6 months after my left THR june 19 2024 I am still getting pain in my scar, sometimes its sharp and other time burning. I have been using Vitamin E cream that has softened the scar. I find my left leg is still shorter than the right leg and I have very painful muscles in my right buttock. I feel I am doing ok sometimes but it certainly lets me know if I have done something wrong. I do get very tired, a friend takes me shopping once a week and it takes me a couple of days to get over it. I have been reading some posts before joining and have found them helpful maybe I am rushing things. Happy New year to all.
THR 6 months after
- Thread starter Fanny
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Hello Fanny and Welcome to BoneSmart!
I will leave a copy of our Recovery Guidelines for you since a few of the articles will still be beneficial even at 6+ months post op. I will type more in a post below that.
HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES
As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.
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.
If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.
2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
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
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for THRs
The recovery articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?
Nutrition is of paramount importance. Available here are dietary tips, nutrition basics and additional food supplements. These articles are both general advice on food and specific guidelines aimed at people both pre- and post-surgery.
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.
I will leave a copy of our Recovery Guidelines for you since a few of the articles will still be beneficial even at 6+ months post op. I will type more in a post below that.
HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES
As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.
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.
If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.
2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
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
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for THRs
The recovery articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?
Nutrition is of paramount importance. Available here are dietary tips, nutrition basics and additional food supplements. These articles are both general advice on food and specific guidelines aimed at people both pre- and post-surgery.
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.
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Hi again, Fanny!
The pain and burning around the incision site should slowly improve over time.
Small sensory nerve fibers are cut with the incision. These nerve fibers run from the inside to the outside of the hip and cutting them causes the hip to feel numb after surgery. It is a temporary sensation that normally resolves over a period of six months to one year post op.
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.
Since your over six months post op, I wonder if warm compresses will help bring you comfort when you're in pain...it may be worth a try.
As far as Leg Length Differential goes, you're not alone, many feel this sensation post op. In most cases it eases with time. We advise giving it 3-4 months as it can take that amount of time for things to balance. If at that point, you are still concerned we suggest you visit a reputable podiatrist or PT for a measurement.
Here's an article from our Library Leg length differential - LLD.
Since this is ongoing and you're now six months post op, consider having your leg measured by your surgeon, or a PT, if you have one in mind, then go from there.
Our body's energy supply isn't limitless. So when we're in healing mode after major surgery
our energy will be used for healing first, not leaving a great reserve for all the other activity of daily life. It is completely normal to feel tired for quite some time. How long....most likely relates to your body's rate of healing. Making our best effort to get adequate sleep and rest is beneficial. Our body does it's best healing while we're sleeping.
Recovery takes a full year, Fanny, and even longer than that for some. So try to be patient taking one day at a time. Wishing you a Happy New Year and perfect healing as the year progresses. Thanks for joining us!
The pain and burning around the incision site should slowly improve over time.
Small sensory nerve fibers are cut with the incision. These nerve fibers run from the inside to the outside of the hip and cutting them causes the hip to feel numb after surgery. It is a temporary sensation that normally resolves over a period of six months to one year post op.
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.
Since your over six months post op, I wonder if warm compresses will help bring you comfort when you're in pain...it may be worth a try.
As far as Leg Length Differential goes, you're not alone, many feel this sensation post op. In most cases it eases with time. We advise giving it 3-4 months as it can take that amount of time for things to balance. If at that point, you are still concerned we suggest you visit a reputable podiatrist or PT for a measurement.
Here's an article from our Library Leg length differential - LLD.
Since this is ongoing and you're now six months post op, consider having your leg measured by your surgeon, or a PT, if you have one in mind, then go from there.
A good reason to get that measurement. This pain may also be from favoring your op leg for months.
Good old energy drain....you're certainly not alone in experiencing that.
Our body's energy supply isn't limitless. So when we're in healing mode after major surgery
our energy will be used for healing first, not leaving a great reserve for all the other activity of daily life. It is completely normal to feel tired for quite some time. How long....most likely relates to your body's rate of healing. Making our best effort to get adequate sleep and rest is beneficial. Our body does it's best healing while we're sleeping.
Recovery takes a full year, Fanny, and even longer than that for some. So try to be patient taking one day at a time. Wishing you a Happy New Year and perfect healing as the year progresses. Thanks for joining us!
msart
senior
@Fanny -i am 4 months out & I think it is perfectly normal to get tired. I still do & I think I will for quite some time, so I am expecting it. I know it takes a full year-we had major surgery. It is frustrating, but you in the right place for support & advice.
I do not have any experience with leg length. I concur with following up with your dr and address that concern.
Sorry you are in this group with us. But we are all happy to help you!!!
I do not have any experience with leg length. I concur with following up with your dr and address that concern.
Sorry you are in this group with us. But we are all happy to help you!!!
Thank you for all the advice, I am thinking that maybe because of my age may slow me down, I turned 80 on boxing day, so like has been said patience and rest. I do find it helpful reading other members posts so will keep on doing that .
MyBionicEra
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@Fanny First of all, I must say that I LOVE the fact that you're 80 years young and are logging into a forum for support - celebrating you for that! I'm only 7 weeks post op and although I also fatigue quickly, I notice that it's worse if I don't drink a lot of water during the day. Hydration helps. Wishing you the best Fanny!
Will try that, I do drink my cups of tea don't know if that is any good. Thank you for your good wishes, I am sure you will be feeling great very soon. The best thing is not being in constant pain all the time 
Thank you all for the kind Birthday wishes. I have not been on the forum for a while. I have to report I am doing much better, taking it steady reading the forums and appreciating all the great advice. I can now get in the garden for longer times when it is not too hot. I would love to go for a proper walk but I live up a hill I used to walk up and down before my hip got really bad. Now I am worried that if I get too far down I may not be able to get back home. maybe confidence the lack of. I do still get tired but I think that could be my age a bit! I am happy to say I can do more I am able to cook and clean the house (thank goodness its not very big) I am stubbornly independent, I hope to be so for a long time yet.
Love this!
So glad to read that you are doing well and back to doing the things that you enjoy.
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myglasshalffull
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Good for you Fanny! Keep moving forward.
