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WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW BEFORE YOUR THR THAT YOU learned on your own afterwards

Posted , 10 users are following.

Motaung
Motaung

I am 17 months out the THR. One thing I was not aware of was the leg difference. Of all the do's and don't's - that was one thing that never came up. I was furious for a very long time. No doubt, there are far more earth shuttering things out there, but for me it was upsetting. I don't think if I had known in advance would have made me not go through with it, I just don't like surprises. Another issue was I knew that six months later I was going in for back fusion (L4,L5,S1) and the unevenness was throwing my back off to this day.

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • janet86017
    janet86017 Motaung

    Posted

    Couldn't agree more.That has been the hardest thing for me along with back pain.Mine is half inch longer but feels more.I now feel I have to get the other hip done to save my back etc.Still quite angry 10 weeks post op.I did read all the risks but somehow never thought it would happen!Wear insoles but it's not the same and now my good hip is hurting.Agh...

    • Motaung
      Motaung janet86017

      Posted

      I also thought mine was more than the half inch the doctor said it was. He said prior to surgery I had developed a habit of walking awkwardly to compensate. Now that it had been corrected my muscles had yet to adjust. Over time as I got stronger he was correct. When I'm walking at a leisurely pace, one can't tell; but if I'm rushed, I find myself having that gait thing. So I do a lot of talking to myself, to walk heel toe and that helps.

    • linda38528
      linda38528 Motaung

      Posted

      Yes - I am smiling of the images of you and I walking along talking to ourselves to me sure we walk slowly through our heels to toes. 😄

      I do lots of talking to myself right now the first hip is more obedient, but the 2nd one is still new enough to ignore me ... completely)!

      Stay tough Motaung- we will win these battles.

      L

    • Motaung
      Motaung linda38528

      Posted

      For sure Ms. Linda. We didn't come this far for nothing.

  • sandra_84282
    sandra_84282 Motaung

    Posted

    Hi everyone. I did a lot of research before my THR. I damaged my hip 2 years ago following a fall. PT was certain I had torn the cartilage.

    NHS consultant. Below knee specialist was having none of it. X Ray's and MRI scan allegedly showed nothing. 18 months later I could not weight bare at all. PT to premier league football team advised me to go and see a named consultant. With the help of GP I was able to get a private appointment.

    This consultant was disgusted. Both MRI and Xray clearly showing a tear.

    1st op was to see if it could be fixed. Because it had been left so long it had calcified and had lots of arthritis.

    This guy knew his stuff. We agreed the only way forward was THR. I had this on the 23rd Sept on the NHS but carried out in a private hosp. We discussed the complications including limp. I felt I had leg discrepancy at this point. Consultant disagreed.

    One thing that used to happen prior to THR was that when I got up from sitting my good hip would lock and cause pain.

    I have noticed that this doesn't happen now. It's early days and I am still walking with 2 crutches. Following the advice I have been given to the letter.

    So what would I do differently. I would insist on seeing a hip specialist in the first instance. I was left n the care of someone who was not for 18 months. His nasty parting shot to me was. Go and see your specialist but I am telling you there is nothing wrong with your hip and you do not require a THR.

    God help me if he had been on the other end of the knife.

    Also I watched the op on YouTube therefore I was prepared for the level of healing that needs to take place. I don't know yet whether or not I will have leg discrepancy. If I do I have total confidence in my consultant.

    So my advice. Never just accept what you are told and if you are not happy seek a 2nd opinion.

    Good luck everyone.

    • Motaung
      Motaung sandra_84282

      Posted

      Speaking up is always important as no one knows your body better than you. I also had to remember that all the staff had book knowledge as extensive as that was, but none had ever had THR. Thank you for sharing.
  • miele55255ch
    miele55255ch Motaung

    Posted

    I am 18 months out of THR.

    My right leg (THR) is still just a little longer than my left. My doc told me to continue my exercises and try to balance myself on one foot a few times a day. It did help. I don't limp as much.

    But since then I do have increased pain in my left hip (which was bone on bone to begin with), I still can't sleep on my operated side, I still sleep with a pillow between my legs, I still have a hard time walking stairs and just recently, I get severe back spasms on my operated side.

    But all in all, I will have my left hip done in April 2017.

    The only thing I didn't like about the surgery was the recovery period for me. After all this time I still get litte pinches of pain but I don't have the gut wrenching pain I had prior to surgery.

    Good luck to you!

    • Motaung
      Motaung miele55255ch

      Posted

      I still feel pressure to mild pain when I lay too long on the operated side but sometimes I completely forget that I had surgery. Going up the stairs one at a time, is still a discomfort, when I put weight on it. And then there is a tendency for cramps or feet falling asleep....
  • Genenco
    Genenco Motaung

    Posted

    Really glad I found this site. Planning for surgery in March. I already walk with a limp and not too sure which leg is already longer than the other (Jumped out of a tree when 10 or so) so the whole hip is off center....Will check and see how this will affect me.
    • linda38528
      linda38528 Genenco

      Posted

      Good luck Geneco.

      This IS a great site - so many generous people who have been through the journeys and back and have lots of practical advice and kind ears and shoulders. They got me though some sleepless nights post my first thr. And encouraged me through the 'two-steps back' that we often encounter.

      But ... I just had my 2nd thr and I feel extremely lucky to have it available to me. Getting rid of the bone on bone pain is amazing and even two weeks after my 2nd surgery, I can walk better than before surgery ... we are very, very lucky to live in this time and place.

      L

  • Sissyr
    Sissyr Motaung

    Posted

    Gosh! My surgeon told me practically nothing about THR! He did say I was the perfect age for one....70. And no worries!!!  I even attended a hospital seminar on THR! The message was chocolate and roses! A little pain, groggy from anesthetic and off you go hip pity hop!

    i will never hop again...disabled by a femoral nerve palsy and acute anemia at the time that benched me. I wish I never had the surgery! 

    • Motaung
      Motaung Sissyr

      Posted

      Oh Lord, I hurt you and there aren't any words. Sorry doesn't begin to cut it

  • linda81469
    linda81469 Motaung

    Posted

    The BLT! Although I'm still not sure how or when I dislocated my hip. I wish that I had gone to rehab first. Then they could of come to my house and tell me what was good to do and where to sit. I got that after my hip revision. LD

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK Motaung

    Posted

    Easy - THIS FORUM.

    Such a wonderful place to be for help when  recovering.

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