THR 2Kittens' Recovery Thread

[Jaycey]

You are very early out from major surgery. Pain in your hip is totally normal. Please don't stress about it. Take your prescribed pain medication and ice and elevate as often as you can.

 

[Hippielife]

Sending healing blessings thru your journey to a happy healthy pain free future.

 

[FCBayern]

Also I have a question I just got a stabbing pain in my hip a couple of quick sharp stabs and it went away. No other real pain is this normal? I’m on my couch with ice

Absolutely normal to have random pains come and go near the surgery site or sometimes completely random areas of your leg. You are very early in a long recovery, things will continue to improve.

 

[2Kittens]

I don't think you'll "freeze up". I had limited ROM for years before THR. I didn't freeze up because of that but my muscles had to slowly give me that newly found ROM. Not being able to move your leg is common, my right was like that. It will come in time as the muscles heal from the trauma. I could do nothing to coax my right leg to move but knowing others had the same I just gave it time. My left was the exception, I could move it easily the day after surgery. End results have been the same after time they just were different. The interesting thing was my right was my "good" hip and the left had less ROM before THR. Rest, relax, and ice for 2 weeks and you'll be amazed.

“I could do nothing to coax my right leg to move” Wow thank you for that! It will make me remember that during PT if that leg doesn’t cooperate I will be doing NOTHING WRONG! Before knowing I needed a replacement I always felt guilty during PT.

 

[Eman85]

As I said my 2 hips were and are completely different in how the recovery went. My left gave me zings,zaps,pinches and shooting pains my right didn't. Last night my left gave me a pinching feeling and it's almost 3 years. On the couch with ice is the best place in recovery, no guilt just relax and rest. Diet is important, the old saying your food is your medicine applies. Your body wants and needs a lot to recover from the surgery. Most have constipation so going isn't a bad thing but it can drain you and dehydrate you.

 

[Layla]

Hello @2Kittens
While healing you may experience sensations of tingling, pins and needles, itching, burning and even the feeling of a minor electrical shock. These are usually good signs that the nerves are spontaneously firing through the regeneration process. Some may find it painful, but I most often referred to them as odd sensations more than wincing or moaning pain. At not even a week post op you will experience this. I’d only be concerned if the pain was escalating in intensity and frequency, but I think you’ll find a lot of this pain fleeting. One pain or odd sensation replaced by another.

I like Eman85‘s advice on diet and I agree. Protein is especially important to the healing process as it will give you energy, but in addition the amino acids in the protein help repair muscle damage by regenerating tissue and speeding up wound healing. Also make sure to stay adequately hydrated.

I hope you’re able to get all your meds in sync soon. I’m sorry you were experiencing sleeplessness, anxiety, agitation and all the rest. Recovery is hard enough on its own. My heart goes out to you. Please continue to stop by. We’ll be here with a listening ear to offer support / encouragement when you’re needing it.
Hugs

 

[2Kittens]

I don't think you'll "freeze up". I had limited ROM for years before THR. I didn't freeze up because of that but my muscles had to slowly give me that newly found ROM. Not being able to move your leg is common, my right was like that. It will come in time as the muscles heal from the trauma. I could do nothing to coax my right leg to move but knowing others had the same I just gave it time. My left was the exception, I could move it easily the day after surgery. End results have been the same after time they just were different. The interesting thing was my right was my "good" hip and the left had less ROM before THR. Rest, relax, and ice for 2 weeks and you'll be amazed.

“I could do nothing to coax my right leg to move” Wow thank you for that! It will make me remember that during PT if that leg doesn’t cooperate I will be doing NOTHING WRONG! Before knowing I needed a replacement I always felt guilty during PT.

Hello @2Kittens
While healing you may experience sensations of tingling, pins and needles, itching, burning and even the feeling of a minor electrical shock. These are usually good signs that the nerves are spontaneously firing through the regeneration process. Some may find it painful, but I most often referred to them as odd sensations more than wincing or moaning pain. At not even a week post op you will experience this. I’d only be concerned if the pain was escalating in intensity and frequency, but I think you’ll find a lot of this pain fleeting. One pain or odd sensation replaced by another.

