THR I'm New and Hurting!

[gizmo]

Hi Candy,
Sounds like good advice to go back to your walker and give those hips a good rest. It isn't easy being patient, but it is really necessary. I had my op in October and even today I was thinking how much further on I was hoping to be by now, giving myself new time limits..... I will be better by the summer........ then having to accept...... well actually I'll be better when I am better. I can help or hinder the process but I can't really decide it. I hope you don't mind me saying but your expectations of yourself do seem very high. You sound desperate to be off the cane... but really it is your friend. Don't be so quick to abandon it. You can get on with your life with a cane, it is o.k. to use it as long as you need. Sometimes I forget mine now and again or try short distances without but it is a gradual process and will happen naturally I'm hoping. For me even now mostly I am better off with the cane as it helps me to walk better. Early days my unoperated leg worried me as it had increased pain, this has been much improved with time. It does have to work extra hard. I had real trouble sleeping early on- it gradually improved from about weeks 12-14 onwards. If your feeling down lack of sleep is likely to be contributing. Lots of bonesmarties seem to suffer it. It helped me to know that it was a normal part of the process. I thought lack of sleep was one of the most difficult parts of recovery. I was drinking tea and watching films and tv in the middle of the night for what felt like ages.( I know tea isn't great for sleeping- but it was comforting and I was awake anyway.)

Please be kind to yourself.

Gizmo

 

[HomeschoolingMom]

Hi Candy,
Haven't heard from you in a bit, and wondering how you are doing? Are you getting any sleep now? How is the pain? I hope the lack of updating is because you are feeling so great that you forgot about your hip. Anyway, keep us posted on the leg pain as well as whether you are sleeping!

 

[mccoyniac]

Update long overdue...I stayed off my feet for the two weeks the surgeon prescribed, felt GREAT, passed inspection from the surgeon and was set free. Returned to work for one day, then that night I twisted the wrong way in bed, and I have been hurting ever since. The thing I am still confused about is whether or not to continue the exercises when the pain starts. Is it OK to keep doing exercises that don't require you to put weight on your leg? Tomorrow will be my third day of work. I am only working 2 days a week for awhile. It's really tough...I feel SO much better, both metallly and physically, when I take a Vicodin, but so afraid of getting hooked like House did! The sleeping problem has not improved at all. Sometimes I don't get to sleep until 4 or 6 in the morning. Hippie brother....how are you doing? Thanks all, for your continuing concern.

 

[gizmo]

Hi Candy,
Thanks for the message.
Rightly or wrongly when I start hurting I stop exercising for a while- I interpret it as a message from my body. I did have a hard bump on my hip, which is a lot better than it was but even weeks later is still tender and still a bit swollen. I really had to rein in after that. It scared me too as I was worried that I might have damaged my replacement, although I have been reassured that this is unlikely. Now its feeling a lot better and the swelling going down I have relaxed about it.

Workwise I think you are doing really well if you are back to work. Mentally I am ready and keep looking at job adverts but physically and realistically I know I'm not ready. I am going to spend the next few months working on my fitness levels and loosing weight. My stamina is still low and all the adverts I've seen I would be having to explain why I was unable to do certain aspects of the jobs. I still get drawn back to the adverts though. My new hip seems great but the muscles throughout my leg aren't really working together as they should.

As time goes by you will find that you will be able to sleep better. Lack of sleep is exhausting but you will get beyond that stage in the not too distant future. When this happens you will feel a lot better. Although some people seem to have amazingly quick recoveries there are lots of us for whom it all takes a bit longer. You are still early on from your op. and do still need to take it easy.
Best wishes,
Gizmo

 

[Jamie]

Gizmo is right. You are still early and pains are comon during this time. But....when you feel them, you need to stop and not continue as losg as there is pain present.

 

[mccoyniac]

Hello everyone! I have been having pain and a pulling sensation in the hip and my husband says it is "full of fluid." I don't know if that is possible or not, but it does feel "squishy" in comparison to the other one, and it is, indeed, swollen. I have been reading up on things that might be causing this and getting worried, so I will call the surgeon in the morning to see what they suggest. I am past the three month mark. Thanks for any input!

 

[DallasSarah]

Hi Candy,

I don't have an answer for the swelling - fluid sensation you are experiencing,what did you OS tell you.

