Revision THR 9 days post op, new hip in and I feel good

[Josephine]

Yes please - I'd really love to see that. New things always interest me!

 

[Elle11]

Oh Meatfree,
I am so happy to read your good news! You sound like you are doing so well. Yes, it is pure happiness to be out of pain. Your sleep will come back after a while and it will feel great!
So glad you have been reunited with your dog.
Warm regards and take all the attention your beloveds want to give you!
Elle

 

[meatfree]

Hi Josephine have put dressing pic up in picture gallery for you

 

[meatfree]

Hello peeps, had best sleep ever last night, slept on my good leg side with a big pillow to support my operated leg. Also a sleeping pill helped too!!! Surprising how much better you feel after a good nights sleep. Hope you like my pic its Jake my fluffy baby. Have a great day all

 

[Josephine]

Excellent! I am so pleased for you. And thank you for posting a picture of that device.

 

[Terryb]

glad you are doing well i had a revision in april still walking with a stick but the muscle stiffness seems to be wearing off but only slowly now but still able to get about well so just take each day as it comes

 

[meatfree]

Hi Josephine have you not seen one of these dressings before? The district nurse hadn't either i dont know how long they have been around but i also had one in april for my stage one revision. Thanks Terryb i know it will all take time.
I had a really bad night last night, couldn't sleep in so much pain. If i lay on my side with a pillow my hip hurt and im terrified of dislocating it and if i lay on my back my shoulders were agony. I have so much trouble with my arms and shoulders with being on crutches for the last 6 mths and i guess they lay you on your side to operate so that didnt help.Pain killers dont help only ibuprofen but i cant take them as i am on clexane for another 12 days yet, have tried the heat cream and cold spray nothing seems to work. I do have a sleeping tablet sometimes but as they are strong ones i really dont want to take them every night. Any ideas anyone?

 

[meatfree]

Hi all, 21 days postop and am feeling better each day . Still having problems with my arms and shoulders but looks like its something i will have to put up with until i get off the crutches. Went for a walk with my fella and jake my dog yesterday, was such a lovely day and i have been wanting to get out in the sun. Managed to walk for 20mins in all, took my time and was very careful where i walked, i am lucky as i live in a village that is very flat. Was nice to see a few locals that were all so pleased for me that i have my hip back, they have followed me on the road to surgery. My wound is healing lovely and i cant believe the difference in only one week. I am still very wary of dislocation i am not really sure how long you have to be careful for, i know it gets less likely as the weeks progress but it still scares me, really dont want anymore surgery. I am not taking any pain meds now i really dont need them just rest and sleep is all i need. I lay on the bed after dinner each day as i find my leg swells at the top and down to my knee if im sittting up all day and it stings quite badly but elevation seems to help. Only 9 clexane to go yippee down to single figures my poor tummy is running out of space, i am so glad i dont have to do it much longer. My fella is back to work tomorrow so my friends will be callling round on a rota. Jake has to go back to my daughters until friday when he will come home for the weekend again. Cant wait to have him back for good, not the same without him, miss my Have a great day everyone

 

[soyoungforanewhip]

Hi meatfree, your recovery is fantastic news!!!

I had my op on the same day, didn't have clips, only steri strips and luckily have blood thinning tablets to take rather than self injections. Glad to hear that they are not hurting you anymore.

it is fabulous to be pain free, I find it hard to remember how hard life was before and it gets better and better. I find that I have to reign myself in and remember I am only at the three week mark. I was all ready this morning to get dressed, climb on a bus and go shopping until I decided that I should clear this with my surgeon first. I have found myself mourning the loss of my joint, but I know that healing is sometimes emotional as well so I am not letting it get me down.

The story of your recovery is wonderful, stay positive, enjoy the spoiling and hopefully in a few months we will all be out swimming, cycling, with little memory of the difficult times per op. Have a fabulous weekend.

Jan

 

[meatfree]

Mornin all , had a bad nights sleep again but whos cares i will go back to bed later. My wound is really itching and around it, have tried e45 anti itch seems to have eased iit for now, any other ideas? One thing i am finding hard not to do, is limp, it has been part of my life for so long and now i wonder will i limp because its habit or because i need to? Had quite a short fall in my leg before surgery stood on tip toe to balance them out but now seems ok, so is it habit? will wait and see as the weeks progress and i get rid of my crutches. Very quiet here today my dog has gone back to my daughters and steve has gone to work. Two of my friends have been round to check on me but i am honestly fine. I am not going to shower or do anything silly but it is quite nice to have a bit of space for a bit. Have a good day everyone.
Lesley

 

[Poppet]

Hi Leslie

Try an ice pack ( not directly on the skin) to ease the itching... It is healing, that is wonderful.

