THR Anniepops THR Recovery

[Anniepops]

Hello, I've just found this forum whilst looking for info following my surgery.
I had a RTHR on 28th Feb due to having a congenital dislocated hip and subsequently arthritis.
I cant put any weight on my operated leg until six weeks after my op as the surgeon has managed to relocate the new joint in the original socket which means it has been pulled down by 2inches.
I can't believe how, apart from the first three days after my op, I am not in any pain at all from my new hip which is fab but i am having a lot of pain and stiffness in my knee. I think perhaps they have yanked at my knee to pull the leg down which is what is causing the bruising and pain.
It's great to read of other peoples circumstances and recovery.
Have any other members suffered with a CDH and hip replacement and if so what have been their recovery experiences.

 

[dianemarie]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Welcome Anniepops,

I did not have CDH, but have had 2 THRs. You will find a wealth of support, information and encouragement on the forum as you recover. Just continue to post and let us know how you are coming along.

Others will be along that have had CHD and they will share with you as well.

 

[Josephine]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Oh we've had heaps of people with developmental dysplasia. So you won't be alone long! Welcome to BoneSmart.

Have a read of some of these while you are waiting for the others to pop in.
Pain management and the pain chart
How Long Does Healing Take ......
Chart representation of THR recovery
Energy Drain for THRs
Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Some suggestions for home physio (PT) and activity progress

 

[nanamac]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Hi Anniepops and welcome to this fantastic support group! I just had a second THR on 3/14 and am feeling like a new woman. I had my first 2 years ago.

Please do stick around and others will be along to offer you their support and stories as well. You have come to the right place. Welcome aboard!

 

[Poppet]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Welcome Anniepops, lovely to have you come join the BS family.. Sounds like you are doing very well. Isn't it great to be free of the bone on bone pain 
Sandy

 

[Jamie]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Hi, Anniepops!!! Welcome to BoneSmart. I hope you have an opportunity to read the links Josephine posted for you. Be sure and post any questions or concerns you may have as you go through the material and posts here on the forum.

I'm thrilled to hear that you're doing well with the hip. As you're finding out, knees and other joints can hurt for a while afterwards It all has to do with your new body alignment. But....rest assured that your body will heal itself and realign to match your shiny new hip.

 

[tashia]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Welcome to BoneSmart. We are family here and do surport each other so please post so we can know you are ok and still doing fine. Take care and be careful. :doggieshmooze:Tashia

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Thankyou so much everybody for the warm welcome.

I am very pleased to have found you( insert smiley face as I cant do it on my ipad)

It's so lovely to be able to 'speak' to people who have gone through the same thing as all I have managed to find before is medical references to recovery.

When I left hospital I was just told to put no pressure on my operated leg and ring the ward if I had any concerns! The district nurse came to change my dressing a few days after my op then again a week later to remove staples.

Then I feel i was just left to get on with it but I was left feeling frustrated that I had nobody to ask when little queries popped up of which there were a few.

I did, after being passed from pillar to post, get to speak to a specialist nurse three weeks in as I didnt know what to do for the two weeks between the end of the 6 weeks of no pressure and the further two weeks until my post op check. I didnt want to hinder my recovery by not doing anything for two weeks when I should be doing something.

The nurse told me to start applying a little pressure after 6 weeks but not to give up my crutches........no chance of that as my operated leg is like jelly which I found out when I stumbled and automatically put weight on it and it just crumbled. That was a bit scary but the nurse said it will because I hadn't used it for three weeks and the muscles had deteriated.

So, I'm 4weeks in tomorrow and although apprehensive am looking forward to actually doing something that will help me move forward.

After my original post I found the search button so have started reading other members experiences after surgery for a CDH.

It is wonderful to read so many success stories regardless of which type of surgery etc. It gives me much hope and is so lovely to read how it has changed so many peoples lives for the better.

Thankyou.xx

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

A funny story when I was in hospital.

On the second night after op i was moved to another bay.

The following afternoon my husband came to visit but he didn't know I had been moved. They had put another lady in my spot who had had her op that day.

So hubby walked in and seen this lady with an oxygen mask and lots of tubes attached and got a big shock thinking I had had a serious relapse.

He bent over to kiss me (her) and the poor woman got such a fright at this big man looming over her she screamed and shouted out "who are you looking for".

She was then moved to my bay and we had a good laugh about it for the next few days.

 

[forbesy]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Hi annie

Patience is the name of the game [ pretty boring eh!!] It will pay dividends in the long run. Always do the sensible things don't do the silly one's because you are bored.
Another two weeks and you will have reached the six week mark piece of cake. .
Take care Annie

Billy

 

[tashia]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Welcome to the site. I love your story about the hospital. From now on I'm sure your husband is going to laugh about this and make sure he enters the right room.:th_heehee: I do hope you don't have to go to the hospital again but if you do you can laugh about this one. I hope this finds you with pain control and not to much in pain control. Please do rest and be careful when you walk. Keep us posted on how you are doing. :doggieshmooze:Tashia

 

[ddunerider]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

A funny story when I was in hospital.

On the second night after op i was moved to another bay.

