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THR 7 weeks out and have questions.

@chopper72
You'll notice that I have merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:
  • That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
  • If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
  • Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.
So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here. If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.
 
I took a couple of hours and read everything I could on the subject of NSAIDS and bone growth. I found it interesting that spinal surgeons tell their fusion patients not to take NSAIDS for three months after surgery. But the studies regarding bone growth and NSAIDS are equivocal - meaning no strong evidence exists to answer the question for humans. If your rat breaks her leg however - don't give her NSAIDS.
 
My personal opinion would be that unless you are high risk or your OS suggests not using them the pain and swelling relief out weigh the risks. But then due to my knee before TKR I took ibuprofen regularly for 30 years with no ill affects including ankle, knee, and now hip replacement.
 
chopper72 said:
Many studies say no. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259713/

Does anyone have an informed medical opinion?
Click to expand...

If you're looking for an "informed medical opinion," you must know that our members are only going to give you their personal opinions based on their experience. While we do have some staff with a medical background and surgeons who are consultants that we use when needed, this is not something you're going to get a definitive answer on.

Like a number of recommendations you'll see for post-op joint replacement patients (for example, how to take antibiotics - or not take them - after surgery), you can find conflicting studies that support both sides. Your best bet is to talk to doctors you trust, read the studies, and make your decision based on what you think is best for you.

There is absolutely no consensus on this issue nor do I think there is going to be in the near future.
 
I am at week 8 now and the pain got better when I eased up on walking - especially on the beach. Also icing more has helped so thank you all for suggesting more of that. I am not a fan of medication and try to avoid it if I can, but I have upped the tylenol with some ibuprofen so I can be a bit more active. Yesterday I went to a big box store and walked around. Went fishing for about an hour, where I stood putting most of the weight on the good leg. Went to a movie and drove 1.5 hours. Pain is in the 2-3 range which is annoying but manageable. The pain baffles me. It will be in my groin - then my calf, knee, etc. It jumps around.
 
The pain follows the strain. Beach walking is probably a lot like any uphill downhill walking, doesn't look it but strains different muscles. Might sound crazy but just the weight of the fishing rod with leverage puts a strain on hip muscles. I really did the trick last time with a weedeater. If you really want to find the pain use a step ladder! Hate to tell you but it's at least a year and even then you'll still be susceptible.
 
Hi EMAN 85. It appears we had surgery about the same time. How's yours doing? When were you relatively pain free with your first one?
 
At 3mos I did a fair amount of physical labor doing chores I was way behind on due to THR. That put me in the chair for 3 weeks. Honestly I can make my left one hurt if I was so inclined, granted I can do most anything I want, but I can still strain it and make it ache. There was a recent post by a returning member that was 7 or 8 years out and he was honest and said he could still make it hurt.
Are you still icing? If I go walking, usually 1 mi at the track, I'll come home and sit on my icing pad of my polar pack which will last for hours if I want. It feels food and I don't use any pain relievers.
The pain isn't baffling, if you have the stomach watch the video of a THR. Your leg is dislocated and then rotated to allow access. Then the rotate it back to install it. If you've ever slept wrong or pulled a muscle think how painful and how long that lasts. Now actually pull the muscles so far the bone leaves the body! We're also around the same age, nothing feels like it did years ago and nothing heals like it did either.
 
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I'm really happy to hear your pain eased up after you cut back on activity. That is a sure sign you were overdoing it. I'm not a fan of meds either but it is important you remain reasonably mobile so short term use isn't going to hurt you. Pain does jump around. I remember that clearly. I always felt unless it was escalating in one area in either intensity, or frequency, I'd simply deal.
It gets better week by week as you're already noticing. Keep up the good work and have a great Sunday!
@chopper72
 
Hi Eman65 - No I don't have the stomach for watching that. I'm still icing. Mine got worn out from tennis and pickleball and I would like to get back to doing those. Was hoping 8 weeks would be enough rest time. Now I am hoping I can start again at 3 months. Thanks for your responses.
 
Of course ask your OS about tennis and pickleball. I know a friend that had his before mine was advised no sudden stopping or pivoting as he liked basketball. Like everything in life if you understand the consequences, you plays the game and you takes your chances.
 
Slow and easy is what you need and trying to hurry the recovery along is just going to make your body rebel and set you back. Definitely discuss with your OS that you would like to play tennis and pickleball again and see what he says. 3 months may be a bit of wishful thinking on your part, you really want that implant settled in and the muscles, tendons and soft tissue well on the way to healing.
 
OS said I was fine to play tennis or pickleball at 6-8 weeks. Explained that it would take me 25 years to have a 10-15% percent chance to wear the implant out. You have to admit this THR is a strange deal. Surgeons downplay the muscular healing. Some restrict activities like tennis - others don't. PTs may or may not be completely trusted to understand the healing either. Some hippies have almost no pain after surgery and are seemingly back to normal in five or 6 weeks. Others have strong pain that lasts for months. (Insert serenity prayer here)
 
I had my operation 9 weeks ago and I still have pain even though my hip mobility has improved dramatically. The pain is first thing in the morning or after a long walk - mainly in my groin or occasionally lower back. My doctor recommended hydrotherapy at the hospitalbut my sports club has a heated mini-pool so I do my exercises there. It really does help. I too was given ibuprofen in hospital (London) so it seems to be a popular choice on both sides of the pond. I'd tread carefully with NSAIDs long term though - they are used with caution over here and can't be bought without prescription..
 
Bottom line, you have a prosthetic implant in you. You have it because the original was defective. you wore it out or you broke it. The OS is basically concerned about how the implant is installed and the implants have improved so they do last. Many OS will tell their patients they can do anything they want. But just like you relate about the muscle pain they don't tell you about, or the true length of recovery, they don't tell you the other ways you can have problems. If you're willing to accept the risk that's fine and up to you. Don't fall down is what my OS stresses. If I screw up it's on me, my OS just gets more business.
 
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Wow, so on the money about surgeons downplaying the muscular healing. I've gone back and forth. Part of me thinks patients (in order to convince ourselves to have the surgery) downplay and ignore the muscle healing.

Another problem is that when people talk of stiffness or aches (in online reviews for example), would-be patients completely miss what these folks are saying. I read accounts (many in fact) of people talking about aches and pains after surgery ... and somehow I dismissed this concern ... and focused on the very few people reporting super-fast recovery. I don't think I had the language presurgery to really take in what people were saying about recovery.
 
If I buy a car I investigate every aspect but I was blissfully ignorant of what actually went on in hip replacement surgery. I have a few friends who have had replacements and they said all went well. So when I went in for my 6 week check wondering why I still had pain, my doctor was forthcoming about the legitimate reasons. My guess is that if you showed presurgery patients what occurred on the operating table there might be far fewer surgeries.
 
chopper72 said:
My guess is that if you showed presurgery patients what occurred on the operating table there might be far fewer surgeries.
Click to expand...

I'm sure this is true. I haven't watched the THR video, but I did watch one of an ankle replacement after I had already had mine. I was glad I waited, that's when I discovered how much orthopedic surgery is much like carpentry, saws. drills and hammers! :dubious:
 
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