THR I'm just a pup at 3 wks post op. Am I normal?!
- Thread starter HIPpieGal7
- Start date
Canada
OP
OP
HIPpieGal7
junior member
Thanks! I'm feeling good! I have slept the last two nights with ONE PILLOW! Slept as in a few hours here and there but better nothing! haha
OP
OP
HIPpieGal7
junior member
SIX WEEKS POST OP! 
Doing so well and have hit some big milestones, well milestones for me. For instance... I CAN WEAR JEANS! Yup. I haven't been able to wear them due to swelling and pain along the incision since February! Makes me feel like a human again haha. I can also go UP stairs with a reciprocal pattern. I have not been able to do this (this is new within the last few days with a steady pattern and no pain) and have only been able to go down the stairs this way. Also; as of yesterday I am cleared to drive (I'm not stranded any more!). I can also bend at the waist! Meaning I can now, put on my own socks, shoes that tie, touch my feet etc. I must be careful as to not twist while bending. Thats a big no,no! Again...huge. I dropped a spoon last night and stared at it a minute before slowly reaching down to get it. It was terrifying and the weirdest feeling ever. It's gonna take time to get used that again which sounds weird. Gonna take a lot for my Mom ( who has been keeping me company while the husband is at work) and my husband to 'let' me bend. Also, cleared for various other activities that we won't get into...ahem 
. Another milestone that is I am no longer using a crutch (at all!!) and my gait pattern is sooooo much better than before. I don't 'waddle' as bad! 
Also..... NO PAIN and only occasional swelling when I do a lot. My incision looks amazing and is completely healed! Just a thin pink line about 8" long vs the nasty looking gash I had! So amazing. Also, one of the huge reasons for this surgery was because my husband and I want to start a family and were told my hip would not withstand childbirth and carryign a child for . Yesterday at my six week appt we finally got the "okay" to FINALLY get pregnant. I have been cleared to have a baby! That has been a long process. We don't plan on getting pregnant soon because of my job and the insurance but seeing my husbands face when the doc said we could anytime was priceless.
We've been wanting this for so long! And the last one I can think of...wait for it....IM SLEEPING WITH ONE PILLOW! yup! 1! Crazy. 
I still have a ton of healing happening inside the hip and need to work on some more strengthening and stability but I feel great! Anyways, there's my update. It's a biggie. But I can't believe it's six weeks and how much better I am. The human body is pretty amazing!! 
Doing so well and have hit some big milestones, well milestones for me. For instance... I CAN WEAR JEANS! Yup. I haven't been able to wear them due to swelling and pain along the incision since February! Makes me feel like a human again haha. I can also go UP stairs with a reciprocal pattern. I have not been able to do this (this is new within the last few days with a steady pattern and no pain) and have only been able to go down the stairs this way. Also; as of yesterday I am cleared to drive (I'm not stranded any more!). I can also bend at the waist! Meaning I can now, put on my own socks, shoes that tie, touch my feet etc. I must be careful as to not twist while bending. Thats a big no,no! Again...huge. I dropped a spoon last night and stared at it a minute before slowly reaching down to get it. It was terrifying and the weirdest feeling ever. It's gonna take time to get used that again which sounds weird. Gonna take a lot for my Mom ( who has been keeping me company while the husband is at work) and my husband to 'let' me bend. Also, cleared for various other activities that we won't get into...ahem . Another milestone that is I am no longer using a crutch (at all!!) and my gait pattern is sooooo much better than before. I don't 'waddle' as bad! Also..... NO PAIN and only occasional swelling when I do a lot. My incision looks amazing and is completely healed! Just a thin pink line about 8" long vs the nasty looking gash I had! So amazing. Also, one of the huge reasons for this surgery was because my husband and I want to start a family and were told my hip would not withstand childbirth and carryign a child for . Yesterday at my six week appt we finally got the "okay" to FINALLY get pregnant. I have been cleared to have a baby! That has been a long process. We don't plan on getting pregnant soon because of my job and the insurance but seeing my husbands face when the doc said we could anytime was priceless. We've been wanting this for so long! And the last one I can think of...wait for it....IM SLEEPING WITH ONE PILLOW! yup! 1! Crazy. I still have a ton of healing happening inside the hip and need to work on some more strengthening and stability but I feel great! Anyways, there's my update. It's a biggie. But I can't believe it's six weeks and how much better I am. The human body is pretty amazing!! 
Arlene56
senior
Congratulations on your recovery!! Getting back into jeans is a milestone. Your picture is so pretty. I love the tshirt you had on.
You have so much to look forward to now. You do have your life back. It gives me chills how life changing this surgery is.
Keep up the good work.
Have a great day!
Krista
post-grad
So much good stuff going on for you, @HIPpieGal7! May all continue to get better and better.
