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THR left it TOO long: Left THR Posterior

@Deni444 I’m following your recovery thread here as there’s some great support and tips even though I’m ahead of you. So thank you for the sharing you’ve done.

You’re doing great and I can definitely relate to the look on your husbands face when you try to do some things. My husbands favourite phrase all along has been “please just ask if you can’t quite manage/reach”, but we’re far too independent and so we overdo things. I have MS too so I’m very slow doing some things and he’s been much faster than me at everything he’s done in the last few weeks. I don’t think I’ll ever bother cooking again his meals have been so good . I do hope you’re feeling better today though. Your support yesterday was invaluable and I’m feeling much more optimistic today so a huge thank you for that.
 
Hi @Deni444 I hope you are only nudging light things off high shelves and not tins!
I feel a bit brighter today possibly because I went to have the Doppler scan and no blood clot was found, which is a relief. I don’t think I realised quite how much I was worrying about it. It also means I can stop the twice daily anticoagulant injections.
@myglasshalffull I'm also not a patient person! When I first got back from hospital I was stranded upstairs for a few days and desperate to get down and simply look at the garden from inside. Now I'm able to get into the garden, on crutches, but instead of simply enjoying sitting there I'm noticing all the weeding and tidying that I'm unable to currently do. I really must listen to what you are both saying and pace myself more! I live alone so there are quite a lot of essential daily tasks, though I'm making more use of ready meals than I normally would, and resting between doing things.
 
Thank for your kind words @Eyesnlegs :)

My husband has turned into super chief! I'm actually a bit jealous... I'm going to have to up my cooking game and I thought I was quite a good cook.

I'm feeling a lot better today thank you! I'm still feeling that area in my thigh a bit though, like a warning. I actually think I may have nerves still waking up in the area. Sounds odd .. probably is and I'm imagining it but I ran my fingers through my hair on that side. It seemed to trigger a sensation that travelled to my leg... Maybe I'm just going a bit crazy from sitting in a chair too long but it felt like nerve sensation :snork:

So glad you are feeling better too!
 
@Eyesnlegs

Fantastic news!!! No blood clot :loveshwr:

This popped up after I started writing my last message. I'm thrilled for you. I understand entirely how you must have felt carrying the concern around. I was the same when I was awaiting the swab test on my wound. I knew infection was unlikely but all the same it was like a worm in my head nibbling away in the background.
 
@Deni444 my thigh pain at that stage turned out to be hip flexors reacting to a different gait from pre-surgery and the pulling, tugging and weird positions that the surgery inflicts on us. As commented earlier it took 3 sessions with my osteopath and her deep massage to help it loosen a little it was so tight but it did eventually go from my thigh. I then became aware of the pain at the back of my calf and under my foot which it seems is also part of the pathway for hip flexor muscles and the major nerves and blood vessels from the hip that have all been tugged and stretched as part of the surgery. Just be gentle with yourself and try to do things very slowly. My calf pain was brought on yesterday by trying to tackle the small gradient to my bungalow. So today my husband drove to a local park which is flat and has lots of benches. I had a quick rest on each bench and managed much better. Stamina will come with time, just heal for now it’s still early stages.

I’m finding I have 2 days of progress and 1 day when I’m wondering what I’m doing! I’m keeping a diary to help me remember when I have the left THR done next year.
 
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Deni444 said:
@Eyesnlegs

Fantastic news!!! No blood clot :loveshwr:

This popped up after I started writing my last message. I'm thrilled for you. I understand entirely how you must have felt carrying the concern around. I was the same when I was awaiting the swab test on my wound. I knew infection was unlikely but all the same it was like a worm in my head nibbling away in the background.
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I think this is for @IndigoKnee?
 
@IndigoKnee
@Eyesnlegs

You both have the same colour avatar :heehee:

Sorry, I need new glasses! I was scratching my head a little at one point. It's still wonderful news all around!

Thanks for pointing that out! :flwrysmile: I'll now be retiring for a rest from the screen and a date with some onions in the kitchen.
 
@Eyesnlegs Thanks for sharing the info on the hip flexors. It sounds very logical when you consider how it all fits together. I'm absolutely no expert but a lay person guess would put my pain in the region of the IT band, mid point upper thigh (with muscle sitting behind). I certainly know that after my long period of poor mobility, that my hip flexors are going to be pretty weak. EVERYTHING is going to be pretty weak.

I'll definitely be heeding your guidance to take things very slowly and gently. That's one reason I am such a fan of the BoneSmart approach that advocates for walking as the best physio. If you avoid overdoing it as I did!!! It should be possible to very gradually bring all the soft tissue back to health through walking alone. The key being good walking posture. The huge benefit being that everything gets a simultaneous workout. Meaning nothing gets overly strong at the expense of something else that isn't getting a workout. I've read that can easily happen if you end up focusing on a couple of different isolated PT exercises.

