THR Mayhip8's recovery thread

[Mayhip8]

Hi I am a 54-year-old female and had left hip replacement on May 8 2019 for treatment of severe arthritis,which was diagnosed four years ago but I tried everything to avoid surgery as I have a young family and am main wage earner - finally I got myself listed in May this year and everything happened within 6 days!! I am listed for hip replacement on my right side in 10 weeks time. I'm on enhanced recovery, stood and walked within 8 hours was discharged on day three walking with crutches taking paracetamol and codeine six hourly. I was performing physio four times a day with up to 10 Repps on heel slides , abduction /adduction , buttock lifts, quads stretch . I walked outside up my street on day 5 and have done a bit further each day ( except yesterday) I mainly stay in bed as I don't have a comfy chair - I do go downstairs x 3 at least each day to socialise and sit for 30/ min periods.I think I stopped pain relief too soon so have re thought the regime . I can't sleep at night mainly because my un operated leg keeps going into spasm Causing me more pain than my operated hip!! If I feel tired I rest. I have been looked after splendidly by my husband and family who have made me food and drinks and kept my spirits up. I removed my dressing and had a shower yesterday (using a sit down stool and grabbers) I Came across this site and have been reading some articles - I'm very impressed by the site and information available.So I Thought I'd join!! Id love to get some feed back and advice and if I can help anyone then I'll try! Many thanks for accepting me .

 

[mollymum]

Welcome to BoneSmart @Mayhip8 You'll get lots of support from here . One of the Admins will be along soon to give you more info, just wanted to say hello from one brit to another

 

[ChrissyW]

Hello @Mayhip8 I too had my surgery this month, on the 4th. I've found this site invaluable because not only is it informative but being in the house recovering it feels like you have a group of friends around you so it provides social well being too. As @mollymum says admin will make you welcome and provide links to some excellent reading. Like you sleeping is my main problem but it seems that it is for many. Mine is aggravated by a sore bottom(sorry for the bluntness) from sitting. Have a good day

 

[Carriemay60]

Hi @Mayhip8 Wow, it sounds like you are doing quite a lot for 13 days out. I am doing mostly walking as my PT and coming along nicely. I think you are wise to re-think your pain killer - it seems to me that most are on them to some degree well beyond 3 weeks.

 

[phillau43]

Hi @Mayhip8 and welcome to the May crowd. I was a right hip replacement on the 7th May and also on enhanced recovery. I’m a 52 yr old male and also gainfully employed and struggled for 4 years before finally giving in! The frequent advice on this forum seems to be to treat the physio cautiously and basically walk, within reason. I felt the physio exercises were simply replicating the walking motion, stair climbing and getting out of bed and as such I’d rather do the actual than the physio and so far it seems to be working. I had my waterproof dressing removed today and the nurse felt there was no need to replace it as the wound looked good and the stitches were dissolving, so I opted for that. I’m doing 3x 10 minute (1000step) planned walks a day plus usual around the house and will steadily increase this over the next couple of weeks, listening to my body though. I am still on paracetomol 2x500mg x 3 daily and 1xnaproxen x 2 daily and 2x aspirin x1 daily. Pain is minimal but I’d rather keep it that way. Good luck with your recovery.

 

[Mayhip8]

Thank you everyone so far for your replies I'm not sure if I can reply to each individual message so I'll do it on mass. This morning I skipped my shower as it's the first day I'm alone as my husband has returned to work, I'll shower when the children come home from school instead, I did manage to make a Bolognese for tea tonight whilst cooking myself a protein rich breakfast. I use the perching stool and aids to help me and was absolutely whacked out when I finished! So I returned to bed to catch up with watching back episodes Of 'line of duty.'

I'm going to be making some new cushions for my chair later so that I can sit and watch telly downstairs in more comfort. I know this is early days but I am well motivated to recover early and to return to work (which thankfully I can do so from home however that's a consideration for the future.) i'm off back downstairs now for phase 2 of my day. Wishing you all well and hoping you are comfortable and feeling okay

 

[HipsterKat]

Glad you are doing well! I just had my surgery yesterday and am yearning for the day I can walk up an down stairs.

What kind of work do you do?

 

[Layla]

Hello, Welcome to BoneSmart and Recovery! Thanks for joining us.
You're pretty ambitious for not quite two weeks post op. We do tire easily this early into recovery.
Take it slow and balance rest with activity. I'll leave the Recovery Guidelines below.
Please pay special attention to the BIG TIP as well as the Activity Progression for THR. It will give you a rough idea of a safe activity level in the early weeks of recovery.

Stop back often. We'd love to follow your progress and offer support as you're healing.
A great rest of the day to you!

Hip Recovery: The Guidelines
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 these

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity progression for THRs​

6. Access to 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 the at each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice. @Mayhip8

 

[Mayhip8]

Glad you are doing well! I just had my surgery yesterday and am yearning for the day I can walk up an down stairs.

