14 weeks post-op

[Martine]

Hi,

I have a LTH replacement 14 weeks ago - age 50, due to arthirtis in my hip (the only place that I have arthritis in my body). I had physical therapy in the hospital, but did physical therapy at home by myself after dismissal. I was very faithful to the "painful" exercises, which I believe really helped my recovery. I went back to work part-time after three weeks, when I could drive. I am now (for about two to three weeks), back to work full-time. My job involves working a few long days (10 hour), along with weekends. I have one day off a week. I passed my three month checkup with flying colors, and do not have to go back for a year, with restrictions being lifted. All in all, everything has really gone very well for me so far. My question is that my stamina is still not what it should be. I have good days, and then suddenly I just seem to "deflate" - tired, weak, etc. Is this normal and how long will it take for this to disappear. (I did not have any blood transfusions during or after surgery.) Also, I have noticed that my foot tends to get sore - which I find strange. Hip feels wonderful, but if I really overdue, I still have surgical discomfort. No pain meds since third week. (I spend time reading this site - love it because it addresses questions in day to day life and it helps to see how others are doing - Thanks!

 

[JudyS]

Welcome Martine,

This is a great place. I am about 5 months post right hip replacement and have not gone back to work (story in itself).
Glad things went so good for you. I consider myself pretty lucky too.
About the stamina, I sure think if I was back at work, I'd have no energy for anything else. Hopefully others will comment who have gone back to work.

I am amazed at how wonderful this new hip is. I should say how I don't even know that i have a prosthetic hip!!!

By the way your schedule seems crazy and long now. Did you have that kind of schedule before surgery? One day off only? Weren't you tired then??

Welcome again
Judy

 

[mvo]

Hi Martine

Yes, this is a great forum, welcome

I went back to work and driving fulltime six weeks after my THR. I had been working from home a few hours a day for about three weeks before that.

The first week at work wore me out completely; this last week has been a bit easier, but I am still hugely relieved that it is the weekend! I find in a day I can Either do a fair bit of mental effort, or a reasonable amount of “running around” (as much as one crutch will allow) but Not both. The body seems to object mightily to that combination.

Can you perhaps “pace” your work so that on the long days you don’t do as much physical activity? Your job sounds like a lot to cope with 100% health and fitness, let alone a few months after major surgery.

All the best,
Monica

 

[Josephine]

Welcome to BoneSmart, Martine. Great to have you on board.

Now regulars will know what I'm going to say - I've had to say it soooo many times before!

You are STILL healing, still in recovery.

14 weeks is nothing in the long term recovery story. I applaud you for going back to work so soon but think 3 weeks was somewhat ambitious. Still, that's done now - no going back on that. So long as you remember, the assault on your body can take up to 4 months to get over, longer if you are pushing yourself too hard which you seem to be doing - way too hard. Under those circumstances I would say your stamina is exactly what it should be at this stage. Don't be mislead - just because the surgeon has given you the all clear, doesn't mean it's all done and dusted, not by a long chalk. He's only talking about your progress thus far.

In my opinion, you have done far too much far too soon. You must remember that your body only has so much energy on a day to day basis. Most of that energy is still being used to complete the last remnants of healing in your hip which can take a couple of months more yet. This is confirmed by the 'surgical discomfort' you experience when you overdo it.If you use that energy in physical activities then you can see what happens. The healing will just takes longer and you will end up feeling like a wet dish rag for longer. And let me make a wild guess - you''re sometimes so tired you can't be bothered to eat, right?

My recommendations are that you try to arrange to have at least one more day off a week, that you make sure you get very early nights and that your activities outside work (housework and outings) are as minimal as possible. Also that you make sure you have a good, varied, healthy diet with a bit more protein to build up those energy reserves. In other words, you need to be kinder to yourself!

As for the sore foot - need more information here. Is it the the foot on the operated side? Is that leg a bit longer than the other? Where exactly is the pain and when do you experience it? Have you got corns or callouses on the bottom of your foot (maybe get someoe else to look for you if you can't see for yourself).

 

[Martine]

Thank you so much for the quick replies! I so appreciate it! I guess maybe I have been overdoing - I am not one to sit around, and it does feel good to be able to move around without that "frozen hip" sensation and pain in my hip that I had before surgery. So I made a trip to my favorite book store and bought a couple of books, and will TRY to take some additional time during the day and evenings for my "healing" process. Maybe, I need to start taking some vitamins, etc., also. In reply to the question about my foot, ever since surgery, I almost feel "flat-footed". It is the foot on the side of my hip replacement. I have an artificial limb on the opposite side which happened when I was a young girl. It just feels so much better if I have no shoes on, yet it does not look swollen to me. They tell me that my legs are "even". I go to have a pedicure done because I am still not comfortable cutting my toe nails (even though they say I can now) and they have never noticed any callouses, etc. I did go through a time after surgery with knee pain on that side, but with icing and elevation, that went away. Maybe, everything just has to continue to "settle down". Again, thank you for your replies! I think everyone who has to go through this would so benefit from this website. I spent a lot of time reading through other people's questions and replies over the past few months, especially those first few nights at home after surgery when I was up most of the night because I could not take any pain medication because of reactions. It has kept me well informed.

 

[Josephine]

Well, that's all good then - the pain in your foot is possibly from over-use. Just rest it and take whatever pain meds you can.

Glad you've found the site useful and supportive.

 

[mvo]

Josephine, I am going to print your earlier post, highlight bits and pin it on the noticeboard in my office - it is at eye-level and will serve as a reminder.

I think a lot of us have the tendency at six weeks to say, "Well, that's it, healing over, back to normal, all systems go..." rather than seeing the healing process as a continum.

Thanks again as usual for wour wonderful advice
Monica

 

[Josephine]

Well, that sounds really neat! I shall be immortalised in an NZ office!