post total hip replacement

[Choc-1234]

Am 9 days post opp now Tues 6th June am interested how everyone’s recovery went, ie how long went from using one or two sticks and how long the pain meds was used , have hot codeine phosphate and 400 mg strong ibuprofen pink ones , how much walking resting did you do, as you all said the spinal block was no problem and the op went well

[piglette]

So glad the op went well. I still lie in bed thinking about the awful pain that has gone away! I am probably not a particularly good person to listen to, but I dud not take oainkillers ince I got home, also I used the furniture to get round the house. I left my crutches at the foor when I got home and never used them agsin, I was rubbish with crutches. I did use a stick though.

[Choc-1234 in reply to piglette]

well at least you been fine doing it your way can’t say I’m in pain actually just not steady on legs and using 2 crutches like the hand stickers one I think

[piglette in reply to Choc-1234]

I was unsteady but just found a stick was easier. Also I am not very good with pills as I seem to react to them!

[Jackie1947]

As you know we are all different when it comes to recovery and there's no race to win. Don't rush it. Keep to the 15 weeks rules and you will know when you are ready to drop one stick or crutch. Bear in mind the next 6 weeks are vital not to dislodge the replacement and kept up your excersises.

[Choc-1234 in reply to Jackie1947]

thank you yes must try exercise like you say hard in this heat

[piglette in reply to Choc-1234]

I find swimming really good. I meet a lot of people in the pool who have just had new hips etc. Some just try and sort of bicycle up and down to start with.

[piglette in reply to Jackie1947]

I thought it was six weeks, no one bothered to tell me. It was six weeks before I could drive, so I put two and two together and got five!

I had already managed to dislocate my new hip in hospital the day after I had had it put in.

[Jackie1947 in reply to piglette]

😱

[piglette in reply to Jackie1947]

The trouble was I had to wait for around six hours for them to get an operating theatre and team together! My surgeon must have loved me as he presumably was sorting out my dislocated hip when he should have been having supper at home! It was a painful wait.

[Choc-1234 in reply to piglette]

omg how did you manage dislocate it so soon ? How painful having go thru twice

[piglette in reply to Choc-1234]

I passed out in the shower.

[Choc-1234 in reply to piglette]

bloody he’ll omg

[Choc-1234 in reply to piglette]

how long was till you didn’t need use leg lifter to get into bed can I ask please ?

[Jackie1947 in reply to Choc-1234]

Never heard of that. I was shown in hospital how to do it by using good left first . Same as getting in a car

[piglette in reply to Choc-1234]

I only needed the leg lifter for one leg, when I had to use my bad leg first to get into bed. On my second hip I was able to use the good leg first and it was fine. Probably three weeks max for using the leg lifter. It was a matter of building up the muscles in my bad leg. I must admit I did think the leg lifter a really impressive idea.

[Choc-1234 in reply to piglette]

I’ll have try using good leg but least wasn’t too long then got build muscles like you say

[piglette in reply to Choc-1234]

If you can get out of either side of your bed you are probably OK. I could only use one side of my bed. The physio suggested I slept with my head at the bottom of the bed, I decided against that idea!

[DorsetLady in reply to piglette]

,….I decided against that idea!

Very sensible! 😊

[piglette in reply to DorsetLady]

In fact I thought ‘what a stupid idea’ but did not say anything, just nodded my head and agreed. The ultimate ‘creep’.

[DorsetLady in reply to piglette]

You do wonder where they get their ideas from at times……

[Choc-1234 in reply to piglette]

yes brilliant invention as my leg is like a dead weight lifting it into bed lol

[piglette in reply to Choc-1234]

Probably best gadget I had after my hip hop, on a par anyway with my picker upper.

[Choc-1234 in reply to piglette]

ooh yes totally agree, this grabber thing very handy if I drop something

[MummyLuv in reply to piglette]

oh what is a leg lifter? I’ve finally had my private consultation and can have super path hip replacement. Think I’ll need to buy my one aids, like the sound of that one!

[Choc-1234 in reply to MummyLuv]

Google leg lifter Amazon has them , the hospital gave it to me so they should with you, put your operated foot through loop and lift it for getting into bed , great help

[Choc-1234 in reply to MummyLuv]

when is your date for hip replacement? Wish you all the best,

[Jalia in reply to MummyLuv]

I think I bought every aid known to man prior to my hip op last year 😅 This was undoubtedly useful but I was told by physio in a pre op call that a scarf would be just as useful! Still worth buying though. The long handled brushes I bought for the shower and similar to apply moisturiser were totally unnecessary though.All the best for your op! I've just got to get my head around having my knee replacement now.

[greynot in reply to Choc-1234]

Couple of weeks with leg lifter for me. A great piece of kit!

