THR Finally! Left Hip Anterior Recovery

[Sockeyewillie]

Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery.

 

[Layla]

Best Wishes tomorrow!
Hope to see you back here with an update once you’re feeling up to it!
@tanvat

 

[cold_brew]

Good luck, hope R goes as well as L!

 

[Mojo333]

All the best today
@tanvat
Last One and Done!

 

[tanvat]

Thank you all for the well wishes. Better yet, I think they worked! It may be Fool’s Gold, but 12 hours ago I was in the middle of surgery, and now I feel … pretty darn good. Pain controlled by meds. No noticeable swelling yet. But I’m assuming that will change starting tomorrow and in the ensuing days - two sure things: getting more “mature” every day and post-THR swelling, right?. What I’m most surprised about is the fact that, with my walker, I can walk smoothly with a decent gait and pace. And I can transition to certain necessarily activities pretty easily - again several days ahead of last time. I know - all subject to quick reversal - but still, way ahead of last time and last time was better than what had expected going in. As with my left THR - still in early recovery at 7 weeks - the plan is to move with comfort just a little bit more every week. Have avoided ODIC so far, but I know there is always an open invitation- can be hard to resist doing more than I can/should when feeling pretty good on a beautiful day.

I’ll post some updates - the good band bad - with hopes of sharing an actual post-THR experience. I found those types of updates on this board to very helpful in setting the range of my expectations from
relatively easy to fairly challenging. I think it’s important to understand prior to THR that there is a somewhat unpredictable range of post-surgery challenges. I think it’s important to recognize that reality to be realistically optimistic and steel yourself for the temporary challenges which are in the most cases a prelude to recovery; to a spot substantially better than before THR.

Thanks again, and best wishes to everyone in recovery.

 

[Layla]

Great update! I hope it's smooth sailing for you.
Two new hips and a bright future ahead.
@tanvat

 

[Mojo333]

Last One... now the journey back to healthy and happy.

 

[tanvat]

Day One: interesting how different the same surgery in the same person 7 weeks later can feel so different. Last time, was very tired and felt like 8 got hit by a truck. My operative leg was not very functional. So far, that is not the case this time around.

Last time my quad was sore and tight. This time, it’s not a mass of soreness, it’s localized pain in my mid-thigh a couple inches below the incision, but just when I stand. And it’s more than discomfort, it’s a localized, slicing pain- like a cut - imagine that! But I’d rather have the localized pain than the larger area of soreness and a log leg. And the localized pain resolves to discomfort after moving for a couple minutes. I suppose the lesson is - like I learned on this board - recovery is different every time. Of course, I only have a 24 hour sample this time and things could go downhill fast - or not. The surgeon said these could last 40’years … lots of contingencies in that statement, but at age 49, I sure hope that is the case. A comfortable and reasonably active back 9 would be nice.

 

[tanvat]

So, about that Fool’s Gold….. Question: have any of you experienced a fairly rapid transition on Day1 from basically no pain to a burning pain ( not just discomfort) down the fri t if the thigh? Last time so had soreness and tightness. Over the course of today, mild soreness has turned to a sharp, burning pain with any activation of the thigh. And in the last hour or so it’s starting even as I lay back in my recliner - which is where I’ve spent most of the time since I got home yesterday- not an overdose it issue as I haven’t went more than 30 feet on the lower level- no stairs. I assume it’s just soft tissue trauma, but the burning, slicing pain seems like more than a muscle strain. I assume whatever it is will resolve, annyone have a similar experience.

 

[Scaredykat]

@tanvat
I’m 10 days out from my second anterior hip replacement within 6 weeks of each other. My pain this time around has been different from the first as well. I have had more sharp/stabbing pain when getting out of recliner and standing up right below incision/mid thigh area . Seems to lighten up once I’m up moving around. After about a week it started getting better and not really having it anymore now. Not so sure I made the right decision to do them so close together… my poor LTHR has had to get extra tough real quick! That hip was still trying to recover Actually probably the best therapy for it anyway and in the long run I know I’ll be glad that I did get them over with and can enjoy at least half of summer!! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[tanvat]

Thanks for the feedback! I assume mine will resolve but it is so completely different than then left THR 7 weeks ago. My new right THR is also anterior. Gotta get up now - yikes, steel myself for it….

 

[Jaycey]

@tanvat Are you taking your pain medication as prescribed, around the clock? Icing and elevating? Soft tissues are very angry and all this needs to settle. Your surgeon may have had to work more aggressively during this THR. Rest as much as you can for now.

 

[Mojo333]

Yes, I had burning...came to the forum rather frantic, and that strange searing pain morphed into electric zips and zaps. Fleeting but disconcerting!

Normal...at least for me.
Hope it eases soon!

 

[tanvat]

Layla, yes, taking oxycodone on 4-hour increments. The level of pain when engaging the leg precludes any moving about save that which is strictly necessary. It’s a grit the teeth situation for sure. Helps to hold myself up with the walker and not bear weight in the right leg. Takiing one oxycodone and then two fours later, then one, etc - way more than last time. Rest is the only antidote, so when I’m in the recliner (all the time except restroom) with the wedge pillow and ice it does not hurt. But any movement is a whole different level than last time - sharp, burning pain - guess that is my let’s say if saying stay out. Interestingly, I feel better overall this time as opposed to last - less fatigue and less of a beat up feeling. Just that pretty severe leg pain when I have to move. Oh well, as long as it’s not nerve damage- unlikely and itnwill almost certainly resolve over time.

 

[tanvat]

Mojo,

I read your early reports from your bilateral THR - that burning you experienced is probably like what I have. It’ll pass - and considering what the surgery entails, probably getting off easy even with the temporary burning. Thanks for the information.

 

[cold_brew]

Not sure if the same thing, but for a week or two (need to go check my notes) after the surgery I would get a pretty intense burning in my quads if I straightened my leg fully. It slowly faded away to 0 on its own.

 

[LeftKath]

Hi Tanvat,
I had an anterior THR on the right in September followed by an anterior THR on the left on May 26. My surgeon pointed out to me at my preop appt that hips are like children, can't count on the second one being the same as the first. True for me...
And isn't it great finally have both done!
Take Care

 

[cold_brew]

Yeah I went back and checked my thread here and it looks like that quad burn was gone after about 3 weeks

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary, Lefty!
Early days still for, Righty, but just think how great you'll feel with a few more months of recovery under your belt.
Happy Days are on the way!
@tanvat

 

[tanvat]

Quick update: anterior right THR on April 13 of this year followed by an anterior left THR on June 1. Recovery has been great. The only issue is some mild, lingering iliopsosas irritation, but it’s not a big deal. I’m not in a marching band, so fact my right leg barks if I try to raise my knee above my waist is no functional limitation for me. Overall, the pre-op vs. post-op difference is night and day. I think it is unrealistic to expect THR turn back the clock to a pre-arthritic state when we were younger. It seems to me there will always be some ache, irritation, or other little reminder that what you have now is the next best thing to the real thing. And look at alternative- I’ll take some minor limitations going forward over persistent pain and substantial limitation. If you go into THR in the best shape you can be in your circumstances and have a realistic, global set of expectations of being better off overall than you were before, then THR will very likely be satisfactory in the months following surgery. It won’t be if you focus on every little ache, discomfort, or reminder of the major, miraculous surgery you underwent. Take a big picture view, pick an experienced, good surgeon, and do it. You’ll very likely get your full life back. I did, and so can you.