Hip Resurfacing 8 weeks Post Hip Arthroscopy

[cm19820]

Amazing progress in the last two days since my resurfacing, so much so that the hospital physios have signed me off today after completing their exercise list (I still have follow up physio later on)

I did notice however, than my operated leg seems to be longer than the other, the physio told me that there is a bedding in period for the new joint and that because I have spent how many months walking with a limp then i almost need to re-train myself to walk and it could be that because of this my leg 'mentally' feels longer.

Anybody experienced the same? Could my leg be longer since surgery? I mean I don't want to walk around in circles for the rest of my life!

 

[sharonslp]

Hi Craig. I haven't experienced any LLD issues with either of my hips, but many people here have. They do say that the feeling often resolves itself after several months, because it's not a true length difference, but rather the settling in that your physio mentioned. If it does turn out to be an actual difference, there are ways to deal with that, but that's down the road a bit. I will also tag Jamie; and Jaycey; to comment on this. Others who have direct experience with this issue will be along to comment as well.

Sharon

 

[Jamie]

Sharon is correct. This is something that many people experience right after surgery and it eventually resolves itself as your body adjusts to the new corrected joint. See this article from the BoneSmart Library to read more about it.

 

[cm19820]

Well, I am now home. Feeling absolutely fine so far, apart from muscle fatigue in my operated leg. It's amazing how quickly you become weak, I couldn't even lift my leg off the floor to get into the car! Soon have it built up again with the exercises though.

My scar will be about 11 inches, the surgeon told me this morning that as I am 6ft and about 16 stone I was very awkward to operate on and that he had to cut through a lot of muscle surrounding the area, hence the bigger incision, I'll take it as a compliment. I am so relieved it is all done and that I can now look forward to getting through the recovery and becoming active again, I have put on 2 1/2 stone since all this began and I cant wait to crack on with losing it all again.

For anybody due to have a re-surfacing or replacement, it really is amazing at how little pain there is considering the size of the procedure. Best thing I have ever done!

 

[cm19820]

Just wondered if people watch videos on Youtube etc of the surgery they are about to have or have had? I watched a good few before my re-surfacing and also found more afterwards.

I wanted to see what i was getting myself into and was curious as to whether different surgeons use different techniques for essentially the same surgery.

Quite a few people think I am mad for doing so, just wanted to see if I was alone.

 

[Josephine]

I didn't have to watched YTs, I was hands on with it for most of my life! So because of that, I can 100% guarantee to you that there are as many different ways of doing everything as there are surgeons! It's not like having a manual to do a car service, every patient is different, has different condition in their knee, requires different elements of surgery and every surgeon has had a different training and experience and generally makes up his own mind about almost everything from the skin incision to closure. Never did meet two surgeons who did knee replacements in exactly the same way! Nor hip replacements or anything else. The overall schematics will roughly be the same - make skin incision, open up the joint, trim off bone spurs, cut femur, cut tibia, put in implants, all that. But that's only a tiny part of the whole procedure and that's where the differences lie!

 

[Josephine]

 

[cm19820]

So, day 6 post op. I am still struggling with mobility in my operated leg. There is absolutely no muscle strength there. To get out of bed I have to lift my left leg with my right foot to be able to turn and sit up. I then have to hook the handle of my crutch around the en-suite door frame and pull myself up! (Amazing how we adapt and overcome isn't it) I am still performing my exercises though, as hard as they are to do at the moment, I need those muscles to build and repair. I have switched to high protein diet to aid the muscle repair and will be trying arnica today to see if that helps with the immense swelling. I am still elevating and icing 2-3 times per day.

My lower back hurts while in bed, whether it be sat up or lying flat. I do not have enough strength to put a pillow between my knees and roll to my right side. That will be a blissful day when it comes, or when I have enough leg strength to be able to get to lie on my front.

Something else happened this morning, and I don't know if the chaps on here can sympathise? I woke this morning to really painful shooting sensations through my gentleman's bits, I was told to expect some bruising and tenderness but this is another level.

Even with the all of the above I am still upbeat about it, I know that it will shortly become easier, and then i can really crack on with my physio. And my clips/staples come out on Monday which i am quite excited about. I may have to ask the nurse for a home visit though if I remain as weak until then. There is no way I could get up onto a doctors bed at the moment.

 

[Poppet]

Congratulation Craig on your shiny new hip.

Unfortunately these early weeks are tough recovery times. On the average it is rough for about the first six weeks and then all of a sudden things improve.

I found it better to focus on the little achievements, the tiny milestones.. Having your staples out is a big one. I stood and held onto the side of the Dr's couch to have my 39 staples out, felt quite proud of myself..

You will get there, slow and steady..sorry, can't help you about the 'gentlemen parts' but one of the fellas will drop by I am sure.. Actually, I will tag forbesy; aka Billy, he may be able to advise

 

[cm19820]

Well, just back from the doctor after having the clips out. All but 27 of them were hardy noticeable when being removed but the last three, never felt pain like it! I actually shouted in pain and I'll bet thatthe waiting room could hear me. The doctor said that the last three were not as well healed as the others which is why they hurt. I did ask why on earth she took them out when the could have been left for a few more days but it was too late anyway.

Other than that, everything is getting easier by the day (11 days post op now) I am slowly regaining strength in my operated leg, making trivial things such as getting in and out of bed far easier and I can now sit comfortably in the lounge rather than being stuck in bed, which I feel much better for.

I'll soon be triple-jumping at this rate!

 

[bottomshollow]

This I gotta' see! Let us know when you schedule the event--we all want to be there. Good to hear you're doing so well. Keep up the good work (but watch the jumping).

 

[cm19820]

Two weeks on, everything is becoming so much easier, i cant quite lift my own leg into the car yet but i doubt it will be long.
One thing i noticed over the weekend is that with certain movements i can literally hear what is like two metal objects 'cluncking' together, I.e. the ball and socket. While this doesn't hurt, is it normal? It is quite un-nerving.

 

[Josephine]

VERY normal. You have to remember that your hip pretty much always clunked like that but the linings were soft and absorbed the impact - therefore no noise. Now the joint surfaces have been replaced with metal and so they are bound to make a noise. Eventually two things will happen: your muscles will tighten up and strengthen so the joint doesn't clunk quite so much and your body's "inner ear" will phase it out so you no longer hear any residual noise.

 

[cm19820]

I meant to also ask earlier but forgot to - Swelling, mine does not seem to have gone down at all. I have been Ice-ing most days and still my operated leg is huge. Can anybody who has had the resurfacing advise as to how long their swelling took to start going down?

 

[Josephine]

Whoa, give it a chance, petal! It's only been 2½ weeks yet! Swelling can go on for a couple of months or more.

Incidentally, I really need to change the title of your thread - any preferences?