Become an Insider

THR Finished one week

Thank you Leejaa - I definitely would not change the ibuprofen based on anyone else's use; the hospital notes tell me how much to take but I was just curious how much other people consider effective. At this moment, middle of the day, I feel great. If the nighttime episodes keep up I am definitely going to talk with my Doctor. I might discuss Tramadol which I found much less intense than the Oxi.
 
Sorry I'm late getting back to you. I used an icing machine, it is a cooler with a pump that pumps ice water through a pad. I was given it at the hospital and could keep it to take home with me. I was able to keep it on 24 hrs. a day if I wanted and did for the first few days. I could move the pad to wherever I wanted following wherever the pain,swelling or bruising was. I really didn't have bruising and little swelling which I attribute to the icing.
 
Update: I mentioned earlier that I had serious back issues. It seems to have developed several days after surgery. My hip feels fine but my back was aching and at times getting up in the night was excruciating. I remember the same feeling the first time PT had me get into a car. I went to the Doctor and they took x rays and everything is fine per the x rays. I am only at two week mark. I was relieved it was not directly related to anything going wrong with my new hip. I started sleeping on a bed that is a little firmer and it seems to be a little better. The issue is not gone but not as painful getting up in the night. I do not know if it is related to the firmer bed or things are just adjusting and getting better anyway. Now getting out of bed in the night is not bad but getting back in is still very painful. Pulling my leg up onto the bed is horrible pain but does subside within a minute. I just thought of this but I think I will try using my had to lift the leg up and maybe that will make it easier. It must be muscle related and evidently due to walking with a limp, the surgery in general and the adjustments that are now taking place. Back pain can be extremely painful anyway. One article I read said it can occur due to muscle weakness on one side since for a long time I had been compensating. Any comments about others experience will be great but I wanted to share this anyway. Thank you all .
 
@Michael1000 I have chronic lumbar spine pain and my LTHR really aggravated it. The sciatic pain kicked in big time about the second day out.

You are carrying yourself differently now and your body is adjusting to this difference. And yes, the op side may have atrophied as you tried to stay off that sore hip. A good mattress is very important as is using any walking aid correctly. Be sure it is adjusted to the correct height so that you are walking standing straight, not leaning in any direction.

I also found a heating pad on my lower back helped. And if you are back sleeping, a small pillow under your knees eases pressure on your back.

Good luck with getting this sorted. Back pain is a real bear!
 
Thank you Jaycey........... I felt better knowing it was not directly related to anything going wrong with my new hip but I also feel much better knowing that it is not that unexpected and others have recovered from it. Interesting too, because I did notice that I am walking a little forward because my lower back is so tight. I did try briefly the heating pad and based on your experience and suggestion I think I will try the heat before walking.....maybe loosen it up and then concentrate on walking straight. I will keep you posted...thanks again :)
 
Hello and Update:

I was going to reply to other posts I have been reading but thought I could cover it all on my own post. I am about 3 1/2 weeks post op. I assume it is normal to suddenly feel a slight pain or sensation that I have not previously felt. The Doctor implied to me that we typically feel pain in only one area at a time so I think when pain from my back eases, I suddenly feel my thigh or another part.
Overall, however, it has not been much pain. I am only on two ibuprofen twice a day and I seem fine.

I mentioned before I have had some back pain but after sleeping on a newer mattress and / or that things are settling down, the back pain has gotten a lot better (still there though).

My Doctor did not recommend PT at all. On the second week check up, they did recommend two stretches and three easy exercises. I have read that many Doctors are now taking that approach because PTs were tending to push the patient too much, and a valid point made on this website, - the hips needs time to heal and some walking.

I have never had the Doctor or anyone else tell me to massage the wound (reference to post on @rkoldschool@com post recovery.)

I walked today for 1.2 miles. Still using my walker but mostly for balance and psychological as well as pain from back. I fell in the house several months before surgery. It happens fast and of course unexpected so it has left me wary as of right now. As my balance gets better (legs now same length) I am sure I will be on my own soon :).

As many things as they mention at the hospital, etc. no one had ever mentioned black and blue.......except here. Fortunately, people talked about it and shared pictures so it eased a lot of anxiety for me. Since then, my black and blue is gone.

One final........ I know we are all mature enough to deal with this but regarding the constipation in the beginning: I think it is accurate to say the the three most important things for a healthy bowel movement are: water, fiber and moving around. I think the best thing for fiber is a cereal called Fiber One. If you look at the carton you will see the large amount of fiber. My regular Doctor told be about it a long time ago. You might want to start with a half a cup or maybe cup and add more in the afternoon and follow up for a couple of days. The results are very satisfying :)
 
It’s normal to feel pain or discomfort here and there at only three and a half weeks post op.
it does seem like pain moves around. When you finally stop being concerned with one pain, something starts bothering you elsewhere, which I’m sure you've noticed. I wouldn’t pay much attention unless it’s unrelenting or escalating. Continue to ice and use pain meds as needed.

