This forum is quiet of late...

I thought hip surgery numbers were increasing year on year.

Yes, going up year by year I'm sure and perhaps you are looking at a trend from way back. However I think the drop is recent and has ground to a halt with Covid which is what people tell me. I need a carpal tunnel operation before it goes too far just like my other hand, but I think the department is still completely shut. So if nobody wants to do the very small operation that stops my nerve being completely compressed as the other hand was, I doubt they are rushing to do hip operations.

UK demand is going up and waiting lists increasing over last 2 years. covid has had the effect of increasing wait to up to 1 year.

Hi Heather,

I had mine done a week ago and i have pain and swelling varying from hip knee to ankle. I think it all takes time to set from what i have read. are you taking any medications?

Still early days for you heather.

I am around 4 months now myself on hip 1.

When I first discovered this forum I was a little panicked in that I was no where near as far on as others.

But then after reading hundreds of old posts I realized that everyone heals at a different rate, and not to compare myself with those that are on the golf course after a few weeks. Re meds, the docs told me that from the outset I needed to use meds to keep ahead of the pain so that I could keep on doing the exercises at the required rate and up them over the coming weeks and months ahead.

I think that is on of the keys, along with all the mundane stuff we have to do such as constant icing and elevation of the leg if needed to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Media will often say hip replacement, great up and about after a few weeks.

What they dont say is that it can take 9 to 12 months or more for the whole body and the hip to bed in and heal.

Good luck, but try and read through as many old posts as you can, without being scared of some of the problems some have.

Thanks for replying. I am taking Amitriptyline 20mg at night with paracetamol four times a day. The doctor took me off morphine as even double doses were doing no good. I said I need pain relief for through the day then as it was impossible to keep up with the exercises required. What pain relief were you taking at 4 weeks post op? I am nearly 61 and was fairly fit before the op until the hip pain took over. I swam regularly, pilates and yoga. I'm also only 4 foot 11. This may sound silly as it's hard to explain but the knee pain and groin pain are stopping me walking longer distances. My leg/knee feel like they are being dragged in when walking rather than walking normally. I can't get a face to face with physio (because of covid) but she gave me exercises to try. I told her my hip feels like it's rubbing/ stinging when walking too (sorry its hard to explain). I still do as much walking/exercises and rest, ice, heat etc as required but can't sleep much as night time pain is worse. I see the consultant on the 26th. I hope things change soon as I have recently become a gran for the second time and my other grandson is one this month. I am willing to try anything that i'm not already doing. I know it is early into my recovery I just feel my progress is going backwards.

Thanks for listening.

Hi ric

Sorry I never got a notification to say you had replied.

Good news though. I had my 6 week check-up today (a week earlier than he'd planned) with the consultant. As soon as he saw the way I was walking, pulling my knee and leg in, pulling on my hip he said he knew what that the problem was. After a few checks he said it would be fixed/corrected with intensive physio. He showed me a couple of exercises and how to walk until I get the appointment, his words (walk like Charlie Chaplin), feet outwards to correct the squint knee.

I've to get another check-up in 6 weeks time to see my progress after having physio. I am glad as I could tell there was a problem. Here's hoping this helps my progress get back on track. I will try the doctor again and see if they will give me the sleeping tablets, they aren't keen but no harm in trying.

Thanks again for all your advice. This forum is great I thought I was going mad.....

Hi Heather, that is good news, congrats.

Patience is the key, not one of my virtues, I have had too force this mind set that you just can't force the healing and re hab.

Other things that you could try a little further down the line are going for a professional massage and or a chiropratic adjustment. Check with your medics first, but this is what I have done and it works and has done so for many others on this forum.

We get heavily bashed around during the course of the op, and whilst the hip surgery itself might have gone well sometimes your spine and other joints can be left rather out of kilter so to speak.

The exercises we all do are meant to keep the hip moving and increase stability so they are a great help. Again further down the road regular physio will help to identify and muscle weakness you may have, and give you further exercises to add too the ones you were given. Ie if you Google Psoas muscle you will see how important it is to us, and how it gives problems if it is not strengthened and working correctly.

Good luck, you ll get there.

Thanks for all your advice. I have started the new physio exercises using resistance bands along with all the others. I have to see the physio again on the 18th and consultant on the 31st. The forum gives a good insight into the time to heal after THR. I think if we are given better advice at the beginning we wouldn't panic so early on in our recovery. You are right we do need patience. I googled about the Psoas muscle. Glutes and Quads. They need a lot of work to repair after this operation. I feel better knowing I am slowly heading in the right direction. (The thing that was/is worrying me most is the prominent feeling the hip isn't bedded or bedding in place. It feels painful and as if it is sticking out). I am 8 weeks post op now. Thank you again for all your advice.

I probably didn't describe it properly. It feels like it's not fully in place (but that probably sounds the wrong way to describe it too). I'l mention it to the consultant if it feels the same at the end of the month.

I was fairly active before the op with pilates, swimming and walking. I will continue to do so although the swimming with covid is difficult as it's just lanes at the moment and I know i'm not ready for that yet. I'm looking forward to that level of fitness again.......

The worst thing at the moment is lack of sleep. Gp wouldn't give me sleeping tablets for 7 days as "I would end up back in the old routine of not sleeping once they stopped". Bizarre thing to say but I knew they would.

I'm going to a chiropractor in a few weeks, i've used her over the years but feel I need other joints tweeked like you said in your post.

Thanks for all your advice.

No problem. You can also get over the counter herbal sleeping tablets. I ve tried them before and seem to help.

Hi ric

I thought i'd update you with my progress or lack of depends which way you look at it.

X-ray showed new hip in place thankfully. The physiotherapist thought my hip had loosened so consultant sent me for x-ray. I decided to go to chiropractor, she thinks I have L5 nerve-root irritation and the right gluteus medius muscles have no power. I've had two treatments so far, and not much progress. My new hip area still very stiff/sore/and rubbing when walking/ throbbing at night. I am nearly 16 weeks post op. I know I have to be patient and keep with the physio exercises, chiropractic treatment and a change of diet to help get rid of the inflammation. It has been tough i'm not going to lie. Do you know of anyone else who has had these problems after thr? I'm feeling a bit deflated after all this time. I still cannot walk for more than half an hour and with one stick.