All the best,

Sarah

 

[Mad Rocker]

Candy

I am copy/pasting something that one of our fellow BS members told me I hope it helps. I think you are trying too hard as someone who does exactly the same thing. Here is the message for you

no matter what I do, this is taking as long as it takes. No matter what I do, PT, no PT, rest, nap, walk, elevate, ice, use walker, don't use walker, use cane, be positive, be miserable, go with it, fight it...believe me I have tried it all and it still does what IT wants to do in terms of recovery...so, the more I can go with it the better. And some days are better than others.

Take care

 

[C Mac]

Hi Candy,

Do let us know what you find out. I saw my OS again for a 4 months check-up, do you have a check-up sometime soon as part of your follow-up from surgery?

Take care,
Cardie

 

[mccoyniac]

My surgeon was leaving in 20 minutes on vacation but he wanted me seen the same night that I called him, so he sent me to the Orthopaedic Urgent Care Center for the swelling and the pain. They took an x-ray and everything was fine. They gave me Naproxen, 500 mg. to take twice a day. At first the pain lessened almost completely, but a week later it is back. It is low in the buttock area, not up where my hip is, so I don't know if it is even connected to the surgery. I wish I didn't get the weird stuff that there seems to be no answer for. All I know is that it really hurts!

 

[mccoyniac]

The surgeon did not schedule a follow up appointment after the "all clear" last month.

 

[C Mac]

Hi Candy,

Let's tag @Josephine: and see if she might give an opinion on what might be causing your discomfort.

It's good that you had an x-ray and everything looked ok on it though! Might be a "soft tissue" problems like a sore or inflammed muscle.

Many of us get aches and pains in different places after our THR surgery, you aren't the only one... It's a big adjustment for the muscles in our body and often we aren't given any preparation for this by the OS.

Do you get any relief from a heating pad or ice pack on the area?

Take care,
Cardie

 

[Josephine]

I twisted the wrong way in bed, and I have been hurting ever since. The thing I am still confused about is whether or not to continue the exercises when the pain starts.

Simple answer is don't! Never do anything that causes too much pain. Pain is nature's way of telling you something is wrong - which I will come to later. The best treatment for 'something wrong' is rest and pain pills.

Is it OK to keep doing exercises that don't require you to put weight on your leg?

NO!

I feel SO much better, both mentally and physically, when I take a Vicodin, but so afraid of getting hooked like House did!

Well, House was stupid, he abused his medication and quite apart from that, he isn't real!

I have two suggestions,
a) stop watching House, it's just depressing (though I rate Hugh Laurie as a superb actor I much preferred him in Stuart Little! :th_heehee
b) take you pain meds as prescribed and you won't have a problem. Better yet, try something less intense like Tylenol/ibuprofen cocktail

I have been having pain and a pulling sensation in the hip and my husband says it is "full of fluid."

How would he know? :skeptical:

I don't know if that is possible or not, but it does feel "squishy" in comparison to the other one, and it is, indeed, swollen.

Ermm squishy = swelling. Didn't you know? :wink1:

I have been reading up on things that might be causing this and getting worried

Well stop reading things up online! No wonder you can't sleep!

They took an x-ray and everything was fine. They gave me Naproxen, 500 mg. to take twice a day. At first the pain lessened almost completely, but a week later it is back. It is low in the buttock area, not up where my hip is, so I don't know if it is even connected to the surgery.

So are you still taking the Naproxen? Are you taking anything with it?

I think it's pretty obvious you've sprained a muscle in your buttock. Or more likely got Piriformis syndrome. Read that and see if the symptoms match.

 

[Telluride]

Hi Candy. I just learned about and joined this site today. This is my 1st post. I am, like you, 5 weeks and 4 days post LTTHP. I t has been so much more difficult than I thought it would be (what was I thinking?). My recovery story parallels yours. I did not do well with a walker, did great with crutches and use a single crutch, cane or unassisted. I am very stiff in the morning and my muscles are extremely tight. It takes 5 steps+ to loosen up and be able to walk with a cane.I have been in moderate to severe pain throughout the past 5 weeks with some signs that the pain is diminishing. I am down to 4 Percoset a day and take them before PT and in the early evening. I am being pressured by well meaning friends and family to get off Percoset for addiction issues. My hip precautions have been taken off but I am still being cautious.
I know that we all heal at different rates and I am, somewhat, confident about the future. I am nervous that there will be a 2nd RHTHR in the future but try not to think about that (never mind a potential LTTKR.....Yikes).
Just thought I would share my experience as I was looking for someone 6 weeks post op and there you were. I am frightened in the present, hopeful in the future and trying to be patient and live in the moment,

