THR jcee444’s recovery

[luvcats]

Some brains are just wired for anxiety. Mine is for certain, I finally got medication for it.
It might help you to have an 'infection checklist' Is it redder? Take pictures and do regular comparisons. Are you running a fever? Keep a temperature chart. Has the pain increased? Evaluate every morning before you start moving around.
Anxiety doesn't have to be logical, or based in any reality. Sometimes anesthesia or pain meds, or chemical shifts just from the changes can make your brain weird. See if fighting back with data might help.

 

[Layla]

Why do we sometimes get consumed with this kind of obsessive thoughts????

You're not alone. Many worry about possible complications early on. It's a natural fear. You worked through it all logically, so believe what you've attributed the groin and thigh pain to... a result of overactivity, basically the aggravation of healing soft tissue. Take it slow and easy, you're still in the early weeks of recovery in the entire scheme of things. I'm guessing you recall from previous surgeries / recoveries that any obsessive concern over something going wrong fades with time.
Wishing you a peaceful day!

 

[Bentleysmom]

Posterior patient, also. At Day 10 I’m just trying to listen to my body and let it call the shots. Elevation helps me get comfortable, and I’m able to sleep in my recliner best (all the way back it’s almost flat), with my legs up on 2 pillows. Ice is so important; most of my exercise is walking back and forth to the freezer for another pack. I had borrowed an ice machine, but unfortunately it didn’t work. We’ve had some hot, rainy days in eastern NC, but I hope to maneuver my rollator outside for a bit tomorrow. Hang in there!

 

[proffrench]

I'm a member of the "High Anxiety" club also-- have been for many years. Each ache and pain or weird sensation is automatically worst case scenario. I think our anxiety is worsened when we have a lack of proper sleep. I'll be 7 weeks tomorrow and already had a crying jag and "I'm never going to get better" pity party by 8am. My poor husband. I'm hoping that when that magic night arrives when we can sleep comfortably on our sides-- even the non-operated side-- that our outlook will improve. When did that night arrive for our veteran hippies? And @luvcats -- I take xanax as needed for my anxiety which flares at night and causes major insomnia. Sadly, since my surgery, xanax is the only thing that will knock me out for maybe an hour or 2, if I'm lucky. So to @jcee444, you are not alone when your mind travels to places of fear of infection or complications. I'm discovering rapidly that this is the site to go to for reassurance based on years of experience.

 

[jcee444]

Thank you all for your reassuring replies. As least we all realise we have this trait. I would hate to keep heading off down Catastrophe Road without a means of finding my way back. Common sense prevails most of the time thank goodness.

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary!
Hopefully all is well and you're making steady progress. Let us know when you have time.
A great week to you!
@jcee444

 

[jcee444]

Thank you Layla. It’s been a slower recovery from this hip than the last but I have to remember I was a lot younger then and also that this hip has been adjusted to even up the extra leg length which Ive struggled with since my first THR. A lot of my pain has been in my back and Im certain that this is all the muscles etc having to readjust to me walking very differently. It has resulted in some sciatica if I walk non stop for a fair distance but am hoping that this will dissipate before too long.
All in all Im a lot happier than I was a week after my op when I was wishing I hadn’t gone ahead with surgery. I think too that the pain and not knowing what was causing all the problems affected me mentally as much as anything. Am finally able to sleep on both sides although my sleep pattern is still not good. Am not taking any pain killers now and most importantly i am now thinking positively.
Best wishes to all who are undergoing hip surgery. I have seen it from both sides - one hip a very quick recovery and one taking a bit longer. At the end of the day it has got me walking again and that was my main wish.

 

[Jamie]

@jcee444 …. How are things going for you? I hope your body is continuing to adjust itself and letting you become more comfortable. I’m assuming you’ve replaced all your shoes following this surgery. If not, that should help things along as your old ones all have old wear patterns that can impact your gait.

I had alignment problems too after my hip replacement and it took me a year to figure out that I really had a problem and another 6 months for a therapist to help me get things in place. I had a lot of muscle tightness, weakness in the gluteus medius and quadraceps plus my SI joint was slightly off kilter. It took a combination of traction, manual manipulation, exercises, and pressure point therapy to fix things finally. And, now I’m working on strengthening. Long road for sure, so you may need some patience for things to get normal again. If possible, I’d suggest you find a physical therapist who is trained in these things and has worked previously with hip replacement patients who had similar problems.

I am somewhat confused by your posts and your signature that seems to indicate both a primary Right THR and a revision. Can you please clarify your surgeries for me so we can make sure your signature is correct?

 

[jcee444]

Hello Jamie. I had my first THR (left) in November 2009. This surgery left me with a 2cm leg length difference which created all sorts of problems for me and resulted in me having to have all my walking shoes made with a ‘lift’ inserted.
I was due for the right hip to be replaced in April 2022 but due to sudden illness that surgery had to be delayed. I finally had my second operation (THR right) this year in March. The surgeon managed to adjust the leg length difference for me but of course this has now created more problems as my body has had to adjust to a new way of walking.
My main problem now comes with sciatica which kicks after Ive been walking for about 10 minutes. Apart from that everything else seems to have healed well at last though I admit the first couple of months were a real trial and one I would not wish to repeat. Im not sure where the impression of a revision came from as I have never had one?

 

[Jamie]

@jcee444 …. Thanks so much for the clarification. We’ll get your signature straightened out. I’m not sure how that happened either.

 

[Jumeirah]

Well I know it’s only day 5 but am already questioning whether I should be having so much pain sitting (pain at the site of surgery) and the same on releasing the presssure when I stand again. It’s very intense burning pain but the area around my dressing looks fine apart from some bruising. My leg is not swollen or inflamed. I also feel pain down my thigh when I walk. My daughter keeps telling me its early days but Im really not sure what’s ok and what isn’t. I am off the Oxycodone as here in UK they only provide 5 tablets then its over to codeine and paracetamol. Im finding myself worrying about these things . My daughter says Im walking better but it is not without pain. Am I asking too much of myself?

I have exactly the same problems as you have. I am now week 8 and still have pain sitting and the same releasing the pressure when a stand up or move from bag sleeping to side sleeping in the night. Do you still have these problems or did they finally go away?? Best regards Connie

 

[Jumeirah]

S

Well I know it’s only day 5 but am already questioning whether I should be having so much pain sitting (pain at the site of surgery) and the same on releasing the presssure when I stand again. It’s very intense burning pain but the area around my dressing looks fine apart from some bruising. My leg is not swollen or inflamed. I also feel pain down my thigh when I walk. My daughter keeps telling me its early days but Im really not sure what’s ok and what isn’t. I am off the Oxycodone as here in UK they only provide 5 tablets then its over to codeine and paracetamol. Im finding myself worrying about these things . My daughter says Im walking better but it is not without pain. Am I asking too much of myself?

I have exactly the same problems as you have. I am now week 8 and still have pain sitting and the same releasing the pressure when a stand up or move from bag sleeping to side sleeping in the night. Do you still have these problems or did they finally go away?? Best regards Connie

Sorry sleeping on your back I meant.. it’s now slightly better than some weeks ago, but it’s still a big problem for me…

 

[benne68]

My main problem now comes with sciatica which kicks after Ive been walking for about 10 minutes.

I experienced something similar after my THR, and was told it might be Piriformis syndrome rather than sciatica.

Take a look at this article to see if it is useful for you: Piriformis syndrome