5 week stiffness

[baden]

I had a THP on my right side five weeks ago and am just starting to walk unaided. I have been lucky enough to have suffred almost no pain. What is bugging me a bit is my left hip or surrouding area gets stiff and painfull after sitting or sleeping. Once I start moving around it loosens up and I can walk almost normally. Has anyone else experienced this, is it normal, is it because you bear most the weight on that leg or will I be heading for a second THR.

 

[Josephine]

Hi baden - and welcome to BoneSmart. I've moved your post into a thread of it's own as new members tend to get lost in an already established thread. This was you will get answers of your own.

I note you said you had 'almost' no pain. That's a trap a lot of people fall into. They fail to recognise that stiffness and pain is post-op pain just as much as any other. And that pain and stiffness could be due to two things: referred pain from your surgery and the extra load from favouring the operated hip both before and after the op.

Are you taking any pain killers still? If not, then you need to. If you are, I bet you're not taking enough!

 

[Jamie]

Welcome to the forum, Baden....so glad you joined us here at BoneSmart. It sounds like you are doing well after your hip surgery, but I agree with Jo that you probably need to increase your pain meds for a while. Be sure you take them on a regular schedule so that the pain does not get ahead of you....it's difficult to play "catch up" with pain.

Post again and tell us more about you and your recovery. We care about how you are doing!

 

[Texas]

Hi Baden welcome i hope you feel bettersoon..im a hip so i wouldnt want to comment take it easy and post soon.........)

 

[TurboHip]

Hi Baden!

You and I are about the same distance out from hip replacement surgery. Mine was Oct 16th. I have the stiffness you mention upon waking, but I notice it also depends on my positioning sometimes. Sleeping on my side with a pillow between my knees causes less stiffness than on my back but my physical therapist told me to wean myself off the pillow...which I'm not sure I can do. Sleeping on my back always causes pain and stiffness on awakening, and a few hours before I loosen enough to be comfortable.

I am still taking pain meds (Norco) but only in the morning, usually before my exercises, and usually before going to bed to help me sleep more than 3 hours at a time.

Hope this helps

 

[baden]

Hi All, thanks for your response. As at today its 5 weeks ago since my surgery and am walking completely without any aids and my new hip is about the only thing that doesn't hurt in my legs. I'm not limping, its my unoperated hip that gets quite sore, predominantly while trying to step up onto a step or pavement etc. My OS said their is nothing wrong with my unoperated hip but it feels like its taking strain. My pelvis was very skew by the time I had the operation but has been straightened since. I drove for the first time yesterday, but my problem is with the 90 deg no bend, i'm 6 foot 3 so getting in & out of a car does not leave me much leg movement. I see my OS next week so hopefully that limitation will fall away. How long does it take more or less for the legs to equlize so to speak.

 

[ronhall51]

Hi All, thanks for your response. As at today its 5 weeks ago since my surgery and am walking completely without any aids and my new hip is about the only thing that doesn't hurt in my legs. I'm not limping, its my unoperated hip that gets quite sore, predominantly while trying to step up onto a step or pavement etc. My OS said their is nothing wrong with my unoperated hip but it feels like its taking strain. My pelvis was very skew by the time I had the operation but has been straightened since. I drove for the first time yesterday, but my problem is with the 90 deg no bend, i'm 6 foot 3 so getting in & out of a car does not leave me much leg movement. I see my OS next week so hopefully that limitation will fall away. How long does it take more or less for the legs to equlize so to speak.

hi baden use pillows in the car and back your seat up im 6 foot 2 and i found doing that helped.As far as the soreness thats just part of the process.with me it comes and goes its not one 1000th of the pain i had before!! Keep active keep moving!!

 

[Jamie]

Baden, I believe you've correctly identified what is causing your pain.....after a long time of misalignment, it will take quite a while for the muscles and ligaments to adjust to your newly corrected posture. This is where you must be patient and keep working at it. Walking will be a good exercise. Just be sure to concentrate on "heel/toe" and a correct gait as you move.

Your body is an amazing machine that has compensated for your bad hip all this time. It will correct itself and you'll be straight and strong...and living a better life!