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Pain & swelling 7 days post op

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Hippyhopchris
Hippyhopchris

i am in agony following my anterior approach THR on 12 th may. My knee & upper leg is really swollen and it's painful to even lift it up to walk. Putting weight on it hurts like hell. Am taking tramadol x2 and paracetamol X 2  four times a day , with oxycodone 5mg when pain is really bad. Applying ice packs helps a bit. Only position I can get relief in is by lying absolutely flat on bed, but know I can't spend all day in bed- I must Excercise.. Also when I sit it feels like I am sitting on something under the hip - like a ball or something. Does any of this sound familiar to other people ? Am starting to wonder whether having this done was the right decision after all! 

0 likes, 29 replies

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  • Lorna020247
    Lorna020247 Hippyhopchris

    Posted

    Very early days it will get easier I took painkillers for along time.

    your leg feels like lead but give it more time you do need to rest . I did not put weight on mine couldn't used both crutches to get around very slowly for awhile till physio said I crutch then got easier.

    good luck it will be worth it in the end.

    lorna x

    • sandra93008
      sandra93008 Hippyhopchris

      Posted

      Aww sorry to hear that christine😕keep putting ice ice and more ice on those muscles.each day pain places seem to change. I guess it's different bits healing at different times?just take one day at a time.it will start to ease up.I have read so many posts on here of people saying they feel like they are sitting on hard balls so that's normal and passes.maybe where swelling is going down or muscles bit tight n lumpy?keep doing the gentle excercise though very important.hope you feel better as day goes on xxxx
  • annie.conway
    annie.conway Hippyhopchris

    Posted

    Don't have to exercise much more than what you did in hospital, Chris. This is VERY early days for you. Resting and healing is far more important now. If it hurts to do something, just don't do it.

    I had bilateral anteriors done in March (I'm 63) and only in the last week did I get rid og my last crutch. I still use one to climb stairs. My right hip went into spasm 10 days after my operation and it has still not released despite accupuncture and massage. But it is easing, I can definitely say that.

    I think you're perhaps being too tough on yourself. Those videos you see where the patient walzes out of hispital after a hip replacement are actually a very, very rare occurrence.

  • joanne-1970
    joanne-1970 Hippyhopchris

    Posted

    I don't think not even being able to lift your leg to walk sounds right and the only relief is when your flat on your back. The feeling of sitting on a ball is normal, that's swelling which is helped by ice. Could you ring your surgeon to explain what's happening ? Even if it's just to put your mind at rest.

    • annie.conway
      annie.conway joanne-1970

      Posted

      Joanne, Chris had an anterior approach THR. There you don't get the ball in the butt feeling 😜. I wasn't able to lift my one leg for a long time either. More ice and more rest is what he needs. By all means phone your surgeon, but I think you'll get the same response as we all have "this is normal, give it time" - until you feel like punching them on the nose.....
    • joanne-1970
      joanne-1970 annie.conway

      Posted

      Annie, yes I realise Chris had the anterior approach. It's strange that Chris has the ball in the butt feeling if you don't actually get that with anterior approach. My understanding of the original post was that Chris couldn't actually lift her leg to walk or put any amount of weight on her leg without agonising pain not the fact that she couldn't lift her leg. Thanks for clearing all that up for me though Annie
    • annie.conway
      annie.conway joanne-1970

      Posted

      Not being able to put weight on it is worrying, but relaxing and taking her pain meds is about all she can do right now ... Apart from getting advice from her surgeon - which will be the usual - I can bet money on that one 😜. My right leg would not lift more than a couple of cm for many weeks and I couldn't put weight on it without terrible pain in my groin .... Now I can do both
  • senora31074
    senora31074 Hippyhopchris

    Posted

    Hi Hun it was weeks before I could lift my leg as it felt like led by myself . Good news is another few weeks and it will get easier. This is a traumatic surgery to you and your body it will take 12 weeks to feel good and up to a year to be back to normal. I am 9 weeks post op and an walk around the block daily without any aides but still under my restrictions till week 12. Doing PT which is painful but does help. Still on pain meds lower back is horrible from trying to lay on my back. This forum is great because we have all been there done that and helps to know your not alone 💜
  • donnarhi303
    donnarhi303 Hippyhopchris

    Posted

    Hi chris. Sending you my best wishes for this recovery. I had an anterior THR end of July 2015. I was led to believe the anterior was "easy " to recover from!!!!! The whole recovery process took the stuffing out of me and I would describe myself as very resilient. The first month is hard and will require painkillers regularly if you are like me. I did suffer from the 'sitting on a golf ball' feeling for many weeks post op where I would need to lie down on sofa to alleviate the discomfort. I only found this forum after many weeks as I was feeling "down and vulnerable" because I did not seem to be recovering at the pace I thought I would! It does get better and this forum is fantastic for support and advice. However be aware we are all different and experience pain differently. My advice to you is to rest and recover and enlist lots of help from whomever you can and just ask the doctor/hospital ward/ surgeon if your particular symptoms are ok. Should you be having some physio outpatient appointments now? You are still very early on the post op journey.  Good luck x

     

    • Lorna020247
      Lorna020247 donnarhi303

      Posted

      How are you know had mine done June 2015 and back to physio  also seeing my surgeon June this year as still have problems walking more than 60 m without soreness and tightness fed up to be honest.

      interested for your comments on this I am like you fairly tough on myself.

      thanks Lorna 

  • gloriajoy
    gloriajoy Hippyhopchris

    Posted

    Hi Chris

    You haven't put any details on your profile.Your post scares me as I am waiting to see a consultant who does Anterior approach surgeries.

    I had understood that recovery is easier after Anterior,with fewer restrictions (able to bend etc.) 

    As I live alone being able to fit my own ted socks and access low cupboards seemed a good thinf to me.

    Where are you located? Which hospital and which surgeon carried out your op?

    You should certainly contact them and rexplain what you have told us!!!

    I hope things get better for you soon.But I would say don't be afraid to ask questions, you need answers.

    Good luck and keep us posted.

    Joyx

  • Hippyhopchris
    Hippyhopchris

    Posted

    Thanks everyone. I just fell over (because I couldn't lift my leg sufficiently to clear a step ) pain now even

     worse, so rang my GP in tears and got an appointment for this afternoon 

    christine x

    • Lorna020247
      Lorna020247 Hippyhopchris

      Posted

      Oh Chris,

      do hope he can help you sorry to hear about your fall.

      take care.

      lorna x

    • linda38528
      linda38528 Hippyhopchris

      Posted

      Oh dear - I hope sincerely hope you are okay. The up side is that you are seeing your surgeon and can get advice re your concerns.

      Whatever the outcome today  ... this operation is much tougher than 'advertised' and it takes time to recover even with an anterior approach which is deemed easier on the various components and requires a smaller incision. It more patience than I expected and I thought I had done a lot of homework beforehand (and I had a posterior approach as thisis what my surgeon was trained to do, and has done literally hundreds).

      It is time to call in your friends to help you with tasks and to distract you - as it is hard to ignore the pain if you are just sitting or lying there staring at the four walls or ceiling. And as many have said - don't forget your ipod and the healing powers of music. 

      Good luck with everything.

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