THR - Done!

That should be how long not low

One more which procedure did you opt for

Thanks Dan I suppose it all depends on the extent of the arthritis how long it takes but glad it was a fairly straightforward process

Did it numb both legs or just one and what's the difference between spinal and lumber or are they both the same

Hi Alexandria

It numbs everything from waist down. And it takes a couple of hours after op for it to ware off. I had mine with full sedation has I didnt want to hear anything. I also had no pain after spinal block wore off. But we are all different.I an so pleased that its been done, I can walk again pain free.

I am 9 weeks on from having the op done. Any questions please ask.

Ann

it numbed both but they make it so the operated leg is numbed longer. i'm not sure if they are different.

Just arranged my second one today its on the 17th May.

I managed the stairs last night so they asked if i wanted to go or stay another night - i've came home everything is fine but it's made me realise how much i need help as the nurses make it seem easy.

kind regards,

Dan

Hiya Dan 😊 sounds like you got things covered, how ya finding it now your home, have you help at home, I was lucky as I had my wife at home to help me which was a great relief.

I had my right THR last October and are on waiting list now for the left, that's a quick turnaround for your second op yep. 😊 all the best with your continued recovery and stay strong and even better stay happy...

where in the NE are you, I'm down East Yorkshire way....😁

How ya managing with sleeping now at home, it can be a great pain for some...

All the best... Pete 😊

Definitely the way I will go, do they sedate you before the spinal or after.

You make it sound a breeze, I'm not too worried about after it's the op I'm afraid of but I desperately need it doing as I can't walk on left leg fully, maybe 35/40% so crutches only now

Glad your doing well though and hearing good results is reassuring

There is a difference between spinal and epidural. A spinal is a one off injection while an epidural the anaesthetic can continue to be given, an epidural is better if the anaesthetic is needed for a longer time. I believe that there are now spinals that can direct themselves at just say one leg, I just read it so it may be rubbish. Apparently the first spinal was done in 1885, so they have had lots of practise!

Thank you for clarification on that point as I would definitely go for that as I like the idea of only one leg being numb which means I could be up on crutches more or less as soon as I need bathroom 😂

What sedative did they use do you know

I had a catheter for the op it was taken out the following day. You will not be allowed to stand until the anaesthetic has worn off. They kept spraying my feet to check if I could feel them.

I did not have sedation as I wanted to know what was going on! I think they used ketamine at my hospital.

I had sedation - they do it after starting the spinal so that you can respond to the anaesthetist's checks with the spray. They asked if the spray felt as cold on my legs (both) as on my tummy. After about 5 minutes for the left leg and 10 for the right (or that's what it felt like) the spray felt markedly less cold on my legs and then I couldn't feel it at all.

Beforehand I was going to have a general, as I really did not want to be able to be aware of anything at all - just the thought freaked me out. I went to hospital expecting a general - although I was told I could change my mind at the last minute. My GP - and everyone - advised spinal; it's safer. At the last minute the anaesthetist said that whenever he meets a patient for a second operation, if they had spinal before, they choose it again. That tipped the balance for me - and he was absolutely right. I hope I don't need him again - but if I do it will be spinal. Out at 9 am, knew nothing until I was suddenly fully awake and feeling good at 11:30.

Joan

I had spinal with sedation, didn't fancy hearing all the sawing and banging! It was all fine, had my lunch about an hour later. I initially had low blood pressure, but then they realised that it's usually low, so they let me get up. I went to the bathroom on my own later in the afternoon using a frame. On my crutches the next day.

I wonder if you were sleeping a while because that's a while from the start to finish, I'm really glad all was well I am definitely not going to have general

Everything I read says spinal safer

When you first get up about how much can you weight bear and for how long

Was it noisy, didn't you have anything

Your obviously very brave 😒

I was not brave I obviously don't trust people or I am nosey!! It sounded like the next door neighbours having the workmen in. The drilling did make me vibrate a bit too. They showed me the hip bit they had cut off, it looked rather like a bloody baby hedgehog. The surgeon was able to ask me what sort of stitches I wanted, I hadn't a clue. I had dissolvable ones.

When I first got up I used a zimmer and pottered along on it. I was dreading first standing, but something happened in the ward at the same time so I forgot that I was worried and just stood with no problem as I was more interested in the ward goings on.

Yes - I think I must have slept. Probably partly because I hadn't slept for months beforehand!

I walked about four or five steps away from the bed and four or five back after lunch the same afternoon. Then much further the next day.