I like Eman85‘s advice on diet and I agree. Protein is especially important to the healing process as it will give you energy, but in addition the amino acids in the protein help repair muscle damage by regenerating tissue and speeding up wound healing. Also make sure to stay adequately hydrated.

I hope you’re able to get all your meds in sync soon. I’m sorry you were experiencing sleeplessness, anxiety, agitation and all the rest. Recovery is hard enough on its own. My heart goes out to you. Please continue to stop by. We’ll be here with a listening ear to offer support / encouragement when you’re needing it.
Hugs

Wow thank you! I have a lot of issues besides bipolar/anxiety such as CFS and possible Lymes so it is SO EASY to destabilize me and I am shocked I went through this so I’m kind of patting myself on the back. The diarrhea was bad and Monday morn I started feeling really bad almost like anxiety/low blood sugar and an internal agitation and despite immediately stopping the stool meds it continued, called my doc he was really concerned about possible infection from the hospital (not my incision it looks great) and I was concerned about electrolyte imbalance despite plenty of fluids I was in bad shape so 5 days post op I had to go outside and haul myself into my car, leave hubby in the car and walker myself into the urgent care and talk to doc, get labs, ugh! He figured electrolytes and rx’d Imodium but we’re waiting for blood work, I still feel shaky weak and bad even though I’m getting around ok. So it makes me scared to take pain meds as idk WHAT is going on with me even though I’m no stranger to feeling this bad and I’m on a minimum of meds and had taken them before surgery so idk what this is :(. I so appreciate all of your support

 

[2Kittens]

Oh. Did all of you get a spirometer? I thought I heard them say they’re sending me home w/ one, never got it

 

[Jaycey]

@2Kittens I hope all this eases for you quickly.

They usually don't send a spirometer home with you if you are cleared while in the hospital. Please don't worry.

 

[2Kittens]

Oh one more thing...when I am able and am cleared I have an exercise recumbent type bike but isn’t it weight bearing walking that my hip needs?

 

[Eman85]

I have a spirometer collection, never had any problems breathing but checked it any way. I don't know about any stationary bikes, not much of a fan. Walking is where it's at for me as far as recovery. I learned it's not about how far you walk or how fast you walk. It's more about how good you walk with good posture and heel toe walking. But that's all in good time and early on just walking to the bathroom and a little outside for air did it for me.

 

[Sunnytimesahead]

@2Kittens, just checking in to see if you're having a better day today with your recovery. Hopefully your blood work from yesterday came out ok and you're experiencing a better healing day. I realize it's an overwhelming experience and it's one most of us on here have felt that way at some point of the process.

One day at a time....and one step at a time. Hang in there!

 

[2Kittens]

@2Kittens, just checking in to see if you're having a better day today with your recovery. Hopefully your blood work from yesterday came out ok and you're experiencing a better healing day. I realize it's an overwhelming experience and it's one most of us on here have felt that way at some point of the process.

One day at a time....and one step at a time. Hang in there!

Hello thank you for checking in on me that’s very nice I so much appreciate it. Blood work came back normal but since I’ve been taking electrolyte drinks such as Pedialyte my leg cramps are gone. I do just think that because of my bipolar and that I am walking extremely thin line that I am just going into reaction mode with everything and it’s very very hard.

I do have a question if I have not been taking adequate pain control for me is it possible to have very bad pain at eight days out still? I haven’t been under doing meds I don’t think but maybe I have for me because I’m afraid because I’m feeling so physically bad not talking about my hip but the last couple days I’ve noticed in more toward the evening I start really hurting and last night was almost unbearable and of course I took my pain meds more often but it scares me really bad and I’m thinking is something wrong I’m just over a week from surgery and I should be feeling this much pain? Also I don’t know if I have been overdoing the activity I certainly have not with the PT exercises I’m doing a bare minimum of those but I am walking around the house with my walker and it doesn’t feel painful but maybe I’m overdoing it?
I just don’t know all these things I’ve never done this before I thought I should be up and walking around more than lying down which I hate and doing from all the hip vlogs I’ve seen on YouTube were people are at two weeks walking around frequently and distances and stopping their meds which I know it’s silly but I question what’s what’s going on with me and yes I do know everyone’s recovery is different I just want to know that mine is normal.

