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Help-3 weeks post op

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glitter

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Feb 19, 2009
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I'm so happy to have found this site.
I had a total right hip replacement on Feb 2. Up until 2 days ago everything was smooth PT at home was going well.Pain and swelling were decreasing.
2 days ago I woke up with severe pain in the center of my right buttocks and sharp pains around my groin.

I'm not sure if I over did it or the fact thati statrd sleeping on my stomach and side triggered something Overall my walking has n=been more painful and my hip feels weaker.
Is it normal to develop new pains ans setup backs as the healing moves forward?
 
Hello, glitter, and welcome to BoneSmart.

You can get new pains as the healing progresses and you get started on PT. Muscles will complain and sometimes even go on strike! However, you should not be sleeping on your stomach. Your surgeon will have a hissy fit! He will have given you restrictions about bending and not flexing your hip past 90 degrees and part of those will be that your should sleep on your back for the duration of that period. First you should contact him and get yourself checked over for safety's sake and then have him reiterate his restrictions. Then follow them!! Failing that, at least speak to your PT about it.
 
Glitter
Welcome and I love your name.
First get everything checkout out by your doc. That is what they are there for after surgery.

I had my hip replaced in June and I do remember the 3 week to 4 week mark. I was feeling pretty good and added too much too quickly. One day coming down the stairs I had the most intense pain. It is here as I posted about it. anyway it was worse than anything right after surgery.
Nothing was wrong, I did have my doc check me out. There are definately ups and downs before it is all ups.

Check it out with doc first though!! And don't add too much at a time even when feeling wonderful

Judy
 
Thank you for the response and sorry for all the typos.
I look forward to ant information you guys can share, it is day 17 after the surgery and my leg does feel like it has swelled up abit in the last few days.. the nurse says it's to expected.
thanks to everyone:}
 
Glitter,

The only thing that makes me nervous when I hear about swelling and pain post-op is the risk of a blood clot (DVT). We are all high risk for this due to the surgery and it is the reason we are (or should be) on some blood thinning regimen for a few weeks after the surgery. If the swelling and pain is localized to the incision area, buttocks, upper thigh, then I wouldn't worry too much about it - unless the skin is red, you have a fever, or stuff is oozing from the incision that makes you think of "Slimer" from Ghostbusters.

If the swelling and pain are down more in the lower thigh, inside (medial) part of thigh or certainly down in the calf area or if the whole leg is swollen, I would be more concerned about a DVT and get in for testing (an ultrasound in most cases) ASAP.

Of course, the first thing you do is talk with the OS office. It sounds like you did, they said it's OK and I'm blabbering for naught! Good luck with your recovery!
 
Welcome Glitter,

As a fellow stomach sleeper, I know how frustrating it is to be restricted to your back, but it will be even more frustrating to dislocate, so try and be patient, you will be able to lay anyway you want soon enough.

Chris :)
 
Glitter,,,,,Welcome! My mantra is,,,,,,any doubt, just check it out! It's ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry! Give yourself TIME to heal! You've come to the right placee!
Good Luck! And keep posting!
:)
 
Welcome, glitter! I will anxiously be awaiting to see how you are doing because I am just 2 days behind you - had RTHR on Feb. 4. My dr. did tell me at my 12 day post-op check that I could start sleeping on my stomach as long as I kept the ever-present pillow between my legs. No problems so far, just a little better night's sleep than before. How intense is your PT? I just had my 2nd session today, did 10 minutes on bike, and quite a bit of gait practice, along with various muscle stretch exercises. I can walk without anything, but she did tell me to keep using the cane until my next PT. Keep us posted!

Karen
 
Hi Glitter (what a wonderful name!) :) I'm 16 weeks out from LTHR and I've developed some muscular aches and pains in my hip/groin area which my OS assures me is just weakened muscles. So yes - it's perfectly normal to develop "new" pains etc. as you move forward in the healing process. But I know for sure I was NOT allowed to sleep anywhere except flat on my back for the first 6 weeks - anything else was strictly forbidden. I can sympathise because I am NOT a back sleeper either - but nothing was worth running the risk of dislocation.
As Jo said - check with your OS just for peace of mind - but try not to worry too much!
Let us know how you get on....