I appreciate you sharing about the staggered nature of progress too. It's early days for me but I'm definitely noticing it's not linear. Up, down and all over the place but we get there regardless of the peeks and troughs.
 
Deni444 said:
@Eyesnlegs Thanks for sharing the info on the hip flexors. It sounds very logical when you consider how it all fits together. I'm absolutely no expert but a lay person guess would put my pain in the region of the IT band, mid point upper thigh (with muscle sitting behind). I certainly know that after my long period of poor mobility, that my hip flexors are going to be pretty weak. EVERYTHING is going to be pretty weak.

I'll definitely be heeding your guidance to take things very slowly and gently. That's one reason I am such a fan of the BoneSmart approach that advocates for walking as the best physio. If you avoid overdoing it as I did!!! It should be possible to very gradually bring all the soft tissue back to health through walking alone. The key being good walking posture. The huge benefit being that everything gets a simultaneous workout. Meaning nothing gets overly strong at the expense of something else that isn't getting a workout. I've read that can easily happen if you end up focusing on a couple of different isolated PT exercises.

I appreciate you sharing about the staggered nature of progress too. It's early days for me but I'm definitely noticing it's not linear. Up, down and all over the place but we get there regardless of the peeks and troughs.
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IT Band is exactly where mine is too. Top of the thigh is a pinch point, then midway down thigh, a 2nd point on the side of the knee cap, but also at times under the knee cap and finally down to the ankle. The new one is the calf but apparently that's connected too. I also get sore in the groin and that is also hip flexors - who knew eh? You take care and take it slowly x
 
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You know the tune “ knee bone connected to ankle bone, ankle bone connected to…wherever!”
One part starts to feel better than something else is sore. My knee was so sore in beginning. Worse than my hip. Then thigh , back, you name it. Just moved around. Oh & groin pain for me was the scary one cause that’s where all my pain was right after I fell.
 
Deni444 said:
:wave:Hello lovely Bone Smartie :loveshwr: :catdance:

Day two still in hospital. Came out of surgery yesterday at midday, surgery took just over an hour. Spinal with enough sedation to be asleep. Just like a GA but without the consequences. I came around in the theatre as they were preparing to move me to recovery. Chatted away with everyone in recovery for 20 minutes. Felt totally normal! Wheeled back to my room.

I'm on all kinds of pain killers but I haven't experienced anything more that a mild ache since surgery. They said to let them know when I feel anything near an achy leg and they top me up.

I've had, blood taken, an x-ray and a physio got me up and moving on crutches this morning. I can get from the bed to my little bathroom, use the raised seat toilet, get in a chair, back to bed. That sort of thing. I feel I can do everything I could do prior to surgery but with a lot less pain. Obviously, I couldn't do much at all prior to surgery. For example, pre op I could almost do a leg slide, it was painful. Today, I could almost do a leg slide and it was a little less painful.

I've basically had log leg in both legs for 3 years. That's actually made this all easier because now I've still got log leg but with good painkillers.

I'm hoping I'll be able to go home today once I've had another physio test this afternoon. I'll let you know.

For anyone reading from the UK, I'm paying for the Nuffield Newcastle. Feel free to PM me for details around surgeon and hospital. For anyone who's interested it cost me £17,350 for a cemented, left THR.

Anyone want to know anything about what to expect.. shout up! I'm sat here with time to chat in-between blood pressure checks
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Hi brilliant How are you now 4 weeks post surgery I'm in UK aswell
 
Hi there @Mich`ee :wave:

I'm doing OK, thank you! I'm at the getting impatient point and from reading the different recovery stories, I'm taking that as progress. It's been a bit slow going for me due to the first 3 weeks severely hampering my other leg, still awaiting surgery and having a massive flare.

I feel like me again if that makes sense? I'm finally sleeping a full night in bed and can cope with bending a lot better. I want to be doing everything but I'm having to increase walking slowly. If I don't, I get a wham of pain and swelling and back to sitting with my legs up all day again.

Are you pre-op or post op? I'm in Cumbria, what part of the UK are you from?
 
Hello I'm in Kent way South of Cumbria Post Total Right Hip 11 weeks now I'm arthritic all over so recovery is slower than most but everyone recovers at their own pace
I've had both knees replaced in the past one 20 years ago FAB 2nd not so 8 years ago that's for another time
Glad you're recovering
 
Hi Mich`ee
Congrats on your new hip and thanks for joining us! I'd like to extend an invitation for you to join us by starting a thread of your own to receive the same support and encouragement you see happening here. If you'll provide the dates of your surgeries and identify the limb and whether it was Left, or Right, we will create a signature for you. Your own thread will be a great place for you to journal your recovery to reflect back upon at a later date.