What kind of work do you do?

Thanks for your kind words - I hope you feel ok first day after your op. Those stairs will be there for you when you are ready ! In the meantime I wish you a restful comfortable recovery .
My job is as a nurse - at present light duties would mean I do admin/ triage .

 

[Mayhip8]

Hello @Mayhip8 I too had my surgery this month, on the 4th. I've found this site invaluable because not only is it informative but being in the house recovering it feels like you have a group of friends around you so it provides social well being too. As @mollymum says admin will make you welcome and provide links to some excellent reading. Like you sleeping is my main problem but it seems that it is for many. Mine is aggravated by a sore bottom(sorry for the bluntness) from sitting. Have a good day

Hi I agree with what you say, it does feel like a good sense of community on here . Yes a sore bottom is something that I hadn't considered. I wonder if relieving pressure by standing every hour or so would help, also sudacrem for dry skin/ rash ( just make sure you don't have any broken skin/ rash that needs attention. ) I'm resigned to poor sleep- I take my iPad to bed and play scrabble/ music to help me relax- in between two hourly trips to the loo! Bladder on overdrive during the night for some reason!( all this personal info and we don't even know each other ) I've done so much today I'd love to zonk out but I'll settle for a comfortable nights rest. Take care

 

[ChrissyW]

@Mayhip8 what is it with continuous loo visits during the night, I didn't need this many pre surgery! I wonder if it's my brain saying toilet to divert my mind from just being awake for aches and pain? Who knows. I've been using sudocrem but it's not helped much so today I've resorted to using my Elizabeth Arden 8 hr cream so let's see.
Have a good evening

 

[Debru4]

It sounds like you are listening to your body, and willing to step back if something seems to be too much. That is so important. Recovery is so uneven, and just when you think you have the solution to one thing, another one pops up. Slow and steady wins this race

Something @phillau43 said really resonated with me----it was my philosophy as well, and I credit it with my fairly smooth and quick recovery from my surgery last August:

I felt the physio exercises were simply replicating the walking motion, stair climbing and getting out of bed and as such I’d rather do the actual than the physio and so far it seems to be working.

Truly, daily life---walking, climbing stairs when ready, caring for yourself (and home eventually) will address all of your muscle groups and allow you to recover gradually, and naturally! Good luck!

 

[ahipgma]

Well
I read your posts with great interest! I need my second hip replaced too-- first surgery was May 1 and the OS said I have to be at least 3 months out for him to do the other one.
Already my unoperated hip is giving me more pain than my new hip! Only 3 weeks out! Both were the same so when he asked me which one I wanted done first I just randomly picked one.
When I walk my 1/2 mile a day it's the unoperated one that gets tired first.
I'm down to Celebrex acetaminophen, and aspirin to prevent clots at this point.
Yes I have some muscle and incision pain
But in my profession, (bedside RN)
I hate and fear opioids and got off them as soon as I could.
Consequently I am already driving which is nice.
I'm about ready to retire from nursing so dont know if I will go back after hip no.2-- welcome, and wishing you a speedy and full recovery!
Ps: I wonder how long you gave been a nurse. I think after 40 years on the floor it was one of the reasons my hips got beaten up!

 

[Ryesgma]

So glad to see so many hip replacement patients doing well . I just hit my 7 week post op mark and yes stairs are a great physio workout I unfortunately had to do mine when I came home 12 hrs after my surgery I guess I can credit early walking and climbing stairs for my quick recovery (I guess ) still having pain and being tired a lot , was wondering when this will go away

 

[Mayhip8]

Hi @Mayhip8 and welcome to the May crowd. I was a right hip replacement on the 7th May and also on enhanced recovery. I’m a 52 yr old male and also gainfully employed and struggled for 4 years before finally giving in! The frequent advice on this forum seems to be to treat the physio cautiously and basically walk, within reason. I felt the physio exercises were simply replicating the walking motion, stair climbing and getting out of bed and as such I’d rather do the actual than the physio and so far it seems to be working. I had my waterproof dressing removed today and the nurse felt there was no need to replace it as the wound looked good and the stitches were dissolving, so I opted for that. I’m doing 3x 10 minute (1000step) planned walks a day plus usual around the house and will steadily increase this over the next couple of weeks, listening to my body though. I am still on paracetomol 2x500mg x 3 daily and 1xnaproxen x 2 daily and 2x aspirin x1 daily. Pain is minimal but I’d rather keep it that way. Good luck with your recovery.

