Hip Resurfacing 3 1/2 weeks after hip resurfacing

Chappy

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Just wondering if I’m on target. Mobility is very good - been walking unaided for a week - but I’m still very tired and feel light headed if I stand for long, or even sit upright for more than an hour. Is this normal?
 
Hi @Chappy :wave:
:welome:to the forum...

If you don't mind could you let us know the date of your procedure and which hip was resurfaced so we can add it to your signature?
Although you didn't have a full hip replacement, this is still a major surgery and in my next post, I will leave you the recovery guidelines as they are applicable.
I’m still very tired and feel light headed if I stand for long, or even sit upright for more than an hour. Is this normal?
There is an article in the guidelines about energy drain so it is definitely common to be fatigued.
Your body is focusing all its energy on healing so can definitely sap ones strength. All temporary.
It is a little concerning, in my opinion, that you are feeling so lightheaded even sitting.
Are you taking pain meds? Maybe this is causing this or a blood pressure issue?
I would definitely call your surgeon's office and make them aware.
 
Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary​
2. Control discomfort
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT​
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website


BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
 
Hi @Chappy, and congrats on that new hip!

I remember being a bit droopy with my second THR and it was due to a little more blood loss that expected.. I was given something in my IV to help build up my blood volume before they discharged me.
But I still felt Tired, dizzy and weak for some time after.
sometimes the pain meds or other medications can cause your symptoms, too, like causing your blood pressure to drop.
Would you consider giving your surgeon a call and see what he thinks?
 
@Chappy I was flat out exhausted for weeks after both hips. Just the body recovering from the trauma, putting all its energy to healing from the train wreck! The percocet makes me "vestibular", which to me is not quite the same as "dizzy". But on my first hip, my BP dropped immediately after (or during?) surgery, which made me weak and light-headed. My BP stayed down a very long time; I was taken off my BP med for 6 months and then put on a half dose for another year. Sure wish it had dropped for #2 as well!

I agree, call the surgeon's office, even on a holiday. It will help put your mind at rest. (And ours!:heehee: )
 
Thanks everyone
I had a ceramic on ceramic hip resurfacing on my left hip on 8/6, posterior. I am a 56 year old woman.

I have always been a fainter, and have had similar experience after abdominal surgery but I thought that was because a bowel resection caused me so much nausea. The doctor knows that I have issues with this - I couldn’t even sit up for two days after surgery so ended up staying in hospital for four nights instead of the expected two. He did blood tests and everything looked fine.

my physio is really pleased with my mobility- she is surprised at how well my muscles are working after the posterior approach- no trouble at all doing most of the exercises so that is good. Just the fatigue and light headedness is holding me back. It is slowly getting better though - I think it isn’t body’s way of making me rest.
 
I think it isn’t body’s way of making me rest.
You are right @Chappy . Things slow down to a crawl and that's OK. This is a marathon, not a race. Glad you are starting to see improvement.
 
Just the fatigue and light headedness is holding me back. It is slowly getting better though - I think it isn’t body’s way of making me rest.

Fatigue can last for weeks, even longer for some. Since you’ve always been a “fainter” as you’ve described, I’m assuming your doctor has done a thorough work up, considering all medications, old and new as a possible cause / reaction. Thankfully the situation is slowly improving. Making sure to stay adequately hydrated during this time also is very important.
I hope you have a good week!
 
Now at 4 1/2 weeks feeling much better. Easily walking up and down stairs, walking 600m 3 times a day on the treadmill, able to cook a simple meal and in very little discomfort. I’m still tired and fuzzy, and don’t feel ready to drive or go back to work ( going to start part time from home mid next week) which makes me feel slack as the surgeon said I could go back at 4 weeks but sitting in a office chair for too long causes pain and my concentration runs out pretty quick. I’m encouraged to see other people take longer than 4 weeks. I feel like often surgeons set you up to fail by suggesting a quick return to work.
I still have to concentrate on walking correctly- can’t look around me when I’m walking or I feel like my hip will wobble. It still feels a bit unstable That’s why I find the treadmill good - nothing to focus on but walking. I also find my knee gets clicky if I don’t walk perfectly
How does everyone else find walking?
 
I feel like often surgeons set you up to fail by suggesting a quick return to work.
Four weeks is way too early for any return to work! Do take your time if you can. As you say - concentration and fatigue are a big part of this recovery.
 
Well, if you still have to concentrate that hard on walking correctly and the hip feels wobbly, I think it’s too early to go back to work. I was still doing that at 12 weeks. Don’t feel like a slacker because you need more time. I’m amazed your surgeon cleared you already. Not my call because the only one who knows if they’re ready is you. I certainly would not feel pressured unless there was a real reason to. The only thing I’ve ever regretted with anything of a physical trauma nature was going back to work too soon. Keep us posted.
 
Hi Chappy I had my hip done a few days after you and am not ready to go back to work yet, although the impatient part of me is more than ready. I get a reality check though each time I test my limits. I went shopping yesterday and was exhausted after. I probably am quite deconditioned as was unable to walk very much for a couple months prior to surgery.
I am walking with a stick mainly because my gait is better with it but I still need to put a bit of weight through the stick sometimes and I think it gives me more confidence especially when I go out. I am wondering if you gave up the stick a bit early if you are having the odd wobble and needing to concentrate so much when walking.
 