Simplieme
member
Oh I am so happy for you! What wonderful news! I'm also just a little jealous , because I'm three days ahead of you, and my OS has kept my restrictions for another six weeks. Also interested in your comment about healing inside, because that's exactly what my OS said was going on, and I can feel that.
OP
OP
HIPpieGal7
junior member
@Simplieme I'm able to bend but I have to maintain not crossing midline and internally rotating and NO TWISTING WHILE BENDING. Which I found out today is a lot harder than you might think haha. Yah in my case the muscles and tendons are still healing and moving back to their original spot as well as my bone is still growing into the prosthetic (bone growth and healing takes 6-8wks typically). 
Toddlermom
graduate
@HIPpieGal7 I just read your thread, and I am thrilled for you! OMG.....where did you get that shirt in your profile pic? I want one. I am 8 weeks post, and I am amazed at the difference between 6 & 8 weeks. Still pretty tired though. My doctor said that younger patients often take a little longer to heal and sometimes need meds a little longer. I am 14 years older, but I am considered younger in the hippie world. He said we resume our lives quicker, so that energy isn't available for healing. That lines up with my life. No longer needing to ice or use daytime pain meds, but I also have that restless feeling a couple of nights each week. And the fatigue is huge.
You are going to be so glad you did this! I had an arthroscopy at 36, and 2 back-to-back pregnancies immediately following. (I was literally 4 weeks pregnant during surgery.....BIG surprise
). They involved a lot of crutches, pain, and bed rest.
. He said we resume our lives quicker, so that energy isn't available for healing. That lines up with my life. No longer needing to ice or use daytime pain meds, but I also have that restless feeling a couple of nights each week. And the fatigue is huge. You are going to be so glad you did this! I had an arthroscopy at 36, and 2 back-to-back pregnancies immediately following. (I was literally 4 weeks pregnant during surgery.....BIG surprise
). They involved a lot of crutches, pain, and bed rest.
Simplieme
member
@HIPpieGal7 oh it was the bending down I wanted so much!! But at least I can drive!
@Toddlermom so interesting to see the different ages on here. Five years ago I was told to wait as long as I could before a THR because I was too young.
@Toddlermom so interesting to see the different ages on here. Five years ago I was told to wait as long as I could before a THR because I was too young.
Toddlermom
graduate
@Simplieme You know what's strange, the doc who did the repair at 36.....told us that he probably should have done a THR afterward (literally in the recovery room--THANKS!). We were in disbelief. I guess the damage was so much more extensive...it was simply a patch. And then I was either preggers or nursing for 4 years. By the time I went in last fall, none of the doctors even flinched...it was immediately THR. No question!
OP
OP
HIPpieGal7
junior member
Here is my incision. Gosh the human body is amazing!
Sent from my iPhone
Miss Muffet
post-grad
@HIPpieGal7 - those pics are amazing. What a neat result. 
You must be so pleased
You must be so pleased
OP
OP
HIPpieGal7
junior member
Thursday I was 7 weeks post op! Things are going great. I have been walking a lot. We bought a house last year with a huge yard on the side (I call it a field) and I do laps around that. I love it for the uneven ground to work on stability. We've finally had some nice weather so walking out in the sunshine with my music is great! I am seeing improvements every day in my strength and I am still working on ascending stairs with a reciprocal pattern but it's getting so much better!! I'm sleeping through the night too! Even though I have been cleared to bend now I still struggle with tight muscles (for good reason!) and getting my sock on my left foot (surgical side). But I'm getting there! I'm so happy with this decision to have the surgery. My life and outlook has changed so much! I can't believe I'm 7 weeks post op! I remember crying the night before my surgery because I was so scared! And it was all over so fast!
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Sounds like you are doing very well @HIPpieGal7 ! Well done! You will continue to heal and build strength. Some of this can take up to a year post op. But you are well on your way!
SweetPea69
member
@HIPpieGal7
Yours sounds like an awesome recovery & how exciting to be able to start working on that family!
Congratulations & best wishes!!!
Yours sounds like an awesome recovery & how exciting to be able to start working on that family!
Congratulations & best wishes!!!
Arlene56
senior
@HIPpieGal7
Good to hear how well you are doing. It is amazing isn't it how the body heals.
Keep up the good work. Surgery is a life saver!!
Good to hear how well you are doing. It is amazing isn't it how the body heals.
Keep up the good work. Surgery is a life saver!!
OP
OP
HIPpieGal7
junior member
Offically 8 weeks today! Time is flying by! And being able to bend at the waist it life changing. But I still struggle with getting socks on because of no twisting. I'm in virtually NO pain, just occasional aches after a busy day. I'm sleeping through the night, I'm going up and down steps in a reciprocal pattern (better going down but my strength is improving). I'm able to get my leg into the car without the use of my hands most days (depending on fatigue). I haven't been able to do that in years! Still feel unstable on uneven terrain and struggle with walking up hills ( ) but continuing to plug along. Woot woot!
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
