Day 16 ....when does the pain ease ?

[janpalmer]

Hello,
I'm 52 and have had 12 years of arthritis that became intolerable and so I opted for a double THR.
I'm now on day 16 post op'.
I had a metal on metal hip replacement.
I need two so when I'm fit enough the second will be fitted asap. My surgeon seems disappointed that I'm not very active at this stage. He initially wanted to do the second surgery within two weeks of the first.

I am getting about on a zimmer, but the pain is really severe still and each day I get so despondent that there seems to be no let up.
I can weight bear on my hip, but below the knee on the outside the leg muscles are so painful that the knee won't let me walk.
I am taking loads of painkillers but they are of little help.
Can anyone help or advise me ?
Is this normal?
Will I be OK ?
What can I do to make better/swifter progress ?
My surgeon wants to see me on just a cane within the next few days, an I'm terrified I may fall.
Jan

 

[Josephine]

First thing is, don't panic and get stressed out. Sometimes these things take time to settle and there could be numerous reasons for your pain. But I need a bit more information

1. has the pain been consistent since your op?
2. What kind if incision did you have? Front, back, side?
3. describe the type of pain and where it occurs
4. what pain killers are you taking and how often do you take them
5. how active are you? what kind of physiotherapy or exercises are you doing?

 

[Josephine]

Oh yes - and a big welcome to BoneSmart! I think you're our first member from India!

 

[Jamie]

Hi Jan, welcome to BoneSmart. We're glad you found our forum. Our forum nurse, Josephine (who posted above), has decades of experience in orthopedics and joint replacement. I hope you can provide more information and I'm sure she will have some sterling advice for you.

We have a very caring family of members here on BoneSmart who are ready to chat and provide support for you any time. Please don't hesitate to post whenever you need us .... or just to talk!

You may notice that I moved your thread to a different forum. It better fits here in the hip recovery forum. You'll get more responses from fellow "hippies" here.

Best of luck to you and we are glad you joined us!

 

[Judles]

Hi Jan from India from Judi from New York! Positive vibes are coming your way so you will be on your way to a more pain free recovery! You're NEVER alone here!!! Healing takes TIME!!! Just take it easy and don't expect so much from yourself! (0)

 

[Nan]

My total hip was may11 09
The dr. still has me on a cane and i do need it

 

[JudyS]

Welcome Jan and Nan,
I'm sure when you get Jo the info she needs she can help you a lot. I had my right hip replaced last year. It was pretty painful at first although my doc kept me comfortable.
I do remember for the first 2 weeks I did not leave the house,.lots of rest, my exercises and more rest.
hope you feel better soon
judy

 

[srikrocks]

Hey Jo i am also from india. :evil:

I am 23 and had a bilateral THR. So dont get worried.
The pain is really different in different persons. unless u feel its alarming u need not worry. Because of ur arthritis for 12 years you might not have used your hip muscles as other persons do. so they are definitely weak. so it might take some more time for you than what others experience. same was with me. i had avascular necrosis for 3 years. the doc said muscles were weak. so let the time do its job.

 

[Texas]

Hey Jan Im a knee but i hope your feeling a lil better...........I hope everyone that is going thru this feels better hang in there it will get a lil easier..........Wow all the way from India welcome both of ya !!!!!!!!!!!!!!............)....Honsetly mine got better at yea about 1 mths I noticed the difference.............

 

[janpalmer]

First thing is, don't panic and get stressed out. Sometimes these things take time to settle and there could be numerous reasons for your pain. But I need a bit more information

1. has the pain been consistent since your op?
2. What kind if incision did you have? Front, back, side?
3. describe the type of pain and where it occurs
4. what pain killers are you taking and how often do you take them
5. how active are you? what kind of physiotherapy or exercises are you doing?

Thanks Josephine,
I'm now on day 23 and things have improved in the last week.
Pain is always there and has been since the surgery, but not now as severe, unless I push hard with the walking and exercising, which my surgeon is urging me to do.
My incision is on the side and not very painful now the staples have been removed.
The hindering pain has been there since the op' and its, beneath the knee and constant despite the painkillers. But it has now diminished in area and is more localized to just beneath and to the outside of the knee.When I raise the leg from a reclining position, as in the physio' exercise, I get a sharp severe pain up through the front thigh which will recede to a dull ache after half an hour or so. If not for this I would be a lot more inclined to walk more as the hip and associated muscle pain is tolerable. I know that things have to settle and heal, and that I need to build up the muscles again.After rest the only pain on standing is from the knee area.
For the last five days I have been walking in the house on a quadruped footed single stick, and applying more weight each day.
Outdoors I still need to use the zimmer as I am fearful of a fall and find using just the stick to be very tiring.
Whilst standing supporting myself with hands on a table,I am attempting to raise the leg backwards with some degree of success but the side raises are just not happening. It's as if my brain to muscle message system isn't working.
Medication :
am 1.25g calcium,100mg diclofenac,PNZ40
lunch 50mg asprin,325mg ultracet
4pm 325mg combiflam
evening 325mg ultracet, 10mg tryptomer
Plus if pain wakes me during sleep I take a proxyvon capsule.
On 1st October I am to have an infusion of Ibandronic Acid which I am to have annually.
I feel that until I have strength and confidence in this leg I cannot have the second new hip, I know we are all very different , but what time scale do you consider "normal" between fist and second ?
Thanking you in anticipation,
Jan

 

[janpalmer]

Hey Jan Im a knee but i hope your feeling a lil better...........I hope everyone that is going thru this feels better hang in there it will get a lil easier..........Wow all the way from India welcome both of ya !!!!!!!!!!!!!!............)....Honsetly mine got better at yea about 1 mths I noticed the difference.............