The following afternoon my husband came to visit but he didn't know I had been moved. They had put another lady in my spot who had had her op that day.

So hubby walked in and seen this lady with an oxygen mask and lots of tubes attached and got a big shock thinking I had had a serious relapse.

He bent over to kiss me (her) and the poor woman got such a fright at this big man looming over her she screamed and shouted out "who are you looking for".

She was then moved to my bay and we had a good laugh about it for the next few days.

Im sorry thats :hysterical:...Welcome to Bone smart I thinks this site should be prescribed Along with the Meds...Donnie

Happy Healing

 

[C Mac]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Hi Annie,

Welcome to Bonesmart!! I am one of those that had a congenitally dislocated hip as a baby and now a THR in my 40s. Many of us get that pain & stiffness in the knee after surgery -- regardless of whether you had dysplasia related issues or not, it will get better with time as your body continues to heal from the surgery. While it is bothering you continue to use ice on it and I also found it helpful to sleep with a little pillow under my knee to keep a slight bend in it. For a while I couldn't bend much past 90 degrees at my knee but that has improved greatly over time.

I'm sure you are excited and nervous to begin the weight bearing process with your new hip, definitely continue on the crutches & do take it nice and slowly your muscles will surely be a bit weak and they will be adjusting to some stretching & new angles with the hip hardware. Will you have some physiotherapy at some point in the future?

Also, with the knee pain and just in general don't hesitate to use you pain medications and/or acetaminophen to help you feel more comfortable & sleep better as well. As you start to use your new hip more you may also have an increase in some of your muscle soreness.

Sounds like you are doing well & love the funny hospital story :th_heehee:
Take care,
Cardie

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Tashia, I am truly amazed at how little pain I am in, none at all from my new hip it's just the back of my knee which hurts on and off. Funnily enough it goes away for a few days then returns with a vengeance. So I take paracetamol and ibuprofen on those days.

I do expect to have lots of aches and pains once I start putting some pressure on my operated leg but at the minute I consider myself very lucky that the pain is minimal especially as my leg has been lengthened by a whole two inches.

I am being very careful much to my husbands amazement as I am usually a very impatient busy bee but I'm not taking any chances with this.

I have done a lot of reading through the site today and everybodys stories are truly inspiring.
Xx

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Thanks cmac, i can't press your thanks button because you dont have one???

I have been reading of your progress as i seen you also had a CDH. It seems like you have had a bit of a difficult time of it but you seem very strong and determined which has gave me strength too.Xxx

The nurse told me they don't usually give physio to hip patients just recommend lots of walking but I have a feeling I may need some because of the six weeks non weight bearing and my operated leg feels like jelly.

I put a small towel under my knee this afternoon whilst having a little nap in bed but I am concerned that it is lifting my leg higher than my hip....must admit I am terrified of doing something wrong and doing some damage.

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Yes Billy, it is extremely boring and I'm not usually a very patient person but I keep reminding myself 'patience is a virtue' hehe.

I never thought I would get sick of watching the telly or playing on my Ipad but it is so different when you havent got a choice.

It makes me feel so fortunate that one day I will be able to get around again and also so very sympathetic to people who are always reliant on others.

On a really positive note it has made my husband realise how much a mother and wifes 'work' entails. Previously I think he thought I was only moaning about the cooking cleaning washing shopping and general running around for the sake of it.haha

 

[Jamie]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Just checkin' on you, Annie! How are things going?

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Hi Jamie, I'm doing great thankyou .

No pain in my operated hip at all and only infrequent pain in my knee which is bearable.

I have continued to read everyones posts which is helping me immensly. The support on here is incredible and really uplifting.

I have realised that my painful times are yet to come. It is one week on tuesday until I can start to put a little weight on my operated leg which I am looking forward to.

I am slightly perplexed as to how much weight I should be trying at first. It sounds like a daft question to ask anybody about this but I have had no guidance about this at all.

I was told not to weightbear for 6 weeks, to imagine I was walking on an egg but I have no idea which particular food to imagine when I start to put a little weight down.lol.

I have a good supply of painrelief at the ready. I haven't needed many at all for the past week or so but will not be skimping on them when I finally get a move on, something I have learned on here thankfully.

Thanks for your concern

Ann

 

[beesquare]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Hi Ann, welcome to this amazing site. You're doing really well and sound like you're being very sensible. Look on it as an opportunity to chill out for a few weeks as soon enough you'll be back to your usual busy self! You'll find it very interesting to read from the posts here how much ideas differ even in UK hospitals about post op physio. My hospital doesn't believe in it and only advocates walking whereas others seem to do quite a lot of exercise programmes. Main thing is though we all seem to get the outcome we'd hoped for!
Happy healing
Anne :wink1:

 

[Anniepops]

Re: Hiya newbie here.

Thanks Anne, yes the different approaches to recovery are very interesting depending on where you live.

Ive been told physio isn't usually offered so I will just have to wait and see whether I will be offered any later on.

If I think I will need some I won't hesitate to ask though cos 'Shy bairns get nowt' as we say up here.hehe.

Did you find walking was enough for you?

Take care.

Ann