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What to expect

Posted , 15 users are following.

kaura
kaura

I am having a THR late in May I am a bit scared and don't really know what to expect - how much pain after surgery - when will I be able to walk the dog etc 

1 like, 48 replies

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  • kimberley38758
    kimberley38758 kaura

    Posted

    Hi Kaura, from my experience the pain was only moderate and even that can be controlled with meds and ice packs.  The whole experience for me was very positive.  The best thing is that your hip should no longer hurt after surgerysmile  Yes, there will be other obsticles, but overall the FHR was well worth it to me. 

    As far as walking the dog...  it depends how well your dog walks with you.  If your dog tends to pull, then you'll probably have to wait until the 5-6 month mark.  On the other hand, if your dog is gentle while walking with you, you should be fine to walk him/her between 3-4 months post op.

    Wishing you the best for your surgery and recovery!

    • beth2509
      beth2509 kimberley38758

      Posted

      Depends what size the dog is! A pulling Chihuahua is not quite the same as a pulling Irish setter! 

      Invest in a gentle leader type halter lead. These are actually far preferable to any other form of lead as they provide total control over the dog, prevent pulling, and don't mean your are yanking the dog around by the neck. Who would want to be pulled around by the neck???!

      Then it depends on how quickly you recover the ability to walk far enough. For my hip alone, I could easily walk the dog ( large but well trained border collie) by the end of the same week. But my distances are limited by an ankle issue, so a good deal of our "walking" is by mobility scooter. Certainly, if I consider the hip alone 5-6 months would be way over the top.

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 beth2509

      Posted

      I have a rescued Lab mix and a dachshund jack russell mix.  My Lab mix is only 3 years old but had to have hip surgery due to bad hip dysplasia.  She is doing very well but couldn't pull me if she wanted to.  We hobbled along together in just a couple of weeks after my FRHR surgery.  My dachshund jack russell mix on the other had still gives me a run for my money with pulling and I'm 7 months post op.  I'll have to try the gentle lead collar.  He's a typical dachshie though, so I'm not sure he'd tollerate anything around his nose... Lol. 

      There really are so many variables that would determine how many weeks it would take to walk a dogsmile

    • kaura
      kaura beth2509

      Posted

      My furdaughter is just about 22 pounds, I use a gentle heeler all the time, she does not really pull as she is well trained, we do dog agility - or we used to before all this stated - I use the gentle heeler just in case she sees something that "can't be left alone"  Thanks for the advise I wish everybodyd would use that kind of leash instead of pulling and pulling at the poor dog.

    • kaura
      kaura kimberley38758

      Posted

      You have to use the gentle heeler it is the best for a "puller" he might object in the beginning but he will get used to it - good luck

    • beth2509
      beth2509 kaura

      Posted

      Or better yet - train the dog as well! I am constantly astonished at the amount of bad behaviour people actually encourage in dogs. It's not at all in the interests of the dog! 

      Agility training isn't impossible with our mobility, but it does depend on the dog. My lad can run an entire course from voice command alone, but he is VERY smart - but equally, capable of thinking up VERY naughty things to do!  I've been retraining  as a dog behaviorist to help homeless dogs who can't be renowned due to behavior problems. It's my retirement plan. And although many pour behaviours we see are about something of a bad experience with humans, an awful lot are down to people giving up their dogs because they haven't trained them and the dog is out of control. 

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 kaura

      Posted

      I'm going to buy one this weekend for him.  He is 30 lbs and bull headed.  I don't pull him, he pulls me.  Not good for either of us.  Thanks for the advicesmile

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 beth2509

      Posted

      Good for you Beth.  There are many dogs out there that need homes.  My Dachsie mix as on the verge of death when the ASPCA was called in to rescue him back in 2007.  He was chained up outside in all elements and just left there.  By the time the ASPCA was notified, he had dug himself a hole in the dirt and was lying there unable to pick his head up.  It makes me sick to know that some humans are capable of doing that to an animal.

      The 3rd picture was taken by my mum who fosters dogs until they can be rehomed.  Notice how his ribs stuck out, and that was after a month of feeding him and getting him well.  The 1st and 2nd pictures were taken in 2014.  I've had him for 10 years now and he is part of my family.  He has overcome many obsticles, especially anxiety when I leave to go anywhere.  He now waits patiently for me with my other dog who is very mello.  There are so many people out there that should never be allowed to own dogs.  My Bailey (below in pics) never have to worry about abuse or abandonment again. 

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758

      Posted

      The pictues got reverse.  The 1st one is of him after being rescued.  The other 2 pics were taken in 2014.
    • kaura
      kaura beth2509

      Posted

      Sounds like a good idea, I think I am going to start slowly, not doing agility in the beginning but maybe a bit of Rally-O. She is not a very good obidience dog (too much of a terrier) but it would get us out. We are lucky to have quite a few schools close by - but agility will always be my first choice love it and miss it a lot.

       

  • renee01952
    renee01952 kaura

    Posted

    hi kaura, 

    warm welcome to this wonderful forum --- many members here who will be able to suppport you and give great advice ...

    for more information, please go to :

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147 - scroll down to A Laymans Guide, where you will find a web site created by one of our fellow members ... 

    and of course, always come back here ...

    big warm hug

    renee

  • Carrie1974
    Carrie1974 kaura

    Posted

    Hi Laura. I am also about to have my hip replaced in March. On the 6th. I'm having both done. They are doing the right one first. So I can't tell you what to expect after but I wanted to address your being scared. I was getting freaked out about it and didn't like the way that felt. So I trained my brain to think differently about it. Any time I get an anxious or scared feeling happening I simply say...It's not happening today and take a few deep breaths and that seems to calm me down. Or I think about all the positive things that will come after. Being out of all the pain. Being off all the meds. Not walking with a walker anymore. Being able to exercise again. Getting back to a normal way of living. I hope this helps somewhat. Good luck with your surgery and your healing hon. I'm sure you'll do just fine.

    Carrie😊

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