As I feel better I am spending more time on this site looking at others’ stories and wishing I’d done it more from the beginning. I thought I should do a summary of my journey so far, as I’ve found reading others’ helpful.

My hip pain only started in September last year, but it was not bad enough to stop me hiking or doing my normal life. I started physio in Oct and she thought it was just tight muscles. In Jan she ordered an X-ray that showed very slight age related arthritis so we kept working on stretches etc. Late Feb she thought maybe it was bursitis or a torn tendon so she sent me for an ultrasound guided steroid injection, which showed nothing really, and made little difference. By now the pain has moved from the outside of my hip to my groin and down my leg, and was seriously impacting my life. I decided physio was useless, so at a friends suggestion I went to an oestopath, who also was unable to make any difference. In March just as COVID was starting she said that she thought it was time for an MRI as the pain was unrelenting. However it seemed pointless as with all the shutdowns. I knew I couldn’t do anything about any findings they made. I also kept believing that first X-ray, so I thought it was a waste of time.

When restrictions lifted in early May (I am in Brisbane, Australia) I was as ready to do anything to make the pain go away. I was never without pain, I couldn’t sleep or sit long and walking was horrible.After driving I could hardly move the pain was so bad. So i went for an MRA (I think - where they inject contrast into the joint using X-ray guidance) and it showed a really badly arthritic hip - bone spurs, cysts, inflammation of the bone marrrow etc etc - no wonder I was in so much pain- I was bone on bone.

I was lucky enough to be able to see the specialist the next week and he said there was no question I needed surgery. He offered me the option of being part of a trial of ceramic on ceramic hip resurfacing due to my age (56) and gender (female). After lots of reading I agreed. He said that the recovery would be more difficult as it is a bigger incision and has to be done posterior but that it gives a more natural hip and the option of a hip replacement in the future should I need it.

My surgeon only does hips, and he is very big on education so he has an app that you use every day with videos of everything from coping with anxiety to demonstrating how they insert a cannula. It was good because when I went into surgery there were lots of familiar faces from the videos.

I got quite stressed leading up to the surgery because I discovered that joint replacement wasn’t included in my health insurance ( I had changed my cover in November to try and save money and I didn’t think I had any joint issues (!!!). Fortunately we had just received a small inheritance, and life wasn’t worth living with the pain so we paid the money. Being on the trial helped as the prostheses was only $7000 and alll up the op cost about $20 000 - a totally worthwhile investment in quality of life. It probably would have cost about $10 000 with insurance as they don’t normally cover trial prosthesis, so I felt fine about it in the end.

I was also surprised how stressed I got about COVID. in Queensland we have virtually no cases and there hasn’t been community transmission (we are so lucky, being able to close our boarders and shut down quickly made an incredible difference). But they asked so often about any cold or flu symptoms I got really overwhelmed paranoid that I unknowingly had it and that I would be in the news as the patient who shut down a hospital (totally irrational, which I knew but couldn’t seem to shake). Anyway once it over I stopped worrying about that, though it was very strange having so many people so close to me after months of isolation. I think maybe I was really anxious about the surgery but redirected it to COVID-19 for some reason.

Sorry - this is turning into a novel. I’ll post this and describe my recovery in the next post.
 
The story of my hip resurfacing part 2

The surgery went well. It was at about 12 so it was a relaxed morning. I had a general anesthetic as well as a spinal and lots of local. The incision was about 21 cm. When I got back to the ward I was ok but struggled with nausea, even though I’d had an anti nauseant. I needed anti-nausea meds for three days. When the physio came to get me up that evening I stood without to much pain but felt so faint I couldn’t take a step. Due to the faintness and nausea I couldn’t even sit up for two days, and had to use a bed pan. On day three i was able to walk about 5 meters in the morning and about 10 in the afternoon, and go to the toilet without help (thank goodness). The next day I could walk around the ward, but I still struggled with faintness so I decided to stay another night. I ended up going home exactly 4 days after my surgery.

On discharge I was just having paracetamol and a tramadol at night, with close to constant icing and elevation. I still had some nausea and was very tired. I didn’t do anything but sit in my recliner or lie in bed with except for my exercises for about a week. I stopped all pain meds and except a panadol at night by 10 days, but still iced a lot.
By two weeks I was using just one crutch and by three 1/2 weeks no crutch, but I was still resting nearly all the time. By four weeks I could walk up and down stairs painlessly, and walk on the treadmill but still tired and fuzzy.

I feel really happy with my new hip. I am certainly in much less pain now than I was before surgery. I am having some problems with my knee if I am not really careful to walk perfectly - it feels like it clicks out of place. The physio said that there is some swelling that has moved down from my thigh and that my body has to relearn everything after surgery so to just be patient- it doesn’t mean I’m going to have a bung knee.