[Choc-1234 in reply to greynot]

I agree least I know should be few more weeks thanks

[piglette in reply to greynot]

I got mine free from the hospital. It was just a long piece of material tied into a loop. Some people use their dressing gown cord.

[greynot]

I can't remember the full detail, but by 6 weeks I was driving again and walking without crutch, just my trek poles for backup. I just used the crutches less and less as the weeks went by.

It felt strange doing the first few steps without any support, somewhere between week 3 and 4 I think.

Take your time and listen to your body. It's not a competition.

I did the exercises as if my life depended in them, and it was worth it.

Wishing you all the best for a great recovery

[Choc-1234 in reply to greynot]

thank you great hearing all your progress, am giving myself 12 weeks get back to work , it’s only ten days in so still early days for me

[greynot in reply to Choc-1234]

That sounds about right. Don't rush anything for the best outcome.

How do you feel.you're doing, 9 days in?

[Choc-1234 in reply to greynot]

def better by the day and should keep improving from now to my 6 week review appointment with surgeon, the operated leg swollen down to ankle apparently this is normal guess the hot weather doesn’t help hopefully knee pain will improve as well

[DorsetLady in reply to Choc-1234]

You could try icing lower leg to reduce swelling…20 mins a time ….

[Choc-1234 in reply to DorsetLady]

I could try frozen peas this afternoon if happens again that’s a good idea thanks

[DorsetLady in reply to Choc-1234]

Just found this

…Expect moderate to severe swelling in the first few weeks after surgery. You may also have mild to moderate swelling for 3 to 6 months after surgery. To reduce swelling, elevate your leg slightly and apply ice. Wearing compression stockings may also help reduce swelling. 

[Choc-1234 in reply to DorsetLady]

thanks a lot good to know this, weather a bit cooler hopefully today as well .

[Beti69 in reply to Choc-1234]

My legs are both very swollen and was finding lifting it a dead weight, but today day 8 after surgery I seem to have good management of it being able to lift it with my muscle strength coming back. I have put on a stone!! Apparently it's water retention and normally goes in a few weeks. I was shocked when I weighed myself as I had been doing good losing 2 stone before my date. I still have knee pain due to osteoarthritis and in left leg too, all my joints. One joint at a time I'll be bionic. 😂. Take care and hope your doing well. X

[Choc-1234 in reply to Beti69]

I can relate feeling bloated, it’s only this week I feel I’m not like that so it will soon settle down , weather hot weather contributed as well hopefully your knee pain will be easier now hip sorted , I see surgeon Mon 17 th July my 6 week appointment, looking forward seeing I’m going in the right direction well done on your speedy improvement.

[Croft9232]

Hi, I never needed the leg lifter beforehand so I never seemed to have needed one afterwards. My discharge slip was pretty basis, pain meds given on discharge until you feel not needed Day 2 for me.

I used for 4 weeks Ibuprofen and paracetamol. I waited to drive until 6 weeks.Pottered about the house using 1 stick less and less.

Went to outpatients at 12 weeks for Staple removal and check wound(lateral) without any stick and of course did my daily exercises, though I didn’t put too much effort into them just tried to keep technique up.

[Choc-1234 in reply to Croft9232]

amazing , great hear your progress

[Nightingales]

I am 5 weeks out and doing well as far as my hip is concerned. My surgeon uses a strict protocol and didn’t want me to rush. No bending at the waste for six weeks. I was taught walking on two crutches and went home after two nights. I did use a walker at night for safety in the bathroom. After two weeks, one crutch. My physio says people who rush and don’t allow time to heal sometimes end up with a waddle or limp. Progressive exercises. I took regular pain killers, most of my pain came from the PMR bursitis and degenerative disc disease. Taking less now. Just paracetomol. I think age, I am 76, and co morbities make recovery slower. Plus I had a series of personal tragedies, sudden loss of my brother two days after surgery, our beloved 12year old dog died, my best friend died of breast cancer and my daughters breast cancer has metastasised. So I didn’t sleep for days. Anyway, you don’t need to know all that. I would just say, don’t rush, your body needs time to heal as well as regain strength. Very best wishes.

[Choc-1234 in reply to Nightingales]

you have been through it , having cope with all of that must been so hard bless you

[Nightingales in reply to Choc-1234]

Thank you. There were times I thought I would go under but starting to feel a bit better. So glad my hip is doing well and that horrible pain I had before is gone.

[Choc-1234 in reply to Nightingales]

that is a miracle pain free

[Beti69 in reply to Nightingales]

Sorry for your loss xx

[Nightingales in reply to Beti69]

Thank you Beti69.

[Happy5]

Listen to your body, I did my exercises, rested alot. I can't recall went from 2 crutches to 1 quite quickly like others said also used furniture to move round. Drink lots eat dried fruit to offset the constipation aspect of codeine. Try to eat good diet to help healing, use the recommended cream to massage the wound area.

