8 weeks tomorrow!

[HertfordshireLass]

Hi I am new to the forum, but just wanted to ask if anyone can guide me to some info. regarding what I can and can't do after THR. I am gradually getting back to normal, although my leg feels longer than the other one, and my good hip is taking a bit of a battering and feels sore to the touch as well as sore inside. I am quite scared about what I can and can't do. I had my 6 week check last week and have discovered that I need an arthroscopy now on my knee. I am due to have this surgery on 28th July, so am limited at the moment to the amount of excercise and activity I can do. My consultant said to try everything, but carefully! NOt a lot of use, but was still coming to terms with more surgery that didn't question him enough. I also had a hysterectomy last December, so am not doing very well at the moment.
I feel like I will never run again, or be able to do things like climbing or kayaking etc., or even go on roller coasters again. I guess it is just the normal feelings everyone gets, but if anyone can help with info. that would be great.:pzld:

 

[Texas]

Hi Hert. I am a knee so I cant help to much with the hip. I can tell you alot of hips here are doing very well, and are very normal. Doing many things they couldnt before and not in pain anymore. You will get there. It seems when it comes to these surgeries we all run out of patients I know I did. But it gets better and you will to.......Hippies wil be on soon and can explain better. Welcome and post anytime....Good luck to you...

 

[Jamie]

Welcome HerfordshireLass, so glad you found BoneSmart!! Hon, you have been through a heck of a lot here lately. You have a right to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all!! You're doing the right thing....taking each problem one at a time and dealing with it. It will all get sorted out and you will begin to feel yourself healing and getting back to normal.

As far as your hip goes, you should be able to do almost anything you want to. Some doctors don't recommend high impact activity like running, but there are certainly people who do it after a replacement. Go back into the old threads on the hip surgery recovery forum and read some of our members' stories. You'll find plenty of folks who are VERY active after they get through the healing phase.

Best of luck to you and keep posting here when you need or want to chat with people who have been where you are. That's what we're here for!

 

[metalnikki]

Hi Hertfordshirelass
I am 16 weeks post op THR and have recently returned to work on reduced hours. I can do more each week but not at the running stage yet. And I need surgery to other hip, probably an osteotomy, not THR.
I also need a hysterectomy, so I am doing things a different way round to you!! How long did your hyst take to recover from?
I also am intersted in when/ if we can go on rollercoasters again. So if anyone knows about this.......
You have had a lot to cope with recently , and wish you luck for your arthroscopy of your knee.

 

[JudyS]

Welcome HertfordshireLass

I am a one year old hippy and as far as the hip is concerned can do anything. My doc said no more running, but it is possible to do. As you can see from my signature, I have been on a bit of a surgery marathon as well so I can totally relate there.
I have done tons of hiking and been kayaking after hip replacment. I just started hiking about 6 weeks ago after knee arthroscopic surgery. Don't worry about any of that.
Yes, the operated hip side did feel longer, my doc had told me that was a normal feeling, my legs are of equal length. I don't remember when that feeling left though!!! I have also swam many miles after the replacement, really anything I want to do (except running!!!)

Good Luck with the knee and keep asking questions if you have any

judy

 

[loggon]

Bless you. You have been through a lot. But you will do good with the knee surgery. Sounds like you are doing good with the hip surgery. Sorry you are sore though.

Hang in there you are going to be so better by the end of the year.

 

[Judles]

Welcome Hertfordshire! You certainly have been thru the mill lately haven't you!! It WILL get better for you! We're all here to help! Glad you found us!!!

 

[PRGal]

Hi there, Lass--and welcome!
Your consultant was actually right on the money--try everything, but carefully! If your restrictions have been lifted, you can slowly get back to your normal activities, listening to your body and letting it be your guide. If you have unasked questions, certainly don't be shy--give your surgeon's office a call and ask away!

Most of us can tell you that once fully recovered, we can pretty much do anything we did before, so I'm sure you'll be right there with us! As for roller coasters, I can't imagine why not--there are Bonesmarties who ride horses and mountain bikes, drive sports cars, ski, and do probably the most strenuous work out there--raise kids! You'll get there--just be patient and good to yourself! :thmb:

 

[HertfordshireLass]

Hi to those who replied to me, I am currently on the winge about the stone I have put on in weight. Hope it comes off as soon as I start to be more active.

Metalnikki. - My hysterectomy was total and through an abdominal cut, and I had to have 13 weeks off work. I am a teaching assistant, and work with Primary age children, so it was not easy going back. I went back slowly for the first couple of weeks. I still have a bit of soreness at cut site if I do too much. You have to give it time, and some people recover quicker than others, depending on age etc. The first six weeks though, do absolutely nothing, so you don't risk an future problems. There is a great website when you have your hyst. www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk. You join a forum with people who have the op at the same time as you. It is broken down into months, and it so helpful to talk to others in the same boat. I have met 3 of the people on my forum, and expect to be friends for ever now.

