Left THR in just over 2 weeks time

JAS

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East Sussex
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I suppose I have been aware of problems in my left hip for about a year but was not severely incapacitated and so thought I would soldier on. However, this last couple of months there has been increased pain, particularly when standing and putting weight on that leg initially although not so bad that I cannot walk unaided and no problems with sleeping. I was persuaded by my daughters that I should go and see an OS (actually the "God of hips" in my area) and I was lucky enough to get an appointment within a week.

That was yesterday and I was very surprised when I saw my x-rays (taken just before the consultation) that the left hip is bone on bone and needs replacing. Surprised mainly because I did not feel that the pain was that bad!! Anyway, I have a very busy summer coming up and the arrival of another grandchild by C section in August when I will need to be fit and active to help look after the other grandkids (4 and 11 months currently) I was delighted when the surgeon said that he could fit me on to his list on 17th May. This leaves me very little time to get myself organised and I am now starting to panic. I have already booked the dog into boarding kennels for nine days and will probably go home to my daughter's for a few days before returning to my own home - I live alone. The surgeon specialises in minimally invasive rapid recovery techniques and reckons that I will probably only be in hospital for two nights. I would be grateful for any tips and advice to help me through this....thank you.:snork::sos:
 
@JAS Welcome to BoneSmart! You are SO lucky to be able to get a surgery date so quickly. Are you going private?

Have a read around this site. Lots of information on pre and post op. Here are a couple of articles from our Library that might help get your prepared:
Recovery Aids: A comprehensive list for hospital and home
Recliner Chairs: Things you need to know if buying one for your recovery
Pre-Op Interviews: What's involved?

And if you want to picture what your life might be like with a replaced hip, take a look at the posts and threads from other BoneSmarties provided in this link:

Stories of amazing hip recoveries
 
JAS, I was in almost the exact same boat as you. I was bone on bone but my symptoms were not too bad. The about 4 months ago, I started going downhill and they gradually were getting worse. I did lots of reading and found there was no way to improve my situation other than surgery. Dr said cortisone shot would not work once it is bone on bone. That is when I decided I needed the surgery so I had it in Thursday, 4/27 and got back home about 7pm yesterday, 4/28. So far I've been extremely blessed to not be in much pain and even in these two days post op, I can see a couple tiny improvements. I'm certainly not running around by any means but I'm comfortable and using my walker to get around. Every medical person I spoke with said it was a good decision to get it done before it progressed more. I was limping quite a bit in the last few months and that will mess up my other hip if I continued limping so I'm happy with my choice and I hope you will be, too. I wish you all the best. Keep us posted.
 
I had a similar experience, as well. Intermittent pain that gradually got worse until...I fell off a cliff. Figuratively, not literally. My husband had to drag me off to the OS, as I was convinced that the problem was muscular rather than in the joint itself. Big surprise. Frankly, I think I'm getting off lightly, as compared to many others, and I am grateful! Seems best not to wait till things are intolerable.

I've started using a cane to un-weight the hip, and that's helped to reduce the pain considerably - something to try till surgery? If you don't have a memory foam or latex topper on your mattress, that might help as well. Guided imagery and relaxation audio specific to preparing for surgery can be very helpful for nerves and for reducing stress load, aiding recovery. Check out healthjourneys.com

There's lots of great information on the site about preparing your house and your self for surgery. My THR is May 22 - i'll be right behind you!
 
JAS, keep reading the various posts on here, especially the post op ones where people talk about life after surgery, sort of like a day to day journal type post. It really helped me get prepared and know what to do and what to get. One item that has been a huge help is the walker bag I made. If you don't sew, you can also get a small bicycle basket for the front of your walker. I can go to kitchen for a bottle of water or snack or my phone and carry it back in my bag. It works great. I got that idea here on the forum. Also, keep posting any questions you may have as there is always someone to help. I have loved the support on BS. It helped me a lot!
 
@Jaycey Yes I am going privately - I have been paying out every month for private health insurance for the last goodness knows how many years and decided that I might as well use it!!! I am finding all the helpful tips very interesting and have already ordered (and received) two very large ice packs and a non slip mat for the shower, have been given two grabber thingies and have been offered two toilet seats!!! Need to go shopping for a couple of nightshirts, tracksuit bottoms etc, and stock up the freezer with ready meals.
 