I did stick to the sleep on your back for 6 weeks rule too. Onwards and upwards 😊

[Choc-1234 in reply to Happy5]

well done to you , actually feel so much brighter today , no pain , onwards and upwards, first day not took the condine as I’m not in any pain , still on 2 crutches but I’ll know when I’m ready as everyone right saying it’s not a competition

[Estellemac]

I used morphine for 4 weeks and then reduced to 30/500 cocodamol. I didn’t recover as well as most but then I had PMR as well. Still used a stick 12 months on. Probably due to long term steroid use and damage muscle myopathy.

[Beti69]

Hope you are recovering well, I'm due to go in to hospital on Mon 3rd of July for total hip replacement on my right leg. I'm so looking forward to it and will listen to my body and pain threshold, doing too much just now as always and I end up with severe pain also both legs have osteoarthritis and it's in my back spine/neck hands feet and knees. The pain is throughout. The surgeon said the side of the leg where they cut will probably always have a degree of pain but bearable after surgery but as long as I can move and lift it sideways ect the surgery outweighs any other pain. He said after healed well then can go ahead on his list for my left . You take care and rest in-between keeping up the excersises . Xx

[Nightingales in reply to Beti69]

Best wishes for your op. I am 7 weeks out now and going for my last physio tomorrow. I have similar widespread osteo and back problems to you but this op seems to have helped. I am still waiting for pain management procedures for the bursitis etc but doing the exercises and the extra rest seems to have improved my posture and muscle strength. I think I am still weaker than others because of the PMR but the relief of some pain gave me hope. My physio was wonderful and although the focus is on the exercises she encouraged lots of healing rest.

[Beti69 in reply to Nightingales]

I'm so glad. It's good to hear others stories on recovery although we are all different with time healing I suppose and as someone else said no race with getting better. Healing especially with the mind as it's a big procedure to go through and can't expect to have no pain. Positive my recovery will go great xx

[Beti69 in reply to Beti69]

I am 2nd day after my operation and everything went good. Only the muscle strength and scar is sore but doing the excersises and doing good. My oxygen level has been low so no walking or doing the steps. Might get out Thurs but happy it's eventually been done. Take care. X

[Choc-1234 in reply to Beti69]

I remember my oxygen levels was low when I was in hospital the day after so couldn’t get out of bed, the following day I was allowed home as was managing the stairs fine and had raised toilet seat, your doing well, can’t believe how quick I have recovered, keep us updated how you get on improving , well done.

[Beti69 in reply to Choc-1234]

I'm a week and a day past surgery and today I've been walking unaided, although slightly off balance at times. My hip strength is improving, I've been able to lift my leg in and off the couch with some pain, where as, up to now I had no strength in the leg. I had my first shower , bit of a struggle getting into the bath, 😂, able to reach down with my leg behind me and tilt. I'm desperate to dig holes for my plants but not quite able to get down that low. I'll wait the six weeks before tackling that 😆, don't want any problems. Feel very refreshed though being able to move around good.

[Choc-1234 in reply to Beti69]

you are improving, each day gets better and better, well done

[Beti69]

Hi, I'm Lesley. I just got my operation on my right leg on Monday 3rd July . Got out the hospital on Thursday as they kept me in bed the day of the op and Tues, only let me up on wed as my oxygen levels were very low. One of the nurses also noted it looks like I have sleep apnea, they were watching me sleep and noticed I stopped twice in a minute.To get that checked. But my surgery went great, was up did my physio and they let me home with just the medication I'm already on. Naproxen,gabapentin, dihydrocodeine.paracetamol. Stairs were a killer first night as I was going up with my operated leg..got it wrong. But pain level is steady. Leg just feels so heavy. Scar is itchy sometimes. And bruising is tender. Healing well and doing my excersises when I'm up at the necessities making tea and bathroom.Made my own cuppa yesterday and today,only things I need help with is dropped things I can't reach and pick up. My walking isn't great with the crutches but I have my mobility walker and I'm walking really normal steps around the ground floor with it. Hope your recovery is going well and love to all on chat. L x

[Choc-1234]

aww you are making progress, I’m getting better after 4 and a half weeks, scar heeled well, they said massage bio oil on it , don’t like touching it lol keep up the progress too

[Beti69 in reply to Choc-1234]

I was at the nurse yesterday to change my dressing, got a quick look and the scar looked fine. Stitch to be cut next week ,a knot at each end and it just dissolves I think. The dressing will come off next week too so I'll get some bio oil and try that. I'm not worried at all though ,nurse said it looked fine . Wee tattoo over it next year once all the tissue and skin heals. Some Japanese blossoms 🌸🌼 x