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

Total Right Ceramic Hip Replacement - Six weeks on.

Posted , 12 users are following.

jane426
jane426

I had a total right ceramic hip replacement on the 4th July. I have been told to walk, walk, walk which I have been doing. The hip still feels like a lead weight and uncomfortable. My main concern is that I am walking now with just a small stick but do not have the confidence to let it go!! I can walk

without the stick but I limp quite badly on the operated leg. Does anyone else have or had the same worries. I am carrying out all the exercises given to me by the hospital and also the private

physiotherapist.

I am a 59 year old female.

Would be glad to hear from anyone who can reassure me. Am having my eight week check next week.

1 like, 19 replies

19 Replies

Prev
  • john_05320
    john_05320

    Posted

    Hi, I hope you don't mind me posting. I had a ceramic hip replacment 3 weeks ago as I have hip displacea.i am 61 and was going o the gym the day before as I am very active and fit for my age. I wasn't in too much pain before but had begun walking very badly and my surgeon said the socket was almost flat. I had to have a second operation four days later to wire up a hairline fracture which happened during the first op.and was in hospital a full week. I cannot put any weight on my operated leg and am using crutches with touch toe only until follow up on 13th January. I am literally stuck inside all the time and unable to do much at all which isn't me... I have felt very emotional and depressed as I still have more than four weeks to go before I start to walk again. I am sometimes only sleeping until 3am as I now need to go to the toilet in the night. I can't then get to sleep again.i have never got up in the night before this. The operations seemed to throw my urinating system and it was difficult to get back to normal again. I now feel that my body is out of synch with the day... I am just so bored and can't read much cos i feel constantly tired.. Has anyone else felt like this? I have had to battle all week to get a nurse to come and change my dressing .. They eventually came last night after 12 phonecalls. I explained I was feeling down but it was very stressful and fortunately my very long wound seems to be healing fine...any advice about extending my sleep as I don't normally sleep on my back ever and I am mouth breathing. I now know how weak my other hip is as I am reliant on it but can't stand still on it for very long at all . The very thought of having this done again is now filling me with horror..Sadly though this seems a real possibility.
  • john_05320
    john_05320

    Posted

    It is now nearly four weeks since my first operation and i now sleep most nights from half ten until four or five.. Its getting better and the depression has mostly gone. I cant even begin to start walking until my appointment on the 13th jan and am using crutches to get about..its now the boredom that is awful as i am a young and very active 61 year old. Friends have been great visiting but some days its just sitting around watching the hours go by from five in the morning and its a long day.

    My wound is big because of my second operation to wire up the fracture in my femur.. It has healed really well thought but there is a lot of numbness all around the hip and thigh. Is this normal?? the swelling has mostly gone although my leg can puff up a bit at various times of the day.. Has anyone else had this no weight bearing? I am concerned as i think my muscles are going to be very wasted before mid January and i can see the difference already.. And i am worrying as to how long it will be before i can drive again as i am the only driver.

    • jan24575
      jan24575 john_05320

      Posted

      Dear John,

      Am wondering how things turned out as I see your post was some time ago? I have just had THR due to hip dysplasia and I'm only 50. I totally identify with the boredom and constant tiredness, I'm only ten days on from the operation and have felt wiped out, I have only an hour's concentration on anything, can't sleep because it's impossible to get comfortable and feel frustrated beyond belief.

      I hope things have improved for you.

    • john_05320
      john_05320 jan24575

      Posted

      Hi Jan, I'm only too pleased to reply and support other hippys.. It's now 3 years since I had my hip done and have my 2year follow up this week. I got a lot of support on this forum when I had my operation as I couldn't walk on my left leg after my op as they cracked my femur and I ended up having 2 operations in 4 days.Yes it's a frustrating time especially if you can't get out and about a lot and believe me once I was allowed to walk there was no holding me back. I honestly couldn't lie on either hip for months but was able to sleep on my stomach at 8 weeks or so. By that time my sleeping routine was pretty awful and it took me until til May or so to get back to some sort of normal sleeping pattern. I have to admit though that I still wake very early some days. I had depression for weeks and it took ages for my memory to improve. They just don't prepare you for all of that I'm afraid and everyone thinks you should just be grateful instead of giving you support for this down feeling you get. I don't know if others feel the same but it can be difficult to come to terms with the fact that they've removed a part of you which you'll never get back somehow. I was lucky though in that I had a surgeon who was experienced with displacea and he said he had levelled me up well and believe me he really has. I can touch my toes again and am back to being very active. I had a lot of stiffness in my thigh and couldn't sit back on my heels until last year. I can now do that but I have done a lot of exercise and worked at it until I'm almost back to normal. Believe me you continue to improve for years if you keep active and I'm at the gym most weekdays. I can't walk big distances now and avoid running much or carrying heavy weights. Maybe I'm just cautious but your new hip does leave you feeling nervous and I worry about getting it banged.. But most folks wouldn't suspect I've had anything done and it has taken the pressure off my other hip which is also displaying. It's really good at the moment although it took a lot of hammering when I had to walk about only on it for 7 weeks. Do post on here though and have a good rant because it does help and others do understand and will help. John

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.