Hi Jas. Mine is in 5 days (May 9th) and I can't wait! You said minimally invasive technique.... is your surgeon coming in from the side? Mine is and its a technique called Superpath although there are other names. If you are, I know other people in the UK would be interested in your surgeon's name! :)
 
JAS, one other preop thing I did was get a pedicure and I'm so glad I did. With the OA, I hadn't been able to reach my toes good for some time so getting thenpedicure and a good nail clip was perfect. I only got the basic so it wasn't too costly. I got the idea here on BoneSmart - maybe one of Josephine's tips.
 
Hi @JAS
I had a LTHR 7 days ago. Fully cementless. My pre op thread was all about shall I or shall I not get it done. My pain fluctuated massively, 2 years ago horrendous, 3 cortisone injections (only 1 helped) and then the past few months I've had minimal pain making the decision harder.
However X-rays don't lie and after hearing from others who have had to wait in agony for months I decided that I didn't want to be in awful pain again so I went for it.

I'm doing well, sleeping a little difficult hence writing this at 4 in the morning! Pain manageable now and looking forward to slowly recovering. I definitely need to pace myself!

There's so much advice on here to prepare you and your home. Little things like buying a long lead phone charger to use whilst you're in hospital so it reaches the bed! I moved my clothes around so that everything is reachable in drawers so you don't have to bend. My underwear used to be in the bottom drawer! Slip on shoes and slippers with backs, nightshirt in hospital far easier than pyjamas!

In the kitchen I moved plates etc up high so again you can reach it all without bending.
I'll be interested to hear how your recovery goes. Good luck and warm wishes.
 
Slowly getting myself organised for next week and have pre-op nurse/physio appointment on Thursday. Reading through all the paperwork sent from the hospital I was horrified to learn that I will have to have my gel polish on my finger and toenails removed before admission!! (after many years dealing with horses and never having nice nails this is my one big "thing", so not a happy bunny about that!!) I have arranged to get it all removed and have a pedicure two days before surgery and will be champing at the bit to get it re-done as soon as possible afterwards! I love having pretty nails . Otherwise all seems to be going to plan.
 
I was horrified to learn that I will have to have my gel polish on my finger and toenails removed before admission!!
There is a very good reason for this. Staff can assess oxygen levels by looking at your nails. If they are painted they don't have this tool. Same thing with excessive face makeup - changes in your skin tone can signal a problem. It's only temporary - you can have those nails done again post op.
 
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I got a pedicure just a few days before my surgery and that was nice - a treat to myself I guess you could say - but I had to tell them no polish :-(
 
Hi @JAS
I am about 2 months post - op THR and I can totally relate to you about your gel nails \
I was horrified to learn that I will have to have my gel polish on my finger and toenails removed before admission!!

I also have a blood circulation issue, so the doctor insisted on having a clear access to fully seeing my cuticles on both feet and fingers. I had not been without polish in decades, so this removal of all polish was difficult to bear! (Especially since I'd just gotten the pedicure the day before the doctor told me to remove all polish! Lucky I just had to change the finger nail appointment from re-gelling to REMOVING gel, that was to be the following day.)
But, of course I did have everything removed thoroughly, following all doctor directions. Good thing I did, as my cuticles do turn "purple/blue" from blood circulation issue.

I also re-arranged all my kitchen and bathroom cupboards to allow me to easily reach everything that I use most often, to be in reach, thus removing everything I use frequently from lower cabinets and putting at eye level shelving. It's amazing how many items I won't miss using that my hubby put back into the lower cupboards !

I also have suggested to other pre-op members here that my favorite discovery was wearing "men's boxer underwear" after surgery. The loose baggy underwear is so much easier to pull on, and the cloth fabric does not touch the incision, since it's not tight on your skin. Just measure your waist and buy the men's boxers according to your waist measurement and they'll fit fine.

If you want to ask more questions to anyone on this site, we're all more than willing to help ease your mind. I did not find this site until after 2 weeks post-op, but would have been better informed and prepared if I'd found BonseSmart prior to my surgery.

Keep us posted on your thoughts and progress.
 
@HippyHappy Nail gel polish comes off on Monday!! I like the idea of men's boxers and will investigate this later this week, particularly as I am having posterior approach and anything with elasticated legs might be pretty uncomfortable!
 

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