I’ve struggled a bit with depression- I’ve had 6 major surgeries for different random things in the last twelve years and I feel as though I’ve done enough resting and being dependent to last me for a long time. It was helpful to read the article about feeling blue after surgery - helpful too be reminded there are physiological reasons for low mood. I am feeling much more positive now.
My challenge now is to hasten slowly - to get the balance right between activity and rest. I haven’t driven the car yet - don’t quite feel ready - but probably will next week.

Well if you’ve read to the end of this I’m very impressed. We have s been good to reflect on how far I’ve come, and how lucky I am to live in a time and situation where I don’t gxx as be to live with hip pain for the rest of my life.
 
Wow @Chappy. It is always inspiring to read each others’ experiences. It is always important to tell your story and be heard. It is healing and allows you to reconnect to yourself and remember your connectedness to all. I’m glad you are starting to feel better and can see that your investment in time, effort, and money is paying off. It is a day by day, week by week prospect. Even at almost 17 months out, I am still filled with gratitude when I realize I did this and that without pain or even thinking about my hip. It is very humbling. Blessings for continued healing on your journey. ❤️
 
You are doing so well! thank you for taking the time to post about your hip story. It's amazing how many of us had no idea that we had a bum hip until we were close to, or already bone on bone.
It's such a shock! Then to find out the surprise about your health insurance, you must have had some real stress in figuring that out. But you did and look at you now!

I hope you will continue to post your experiences, it will be helpful for members who are debating that option, plus it's such a great journal for yourself to return back to and to reflect on things that you have forgotten.
I still refer back to my old recovery threads from time to time. :) :-) (: Like Hip4life, myself and many many others, I hope you will feel the gratitude and wonder at taking pain free steps as you continue to heal.
 
:wave: Hi there @Chappy
Good morning ( :mcoffee: for me!)
Great recap of your hip journey thus far and I'm sure it will help others for a long time to come as they see the progress you are making.
My challenge now is to hasten slowly - to get the balance right between activity and rest
I do love this.:roseshwr:
Will be stealing it for encouraging caution.
I, myself, had to find those lines....
Keep the faith, all Temporary and well worth the patience.

Healing Mojo coming your way.:SUNsmile:
 
Good morning oh vault of collective wisdom.
A couple of issues you may have some ideas for.

First is sleep. After the first few daysI was sleeping well. However, this last week (today is my 5 week anniversary) I have really struggled to fall asleep. I go to bed and feel wide awake. I’m not falling asleep till 1 or 2. I’m not taking any pain killers now, so I guess there is a little discomfort. I am trying not to sleep in the day in case that is impacting. It’s driving me crazy because 4or 5 hours sleep is not enough! Any suggestions? Is it just my body getting used to no drugs (but I’ve been off everything except paracetamol for weeks)?

my digestion is still wonky too. Still needing movicol to keep the poop fairy coming, and struggling with a bit of reflux( which doesn’t help the sleep). I thought it would be back to normal by now, particularly as I am more active.

Lastly, the knee on the operative side is giving me a bit of grief. It aches a bit, and when I walk it keeps sort of clicking which is quite painful. I have to lift my feet up more than usual to try to stop it. I can see it’s a bit swollen- presumably swelling from the hip moving down the leg. I’ve been trying to massage it a bit, and the muscles feel quite tight. Any suggestions?

thanks in advance
 
I love it: “vault of collective wisdom!” Let’s see...it seems that all of this is fairly representative of your stage of recovery. It takes everyone’s systems different time frames to come back online. The GI, I didn’t have any issues with (lucky with genetics in this area.) The sleep and swelling were my bug a boos. The swelling worked itself out with icing and elevation and along with that out went the thigh and knee pain/ache (never had clicking in the knee.) Even with good sleep hygiene, as we call it, which you are doing, sleep deprivation was getting to me (and my poor hubby in turn) so I addressed this with the OS. He gave me a round of Ambien after making sure it wasn’t pain/discomfort that was keeping me awake. It worked like a charm and “reset” my sleep pattern within about a week. I know it has some notorious side effects, but my OS (and my PCP) assured me that they weren’t all that common, so I proceeded and didn’t experience any. I’m not touting going to medications but when all else failed, it was a relief to me and I began feeling much better all the way around. So that’s my experience for what it’s worth. This is about the time you are just ready for everything to behave. It’s just that it’s just a little more time until it does! Lol. Wishing you comfort and relief soon. ❤️
 
@Chappy here's some info on energy drain, it is very real and can last for a while. Napping during the daytime can be helpful to keep you from suffering from sleep deprivation and we do some of our best healing when sleeping.


As far as a little discomfort when laying down for the night you could take an ice pack with you. I think it was @leejaa that kept a small cooler next to her bed so she didn't have to get up to change out ice at night.

Our knees can take a lot of abuse during surgery as well as prior to surgery. Are you icing and elevating? If not you might want to try that for at least 45-60 minutes multiple times a day. Basically ice anywhere you're feeling pain, it really does wonders.

Wish I could help with the digestion issues but my system is so out of whack it's not even funny. Still trying to get back to my normal after having a colonoscopy a couple of weeks ago.
 

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