You‘re right, many more OS’s aren‘t recommending post op PT. No one advised me to massage my incision either. I attended three PT sessions before I quit and the PT massaged my incision area once. I never did afterward and it healed fine.

Good to hear your bruising is gone. You sound like you’re making good progress. Keep it up and enjoy the week!
@Michael1000
 
Good update, happy to hear the back pain is letting up some. It is crazy how the pain seems to jump around though. I'm like Layla, did some PT, she massaged my thigh a little but not every time. And once I quit going I never really massaged it myself.

I am so glad that I had found this forum before my surgery as I learned so much about what to expect. It kind of amazes me how little the folks at the OS office and hospital actually told me.
 
A very good update! Glad to hear that your back pain is easing.
I am a big fan of chiropractic adjustments and have one that I've seen for several years and trust to be cautious and gentle with my recent THR.. she was super helpful for my back.
I'm not sure I would have gone to one if I hadn't a relationship prior to my surgery. But wanted to bring it up in case you too, are a fan of chiropractic.

Glad you are doing so well and love your practical approach to your healing.
 
As always....Thank you all very much. This is the best site and I will definitely recommend it to anyone I know that is considering a joint replacement.
 
I am now on 4th week. Most of the swelling is gone down except some still in my feet and my calf (on operative side) still has an odd sense to it when touching it, but does not look swollen. I plan to continue to elevate my leg at times. Based on other's experience I am wondering if icing would still play a role and if so, where would I ice? Still ice right on the wound area. The skin there is tight but does not seem swollen (although maybe it still is and just looks normal to me now :) ) Thanks.....
 
Ice will be your friend for several more months, I still ice occasionally if I have been really active or have any discomfort. Ice anywhere you have pain or discomfort and make sure it's for 40-60 minutes.:ice:
 
Thank you; I am not really in any pain, that is why I am not sure where to ice. I can't reach my ankle yet, but I might wrap an ice pack onto my leg and see if that helps with the swelling lower down. My pain right now is in my lower back so I have been putting heat to it.
 
Yep, I was heating my lower back, and icing although no visible sign of swelling just felt good...incision site, outer hip bone...just wherever.
It's going to keep getting better my friend.
 
Last edited:
Happy Saturday @Michael1000
Heat this part, Ice that part. The crazy days of early recovery. I’ll bet the next month brings progress you’ll enjoy and hopefully less pain and swelling also. Hang in there, you’re doing great!
I hope your weekend is a good one! :SUNsmile:
 
Happy One Month Anniversary!
I hope your back is feeling better and you had a nice weekend.
Wishing you a peaceful evening and great September! :)
@Michael1000
 
Glad to hear your back is doing better. I suspect (and I'm not a medical professional, just someone with a messed up skeleton) that it was due to your body adjusting to the new hip and your new way of balancing things. Isn't it scary how we get one thing fixed, but several others chime in and freak us out because of this change?
 
:wave: Happy Two Month Anniversary, Michael!
How are you doing? We’d love to read an update on your progress if you have time to share one. Hopefully all is well and you’re feeling stronger and steadier week by week.
Hope to hear from you soon!
@Michael1000
 
Hi Layla and all
Thank you for checking in with me.
I am doing great. I am walking three miles a day.
I did have a little upset about week 4. I chipped a tooth. I was very freaked out because most of the material said to wait at least three months and preferably six months before doing any dental work. Of course, we have to do what we have to do. I noticed on this site there was, as usual, some comforting advice as well as the link to the study that somewhat challenged the fear of the Dentist in regards to joint replacement. My understanding from my own Doctor is that the recommendation is valid but some of the statistics are not always solid and it does seem reasonable to dispute some of it. He certainly didn't feel like there was any need to panic. My Dentist was very reassuring. He said the caution applies to any surgery and probably more so to heart surgery than to joint surgery. As it turned out, he (Dentist) said the root was not exposed so I could live with the chipped tooth until the three month (or maybe longer) if that made me feel more comfortable.....which I opted to do.
As always, this site was very helpful. I also really enjoyed the seminar a couple of weeks ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Staff online

  • benne68
    benne68
    Staff member since February 4, 2022

Members online

Total: 2,710 (members: 2, guests: 2,708)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom