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Six month post THR check today.

Posted , 13 users are following.

kathee58019
kathee58019

I just wanted to share my experience with everyone. You would think at six months everything would be great. It was up until 3 mo post op. I was almost pain free and walking one or two miles a few times a week.

Then I started doing some things I love, like yard work and more physically demanding activities, nothing high impact. I would suffer terrible pain in my leg and hip the next day and it would take me weeks to recover. I was very worried but the doctor told me this is common. My xrays looked good and that sometimes the muscles and tendon don't stretch like they should. He said they do encourage people to do their normal activities and have a normal life. He gave me a round of methylprednosolone (6 days) for inflammation. Me and this medication do not do well so I am not looking forward to taking it.

Anyway, I go back to the doctor in September, my one year anniversary. He said if I am still having problems they will do some test. He also said it's a good idea to keep a walking aid, crutches, walker, etc for setbacks and bad days when you just need to give the hip a rest. I didn't do that so now I will go look for crutches incase I have more bad days. Hope this gives someone some insight.

Take care

5 likes, 32 replies

32 Replies

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  • Mary8610
    Mary8610 kathee58019

    Posted

    Will be careful , don't want to have probs in a years time . 

    Thanks

  • daveoffshore
    daveoffshore kathee58019

    Posted

    HI kathee

    Thanks for sharing, I can feel your frustration and worry - keep being strong. Thanks again Dave

  • regi72683
    regi72683 kathee58019

    Posted

    Thank you for sharing this.....it is good to know for the ones that tend to do more than they should too early (like me). I will keep this in mind when I start attempting things that I shouldn't. 

    I do hope you get to feeling better and when your year mark comes along you are feeling better.

    im just at six weeks right now so am still taking small strides towards recovery.  

    Do take care and wishing you luck in your recovery.

  • gilly1446
    gilly1446 kathee58019

    Posted

    Thank you karth. Your post as helped me. I'm going in to have total left hip replacement in may. So pretty much soon. Talking about it helps meto realise the reality of the procedure. Your post helped me allot. Many.Thanks
  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee kathee58019

    Posted

    Thanks Kathee, some really good details here. And am so happy you have healed so well. I hope your recovery time, after doing the activities you described, will eventually shorten. I have been told that it takes a full year to feel completely normal again.

    Keep on keeping on!

    💛 Dawn, USA

    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 DawnDedee

      Posted

      DawnDedee,

      I was told six months to a year also. Sometimes I would just feel so good I forgot I had surgery and paid dearly the next day or week! I wasn't careless, and it didn't hurt while I was doing it, so I guess I just felt I was back to normal. I guess there's a learning curve. wink

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee kathee58019

      Posted

      Spot on about the learning curve! When I think about all this, we really are changed by our surgery and it is like relearning our bodies and our new limitations caused my the surgery.

      I am/was the type of woman who painted her house, climbed up on the roof to clean the gutters. I hand picked large heavy rocks from creeks, around a thousand rocks, carried them up hill and loaded them up, brought them home to use in a landscape project that has not been started. When my hip joints died suddenly even before the surgeries, all activity stopped. I lack the money for someone else to do it for me, and this is why I was going to do it myself.

      The rocks just sit now in piles with weeds growing around them. I really feel frustrated that I will never be able to do the fun projects again.

      The learning curve is our protection I guess. And I thank God for my new hips because I can walk. Oh Kathee, this is quite a journey for us isn't it?

    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 DawnDedee

      Posted

        That is no lie DawnDedee, The surgery does change you, and even though mostly for the good if you've been suffering, you do have to do things differently. Replacement parts are never as good as the originals.

        I am the same way about my home and yard and love every minute I spend playing in it.

        I painted my master bedroom two weeks ago. It took me all week since I had to remove wallpaper first, and rest every other day, but it looks beautiful! It was climbing the ladder for the vaulted ceilings that was challenging. They look nice but a pain in the rear!  Luckily they aren't real high.

       I don't know about the big rocks, but little by little you will get back to good. I am surprising myself actually. Just a couple of years ago, I would have never thought I would be recovering from such a thing. This was my first surgery ever. I have never even been sick. I guess we just never know what path we will be given.

       I found some crutches at the United Christians Outreach Center so I'm off to get them. They loan them out for free. You can't get cheaper than free. haha

       

  • susan52056
    susan52056 kathee58019

    Posted

    Hiya, it's great to hear from someone so far into their recovery. I'm approaching the 3 month post op stage and like you all seems to be going great, apart from the odd times that I do too much and my leg and hip ache. Great idea to keep hold of a crutch or stick. I was thinking I would have to give them back but now I'm going to hold on to them. 

    I hope your problems are temporary and that your recovery gets back on track.

    i wish more people would post who are 3 months + it's great to hear what might happen

    Take care xx

  • ruthannfox
    ruthannfox kathee58019

    Posted

    Hi kathee58019 I am 8weeks post op tomorrow and found this forum invaluable the only trouble I have is sleeping on my op side I can drive the car and walk without sticks but still need a rest in the afternoon I am having more pain in neuralgia up the side of my face than in my hip! .i dare not have a bath yet as I don't think I could get out.i am starting slimming world on Friday as I have put a stone on since I have been home.
    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 ruthannfox

      Posted

      Good luck at Slimming World Ruthann. I lost weight before my surgery and have been very careful not to put it back on. It makes such a huge difference in making things easier during recovery. Lifting light weights has also helped me keep my upper body strength. I'm sure you will do great!
  • kevin85498
    kevin85498 kathee58019

    Posted

    Hiya, 

    Thankyou for your update but sorry to hear some problems persisting after making great strides. Noted for my future as I am 3 weeks post op.  Lets hope it's sorted for you quickly and then you be  pain free and away you go. Very best wishes to you.

  • mic71403
    mic71403 kathee58019

    Posted

    Hi Kate

    Thanks for sharing...cos I rather assumed if all well at three months all well for ever.

    SO.....I need to keep a looser but still watching brief awareness.

    I'm buying some poles for country walks after I give in the crutches at post op assessment by the way. My weight has gone up a bit with all this inactivity, so looking g forward to more exercising...but with continued caution as you imply!

    Mic

    X

    • kathee58019
      kathee58019 mic71403

      Posted

      Thanks Mic, it feels so good to get out and just walk, and don't be afraid of walking, it actually makes me feel so much better. I love to hike and have been thinking about buying some walking poles as well. I live near a State park that has natural trails through the woods. I'm  in North Carolina and the weather here is getting beautiful. We have so many nice parks and hiking trails.

      It does make things much easier when you're at your optimal weight, lugging around even just a few extra pounds is hard.

      Take care and good luck with your recovery,

      Kathee

  • barbara17317
    barbara17317 kathee58019

    Posted

    Thanks Kathee.  I am just past 3 months now, so I am still being careful and after reading your post I am glad I kept one crutch just in case I needed it at any time in the future and have a fold up walking stick to take on holiday as I know I will be doing a lot more walking then.  Best wishes to you.
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