THR LadyJ has a new hip and is doing well.

[ladyj]

I met my date with destiny very early last Thursday morning.
Now, all done and dusted, at home and feeling much more cheerful.
The surgeon was excellent, and a lovely man too.
The private hospital gave me very good service.
Everything seems to have gone to plan, and I seem to have a very much stronger right leg already.
I will keep you posted as I go!

 

[Ocean]

Great that it’s done and you are home and comfortable @ladyj. It’s such a relief when it’s all done isn’t it.

 

[Jaycey]

@ladyj Welcome to the other side! Glad everything went very well. Rest, ice, elevate, meds and repeat. Here are your recovery guidelines:

Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
We are all different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for YOU.“ Your doctor(s), physiotherapist(s) and BoneSmart are here to help. But you have the final decision as to what approach you use.

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 this BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for THRs
6. Access these pages on the website

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

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.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Congrats, take it slow and enjoy the new hip!

 

[ladyj]

I found myself unable to sign in, or find any way to change my password. I have no idea why. I have re registered myself as Ladyj1 rather than as Ladyj.
I have no idea why this has happened. Help please!

The reason I logged in was that I have found myself urinary incontinent.
I was OK in hospital, I am OK just resting and pottering about. If I sleep or lay about when I get up it is like putting a tap on.
I bought some enormous incontinence knickers which at least prevents a flood on the floor.
Help!
I had my THR on 26th January 2023.
Otherwise I am doing OK, getting about on a frame etc.
How long will this last?
Any help or advice graciously accepted.

LadyJ 1

 

[zauberflöte]

@Ladyj 1 oh my that is an awful surprise. I have no idea what's causing this. Can you call your surgeon's office? Hopefully they'd have advice.

What kind of anaesthesia did you have? Did you have a foley catheter at all? When did it start? This is a problem my mother had starting in maybe her late 60's, and it was called "stress incontinence". First it was just sneezing or coughing, but as she aged it became easier to trigger. Hers was from poor self-care after her third child. Those are the only things that I can think might have bearing on this. Sometimes people have the opposite problem, and are kept in hospital until their output reaches some level or other.

One thing I do know is, don't sit in the wet for very long.

 

[Ocean]

Hello, this must be very worrying for you. I think I remember that you said you had it done at a private hospital. I had mine done at a private hospital too and I had a number to ring if there were any problems, if you have a number, ring and speak to someone, if you don’t have a number maybe try NHS111 if you don’t want to wait until Monday to phone your GP.

 

[Jaycey]

@Ladyj 1 Please go back into the profile for this user name and enter the personal details. Until I can confirm that everything on the profile matches except the email address, I can't merge your two accounts.

I assume you want to keep your original user name @ladyj ?

 

[ladyj]

Thank you. I seem to be back in now, fingers crossed.
On the incontinence problem, I have had a certain very mild degree of this occasionally in recent months, but nothing on the scale of the last two / three days, ever.
I do have a hospital emergency number which I intend to ring tomorrow if it happens again.
I was rather hoping you would say that these things happen sometimes.
But I promise I will take the advice and get back to you tomorrow.
Many thanks.

 

[Merrimay]

@ladyj , I've read that weakened hip muscles can cause urinary leakage. Assuming that's true, your OS may be able to give you advice and, I hope, reassurance that as your hip muscles regain strength things will improve for you. Fingers crossed!!!

 

[ladyj]

Thank you all for your support.
I rang the hospital on Monday, just as they were phoning me.
We more or less decided to see how things went as I get stronger, then after I put the phone down the junior doctor rang and asked me to let them have a urine sample. This checked out as no infection, although they are doing further tests. Since then things have on the whole improved, with only one more flood.
I am doing more walking and pelvic floor exercises.
I suspect this will help a lot.
I am only nine days out!

 

[ladyj]

How many hours should I actually spend in bed, including sleeping, each day?

 

[Jaycey]

How many hours should I actually spend in bed, including sleeping, each day?

This varies with everyone. Some members nap throughout the day. If you are tired and need to sleep - do it! Very early days for you!

 

[ladyj]

Off to physio today.
The incontinence has reduced severely, thank God. I started to do very short walks outside the house, but have recently been very exhausted. My surgeon warned me about this, apparently all my bodily energy is going into the healing process, so not to worry, just sleep!
It will be strange to go into town today.
My husband bought me a bottle of champagne (for Valentines Day) to celebrate when I can walk from our house to the end of the road.
it really isn’t far, but looks like the holy grail at the moment!
Hope the physio is kind!

 

[Gloucestergal65]

@ladyj
My first challenge out of the house was at least a week after my op, possibly ten days, and was a challenge from a friend (who had had knee surgery so understood the importance of getting out) to deliver two Xmas cards to neighbours in the street - one 4 doors up, the other 5 doors down. It took me days to psych myself up to going that far but I was pleased when I had. Small steps (pun intended).

 

[myglasshalffull]

Happy to hear incontinence issue is lessening, so annoying for sure.
Hope your trip into town today is positive and don't let physio make you do anything you are not comfortable doing.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

 

[ladyj]

No!
Physio was lovely. She is teaching me how to walk properly again!
Something I haven’t done for about a year!
It seems I am about where I should be at this stage, day 19!
I float on your good wishes!

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary!
I hope physio is going well for you and you're pleased with your progress. Let us know when you have time.
Have a great week!
@ladyj

 

[ladyj]

Thank you so much.
i am still doing pretty well. I have a back problem, exactly the same back problem I have had on and off for forty years.
In my experience the only thing that helps it is enough exercise to strengthen the muscles, so I am trying to walk as much as possible.
I don’t need crutches or anything indoors, and I can walk a reasonable distance outdoors, but I use my three wheeled walker to go further, just to make sure I can get back.
Still taking pain killers, but more for the back pain than the hip.
My hip feels more stable than it has for years.
Actually going to the haidressers tomorrow. First time I have been into town!
Doing physio exercises, which are fine, not strenuous and very much in the Bonesmart mode.
Your support has been priceless, and has kept me going through the difficult times.

❤️❤️

 

[Mojo333]

Good to see your update, dear @ladyj
Only I month post op and sounds very normal... hopefully as time goes you may see some improvement in your back pain...
Lots of resting can get your back complaining...it did mine!
Hope the rest of your week is lovely.
Everything is better with better hair