THR 6 week check up....

[Anniepops]

Re: Help please!

Hiya Lunes,

Have you tried building a wedge of pillows to ease your back whilst sleeping? I had terrible back pain and done this at first but eventually bought a foam wedge and it was great. Also you should be putting a pillow between your knees if trying to sleep on your good side to avoid your operated leg crossing over your good leg. This may be more comfortable for you.

I also wanted to mention the blister, you need to keep an eye on that as if it's a pressure sore they can become quite nasty quite quickly if not treated.

Best of luck with the sleeping, I hope you find a comfy position so you can get some much needed sleep

Take care

Ann

 

[Poppet]

Re: Help please!

Hi Lunes

Ann is so right about the blister, do keep an eye on that for sure.. They can become very painful...

Sorry about the lack of sleep, Jamie's advice is the thing, lots of napping and heat on your back. I love hot water bottles as mich as I loved my ice packs

 

[Lunes]

Re: Help please!

Thank you for the replies, I am not able to lie on my side for another 10 weeks this was my 2nd revision (3rd replacement in 4 years) so dislocation risk is very high... Thankfully the blister is shrinking and feeling a lot better today, I did take diazepam last night and slept a bit better but the thought of another 10 weeks is making me anxious so I have decided to go day by day.. I am very teary today but know that's normal, it's very frustrating this time for me as my daughter is only 2 so you can imagine I am not able to do a lot and I am lucky that I have a lot of help..

 

[Josephine]

Re: Help please!

What pain meds are you on atm? Perhaps they are insufficient for you right now.

However ... Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

 

[Lunes]

Re: Help please!

Hi

I am on tramadol and paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Oramorph for breakthrough pain...

 

[1ELISEA]

Re: Help please!

the thought of another 10 weeks is making me anxious so I have decided to go day by day.. I am very teary today but know that's normal, it's very frustrating this time for me as my daughter is only 2 so you can imagine I am not able to do a lot and I am lucky that I have a lot of help..

Awww Lunes, hang in there, that has to be tough and frustrating with such a very young daughter.

Just keep thinking about all of the things you will soon be able to do with your precious 2 yr old that you couldn't before.

 

[Lunes]

Re: Help please!

Well it's 3 weeks today so half way through my first 6 weeks and I'm still not sleeping... I'm not even napping in the day I am not tired, I think this maybe due to lack of activity and my mind can't shut off? Pain wise it's getting better, a lot of stiffness though. Upper body strength is much better so I'm able to move around a lot more though I still haven't been out of the house yet since we got home.. I have very steep steps to my house and I'm scared!

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Help please!

Hi Lunes, I didn't leave the house for the first 6 weeks after op....as you know I was non weightbearing and I didn't want to take any chances. Once you can start weightbearing properly you will start to feel more confident and be able to tackle those stairs. You can build up your strength indoors first.

It's a shame you haven't been able to nap during the day as your body will need it. Perhaps you could just have a lie in bed instead, you never know, you might just drop off

Take care

Ann

 

[Dingbat7]

Re: Help please!

I have had the same problem since my surgery, I end up tossing and turning all night, but what is weird is that during the day I can lay on my back with my knees raised on a pillow and nod off, I have managed a few hours kip but like you have had to get up and move around as get back ache.
I am going to try and not kip for a few hours during the day so I am well tired, once restrictions lifted I am going to return to sleeping on my side which is my normal position.

 

[C Mac]

Re: Help please!

Hi Lunes,

It's ok that you haven't been out of the house -- or down those front steps, yet. Will you have any type of homebased PT in these early weeks? That was how I learned how to do the stairs with one crutch -- I'd have never tried it on my own as early as I did with the homebased PT person. It sounds like it may be a while before you are ready to be full weight bearing for the steps, but when you get to that point -- have someone walk in front of you on the way down & be ready to provide whatever support you may need. They also taught me, "up with the good and down with the bad." This meant that when you start to go down the stairs you start off lowering your THR foot first, this way the majority of your weight is balanced on your good leg. When you are going up the stairs the good (non-THR) leg goes first and takes the weight up with it. (I had done this naturally before surgery, but had never had pause to give it any thought -- you may have done it naturally as well).

