Two weeks post-op and discharged!

Jenny:

Are you using any type of pain med regimen? Or, have you discontinued all meds completely? Are you driving? What procedure did you use for your THP?

That certainly is good news! I am a week out this past Monday. I am walking a cane and sometimes not. Slight pain which I can control with Tramadol once or twice a day.

Take care

Hello Erin, no meds of any sort for 10 days now thank goodness! Really don't need them as only have some residual stiffness, not pain.

I'm not driving yet as haven't had my 6 week check but feel I could if I needed to (also it's my left hip so not on the brake side) I'll probably wait though.

I had posterior approach. Very straightforward and had done lots of core strengthening exercises pre-op, which I'm sure has made all the difference. I walk every day and have been to the gym a few times and ridden the exercise bike, as well as doing the normal stretches they tell you about in hospital.

 I'm hoping so too  - I have a consultant from the same hospital, and they have high standards. 

Glad to hear yours is also doing well. I'll be really glad to throw away any walking aids. I've had them in my way too long! 

Jenny:

Yes the walking part, I think, is important. With no rush, of course! Getting off of the pain meds is also important. My doc said once I am off pain meds for 48 hours, it be OK to drive. That's my goal. I was given the same advice prior to surgery i.e. strengthen your core. I have always been active working out, going to the gym so I was in relatively good shape. But the OA put a real clamp on a lot of activity. I wnat to see after my 2 week checkup if I can start the stationery bike. I had the Anterior approach which even less invasive with no cutting of any muscle. So I hope for as good a recovery. So far so good.

Thanks for the feedback

I walk every day. I'm in the north of the UK so having a big dog is motivating as the weather is lousy! I do all the exercises, plus some adapted yoga exercises (adapted to avoid the obvious restrictions). I still have crutches for now because I have an ankle problem and need the stability they provide. That's next on the list - first appointment next week! 

I think a big thing for me had been that despite a year from hell, I have very strong muscles and tendons from decades of martial arts, followed by yoga when I had to give that up due to the arthritis. And obviously, being a dog person, lots of walking already. So I'd say lots of exercise before hand, but really look at exercises that strengthen the hips, upper legs and calves. 

I had the posterior approach, but minimally invasive to do the least damage possible. I'm sure that helped. 

And I guess there had to be a measure of good luck too. Someone up there was on my side!!!

I forgot to add - twice daily massage right the way down the while muscle area, and also just above it. To keep the muscles flexible

Beth:

I have a dog as well. She is a powerhouse, 14 months old, a beagle/ american bull dog mix. Im afraid to take on her tugs as her beagle nose takes her where she wants to go (w/ American bull dog strength!).

Yes, the pre-surgery exercises are important. The massages should very welcoming. I will check into that as well because the gum I go to offers this service.

I had the anterior approach for my THR. It is even less invasive so I am looking for as good a recovery as you have experienced.

Thank you for your feedback!! And godspeed with total recovery.

I did the massage myself. My physio showed me how, and it was very easy to do - that's how I could do it twice a day! I used a warming emu oil in the morning (emu oil penetrates the skin better and carries the other ingerdiants better), and a lavendar and turmeric emu oil one in the evening (the latter was one of my own making).

?My dog is a 14 month old Border Collie who has been known to think he's a Newfoundland! But well trained so pulling isn't an issue, but just in case, I use a halter lead on him anyway, which means he couldn't pull if he wanted to. But I am lucky as I live a street away from a huge park, so he can run around off lead without any restrictions (other than good manners of course), play fetch, and round up the ducks.

The massage sounds great. I think it is a little early as the doc doesn't wnat any rubbing on/around the incision area yet (Monday will be 2 weeks). Is that the Blue EMU cream that is on the market? I've used it before. Do you mix the other oils into this cream then warm it?

Thank goodness for dog/regular parks! And, the ducks certainly need rounding up. Good thing there is a border collie around !!

I've been using bio oil since last week twice a day around but not on the incision line. It's brought the swelling right down so I'm really pleased. I'll be 4 weeks post op this Friday. It's only a gentle massage not a full on sports type one!

The oil is already made up - "warming" refers to the ingrediants. Ill send you the details. I did keep it well away from the incision - the healing isn't yet good enough to use on that area. But you have plenty of muscle areas further away!

bio oil?

It's a brand name. Sells everywhere in the U.K. For scar reduction and dry skin. It smells really nice and has herbs and spices and things but isn't warming like the one Beth is talking about. You could probably use any kind of neutral oil to be honest as it's probably the massage movement that does the work rather than the oil!

No - it is reputedly the actual ingrediants - massage does help yes, but they claim that Purcellin actually reduces scarring and aids flexibility. Vitamin E and Coconut and Emu oil also make similar claims to superior results over other oils. There are probably others too. Whether any of these work or not is debateable - there is scant clinical evidence for any of them working, That doesn't mean that they don't - I am a great believer in natural medicines and cures, but not to the exclusion of science. I think it's a case of you pay your money and make a choice and see what, if anything works for you.

One tip I will make is that people expect instant results. ?If any of these things do work, they don't unless you use them consistantly, at least twice a day and for months. Three times a week when you have time / remember, for a month, simply won't cut it and is a waste of your money.