Rocky start
Posted , 3 users are following.
I had hip replacement 2 weeks ago and spent 8 days in hospital, 3 in intensive care. I had blood transfusions during and after surgery and very low blood pressure. Nobody was able to tell me why this happened. I was fit and well before surgery. I live alone with multiple steps to access my flat and am aged 72 . People are astonished that i was discharged with no aftercare, no district nurse, no carers, no physio, only an exercise sheet. I have arranged for friends to pop in and have online shopping. I guess I will be ok but I am feeling so helpless. 2 milestones I want to achieve are - make a cup of tea and carry it out of the kitchen and to be able to put my knickers on without using a grabber. Would be good to hear how others coped in the early days of recovery. I'm also sleeping loads and have a lot of swelling.
0 likes, 2 replies
Cherry2603 PGtips11
Posted
Hi sorry to read about your experience. I am also 72 and had a THR of the right hip on 18th February. I am waiting for the THR for the left hip.
Like you I had post-operative anaemia and had low blood pressure and a blood transfusion after surgery but I was in for only 2 days and was discharged with iron tablets. Unfortunately I couldn't tolerate the tablets so I am still anaemic. I can't have my surgery until my blood count reaches 120.
Apparently there can be significant blood loss after major surgery like a THR which can cause the blood problems but possibly the medics don't know why it affects some people more than others.
Recovery from the op was a steady progress and it didn't take too long before I could manage to carry the cup of tea. The knickers took a lot longer and it was probably about 8 weeks! My right hip is doing well and my progress would be a lot better if my left hip was normal.
I still have the swelling but it's tolerable.
Good luck.
thea63057 PGtips11
Posted
Hi, I've had my hip replaced 26 years ago and have had 3 revisions on it within the past 5 years. Most recent revision two weeks ago. After 21 years of having the prosthetic hip in it wore on my bone around the socket toward the end of the life of the hip requiring me to have a bone graph surgery then eventually a metal cage put in to keep the prosthetic socket from loosening. Be very careful not to do too much to soon. You should be doing your exercises on the bed and following the restriction protocol... no bending past 90 degrees, no leg crossing, etc..take the precautions very seriously, you do not want to dislocate your hip..believe me. Baby your hip for the first 90 days and it will take care of you for years to come!