Thank you so much for your support , I don't feel so "alone" knowing you are all out there.
Yes, India is along way, I came here from UK 2 years ago to work as a volunteer for International Animal Rescue. I can't wait to get fit and pain free and get back to work.
Regards,
Jan

 

[janpalmer]

Hey Jo i am also from india. :evil:

I am 23 and had a bilateral THR. So dont get worried.
The pain is really different in different persons. unless u feel its alarming u need not worry. Because of ur arthritis for 12 years you might not have used your hip muscles as other persons do. so they are definitely weak. so it might take some more time for you than what others experience. same was with me. i had avascular necrosis for 3 years. the doc said muscles were weak. so let the time do its job.

Thank you so much. You are so young to have gone through all this.
I feel your advice about giving myself time to heal is the best, I need the second op' but I won't rush into it.
Where in India are you ?
I am from UK but live in Goa for the past two years and love it here.
Regards,
Jan

 

[Josephine]

Okay - here's my take on what you've told me:

The pain you are describing is a typical IT band inflammation. See more here

And then, for little over 2 weeks, your pain management is woefully inadequate.

Combiflam (which is just acetaminophen and ibuprofen) once a day - is that what you doctor prescribed for you? You need to take it at least four times a day. Or something else like Darvocet-N or Tylenol-3 if that doesn't work. But I'm thinking that even just 4hrly Combiflam will make a great improvement.

I'm also puzzled why you are taking Combiflan and diclofenac. They are both NSAIDs and I'm not sure that's a good idea.

Plus which at only 2 weeks(!) it's still such very early days. You really didn't expect to be up and running any sooner, did you? In fact, you are doing remarkably well and should actually be quite proud. You could also be kinder to yourself. Take more pain meds and try not to knock yourself out with the exercises. Unlike knees, hips do pretty well on their own as a whole.

 

[janpalmer]

Thank you so much Jo..that has really encouraged me.
I had my IT band damaged during UK physio' treatment years ago ?
I shall be proud and do it in my own time...after all it is my cash that's paying for it ! (had to dig into savings as UK wouldn't/coudn't fix me on NHS and I'm not an Indian citizen)

 

[Josephine]

But Combiflam (which is just paracetamol and ibuprofen) once a day - is that what you doctor prescribed for you? Cus it ain't enough, not at this early stage! Speak to your GP and get something like Tramadol for a few weeks (and no, I don't have shares in it!).

 

[rxdawg44]

Pharmacist speaking here-

Your medication does not make sense to me. I can see why an NSAID but not 2. And you seem overlapped medication wise, and also undermedicated for the pain. Take the list to your doctor and make sure they are all supposed to be current.

 

[Josephine]

Oh is that what the Rx is for? Very cute!

I'm glad you said that because that was what I was trying to say. Kinda stupid if you ask me!

 

[janpalmer]

Hey Jan Im a knee but i hope your feeling a lil better...........I hope everyone that is going thru this feels better hang in there it will get a lil easier..........Wow all the way from India welcome both of ya !!!!!!!!!!!!!!............)....Honsetly mine got better at yea about 1 mths I noticed the difference.............

Hi Kim,
Thank you so much. It's just so good to know there are those of you out there that understand.
I've just woken up on day 35, a beautiful morning herein Goa, and have definitely made progress since day 16.
Slowly is the answer, but it's not knowing what is the accepted rate of recovery that gets me down.
My surgeon is always making me feel too slow compared to his past patients, he's a great guy but not too encouraging !
Jan
X

 

[Texas]

We have all been thru it one way or the other.......yes patients i couldnt stand that word.lol....but it is true.......well everyone is different in recovery .........hum has your Dr had his leg chopped on .......bet he would be different as well......its not an easy sugery you will get there just do what you are supposed to............We are always here for ya............Do you know what your ROM is your bending.............but you are swollen................that makes a difference,........hang in there post anytime..............)

 

[janpalmer]

hello it's ten weeks today since my first hip op'. I was scheduled for the second today but received a message yesterday to tell me it had been caancelled due to double booking in the theater, not good for my mental sate as I am dreading the next op' anyway. Surgeon has suggested I maybe have a different type of joint next time , as the metal on metal may have been responsible for my acute post op'pain and relatively slow recovery ???!!! Help please !
Jan