THR I did it! Hello to the new me

[Bambi28]

Hello everyone

I did it! I had my RTHR yesterday afternoon.

So far I'm feeling great. I am in hospital and listening to everything the nurses are telling me to do. I was so anxious about everything but as soon as soon as they gave me the general I was out like a log and woke up feeling a little groggy but in much less pain than I was previously with my bone on bone right hip.

I'm 29 and have been in severe pain for over 1 year. I can't wait to reclaim my life back and do the things I love.

Thank you for all your support - this forum gave me so much comfort. I will be posting my progress on this thread and hope to provide people who will be going through this surgery with hope.

 

[Peshay]

Well done Bambi, great to hear all going well. I’m now 5 days post-op and going well if a little bored, like you I can’t wait to reclaim my life. Just have to be a patient patient.

 

[Ocean]

Congratulations on your new hip, it’s amazing isn’t it.

 

[djklaugh]

@Bambi28 Welcome to the recovery side! It is amazing to experience the fact of the old bone-on-bone hip pain being gone, isn't it?!

You may have seen them already but here is your copy of our recovery articles and helpful hints:

Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
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
6. Access these pages on the website
Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications
Wound Care In Hospital

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.

 

[Mojo333]

Glad you are all fixed and healing!
Keep that ice going

 

[myglasshalffull]

Congrats on the new hip and welcome!
Keep us posted.

 

[Caison113]

Congrats on the operation! You’ll be so amazed in a few weeks when you are moving around without that pain.

 

[Hip4life]

Congrats on the new hip and getting to the healing side! I'm glad you're feeling so good but don't get discouraged if things feel a little rough over the next few days. That's normal but your age is so much in your favor! Before you know it, that life you're looking forward to will be yours. We'll be looking forward to your updates!

 

[Bambi28]

An update on my progress: today is day 4 post surgery and I'm back at home after spending 3 nights in hospital. My blood pressure was low for the first 2 days so was unable to get mobilised with the physio. Luckily yesterday my blood pressure got back to normal and I started walking with 2 crutches! I can't believe that I am no longer in pain when weight bearing. I have a stabbing pain on the side of my leg when I walk sometimes but I think that's normal - has anyone experienced that pain?

 

[djklaugh]

@Bambi28 It is good to hear that you are home and moving around! Yes most odd pains this soon after surgery are normal. Just make a note to your self as to when these occur, what you were doing, how long has it been since you last took pain medication, etc. If these pains do not ease up - or if they get worse - do call your surgeon's office to ask about it.

The lack of bone-on-bone pain is miraculous .... and yet there are those other pains like healing incisions, strained muscles from the surgery and the muscles just not use to this new state of being for your hips. Slow and easy at this stage is the way to go.

 

[Caison113]

@Bambi28 - I had a stabbing pain in my outer quad for about a week or more when I would push off that leg (it started diminishing after about day 6-7 and was gone after day 10 or 11). It's pretty common. The weird pains will come and go for a while typically. But you should see steady improvement over the weeks.

 

[Bambi28]

Thanks everyone for your support. It's Day 5 today - feeling stronger today and in less pain. I've been walking around the house in small 5 minute intervals with my crutches. I've stopped taking the prescribed endone and am taking only paracetamol. I've noticed a huge improvement in the last 48 hours

 

[Mojo333]

Glad to see you are doing well....
Slow and steady, hippy pal.
Hope your day is Sweet

 

[myglasshalffull]

All sounds great, don't go doing anything too crazy! LOL!

 

[Hockeymum10]

Hello everyone

I did it! I had my RTHR yesterday afternoon.

So far I'm feeling great. I am in hospital and listening to everything the nurses are telling me to do. I was so anxious about everything but as soon as soon as they gave me the general I was out like a log and woke up feeling a little groggy but in much less pain than I was previously with my bone on bone right hip.

I'm 29 and have been in severe pain for over 1 year. I can't wait to reclaim my life back and do the things I love.

Thank you for all your support - this forum gave me so much comfort. I will be posting my progress on this thread and hope to provide people who will be going through this surgery with hope.

Hello - welcome to the recovery side. It sounds as if you are doing really well. I’m on week 4 and like you I was really scared about the op so I’m just so glad to be past that now. Enjoy being “pain free”

 

[CricketHip]

Congratulations Bambi! You sound like you are doing really well. Just try to avoid the ODIC club (over did it club) and keep your ice packs busy.
I remember well my euphoria after my THR's and losing that bone on bone pain.

 

[Bambi28]

Day 11 update: Hi everyone! The last few days I have increasingly less pain and have managed to only take pain meds when I feel I need them (usually once a day before bed). I had my first physio session on Friday which was very gentle and I only did what I was comfortable with. The physio didn't push me either and told me to only do things that didn't hurt and to go at my own pace. I will be doing physio twice a week. I am noticing small improvements in the strength of my hip (I can now lift my knee towards my chest (of course no more than 90 degrees) which I hadn't been able to do for a year prior to my THR. I'm walking around the house without my crutches but still have my limp. I'm hoping this will go once I continue to stengthen and heal. I hope everyone is having a good week!

 

[Jaycey]

I'm walking around the house without my crutches but still have my limp. I'm hoping this will go once I continue to stengthen and heal.

If you are still limping use a walking aid until that limp is gone. Try using one crutch for now. Then focus on heel/toe walking:

This involves striking the ground with your heel first, then rolling through your heel to your toe, and pushing out of the step with your toe.

It takes a concentrated effort, but I believe you'll notice a difference. Give it a try.

 

[Bambi28]

Thanks @Jaycey !! I've been walking around the house today with one crutch and trying the heel/toe walking. Definitely takes getting used to as I've been limping for a year but it seems to be working.

 

[Jaycey]

Definitely takes getting used to as I've been limping for a year

Yes, it is quite tricky trying to learn to walk properly again. Just keep at it. Slow and steady. Start with baby steps. Your stride will lengthen as you get more confident.