As a Basic BoneSmart Member (which you are now) you have access to core features of the forum, but some areas and functions are reserved for upgraded memberships. For an enriched experience including the ability to start your own threads and engage in discussions with members and staff about your specific concerns we invite you to join the Insiders Club. Upgrading not only unlocks full access to all forum features, but also provides valuable services like assistance with locating a surgeon, helpful downloads, and entry to the BoneSmart Library filled with videos and in depth articles to support you on your joint replacement journey. Please join us!

Here is a link to check out basic membership vs Insider Club membership -> Become an Insider
@Mich`ee
 
Hello to my 2 fellow UK'rs @Deni444 and @Mich`ee. I'm right in between you 2 hippies in the West Midlands but also in my 11th week of recovery of my Right THR and 9 years since my right TKR but still on list for left THR so I feel your pain both. Frustratingly slow is the best way to describe it.
 
Mich`ee said:
Post Total Right Hip 11 weeks now I'm arthritic all over so recovery is slower than most but everyone recovers at their own pace
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@Mich`ee Welcome to the community! I'm arthritic too and many other members as well. I've found Insider membership invaluable for when I just need that extra boost from people that understand and who have sound guidance based on experience. I look forward to following your progress.

All the best on your recovery journey :)
 
36 Days Post-Op LTHR: Recovery Journal

It's 5 weeks plus a day since I had my left hip replaced and so I'm fast approaching the magical 6 week milestone. The last week has ushered in the beginning of frustration, impatience and overdoing it. I'll just do a summary of each aspect.

Frustration

A good proportion of each day is spent moping over things I still can't do. I want to be able to walk further. I'm sick of using crutches and the chores are piling up around the house after six weeks of being unable to do them. Each day, I'm having to remind myself of how far I've come and all the things I can now do that I couldn't do just a week ago. I'm sleeping well nearly every night and waking up to the alarm and then having a snooze. That alone is massive progress! I hoovered two rooms and dusted yesterday without overdoing it. I'm progressing every day but it's hard not to focus on the negatives.

Impatience

The frustration I'm experiencing is causing me to become impatient. I'm frequently attempting things I know deep down I'm not ready for. Like pushing an extra lap around the garden, despite every muscle shouting don't do it! Telling my husband I'll cook a special meal and then cooking that meal even though by that point in the day my hip is shouting for the ice. Finally, setting out to clip my Tibetan Terrier when I know a key trigger for me is when I twist and turn and bend a lot. I get swelling every time.

Joining the ODIC

Here at BoneSmart they affectionately term it joining the ODIC! That's the Over-Doing-It-Club when each of us at some point, usually multiple times, overdo it and experience a relapse. I posted about my experience following the extra lap around my garden on top of a busy day of chores in the house. My experience was similar to other stories I've read here. The pain was so intense I was for a while convinced I'd done some major damage to my new hip. It didn't come on until the next day and this apparently is often the case. I experienced intense pain in my upper thigh. It was the most pain I'd experienced since coming home from surgery. It came on quite quickly and it was too painful to walk. I'd been off opioid medication for a couple of weeks or so but I had to reach for them. After taking them the pain did not immediately recede. I was resting, legs up above my nose, had ice and still it hurt! The pain did eventually recede a little but stayed around for many hours and was still there in the background 24 hours later. It took another day of resting and not doing much more than bathroom trips for it to settle and disappear.

That was a wake up call, I can tell you! Despite the frustration and the impatience I'll be listening a little closer to my body when it shouts out that it's had enough!

Probably makes the frustration even worse! In fact it definitely makes it harder because I know I have no choice but to develop patience unless I want another trip to the ODIC. I'm sure I'll end up in that club again but hopefully I won't experience the anxiety I initially felt about damaging my new hip.

I'm trying hard to remind myself that it takes a whole year and beyond before everything is finally, fully recovered. During that time I need to remember I will keep progressing... doing more... living more... Enjoying more. I keep reading the recovery threads for a boost of encouragement :)
 
Hi @Deni444 I can relate to all you are saying about frustration! When I was first home I was simply so relieved to be home that I ignored various chores beyond the absolute basics but now I notice, for example, a patch round the kitchen window that wants wiping down…..things in the garden that need tidying etc. It’s so tempting to try and do too much but really our job at the moment is to rest, walk a bit, do whatever exercises seem to help and enjoy what we can do - in my case to sit in the garden listening to the birds is a real pleasure and one I don’t often fit into my normal busy schedule. So we must both be more patient. Sending you hugs. :flwrysmile:
 
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