In the early weeks it may feel a little like being a "newborn" yourself with very minimal activity, not much more than eating, sleeping & napping. It sounds like you aren't too sleepy during the day in spite of the lack of good sleep at night. I used to have a little time in the afternoon where I'd lie down and read for a while -- sometimes this would lead to a nap, sometimes not. It was a way of having a change of position from some sitting, some walking, some standing around the house all day long...

It's great that you have a lot of help around the house with your daughter right now -- good for you both.

Take care,
Cardie

 

[Lunes]

Re: Help please!

Hi
The only exercises I'm allowed to do is the knee press into the bed and squeezing my bum cheeks together until I go back on June 6th.. I am lucky I live in Spain so will hopefully be able to get a lot of hydrotherapy done outdoors! When allowed, after my first hip replacement which was from arthrodesis (so I had severe muscle wastage) I went twice weekly to hydro for 2 years!

 

[Josephine]

Re: Help please!

Did you read this? Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

 

[special lady]

Re: Help please!

Lunes,

Thank you for sharing on my thread, I just read yours today and feel for you sweetheart. It must be very difficult with a 2 year old, I'm sure you want to do more for her and it's hard to except that your healing but you'll get there.

Due to multiple surgeries on my hip, I've learned how to sleep on my good side with the pillow between my knees, also sleep on my stomach by putting a fairly thin pillow right above my hips so it takes the pressure off of my lower back and gives my side a break too. If your able to sleep on your stomach this way just remember not to use a thick pillow under your head otherwise you could end up with a stiff neck..... the secret to it that helped me was thin pillows!

I hope this helps, I'm sure you probably have tried everything but this does work for me.

 

[Mad Rocker]

Re: Help please!

Hello Lunes

I'm so sorry that things are going a bit sideways for you. I can only imagine the stress you are under.

This may seem weird but I had the start of a sore on my butt and it made sleeping just miserable. One night in desperation I took one of my ice gel packs (the ones that are generally a blue gel in a plastic sealed bag) that was no longer cold at that hour of the morning and put it under the sore spot. Like magic the pain was gone. I don't know if this will help but it certainly can't hurt.

Take care...

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Help please!

Hi lunes, been meaning to check to see how you are getting in. How's it going? Not long till your check up now.

Take care

Ann

 

[Lunes]

Re: Help please!

Hi
Im doing ok thanks still not sleeping great but can get showered and dressed myself now (hooray to 10 mins privacy)! Wash a few dishes, etc.. I still have not been out BUT have a gp appointment in the morning so have too! I live in a house really not beneficial 20 steps down to my gate, 3 steps up into my gate, then 3 steps up to my house so check back tomorrow I will be horizontal!!! But yes 2 weeks today until my appointment so it can't come quick enough!

How are you doing now? I noticed you live in South Tyneside, I'm originally from Northumberland...

Xxx

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Help please!

Hiya, wow, you were from just up the coast from me.

Isn't it great to be able to shower and dress yourself, I really didn't like that bit, my hubby was brilliant but it's good to be able to do it yourself.

Hope your appt goes well and you manage the steps okay,

Take care

Ann

 

[Lunes]

4 weeks, 3 days

Hi

I am 4 weeks 3 days post op, I'm still toe touch weight bearing but I am swelling up quite badly I imagine the heat isn't helping, does this reduce when I will start weight bearing? I also wonder how much is too much to be doing? Im feeling better each day not much pain but a lot of soreness mainly in the wound area, it's a very long wound but it's healing well, looks good..I have been out and about I need a wheelchair if going anywhere more than a short walk as my "good" leg can't cope as that hip is loose. But I am starting to become a bit stir crazy, I am praying after my revision he lets me weight bear. Life will be an awful lot easier! Sleep is still evading me I think I've now got to the point where I accept it rather than worry as then I get irritated and stressed, I know just a few more weeks I will be able to turn..

Hope you are all as well as can be!

 

[arliepooh]

Re: 4 weeks, 3 days

Sleep sure does evade most of us, doesn't it??? once I was given the green light to sleep on my side, with pillow between the legs, I was finally able too slleep well!


hang in there. . i totally understand about being stir crazy! mentally i'm so ready to be back at work. .

 

[pamela280465]

Re: 4 weeks, 3 days

Still very early days, rest your body is telling you. I am nearly 3 weeks since my second and like you am going a little stir crazy enjoy short trips but don't over do it you will pay for it later. Try taking your max pain relief at bedtime even if you don't feel you need it might just help you get off to sleep xx