THR Hockymum10's recovery

[Hockeymum10]

Hi everyone. I’ve just joined today, I had my hip replacement on Thursday so my scar is still covered up. I’ve been dreading having a scar they look long and big.

 

[Layla]

Hello and Welcome to BoneSmart and Recovery!

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

I will leave our Recovery Guidelines below with best wishes as you begin your healing journey.
Stop back often, we'll be here for support. Thanks for joining us!

HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES

As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary.

2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity progression for THRs​

The recovery articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

BIG TIP: Hips actually don't need any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then not to excess.

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
@Hockeymum10

 

[Hockeymum10]

Hi my left hip on 16th February 2023

 

[Mojo333]

Hi and
Glad you are on the Healing Side.

I’ve been dreading having a scar they look long and big.

I was worried too but really wanted my life back irregardless.
When I first saw my incisions without the bandages...I ain't gonna lie
However, within 2 years...it looked like this...
Not terrible, and I am hip pain free!

 

[Hockeymum10]

Ahh thank you so much for commenting on my post and also for sharing the image of your scar which is so reassuring thank you

 

[myglasshalffull]

Welcome,
My scar is one year old and has shrunk in size if that makes any sense and unless I have on a bathing suit you can't even notice it.
Happy healing!

 

[HollyNY]

I was apprehensive about the scar as well. The sutures and bandages have gotten quite advanced.

The faster the incision heals the less likely infection sets in.

 

[Eman85]

Not that it really matters to me but my THR scars are hard for me to even see. They are like light pink pencil lines barely visible. Now where I had my other 2 hip surgeries looks like the laces on a football.

 

[Hockeymum10]

Hi - have/did other people got a swollen knee a week after their operation ? Thanks

 

[Hockeymum10]

Do/did people experience “near cramps” on their operated leg ? It’s a week since my op and since last night my leg is nearly cramping .

 

[zauberflöte]

Hi @Hockeymum10 yes! Both of those pains are common experience, it seems. I had swelling at my knee after #2 that was more painful than the swelling at the hip! In my case part of it seemed to be caused by too-tight Ted knee-highs, because when I switched them for another pair the relief was immediate. But, my whole op leg was swollen for a number of weeks. They grab your knee tightly to assist in the surgery-- I had fingerprint bruises on my lower thigh!-- and it can get twisted and sore. Try icing it- worked for me!

As to the leg cramps, yes again. And again, your leg has been seriously assaulted with power tools, and is getting back to itself one day at a time. There's a thread by @Naps called Quad Spasms, on this recovery area here. I had calf pain badly enough for both hips that I was afraid I had a blood clot, and went to the ER both times. Better feeling dumb and being safe, than sorry all round. And my quads were tight and sometimes painful lots for both hips. This too is temporary.

 

[Hockeymum10]

Hi - thank you so much for your clearly explained reply, that’s really appreciated

 

[Elf1]

@Hockeymum10 you're sounding pretty normal for this time in your recovery. Try icing your knee, that may help with the swelling and any pain. You're going to be feeling all kinds of weird zips, zaps, niggles, whatever you call them as your nerves start waking up and the soft tissue starts healing.

For the cramps you may want to try magnesium.
Magnesium supports Bone health, healthy blood sugar, cardiovascular health, muscle relaxation and nerves as well as promotes healthy sleep (falling asleep and staying asleep)

An article on Magnesium -

Magnesium is a star

Magnesium There is no question that magnesium is a star amongst the minerals when it comes to optimal health and wellbeing. Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body and essential for many of the fundamental biological processes. As magnesium is the fourth most abundant...

bonesmart.org

 

[Hockeymum10]

Hello thank you very much for your reply and advice - it’s so appreciated

 

[Layla]

How are you doing eleven days post op? Hopefully you're settling into a comfortable routine that will continue evolving as stamina increases and you become steadier on your feet.
We're here rooting for you and hope you'll share your progress. Take good care and have a great week!
@Hockeymum10

 

[Hockeymum10]

Thank you very much. I’m starting to get used to it now. I had post surgery blues the first few days and couldn’t get my head around the fact that I couldn’t do anything or sit comfortably or get in and out of bed easily but each day is getting easier now.

 

[Hockeymum10]

Does anyone know if hip replacements weigh more than the original bone hip or if you hold lots of fluid/hence weight after the op ? Thanks

 

[Caison113]

I think the weight of the total prosthesis is around 1 to 1.5 pounds, so certainly heavier than the piece of your femur they cut off, but not by a lot. Fluid retention could be related for sure, but I don’t have any details on that.

 

[Hockeymum10]

Thank you for taking the time to post

 

[Gloucestergal65]

Does anyone know if hip replacements weigh more than the original bone hip or if you hold lots of fluid/hence weight after the op ? Thanks

@Hockeymum10 - I weighed almost a stone and half more than usual when I got on the scales a few days post surgery. So I asked the same question since I thought I would weigh less than before surgery given that I had no appetite for the first week or do. Anyway, glad to report that the weight fell away as the swelling subsided and I now weigh a little bit less than before surgery. I expect the same will happen to you.