Telluride

 

[Mad Rocker]

Hi there

I must agree with Jo. Take meds-----disregard friends and relatives. If you are in pain you need meds. It's that simple. Addicition occurs when a person takes drugs not for pain but for the rush of the drug. (This is from my son the pharmacist.)

Naproxen is not a powerful drug say like a narcotic. It did absolutely nothing for me (same dosage.) You need to at least try the cocktail that Jo suggested. You have nothing to lose. You definitely need a anitinflammatory somewhere. Naproxen may not be the one you need.

Be the squeaky wheel. If you are not getting pain resolution from the perscribed meds get different ones.

You are still early in your recovery. We all recover at different rates. Be gentle...Ice elevation and rest. Log what you are doing, when you take your meds. Maybe it is something physical that you are doing that is causing you pain. I personally am still using a walker at 11 weeks post op. I limp too much to transition to a cane or to go unassisted. Am I disappointed...no because Bonesmarties have told me it's perfectly OK to be where I am. I am still on morphine, percocet and celebrex as my own doctor has told me this is the most important time in my recovery. Physio therapy (or exercising) is best done when there is no pain. The mantra here at BS is No pain more gain. Reduction (and elimination) of drugs will happen. Not taking them is silly.

Take care of yourself. You are your body's advocate to recovery. No one else knows how you are feeling. Ask the questions you need info for and we will be able to help. We are world wide and strong. We can help you in your journey.

 

[mccoyniac]

First of all, I was only kidding about "House." I am very well aware of the fact that he is not real, and that he abused his meds.
Secondly, I was trying to describe my situation the best way I knew how when I said that my husband suspected my leg was full of fluid. And no, I guess I am not intelligent enough to know the difference between "squishy" and swollen.
I'm sorry for taking offense at your remarks, but I thought this forum was for venting our concerns and helping each other out. I feel as though my problems were somewhat made light of after my last post. I really enjoyed this forum and reading as much as I could from the info you all have provided that have been through the surgery.
After a week on the Naproxyn, I am feeling normal again, and the pain is gone. Thanks to those of you who have been so helpful over the past months.

 

[Poppet]

Hi Candy

I am so pleased you have posted again and I am sorry that you felt as though your comments were 'made light of'. It would never be anyone's intention to make a member feel that way, it truly is not the BoneSmart philosophy

I am pleased that you are getting some relief from the Naproxyn and that you are pain free - that is such a blessing isn't it

Please stay with us and keep us updated, we love to hear from our members and how they are progressing.

Each milestone a hippie gets through is a victory for all of us

Hugs, Sandy

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Candy, I don't think you offended anyone so please don't hesitate to post. You are right - this is the place to rant. Sometimes Mods and Admins on this forum may come across as stern - but they are just wearing their "caring hats" and trying to stress a point from experience.

So glad you are feeling better and things are settling. Don't forget about using ice on your hip. Ice will keep that swelling under control.

Take care!

 

[Mad Rocker]

Candy

I am so sorry if I have offended you. I sometimes runoff at the lip...there was no insult intended.

I am so glad to hear that you are getting some relief with the Naproxen. Relief leads to so many things...the best one I like is more and better sleep.

Take care and again my apologies.

 

[C Mac]

Hi Candy,

It's great to hear that the naproxyn helped to settle things down for you, I'm sure it was a relief (physically and mentally). You know the THR surgery is a big surgery and creates a period of time when many sensations and experiences are very foreign to what we've ever experienced before in our body. It is also a bit difficult to translate details about our physical experience into a written description vs. seeing someone in real life and pointing to a particular spot and saying "this hurts, what is it?"

Please don't feel anyone is making light of your situation, we want you to feel better and we want to try to help understand what might be going on, provide support and any suggestions that might come to mind. I hope you'll keep in touch and let us know how things progress.

Take care,
Cardie