THR Got back on the horse

[DEL2023Jan-34]

I'm almost 8 weeks out (posterior right) and have had a fantastic recovery. I did not follow the stance of ice, rest, and walk. I just got back on the horse, figuratively, and started riding.

- I did things that minimized pain (never used opioids) and reduced bruising & swelling which allowed me to start rehabing quicker than most.
- I live alone and took care of myself like almost normal = cooked, cleaned/laundry, took care of the furs except a neighbor picked up the yard. Note: I think everyone needs to have someone to stay with them for the first few days in case of what ifs.
- I was never homebound. I used uber to go places (stores, restaurants, met friends) and dragged my walker around.
- Started working part-time on the 5th day and full time the following week (work from home job).
- PT had me stop using the walker and cane at less than 2 weeks. I met the requirements to drive just under 3 weeks. I used walking sticks for longer walks which were "taken away" at 6 weeks to focus on proper gait.
- I think physical therapy is vital. Solely walking will repair the muscles but it's not going to restore what we have lost. I'm no where near the level I'd like to be at.
- I have a can attitude which also helps. My PCP called me a "trooper" and a friend calls me a "do-er". I don't push myself beyond limits but I'm also not timid about moving forward. I maintained restrictions, only accidentally breaking them a handful of times, until the 6 week anniversary.
- It hasn't been perfect. The worst has been battling with low iron.

I recognize I'm super fortunate that I have felt fine, didn't experience issues with pain, no troubles with movements (getting in/out of a car, getting leg on the bed, pain sitting or standing) and haven't had set backs.

 

[Rebelguy]

Awesome story. It is especially good for people who are on the fence about having it done. My two hip recoveries were similar to yours.

One thing I have realized with my hips and talking to others is that you need to listen to your body. I go to the gym daily now and am barely 6 weeks out, but if I do something that leads to pain the next day. I take it easy and try something else next time.

No two recoveries are the same (my right one hurt!) just as no two people (age, health, fitness) are the same. Glad yours is going so well. Wish you the best!

 

[Gloucestergal65]

Wow! An impressive story. I’m at the same point time wise but much more anxious I think about the what ifs. Just beginning to challenge myself a bit more to see where that goes. Good to read positive stories. Thank you.

 

[DEL2023Jan-34]

@Rebelguy The post op me is very different than pre-op me. At 2 weeks pre-op, I had positive vibes and was "ready" to get surgery over with and see the recovery side. 3 weeks pre-op, I had my last pre-op OS appt and approval to proceed which helped lighten things up.
For the 2 months prior to that, way too stressed about it; unhealthy & irrational stress about it. I knew it at the time but I couldn't get out of that thought pattern.

 

[DEL2023Jan-34]

@Gloucestergal65 I think a lot has to do with living alone and working from home (not a covid thing). I never want to experience those dark early days of covid when I sheltered in place alone, again! So it's normal for me to get out and about. And then living alone, either I'm going to do it or it's not going to happen. So I figured out a way to do most everything without breaking restrictions.

At 5 weeks one of the furs was naughty and I instinctively reached down and grabbed her off the floor in a super quick motion. Since I didn't dislocate with that, I lost most of my apprehension about movements (HA HA HA). At my 6w follow-op the surgeon confirmed "you have no restrictions because there is negligible chance of a complication now".

I completely understand how that apprehension occurs.

 

[Layla]

Please share the exact date of your surgery and which hip was replaced so we're able to create a signature for you.

While your recovery is not completely unusual, it is not common. What you're doing will not work for everyone. We all arrive in need of joint replacement because a part of our anatomy was broken and in need of repair. We made the decision to schedule major surgery with the hope of a brighter future. We undergo surgery at different ages, many with pre-existing conditions, weight issues, some suffering for much longer than others. There are many members that recover alone without extra help or emotional support. There are many variables.

I did things that minimized pain

Ice does minimize pain and swelling for most, restorative rest is necessary for healing after the controlled trauma of major surgery and walking is encouraged, just not to excess initially. What is it that you did to minimize pain? There are those that don't take opioids, or only take a few and they're done. Some need them for a longer period of time. Our pain thresholds differ.

I live alone and took care of myself like almost normal = cooked, cleaned/laundry, took care of the furs except a neighbor picked up the yard. Note: I think everyone needs to have someone to stay with them for the first few days in case of what ifs.

