Tlew67
new member
After suffering for several years with hip pain I finally went to the doctor about it. I have issues with both hips but my right hip was the worse. I’m an active 54 year old healthy lifestyle man and not overweight. I work a physically demanding job, I’m a self employed auto mechanic.
I went to the doctor this past July to focus on the right hip pain. My usual orthopedic doctor moved so I went to a doctor I’d never been to before at the same clinic. He recommended a THR on the right hip. I was reluctant to get it done but after having many friends and customers that I know that have had hip replacements recommend doing it I went forward. Out of about 20 people I talked to all said they were very satisfied and had immediate pain relief and wish they hadn’t waited. They told me they were walking fine in just a few days and didn’t need pain meds for more than 2 or 3 days.
I scheduled the surgery, went to the joint class and felt more at ease about it. I had my surgery on December 6th 2021. When I came out of surgery I was in intense pain even with the pain block. Anyway I was released the same day.
The first week was pure hell, worst pain I’ve ever had. I called the doctors nurse and talked to her because of the unreal amount of pain I was in. She said I had a tight hip joint and that the doctor had a difficult time getting my femur to pop out and he had to cut away a lot of scar tissue.
The next week wasn’t much better but in home PT came and got me moving more. By the 3rd session I was feeling I was making progress until a different therapist came to the house and had me walk with a cane. I wasn’t ready, it was excruciating pain and it set me back a week.
I went through Christmas and the new year with marginal improvements. I’m doing out patient therapy now but still have a lot of pain.
I went to my 6 week post op appointment with my Dr. last Tuesday and explained my pain. The pain is sharp groin pain that radiates down my thigh when standing. It’s not constant but it’s unpredictable. I can get out of bed and be able to put my weight on the leg and walk with a cane most mornings. I’ll fix my breakfast and sit and eat. When I stand up it’s like being stabbed with a dagger down my thigh and I’m unable to walk unless it with my walker. Most of the time it’ll calm down enough that I can walk with a cane until the next time I sit and the pain is on as soon as I stand. On occasion it’s tolerable but most of the time it’s not.
I’m now 7 1/2 weeks post op and still use a walker most of the time. The doctor didn’t give me any answers. My wife asked him if this is normal and he said no but it’s not unheard of. He said just keep taking the pain meds and to come back in 6 weeks and we’ll revisit it.
I’m trying to keep a positive attitude about this but as the days go by with little progress I’m starting to feel some depression. I don’t like the opiates because they make me weepy and depressed and I don’t want to deal with having to come off of them after taking them for so long.
I’m sorry for the long post I’m just looking for some encouragement and some answers. I’m hoping that someone will have had a similar experience and will say that its going to get better soon. It’s been tough being off this long with no income and now I’m wondering if I’m even going to be able to go back to full time anytime soon. Thanks for any and all help.
I went to the doctor this past July to focus on the right hip pain. My usual orthopedic doctor moved so I went to a doctor I’d never been to before at the same clinic. He recommended a THR on the right hip. I was reluctant to get it done but after having many friends and customers that I know that have had hip replacements recommend doing it I went forward. Out of about 20 people I talked to all said they were very satisfied and had immediate pain relief and wish they hadn’t waited. They told me they were walking fine in just a few days and didn’t need pain meds for more than 2 or 3 days.
I scheduled the surgery, went to the joint class and felt more at ease about it. I had my surgery on December 6th 2021. When I came out of surgery I was in intense pain even with the pain block. Anyway I was released the same day.
The first week was pure hell, worst pain I’ve ever had. I called the doctors nurse and talked to her because of the unreal amount of pain I was in. She said I had a tight hip joint and that the doctor had a difficult time getting my femur to pop out and he had to cut away a lot of scar tissue.
The next week wasn’t much better but in home PT came and got me moving more. By the 3rd session I was feeling I was making progress until a different therapist came to the house and had me walk with a cane. I wasn’t ready, it was excruciating pain and it set me back a week.
I went through Christmas and the new year with marginal improvements. I’m doing out patient therapy now but still have a lot of pain.
I went to my 6 week post op appointment with my Dr. last Tuesday and explained my pain. The pain is sharp groin pain that radiates down my thigh when standing. It’s not constant but it’s unpredictable. I can get out of bed and be able to put my weight on the leg and walk with a cane most mornings. I’ll fix my breakfast and sit and eat. When I stand up it’s like being stabbed with a dagger down my thigh and I’m unable to walk unless it with my walker. Most of the time it’ll calm down enough that I can walk with a cane until the next time I sit and the pain is on as soon as I stand. On occasion it’s tolerable but most of the time it’s not.
I’m now 7 1/2 weeks post op and still use a walker most of the time. The doctor didn’t give me any answers. My wife asked him if this is normal and he said no but it’s not unheard of. He said just keep taking the pain meds and to come back in 6 weeks and we’ll revisit it.
I’m trying to keep a positive attitude about this but as the days go by with little progress I’m starting to feel some depression. I don’t like the opiates because they make me weepy and depressed and I don’t want to deal with having to come off of them after taking them for so long.
I’m sorry for the long post I’m just looking for some encouragement and some answers. I’m hoping that someone will have had a similar experience and will say that its going to get better soon. It’s been tough being off this long with no income and now I’m wondering if I’m even going to be able to go back to full time anytime soon. Thanks for any and all help.
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