Peta
 
Hi, I do think you need to check with your Dr as length for restrictions differ. I was told that my restrictions were lifted at one month. However, do remember discomfort sleeping on back, then trying to turn over on stomach when restrictions lifted. And it took longer than I expected to sleep on my operated side due to sore incision.

In spite of my smooth recovery from THR, I remember that the main challenge was getting sleep. Don't think that I started to sleep semi normally until 4-5 wks. Was so glad I didn't have to get up and go to work for that reason alone.

Laurie (RTHR, 8.26.08)
 
I'm also a stomach and side sleeper -I'm concerned about having to sleep on my back after surgery. I'm more concerned of accidentally going onto my stomach during my sleep. My surgery is March 17 =O
 
I am a side sleeper and worried about my leg accidentally crossing the other one. I even was asking how just a pillow could prevent that from happening. But, don't worry, I think in the most dangerous stage for dislocation it just is not comfortable to do the restricted things . Iwas also worried about crossing my legs, but it hurt to do it until it was OK to do it.

Don't worry
Judy
 
M,,,,,as far as your sleep goes,,,,they will give you a big sponge pillow to put between your legs,,,,(mine even had straps!) While you sleep, or try to! It will be a challenge! But a doable one! Good luck & keep posting! ;)
 
Charnley abduction pillow or wedge!

[Bonesmart.org] Help-3 weeks post op


 
Good morning, I agree with Judy. You will find that most restrictions are easy to abide by in the early days as it is uncomfortable to do anything else--or at least your body will remind you that you shouldn't be moving your leg/body that way. I found that in the early days even trying to turn over on stomach was painful on the leg/hip. Sleep is a challenge, no doubt.

Thinking back on the restrictions (a dim memory at 6 months) I think for me the only one that I had to be reminded of was not to turn my leg inward while on back. The Pt staff reminded of that several times during my exercises as I naturally wanted to put my leg that way.

Easy for me to say now don't worry but I also remember well stressing about dislocation, especially at 10 wks or so when I slipped on leaves and fell hard during a hike--I was just a little bruised but fine otherwise.

And Josephine, I had a contraption like the one above that is now in my attic. Couldn't stand it--didn't use it after the 4th day. But don't go by me!!!!

Back to work,
Laurie
 
I had mine for the full 6 weeks! I think mine's laying in storage on top of the walker! I'm amazed my pups didn't destroy it!
 
Glitter,
Didn't they give you a number to call with questions. Usually there is a surgical nurse assigned to just that purpose. Please use it. It is what they are there for, to answer all the little (and big) worrisome questions. It is also worth checking because depending on the surgery you had and your particular Doc you may not have any restrictions. I didn't. The only reason I had to sleep on my back was because I had both sides done at once and sleeping on the incisions and staples (in the front of my hips) was not comfortable.
FWIW, my Chiropractor has a fit about stomach sleeping. He says it is really bad for your neck.

donna
 
Donna
I am curious. What position does your chiropractor suggest for your neck?

I woke up from surgery with one of those pillow devices on. then the nurses probably put it back on one nite and that was it. I guess it was mine and supposed to come home with me. It did not make it.
That is because I could not pack up the room!!!

Judy
 
Hi Karen, Thank you for your reply.
WOW
I think you are way ahead of me. At the beginning of the week i was strong but I have lost a few days w/ this set back.
The pain is different. i was never told not to sleep on my stomach and because of the type of surgery {a front incision} there were not a whole lot of restrictions.
My PT is at home 2-3 times a day standard exercises and walking up and down steps . Next week I will start outpatient PT.

I'm in alot of pain and still on 1 crutch.

Thanks for our time.
G






Welcome, glitter! I will anxiously be awaiting to see how you are doing because I am just 2 days behind you - had RTHR on Feb. 4. My dr. did tell me at my 12 day post-op check that I could start sleeping on my stomach as long as I kept the ever-present pillow between my legs. No problems so far, just a little better night's sleep than before. How intense is your PT? I just had my 2nd session today, did 10 minutes on bike, and quite a bit of gait practice, along with various muscle stretch exercises. I can walk without anything, but she did tell me to keep using the cane until my next PT. Keep us posted!

Karen
 
Hang in there, Glitter! Have you contacted your dr. yet to ask him about the new pain? Hopefully it is just part of the healing process and will work itself out. I had posterior surgery, so I do still have some restrictions.

Take care!
Karen
 
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