1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

THR - RIght Hip

Posted , 10 users are following.

Grace5515
Grace5515

I had my hip replacement on 5/5/15 (brilliant surgeon & aftercare!) Discharged after 5 days, my (elderly) husband is valiantly caring for me.  I hadn't realised that this early post-op stage would be so demanding. I'm very relieved to read on a forum that others experience the same feelings of helplessness, dead leg almost, and a week on I was even beginning to wonder if I shld have put up with the pain before! MY MAIN ANXIETY right now is that I fear by mistake I may have once or twice broken the 90 degree rule by reaching forward instead of using my grabber.  Help please - cld I have damaged things, or can I be reassured somehow?

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

Prev
  • rosie86947
    rosie86947 Grace5515

    Posted

    Hi Grace

    As I understand it the 90 degree rule is so that you don't dislocate the new hip. They have to dislocate it to do the operation and the muscles and ligaments need time to recover so I'm sure you haven't done any damage but do try not to break the rule just in case.

    • Grace5515
      Grace5515 rosie86947

      Posted

      Thanks Rosie. Yes I understand how important it is and was mortified when I realised I'd leant forward to pull my cover up. I'm really trying hard now not to do such a silly thing again.m Your explanation is most helpful. Grace 🌺
  • barbara17317
    barbara17317 Grace5515

    Posted

    I was told that it doesn't usually dislocate easily and the 90 degree rule is there as a safety precaution, so I should not worry too much, but try not to do it again as the more often you break the rule, the healing process will take that much longer and it will weaken th new joint so to speak.  You will be fine, just be careful.
    • Grace5515
      Grace5515 barbara17317

      Posted

      That all makes so much sense and I'm far less anxious after all your helpful comments. 8 days on isn't very long is it! 🌺
    • sonia97062
      sonia97062 Grace5515

      Posted

      Hi Grace, If you were stupid, I was far more so when I tripped over my crutch. I knew full well, I would have to watch my feet, but I still managed it. I really did pitch forward and wrenched it quite badly. Xrays last night look fine, and hopefully the most I will suffer is a few more days of aching muscles, and a swollen knee.

      I had my op on the 6th of this month and am well pleased at the difference I feel. I deliberately didnt look at any info before the op, mainly because I wanted to be able to not be tensed up and worried before. I didnt even ask exactly what they were doing. My husband was able to look at the xrays last night and he showed me some information. Its a pretty big thing we had done Grace, so we need to look after it. I am sure you will be fine, and we have the lovely summer weather to look forward to.xx

    • Grace5515
      Grace5515 sonia97062

      Posted

      Oh poor you Sonia. I can feel the pain and you must've been so worried. Crutches can feel so clumsy can't they? You're just a day after me so we're very early into this recovery game! Let's encourage eachother. All the best. Grace🌺
  • BK1
    BK1 Grace5515

    Posted

    hello grace,

    The 90 degree rule is to prevent dislocation - my doctor said that dislocation is very painful and unpleasant, and that you would definitely know if you'd done it, because you wouldn't be able to walk

    • Grace5515
      Grace5515 BK1

      Posted

      Thank you BK1. I'm certainly not feeling any more pain than usual, and even that's controllable. Very helpful. 🌺
  • renee01952
    renee01952 Grace5515

    Posted

    dear grace ... they do scare the hell out of you right? with all the things you should NOT do - so much so, that I didn't dare to move out of fear - I live alone and in a tiny house which means that i had to be very aware not to turn around from the hips but shuffle my feet bit by bit ... good grief - how many times I forgot to do that and was in  sheer panic ---your feet are supposed to be in the direction of your nose, or something like that --- I did watch the surgery on youtube after surgery and have gained so much nore respect for my body ... I didn't realize either what a big operation this really is .... and also that there is not an easy popping out but more of  damaging all the tendons and such that are in the early stages of healing ....

    I am very grateful for this forum and yes, it feels as a great circle of friends ... 

    take care and be kind and gentle to yourself ...

    • Grace5515
      Grace5515 renee01952

      Posted

      Thank you for this very reassuring message. I don't think I had allowed for it to have been such invasive major surgery - and everything needs to heal gradually doesn't it? I've been hugely encouraged just in the last 24 hrs by being part of this forum. Take care of yourself too 🌺
Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.