What should my sister expect after 2 THR

Hi I think it is all down to muscle atrophy, wastage that has happened waiting for the second operation, I can see it im myself, my left side, was the second operation, and is also slower to come right than my right, and my left was once my strong side, that feels wierd, but is real, I had my first in May, second 9 weeks later, so it has been a while now, still on the mend and have to see the surgeon again in July this year a year after the second operation.

As to getting back to teaching or working, well I had to use a chair when ever possible to take the weight off of my legs whenever I could, it is not easy to get going again, but you just have to, and keep on top of the pain with pills from time to time, luckily Tramadol work on me and their effect remains in my body for a few days at a time, so just need two every three days or so, just when I am beginning to limp on the left, but hey presto...I am walking normal again with the tramadols in my system, and getting better all the time, but slower than the right side.  Hope that helps,  Ian.

I had my 1st thr on dec 9th and l seemed to recover quite quick but the pain from the other side was holding me back and getting worse. I had my 2nd on 15th feb and am now 5 weeks post op. Like your sister l found the 2nd one harder to tecover from l had some up and some down weeks. Weeks were l would just cry for no reason thinking l was never going to heal. But thankfully so far l have had no groin pain and am starting to slowley recover. I was at my 1st physio yesterday and she said to me that the musles in both hips and legs were very stong and l was a fast healer. I am meant to get 6 sessions of physio but she said to me there was no need for any more sessions as l was doing fine on my own. She said if l felt l did need more in the coming weeks just to give her a ring. I walk much better now and have no pain apart from where my scars are and if l overdo walking l get sore and my back can get sore. But as we have all said on this forum no 2 people heal the same l could be lucky and heal quite fast but others it might take longer and they may suffer diffrent pains than me so we cannot compair. I am 43 l have always been a good walker up until l got OA and then l had to stop my nightly walks. Your sister could be just taking longer to heal but if the pain in her groin is bad l would contact my gp just to get it checked out. I am know where near ready to go back to work and am signed off until may2nd and l will see how l am then. Its a slw process and l still get pain if l sit for long periods l stiffen up. I still can't sleep in my bed the full night l have to get up and move to couch. But as l said what l am going through and what ian has went through could be completly diffrent. We all heal diffrent and its not a race or compitition to say l will be ready in 6 weeks as you won't know until you reach that 6 weeks if you are ready.

Hope this helps good luck to your sister

Laura x

Each and every recovery is different, I had to have surgery on my hip joint 10 weeks after it was put in, and recovery was quite different.  It depends a lot on how fit you were before the operation, and as I was less fit before the second operation, it has been harder and longer.  I am more tired now, and have much less stamina.  

After the first one I was out walking 3.5 miles, at the same point now since the second surgery, I can manage just 1 mile.  I am 63yrs.

We aretold by those who have gone before us that it takes a year to completely recover for many of us.  

Graham - 🚀💃

Hi Linn, 

Warm welcome to this wonderful forum - How sweet of you to come here on behalf of your sister -

I agree with previous comments - We had 2 THR surgeries so we have our own experiences - 

I had my 2nd Left THR in Spetember and 1st one in March 2015 and also find the healing taking longer now - Actually I am sort of happy to read that others also experienced the pain and stiffness in the old new hip/leg , which almost has taken over the new one - 

By the time I had the 2nd surgery, the pain was terrible and i know how badly I walked - my whole posture was so out of balance and now it has to correct itself - that takes a lot of patience - and soreness and stiffness - Not only did we go through it once but twice so no wonder that we are tired and feel exhausted sooner than before - just imagine a rubber band , short and tight trying to get longer - has to be done slowly and gently - 

I also have groin pain on old side - My walking is still not natural to me - If I don't pay attention to my posture I limp ... sometimes even my toe muscles hurt ..I know then that I was holding on for dear life and need to b more relaxed ...

I am not sure if these comments will help your sister - Tell her that it is normal and part of the healing process - she definitely is on the road to full recovery -

Maybe she can have hydrotherapy (wish I had it here) or have a massage to lengthen her muscles - 

Give her a big warm hug and for you too

renee

Hi, I have a similar story, two hips and was also in education (nursery). I am 53.

I didn't go back to work as my job was all floor work and very physical but if I did I would have taken the full 3 months.

My recoveries have both been different and I feel I have recovered better the second time maybe because I didn't have the pressures to get back to a contracted job.

I am five weeks now and still very tired, achey and need to rest during the day. I still get odd aches and twangs from my first hip (June 15) and have OA in my lower spine which doesn't help recovery.

When she goes back to work your sister will be entitled to a phased return (she should be seeing Occupational Health and they discuss this) but this only happens over a couple of weeks. The GP can also suggest on her return to work form that she has light duties for two weeks.

If she has been teaching for a long time then she can claim on her pension