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Timeline of THR

Posted , 8 users are following.

chirpyhipster
chirpyhipster

Thought it might be helpful for those considering THR to share my timeline. I am a fit 63 year old, this is my 2nd THR. My hip was replaced with a small stem modular titanium & porcelain prosthesis

Day -1 Having misgivings about having it done. Is the pain really bad enough?

Day 1 Feeling of euphoria at having it done

Days 2-4 traumatic, mainly due to sleep disruption caused by anaesthetic still in system messing with head. Walking with crutch. Daily hydrotherapy which is very pleasant and feels beneficial. Slightly nauseous, difficulty enjoying food

Day 6 Back home. Definite feelgood factor sleeping in own bed. Have to sleep on back for at least 14 days

Day 7 Walking without stick. Very little pain, just taking paracetamol at night. Sleep almost normal now

Day 8 Started taking short walks outside. Feel vulnerable

Day 11 Stick discarded for stair climbing

Day 9-14 Walking around 1km a day. Bit of a plateau at this point. The improvement is there each day but quite gradual

Day 14 No painkillers now. Can do proper climbing up and down stairs, i.e. one foot in front of other

Day 18 walked 2.5 km

Day 20 still sleeping on back and now on operated side for short periods (pillow between legs) although a bit uncomfortable on the wound. Thinking about frontal position

Day 21 up to 4.4km walking. Changed dressing again as it was letting in water. Cleaned dry blood from scar, which looks ok

Day 23 Walked 5km. Knackered. Surgical stockings discarded

Day 24 Turned over onto favoured frontal position to sleep

Day 26 Follow-up visit to Surgeon, by train/tube . All good. Advised me against sleeping on front as there is a risk in turning over. Walked 6.7km today in total. Advised me to not drive until 6 weeks. No sport for 3 months as bone won’t have grown into the titanium until then so falls are more risky. Dressing removed.

Day 28 Went to watch football at Wembley all ok

Day 29 Went swimming for the first time. Swam front crawl and a bit of breaststroke. Really tired afterwards. Getting sock over foot on operated leg is really tough. Takes a while. Surgeon suggested exercise with legs apart toes pointing outwards, stretch downward

Day 30 Leg is stiff for first few paces but then walking is normal. Elevated chairs now discarded, able to sit on normal chair to eat. Elevated toilet seat discarded

Day 31 After trying for several minutes managed to hook sock onto the end of the foot of operated leg. Can then gradually pull it on all the way up. Significant in that can now be totally self sufficient in getting ready in the morning

Day 35 Swimming again. Breaststroke with no soreness

Day 37 Able to sleep in any position now

Two months on now and feel pretty much normal. Plan on resuming tennis and walking football after three months

2 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • AlexandriaGizmo
    AlexandriaGizmo chirpyhipster

    Posted

    Hi haven't had mine done yet but wanted to ask what is a small stem, is this just a shorter prosthesis and is it because your femur couldn't take a longer one.

    You sound like you are doing really well

    • chirpyhipster
      chirpyhipster AlexandriaGizmo

      Posted

      Hi Alexandria. Yes it has gone even better than my first one. You will find that there is little consensus between surgeons as to what is the best method. My surgeon has developed the short stem as he believes there is less chance of any break in the femur in the event of a fall. The modular type also means that the stem doesn't have to be taken out of the femur when a revision is needed, they just change the ball. He has yet to have a dislocation or break with this method after several years. Good luck with yours

    • AlexandriaGizmo
      AlexandriaGizmo chirpyhipster

      Posted

      Thank you for answering it makes sense and as I have osteoporosis it could make it possible for me to be able to have the HR done.

      It's a long story but I have been on crutches for nearly 3 years after a fractured hip so will look into this method.

      I am presuming your in USA though so I will have to see if its done in the UK thanks again

      Keep posting

    • chirpyhipster
      chirpyhipster AlexandriaGizmo

      Posted

      No I'm in the UK. Had it done privately in London by Mr Bacarese Hamilton who works at the Princess Grace and Whittington hospitals

  • Guest
    Guest chirpyhipster

    Posted

    really happy that it is going so well for you . its amazing what they can do nowadays

  • julie1717
    julie1717 chirpyhipster

    Posted

    Thx for this. I'm pre op atm. It's great to see you are doing well and you've helped me see what others time line can be like. Whilst I know everyone's different. But I'm glad to see day 1 thoughts lol. When I've had all my daily painkillers I'm needing atm I can easily manage to convince myself I don't need the op even tho I know I definitely do 😃

    Good luck with the rest of your recovery

  • hobbling
    hobbling chirpyhipster

    Posted

    Thanks for the diary.

    I have been doing similar but almost 3 weeks post op. So glad I had this. So far so good. Am feeling optimistic for first time in a long time. Hard not to get way ahead of myself though cos I feel really good but realise there is a long way to go.

    On the verge of discarding crutches but still useful for longer walks.

    Sleeping is on and off but not as bad as before op!

    No painkillers needed dont know if this is usual or just me but it is great!

    Appetite is patchy but wont do me any harm as trying to keep weight down.

    1st physio Wed-3 wks post op.

    All in all if anyone having worries about op (I did wonder wether to go for it) it will be fine. Got my life back or will have very soon!

    Regards all

  • joan23085
    joan23085 chirpyhipster

    Posted

    My timeline is similar - not quite as rapid as yours but so many similarities in the progression, such a lot that I really identified with. I'm a fit 74-year-old. I'm promised that I can play tennis in the autumn and ski again next year.

    I'm at three weeks and three days from my op (THR - right hip). No crutches needed indoors now. Getting outside by myself (husband went back to work yesterday) - I have steps to negotiate, but they are so much easier than I anticipated.

    Halved the painkillers on Friday because I felt so good - not sensible. Went to three quarters (three codeine and six paracetamol) and that is fine for now.

    I'm loving being able to sleep at night again (even if it is on my back). I was losing whole nights to the pain.

    All-in-all I feel I have got my life back again already.

    Joan

    • julie1717
      julie1717 joan23085

      Posted

      Hi. This is so lovely to hear. Agree were all different tho. I'm pre op atm but everyone's positive feedback is giving me so much hope of getting my life back and sleeping longer than for 2 hr snatches which even with pain killers is all I manage atm.

      Good luck for the rest of your recovery 😃

    • chirpyhipster
      chirpyhipster joan23085

      Posted

      Thanks Joan. It is a marvellous op. You will find yourself being able to move much better playing tennis. I feel able to play now but feel it's wise to leave it until 3 months post op. Keep well!

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