Amazingly, there are many that are able to take care of themselves from the beginning only having a friend or neighbor checking in on them daily for the first week or two. They prepare ahead of time by freezing meals, figure out inventive ways to carry and do laundry, using a grabber or other assistive devices, also caring for pets with the aid of helpful tips from those that have healed before them.

I haven't heard of anyone being home bound, but only by choice because they felt physically drained after surgery without a desire to shop or socialize. Instead choosing to invite friends or family into their homes for a visit, or a meal until they had a desire to get out again.

You're not alone in returning to work from home early on. Many have the ability to ease back into work from home at their own pace. Others have the luxury of twelve weeks off to rest, heal and go back feeling rested and refreshed.

There is no shame in using assistive devices for as long as they are needed, but certainly you are not alone in not needing them beyond a couple weeks. My 80 year old mother is a perfect example walking unassisted at 11 days after her THR. She maintained the cane and walker got in her way, lol.

I was told I could drive at two weeks post op as long as I was off heavy narcotics, which I was, but chose to wait until I was four weeks post op, just because I didn't have a burning desire to go anywhere. Being released to drive at three weeks is very common as long as you can hit the brake and are off the heavy drugs.

I don't agree that physical therapy is vital. It is a personal choice. There are unending stories here of those that recovered completely without ever engaging in physical therapy.
It is not necessary to exercise your injured hip to promote healing. The controlled trauma sustained through THR will heal on its own. Often though, we're impatient and want to move the process along. In doing so we run the risk of struggling with pain and setbacks stalling the healing process. The best therapy for recovery is walking, but not to excess.

In my opinion, anyone who agrees to surgery is a trooper. You're signing up to be put under anesthesia, entrusting your life to your surgeon, anesthesiologist and all of the medical professionals who's care you are under, with no guarantees! If that's not a trooper, I don't know what is. We're all "doers". If we weren't doers we'd never progress and we all do progress.

I think everyone can get in and out of a car, given that's how we all get home either the same day of surgery, or the day after. We all also have the ability to get in and out of bed to sleep.

Fortunately not everyone suffers setbacks, but zero pain is very unusual since your flesh was sliced, bone sawed and reamed out, tendons, muscle and soft tissue manipulated and disturbed, then you were sewed up or stapled. Again, everyone has a different pain threshold, but I don't know of anyone who sustains that type of injury, albeit controlled, without suffering pain. In that, and that alone, you are an anomaly.

At two months post op, you're doing great. All the best as you continue on your healing journey!

 

[PolarIce]

Great to see this post! I was back on our horses at 3 months when I got cleared by my surgeon. Be careful and dont overdo it!

 

[Divipops]

You sound as if you are having an amazing recovery. Only wish I could get back on my horse ha ha, after two and a half years still struggling. I didn't have hip replacement had a screw and rod inserted after a nasty fall, I have now been told the problem with my mobility is nerve damage as my knee just buckles under me with no warning and still have pain and weakness in my thigh muscle. When I have spoken to PT about hearing about other people's recovery after having THR and they are doing so well all that he says is because mine was a trauma injury totally different to having a planned replacement. Before this fall I was very active swimming, cycling, ballroom dancing, fell walking, badminton most of these now are just a memory don't think I will ever get back to them. But on the plus side at least I am mobile and able to get out. Chin up x

 

[PolarIce]

@Divipops Love your positive attitude. Give it time, if you had a lot more trauma than most people go through, be kind to yourself and give yourself time and remember the baby steps in these types of injuries are huge in the positive progress one makes. Your positive attitude will help you stay on track of finding all the baby steps. You've got this.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Sounds like an amazing recovery.
congrats.

 

[Charlie33]

Great to hear you are doing well. On PT being vital: PT is something some here value, while others have done fine without it. In the worst case some have had setbacks due to ‘bad PT’.

What worked so well for you in PT? Exercise, massage, dry needling, or some combo?

 

[Abbylayla]

These hips are really something. I'm a little over 3 months out and I rarely think about the hip. There are times I get a little over zealous and it will twinge or get a little sore but that's pretty few & far between. Hips are nothing like knee replacement. Even though my knee does what it's supposed to and I do forget about it sometimes, it always reminds me at some point. Hip? Nope. Never know it's not the healthy hip I was born with. I've got to get the other one done at some point. I dread it. But looking forward to hopefully the same results

 

[DEL2023Jan-34]

I put a lot of work into my recovery more than only ice/rest/walk. Almost all of it is accessible to everyone.
Many of the things that happened with me are not unusual.

