's good that you are doing the exercises though. I'm not sure about getting on a stationary bike this soon though, that might be really uncomfortable and out a lot of pressure on your hip. Maybe call and check with your surgeon first. Then if okay, see if you know anyone who had one that you can try before you go out and buy one.

Hi Jon, did you or will you be having a pre-op physical with your primary doctor? That should clear you for surgery in terms of any cardiac or respiratory issues. Or maybe you did but you're still just feeling nervous, which is totally normal. As long as the surgeon of course has your whole medical history they will take whatever precautions necessary. Maybe you could call or set up an appointment with the surgeon to discuss your concerns and find out what their plan is for patients with COPD, just to set your mind at ease.

thanks ayjayran i will talk to my doctor

jon

hi richard, thanks again for your advice, greatly appreciated.  i dont know how to find out how successful his replacements were, would it be rude to ask him direct?

jon

Dear Jon

If you are in the UK you should be able to find this out from the hospital records where he works.

I understand that the success of every operation has to be recorded. This is how I selected the surgeon who carried out my hip revision surgery and also a different one for my ankle revision work. I could not see from going to your profile where you live but doubtless something like this may be available in other countries too.

Cheers Richard

Thanks Richard, I will check it out. I'm in London.

jon