Help with emotional after effects of THR

[Jaybee]

Hi all, I am 48 year old female who was diagnosed with OA of left hip in 2007 after a fall down a flight of stairs. Since then the pain just got gradually worse to the point where even doing the simplest every day task became more and more difficult. I am not one for taking tablets but found I was watching the clock willing the time on so I could take my next ones just to get me through the day. Sleeping became almost impossible the pain never ceased and was like a nagging toothache all night long. I was getting very irritable and grouchy so eventually went back to doctors being at the end of my tether!! I had another xray and was horrified at the change in just 2 years and even more so when the surgeon said there was no option except to have a THR. Being a single working mum with 3 boys this was not what I wanted to hear but after the initial shock and tears friends and family all rallied round for me. I was at a point in my life where it was do i have the op and get a quality of life back or do i carry on in constant pain relying on medication just to get me through the day.
I had my op on 8th August 09 and I have never looked back
I was in hospital 3 days and with the help of physios, family and friends I have done brilliant and am going back to my job as a dental nurse in November. The problem I am facing at the minute is in the early days I could see results every day, was walking with 1 crutch after 1 week, was able to potter about the house and gradually got my independence back which felt absolutely fantastic and the best thing of all there was no arthritis pain!!! The stage I am at now is I am finding the emotional side very hard to deal with and just wondered if there was anyone else who had felt like this or do I just need a good kick up the bum:pzld:
Cheers

 

[Jamie]

Re: Help

Jaybee, welcome to the BoneSmart family. We're glad you decided to join us. You'll find plenty of support from folks who know exactly what you're going through....because they've been there.

I have to admit, I'm a bit confused by what you feel is a problem. You have your independence back. You have life without that awful hip pain. You are now able to go back to a job you enjoy. You have 3 wonderful boys that you can now do things with. You have a family who rallied 'round you when you needed them during surgery and recovery. Ummmm.....exactly what is the "emotional side" that is causing you trouble? A few more details, please....

 

[Texas]

Re: Help

Hey and welcome first of all very proud of you for doing that its so important to take care of yourself first or you cant take care of others.......Im think you did a great job on your recovery hang i there keeps getting better...And the ups and downs i think it would might be hard to find someone that didnt thru all this is a tough surgery.........but you have taken the first steps and your right this oain will go away the other you didnt have as hot............im impressed a mother of 3 and you went for it....takes alot of courage and you with 3 boys you must be a special lady............keep going we are all here for you the downs will go away just dont let them get you to down............you have so much to look forward to write down what you want out of this surgery you will be amazed at what you are going to be able to do.............keep us posted and ck IN anytime..............) keep that head up and be proud ,.............)

 

[Jaybee]

Re: Help

Jaybee, welcome to the BoneSmart family. We're glad you decided to join us. You'll find plenty of support from folks who know exactly what you're going through....because they've been there.

I have to admit, I'm a bit confused by what you feel is a problem. You have your independence back. You have life without that awful hip pain. You are now able to go back to a job you enjoy. You have 3 wonderful boys that you can now do things with. You have a family who rallied 'round you when you needed them during surgery and recovery. Ummmm.....exactly what is the "emotional side" that is causing you trouble? A few more details, please....

Thanks for the reply. I am normally a strong fully focused sort of person (have had to be for my 3 boys) but I am finding that little things are really upsetting me at the moment and dont get me wrong I count my lucky stars every day for my beautiful family and friends but I dont understand why I feel like this. Its more a frustration at not being able to do the things that I want to do yet......just getting a little bit impatient with myself I suppose but I am going for my 1st physio on friday so I am hoping that this will make me feel better within myself:thmb:

 

[Jaybee]

Re: Help

Hey and welcome first of all very proud of you for doing that its so important to take care of yourself first or you cant take care of others.......Im think you did a great job on your recovery hang i there keeps getting better...And the ups and downs i think it would might be hard to find someone that didnt thru all this is a tough surgery.........but you have taken the first steps and your right this oain will go away the other you didnt have as hot............im impressed a mother of 3 and you went for it....takes alot of courage and you with 3 boys you must be a special lady............keep going we are all here for you the downs will go away just dont let them get you to down............you have so much to look forward to write down what you want out of this surgery you will be amazed at what you are going to be able to do.............keep us posted and ck IN anytime..............) keep that head up and be proud ,.............)