I am feeling much better every day in regard to my hip. I went for hydrotherapy yesterday, it was my third session, and it helps so much. I can almost walk without a limp now!
Good luck with your op,:thmb:

 

[aussie]

Hi there, and welcome,

As time goes by you will become more and more confident in your new hip and it is really just trying things carefully and if you can't do them this month, don't fret maybe next month, you will find improvements all the time. Even at 19 months PO for my hip I still had a noticeable improvement last week getting into a car. My leg just somehow 'threw' itself in there better than it has for years.

 

[Josephine]

Hello, Hertfordshire! I used to live there - in Barnet. Worked at Barnet General. And later I lived in Harlow and worked at Bishops Stortford. Are any of these places near you? Going to be really nosy now and ask where you had your hip done! (My 'nose' will get me into trouble one of these days! :hehe

As for what you can and can't do, at 8 weeks I would think you can do anything you feel up to doing - assuming you not in the restrictions period. Some of our surgeons are rather bad at communicating that kind of thing but I'm sure if there was anything he had an opinion on he would have told you!

When you said your scar was still sore, did I read correctly that it was your hysterectomy scar? If it was your hip, I might have something to say about that!

 

[HertfordshireLass]

HI Josephine
I come from Letchworth Garden City, and I had my op done at Harpenden Spire Hospital by Mr B Bradnock. He invented the OSCAR machine for taking out old cemented hips. He was on Tomorrow's World apparently with it.
It is my hysterectomy scar that is sore, although my hip scar is still tender but only to be expected really I suppose. I can't lie on it yet, and I can't lie on my good hip because that is sore too from taking the strain. So still on my back, but am finding it quite comfortable now.
I have been having Hydrotherapy, and its the best thing I ever did. Fantastic results, and am walking much better now.
thanks to all for your support

 

[tahoe1009]

You have had a go it sounds like. I am also 8weeks out. I am still having pain problems but most of the people on here are feeling very well by this time (it seems at least). I still use a cane and have a limp, still doing PT (sadly no hydrotherapy which sounds wonderfull), and have a really hard time getting a shoe on my operated leg. At the same time I have been back at work for a month, drive, and such. So, everyone on here says everyones different. I'm begining to believe them. I wish you the best and fastest recovery possible!!

 

[HertfordshireLass]

Hi Tahoe1009
I still use one stick, and still have a lot of muscle pain. I can't drive yet as my leg is not strong enough. I actually had cysts on the femur head, and a very long tear with a cyst growing on the muscle that surrounded the hip, so I had lost a lot of muscle tone in the months before I had the operation. It will take time I know, but am encouraged by the leap forward I have had just this week.
You could go to your local swimming pool and just do some of the excercises you are given after op in the water. You find that you are able to do them much easier and it gives you a chance to stretch the muscle out a bit. Just don't overdo it though.
I still can't put my own sock on my operated leg, and can't tie shoe laces, so life is still a bit testing at times. I was told to expect that for another 6 weeks or so.
I am back at work on Monday, and am looking forward to trying to get back to normal. Oh, just for a moment I forgot about my knee op. how frustrating. Never mind, it will all be worth it in the end. I am finding it difficult to do excercises for hip, because of problem with knee, so don't expect too much anyway.

Hope everyone is recovering well. I keep being told it was the best thing to do, I just have to do the time in waiting to find out !:D:D

 

[Jamie]

Tahoe, I know it seems like recovery for you is dragging on forever, but it will improve with time. Your hip didn't get the way it was overnight. Each person's body is different and yours just is choosing to heal at a slower pace. You'll still get there. You are doing things exactly right by staying with the cane for now and keeping up with therapy. If you have concerns about where you are in recovery, talk with your therapist so you understand what their goals for you are. The therapist works with your surgeon, so both have a specific plan for you. Once you understand what their plan is, you can initiate discussions about what YOUR goals are that might be different from theirs. The whole therapy and recovery thing should be a partnership with everyone on the same page.

 

[Josephine]

I know Harpenden Spire! Don't know the surgeon but know OSCAR well!

 

[Steph]

Hello Hertfordshire Lass

Sounds like you have been through the mill a bit, but you still sound very positive. I see you are having hydro as well - isn't it just fantastic to see what range of movement you have under the water, and ultimately what you will be able to achieve out of the water.

We all seem to be progressing at different speeds dependant on all sorts of things that have gone before surgery I suppose. Just take each day as it comes and don't try and push yourself too hard or fast, there is a huge amount of internal healing to do.

Good luck with going back to work, do you work full time? If so are you having a phased return to work, I should think it will be very tiring if not. Take it easy.