 

[Layla]

Great news on the bloodwork!

I do have a question if I have not been taking adequate pain control for me is it possible to have very bad pain at eight days out still?

Yes it’s possible. Your recovery sounds like that of many.
A controlled trauma” occurred underneath the surface.
Your flesh was cut, bone sawed and power tools used to ream out your femur so that a prosthetic could be hammered into place. Muscle and soft tissue was separated and disturbed. You will have discomfort and pain as your body works to repair the assault.

Please take whatever was prescribed to stay reasonably comfortable allowing for necessary mobility.

I’ll recommend what worked for me and it was the Activity Progression for THR.
Use it as a rough gauge for activity and it should keep you in the safe zone.

Activity progression for THRs

For THRs. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are assessed in hospital as a means of assessing your fitness to be discharged home. Your domestic circumstances will be taken into account as in if you are living alone, etc. ADLs include: ~ Personal hygiene and grooming ~ Dressing and undressing ~...

bonesmart.org

I hope today is a good one!

 

[Ava]

@2Kittens, we had surgery same date same time (12/2) 3:30pm. Last night was brutal for me. Worst so far. I woke up at 3:00am in the worst pain yet. The PT came by yesterday and I just showed her what I’m doing for exercises which is not much. She showed me a few stretching exercises I could do in bed. She understood that I’m not a fan of PT and did not push me so not sure why I was I in so much pain. I had to take 2 pain pills to stop sobbing.

I’m with you in feeling why I’m not getting better but worse. Maybe someone will give us some answers.

 

[2Kittens]

@2Kittens, we had surgery same date same time (12/2) 3:30pm. Last night was brutal for me. Worst so far. I woke up at 3:00am in the worst pain yet. The PT came by yesterday and I just showed her what I’m doing for exercises which is not much. She showed me a few stretching exercises I could do in bed. She understood that I’m not a fan of PT and did not push me so not sure why I was I in so much pain. I had to take 2 pain pills to stop sobbing.

I’m with you in feeling why I’m not getting better but worse. Maybe someone will give us some answers.

I’m so sorry, Ava! Must be “normal” but is scary and depressing.

 

[2Kittens]

Sorry I don’t know how to edit my reply once it’s posted but I know recovery isn’t necessarily linear but it is really confusing especially if we don’t know exactly why and can’t ascertain if it was overdoing it of some sort or what...I did not think I was overdoing it so I have no clue how to avoid it esp if we’re supposed to be up at walking at least some and I really dislike pain meds and the way they make me feel even though I am taking them.

Another thing that confuses me is that I had much more leg muscle pain than hip joint pain before surgery well I certainly had joint pain but not as much as leg pain resulting from a bad hip and now I have that and deep hip pain at least that’s what it feels like around the incision site so much for waking up from surgery being out of pain LOL

 

[Celle]

I’m with you in feeling why I’m not getting better but worse. Maybe someone will give us some answers.

I’m so sorry, Ava! Must be “normal” but is scary and depressing.

I know it's scary and worrying, but you're both only 8 days into a recovery that is going to take a long time.

You both had major surgery that involved cutting you open, dislocating your hip, stretching and pulling on tendons and muscles, turning your leg this way and that, cutting and shaping two large bones, inserting large implants, then stitching you back together again.

Of course all that is going to hurt. It's a lot of trauma and you're not going to bounce back again in just a few days or weeks.

The first month is the hardest and right now all your tissues that were affected are upset and inflamed. They need plenty of rest, ice and elevation and just a little, gentle exercise, so they can heal.

so much for waking up from surgery being out of pain LOL

You will now be free of the pain that came from bone-on-bone arthritis, but you'll still have post-surgical pain for a while - a lot of work was done on your hip.

It is going to get better, though, so hang in there.

You can do this!.

 

[Layla]

I know recovery isn’t necessarily linear

 

[2Kittens]

Has anyone eight days out and still using a walker attempted a shower? Of course mine is in the tub the height of the tub reaches about at least 2 inches below my knee so I imagine I could bend my knee and step in and I have arm rails but no bench and I’m not gonna get one either it’s either that or a cat bath until I figure I can do that I’m just kind of scared to try. I know my paperwork says three days out I can take a shower and not worry about the bandage