Hey thanks for that it is so reassuring to know that others have felt the same way. I am at week 9 post op now and probably just expecting a little too much of myself just now.

 

[Jamie]

Re: Help

Ahhhh....now I understand! What you are feeling is VERY common. People start feeling good with a new joint and then want to get back to their normal life 100%. Unfortunately, your body has other ideas and is still healing. This was MAJOR surgery and even though the outer signs of it (your scar) may look fairly healed, there is still a lot of healing going on inside. You are roughly 2 months out from this operation where you were cut open, had bones sawed and hammered, where soft tissues were moved around, and you were stitched back up. You will keep feeling better and better as time goes by....try to relax and give yourself that time to heal. Be sure you are getting plenty of rest and sleep.

Your body only has so much energy to take you through the day. At this point, a significant amount of that energy is still going toward healing, so if you try to push to your "normal" activity level, you are going to feel tired and frustrated and maybe even depressed.

Do be sure you are maintaining proper control of your pain levels too. Even minor pain is still pain and it saps your strength. Try taking some type of pain medication (anti-inflammant) - either prescription or over-the-counter - on a regular schedule through the day and night for a week or so and see if that helps.

 

[Jaybee]

Re: Help

Ahhhh....now I understand! What you are feeling is VERY common. People start feeling good with a new joint and then want to get back to their normal life 100%. Unfortunately, your body has other ideas and is still healing. This was MAJOR surgery and even though the outer signs of it (your scar) may look fairly healed, there is still a lot of healing going on inside. You are roughly 2 months out from this operation where you were cut open, had bones sawed and hammered, where soft tissues were moved around, and you were stitched back up. You will keep feeling better and better as time goes by....try to relax and give yourself that time to heal. Be sure you are getting plenty of rest and sleep.

Your body only has so much energy to take you through the day. At this point, a significant amount of that energy is still going toward healing, so if you try to push to your "normal" activity level, you are going to feel tired and frustrated and maybe even depressed.

Do be sure you are maintaining proper control of your pain levels too. Even minor pain is still pain and it saps your strength. Try taking some type of pain medication (anti-inflammant) - either prescription or over-the-counter - on a regular schedule through the day and night for a week or so and see if that helps.

Thank you i now understand more clearly what is going on here. I havent taken any pain killers for a while now but have taken on board what you have said and will start them up again for a few days. I feel fine when i am up on my feet but if I sit for a while Ime as stiff as a board when I get back up:-( I know in time this will improve and cant wait to start my physio on Friday:D

 

[Jamie]

Re: Help

I think some over-the-counter meds like Aleve or Advil taken on a regular schedule as the directions say will do wonders for you. Try it and let us know how you get along. We are ALWAYS here for you!!!

 

[Josephine]

Re: Help

You have done really well, Jaybee. But 'stiff' is pain, just a lesser kind of pain. So treat it!

As for the work, you'll be 3 months by the time you go back and should be about ready for it! (makes you sound like waiting for a plum to ripen!).

Can you arrange for a phased return? I always had my staff do a phased return even if they'd only had a medium sized op which this is not!

My schedule for them was
week 1: Tues, Thurs 10-3
week 2: Mon, Wed, Fri 10-3
week 3: Tues, Thurs full day
week 4: Mon, Wed, Fri full day
week 5: normal duties

Perhaps you could talk with your boss sometime soon and see if he/she will let you do something similar?

 

[Jaybee]

Re: Help

Hi there

ive jst been to docs for signing off note which felt goooooooooood:D
Had intense physio session on friday which went really well but suffered the few days after (muscle stiffness) which I expected but it is onwards and upwards now and I will not give in!!! It makes sense about the phased return to work to be honest so I will have a chat to my boss about that, I really dont want to set myself back so this seems like the ideal solution all round. Thanks again to everyone for your support x