Joan

That sounds pretty horrific but you obviously where OK, we're you in op room 2 hours as well

Are you allowed to fully weight bear or is their restrictions

i can weight bare a little if i stand still but cant move without support. ive been up and down the stairs 3 times today with cruches but then i slept for 5 hours due to the effort.

i cant actually lift my leg i use the cruch to push it up the stairs and i slide my leg when i walk.

everything is still swollen and i'm taking alot of pain killers and regular arthritis medication.

kr,

dan

I reckon the op was only a bit over an hour. I had to have a blood transfusion afterwards though which took up time as they had trouble finding some blood!

I was effectively weight bearing as soon as I started to walk with my zimmer. I transferred to crutches pretty quickly though.

Is non weight bearing a part of the restrictions and if so how long does it take to be allowed to weight bear

So many questions 😂

That's great news and as I'm on crutches full time I will be able to continue with them hopefully

Glad they found some for you

Hi AlexandriaGizmo, you will be surprised how much weight you can put through the leg after operation, I assumed that you would keep operated leg off ground like with a broken ankle but that is not the case, you walk on both feet with the crutches helping to take roughly a third of your weight, similar to nordic hiking poles, I never realised how much weight they transfer. Regarding sedation, spinal for me and a sedative, was out for the count in seconds, they rub numbing gel on spine and you don't feel a thing, wake up approx 90 minutes later with none of the nausea associated with general. Hope this helps

Helen

Yes it does, I have a surgical phobia (Tomophobia) inherited sort of after losing my dad under anaesthesia and then my mum breaking her wrist after fall and refusing surgery for the same reason and I just cannot rid myself of the dread, I so want to be able to do all the things I did before, 🎶 ing and 🚶 ng the 🐶 s my GP and consultant have been absolutely brilliant and my GP is referring me to see someone from a mental health team to see if they can help me.

That's my dread, the after part want be too bad after 3 years of pain and imobility

Thank you all so much for your help and information it does help

Ah, I know understand your anxiety. This may put your mind at ease, when I had my pre op, I also saw the aneathetist, they are magnificent and very kind and encouraging. Quite a breed apart from consultants who appear brusque and full on. They will ask what you want and put all fears to bed and the same on the day of the op. Mine treated me, with the sedation calling it a large g&t without the hangover. Try and speak to them, you may not need the mental health involvement but whatever helps you, it's nowhere near as bad as most fear. Recuperation is a b***h though, but that can wait!! Good luck

Helen

Thank you Helen that actually does help and to be honest I'm unsure about the surgeon he doesn't seem very positive which sadly didn't help, he has been supportive and not shouted at me for being scared just when I asked him outright if I would die he didn't help by saying I don't know yikes 😂

I cannot help my fear and really struggle to get past it.

My last son was 13.11 ounces and breach they wanted to do a cesarean and I refused but they started to insist by trying to scare me and I in panic started to push him out, he came out in 11 minutes B dislocated both my hip, crackers lol

I think a few people are not allowed to weight bear because they have had a complicated op, most people can with no problem.

I was total rubbish with crutches. They showed me how to use them in hospital but my legs did not work with them the way I was told to use them! When I got home I abandoned them at the front door where they have been ever since. In the house I furniture surfed and outside I use a stick.

I am a master of using crutches but the first few months I was a right mess, I have to swing both forward at the same time and used to catch them on my foot and times they would slip if it was wet, I have special ferols now that are great and much safer.

They can still slip on really wet tiles.

I have always been very jealous of people who seem to swing along on crutches. I decided that using crutches was not ever going to be part of my abilities so gave up. If at first you don't succeed - give up!!

Have to laugh, it's a slow process and if your only going to be on them about 6/7 weeks it's probably not worth the hassle

I am obviously a slow learner!

No your not it literally took me 3 months because left foot couldn't touch the floor and hovered, it's not too bad now just extremely slow

I suppose I managed without them the first week and even went out to lunch the day after I git home using a stick. I was a bit tired though, egged on by my sister.

I was a little scared of them at first it felt so strange not to have 2 working legs and I think it will be scarey when I'm told I can walk independently

I walked before and it never crossed my mind that they wouldn't be able to support me but after only 3 years it seems daunting to imagine walking with out them.

I'm a bit scared of the spasms, wonder if they will be gone after

You should be as right as rain afterwards.

I noticed my crutches lying in a corner this evening and thought of you!!

That really made me ☺ mine spend a lot of time on the floor as they are the stupidest things to put to one side, they insist on committing harri karri and my dogs have now learnt to be ready to leap out of their way fast.

I'm convinced that whoever designed them had a perverse sense of humour

At first I just did short walks using the walking frame, then I was on crutches the next day. I found it amazing that the horrible osteoarthritis pain had gone straight away, then it was just gradually recovering from the op. (I loved my crutches, went all over the place with them!)

I suppose if you have been in pain for so long just being pain free would be so great, waiting just that bit longer has to be worth the wait.

I'm a bit attached to my crutches don't go anywhere without them 😂