Yes, sometimes one gets those kind of sleepless or painful nights, so nap whenever you can and want... You are doing fantastic!

 

[meatfree]

Thanks Poppet will give it a go

 

[sharonslp]

Meatfree, you mentioned in an earlier post that you didn't need pain meds anymore, but a limp is often a way of protecting yourself from pain. If that's the case, you may need the pain meds while you train yourself to walk without a limp. If it's just because it's a habit for you, then it does require conscious re-training, especially if you had the limp for a long time before surgery. Have you worked with a physical therapist at all? I know in the UK, pt is not an automatic occurrence, but perhaps it would help to work with someone for a few sessions to get you moving in the right direction. If you've been limping because of a leg length discrepancy, many people report that it takes a number of months, but that feeling does often resolve itself after surgery. What do you think? I think I'll tag Jamie; for you, to comment on the limp as well. In my mind, getting rid of a limp is one of the most important outcomes of surgery.

Sharon

 

[Poppet]

Are you limping wihilst using both crutches?

 

[AussieMike]

Are you limping wihilst using both crutches?

No limping for this little black duck. If I am limping I am going too fast right?

 

[Jamie]

If I am limping I am going too fast right?

Absolutely right, Mike!!! If you limp when you try to walk, you need more support. If you're not using a cane or crutches, use them a while longer. If you limp with a cane or crutches, you should give a walker a try for a while. The goal is to have a good stride with whatever aid you're using BEFORE you switch to a "lesser" aid or nothing. If you try to walk with a limp, your muscles will not strengthen properly and you risk putting undue strain on other joints and soft tissue. Not good!!!

As for the leg discrepancy, here is the article from the BoneSmart Library about that.

 

[meatfree]

Have been giving this some thought and honestly think it's habit as I have walked with a limp for 7 yrs altogether. When I concentrate I am actually walking without a limp and my foot flat(with 2 crutches)I have had a go with one crutch and I think I am going too fast too soon, it is only 3wks and my 2nd op in 5mths, think I need to be more patient,just that I feel so well, I know bad girl! We dont have physio on our hip revisions we are left to rest and go at our own pace observing the 90degree rule. . The surgeon tells us to keep the crutches aslong as we think we need them, no specific time frame, approx 12 weeks down to 1 and maybe a stick for a while if needed. I think my surgeon has done a good job at levelling my legs they do feel ok, see him in 2 weeeks so will see my xray and ask him all my questions. Will see how I go and if I feel I am limping at all I will see my doctor and ask about some retraining. Thanks for all the advice you are all and Lesley

 

[AussieMike]

Hi Lesley

I do feel for you. The fact that you are left to your own devices must be very difficult. I would be lost without the nurses, the PT's and of course the angels from Bonesmart. I limped for the last six months of my pre op period and prior to that would favour one leg and essentially stand with all my weight on one side. As a result the muscles in the operated leg are weak and shortened. I did make a conscious decision that I want quality over quantity. That is I want to retrain my muscles and although it hurts and I can do less, what I do is done correctly. Its frustrating.

My physio session after lunch today last 12 minutes. My left glute was exhausted and I could do no more in the correct form. I could have cheated but instead I stopped. I had done all the quality work I could do. Its certainly not easy, but you can do this.

Mike

 

[forbesy]

Hi Meatfree

Some great reports and you realy seem up and happy, mind and take things slowly and do the sensible things when starting your walks outside, everything in small doses short walks to begin with.
It is great when you have they staples out and that first bath ps don't try to have a bath to early wait on your eight week check to see if your allowed.
Keep safe meatfree

Billy

 

[Anniepops]

Hiya Lesley, great to hear you sounding so well and so positive. If you feel later on that you would benefit by or need a bit of PT you could always ask to be referred by your GP. Still early days yet and it's very hard to determine if you are limping whilst using crutches. You're right, it's hard to be patient when you feel like you can do it all but there's still a lot of healing to go on. Nice and easy does it

Take care

Ann