- Ice does reduce pain and it's an anti-inflammatory. Inflammation promotes healing. Because of that I did not use anti-inflammatories. This is just one of many things I did (or in this case didn't do) that may help with recovery.

- Our pain tolerances do differ and very much know that I'm fortunate that I didn't have much pain. That said. I assume this occurred because of other things I did, not because I have some amazing pain threshold.

- Being able to return to work quickly was a luxury for me. Hopefully, people can take take off as much time as they need. And if some take 12 weeks, my hope is that they aren't doing it because they are physically unable to work the majority of this time.

- If people aren't going to physical therapy:
who is working on muscle relaxation? In almost all cases, NO ONE. How often do you hear "the thigh on my other leg hurts" = yes, because it's tighter than a rubber band doing so much extra work, go get some PT.
how are you rebuilding what you lost during the months/years leading up to surgery and what surgery took from you? That doesn't get rebuilt from walking. We need activities that focus on the core.
For those of us that have muscles cut and muscles/tendons removed &reattached we need activities and manipulation that breaks down the scar tissue that is created. Physical therapy is vital!

 

[DEL2023Jan-34]

@Divipops There is a lot that I am thankful for through this process. One of the things I've learned is how the difference between planned surgery and injury can be. I'm sorry you are going through this! Have you heard of a technique called Strain Counterstrain? Check out gadibody.com. He really helped someone I know with nerve issues! He has a book, videos, etc.

 

[DEL2023Jan-34]

@Charlie33 I think everyone will be "fine" without PT. I think PT helps make us the best we can be.
I'm not yet w months out. I have a L O N G way to go.

Professional assessment/monitoring = telling you / showing you what is really going on. I had no idea my gait was off.
Massage = If home PT hadn't worked my super tight muscles. My pain level would have been greater and my mobility less. My story could be very different. Now the therapist works at scar tissue reduction and fascia stretching.
Core strength = almost everything we do focuses on rebuilding my lost core strength (exercises). I didn't know I was so WEAK. Some of it was lost pre-surgery and some with the brutality of surgery. Regardless of approach, you are going to have reduced core capabilities and this needs to be rebuilt.

 

[Divipops]

@Divipops Love your positive attitude. Give it time, if you had a lot more trauma than most people go through, be kind to yourself and give yourself time and remember the baby steps in these types of injuries are huge in the positive progress one makes. Your positive attitude will help you stay on track of finding all the baby steps. You've got this.

I always try to stay positive, thing is I can't change what has happened so chin up and be thankful at least I can walk (like a penguin as my grandson says ha ha). I had breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy couple of years ago and the doctor said the osteoporosis that I have been diagnosed with could have a link to the type of breast cancer I had. I am just so grateful to still be here x

 

[Charlie33]

Professional assessment/monitoring = telling you / showing you what is really going on. I had no idea my gait was off.
Massage = If home PT hadn't worked my super tight muscles. My pain level would have been greater and my mobility less. My story could be very different. Now the therapist works at scar tissue reduction and fascia stretching

Great answer because it hit many dimensions that are important. Sadly it’s hard for many to find a good PT and people often get ‘here is a sheet of exercises go play on traffic’or get their leg ripped off with bad stretching.

I think the bad PT experiences stem from a professional model which encourages patient churn versus consistent focused care.

 

[DEL2023Jan-34]

@Charlie33 I 100% agree. Can be difficult to find quality PT. The PT mill philosophy. Patients not interviewing the therapist; that's if they have a choice of therapists. People not advocating for themselves - either too hard / too easy / not speaking up when something doesn't feel right.

 

[Jamie]

Check out gadibody.com. He really helped someone I know with nerve issues! He has a book, videos, etc.

I took a look at this website and it is basically the Pressure Point or Trigger Point Massage therapy we do recommend when people are experiencing post op pain due to muscle tightness or spasm. It should be done by a trained therapist and can be very beneficial when done properly. You can find out if there are therapists to consult by calling clinics near you and ask if they have staff trained in Trigger Point Massage. No need to purchase books or videos.....just find a good therapist and get an order from either your surgeon or your GP to give it a try.

 

[DEL2023Jan-34]

@Jamie
Strain Counter Strain and Trigger Point Therapy are not the same thing. There is information online about the differences, if you are interested in learning more.
The videos from gadibody are free
Since most of us don't have easy access to someone trained in Strain Counterstrain, the book is a way to get more information and learn techniques, if interested.