Thankyou - give my time again I would probably not have waited for my hips to get so bad as It affected my mobility and enjoyment of life ( retrospect is a wonderful thing!)! However I'm looking forward to less pain and increased mobility ( and dancing at Christmas ) I was surprised initially about the advice on physio as I suppose I'm used to the concept and reasoning behind early mobility - I did it in hospital with gritted teeth and a determination to be discharged early ! I quite liked the achievement aspect I suppose? However since returning home and walking/stairs I can feel the benefit in all muscle groups - plus I'm achieving mobilty which directly rewards me ( a brew,time wth family etc). I' m on paracetamol 2x500 x3 daily with codeine 30mgs once or twice (- generally in the evening/night to zonc me out -) and injecting anticoagulant for a month . Yesterday I did masses and really felt it last night - however I'm awake now and not in pain so I'm guessing my body healed a little more during the night.Have a good day today -keep up the good work !

 

[Mayhip8]

@Mayhip8 what is it with continuous loo visits during the night, I didn't need this many pre surgery! I wonder if it's my brain saying toilet to divert my mind from just being awake for aches and pain? Who knows. I've been using sudocrem but it's not helped much so today I've resorted to using my Elizabeth Arden 8 hr cream so let's see.
Have a good evening

Ha! Yes! I wondered if frequent loo visits were my brains way of making my body feel useful too ! As long as it's not a sign of infection and doesn't worsen I'd guess it will settle soon- plus I'm awake in the night and drinking water so that may be the root cause. I love the fact you have Elizabeth Arden on your derrière!! Very extravagant . There's a cream called Bepanthan you can get from pharmacy which is a good barrier cream too - I hope you feel rested and have a comfortable day

 

[Mayhip8]

Well
I read your posts with great interest! I need my second hip replaced too-- first surgery was May 1 and the OS said I have to be at least 3 months out for him to do the other one.
Already my unoperated hip is giving me more pain than my new hip! Only 3 weeks out! Both were the same so when he asked me which one I wanted done first I just randomly picked one.
When I walk my 1/2 mile a day it's the unoperated one that gets tired first.
I'm down to Celebrex acetaminophen, and aspirin to prevent clots at this point.
Yes I have some muscle and incision pain
But in my profession, (bedside RN)
I hate and fear opioids and got off them as soon as I could.
Consequently I am already driving which is nice.
I'm about ready to retire from nursing so dont know if I will go back after hip no.2-- welcome, and wishing you a speedy and full recovery!
Ps: I wonder how long you gave been a nurse. I think after 40 years on the floor it was one of the reasons my hips got beaten up!

Hi - my surgeon asked which I Wanted doing first too but he found a teeny tiny pimple on my right leg and said he wouldn't operate on any leg that had pimples/ scratches/ cuts or spots on- he's fearsome but so good at what he does!.Consequently I'm going to start a whole new cleansing and exfoliating regime prior to my next Op - I'll have the shiniest leg in town!
I'm unable to take Cox inhibitors or NSAIDS so that's why I use codeine. There is heightened awareness of the use of opiates in the UK and the US problem is being banded about in the news recently - to be honest we have worse drug misuse problems than short term post operative pain management so I would councel minimum dose for shortest amount of time then withdraw under supervision for,anyone who need analgesia to enable early mobility and recovery . The main thing is information and education and then we as patients can choose.
I'm so impressed that you are driving already! Well done! My Car is far too low so,I can't see me driving for ages yet.
I've been nursing for 35 years - mainly ward based and God only knows how many millions of miles/squats/lifts/jogs/flat out running to emergencies I did . I do think wear and tear and long/ night shifts contributed to bilateral arthritis somewhat. Wouldn't change my job though- have thought about retiring but hopefully my two new hips will open up other new opportunities for me?!. Have a good comfortable and productive day

 

[ChrissyW]

Good morning @Mayhip8 like me it appears you have decided it is an acceptable time to be 'awake'. I'm 'allowing' myself downstairs when my husband sets off for work and can't happily quit the trying to sleep in bed. It was another troublesome night and your post resonates so much as I feel my mobility during the day is good, I get far less pain in the day but the minute I get in to that bed...aaaargh! So frustrating! Anyway I'm going to have a coffee and see what rubbish or retro movie I can find to watch. Off to the physio later this morning so hope that goes well. Catch you later maybe

 

[Jaycey]

Frequent trips to the loo post op is normal. They pump fluids into you pre and post op. It can take awhile for the body to balance again. You are doing well!

 

[Mayhip8]

Good morning @Mayhip8 like me it appears you have decided it is an acceptable time to be 'awake'. I'm 'allowing' myself downstairs when my husband sets off for work and can't happily quit the trying to sleep in bed. It was another troublesome night and your post resonates so much as I feel my mobility during the day is good, I get far less pain in the day but the minute I get in to that bed...aaaargh! So frustrating! Anyway I'm going to have a coffee and see what rubbish or retro movie I can find to watch. Off to the physio later this morning so hope that goes well. Catch you later maybe

Mmm coffeeee . Hope your physio goes well- we don't have any post op physio in our area! Different authorities have different levels I suppose. Have you heard of " Headspace?" It's an excellant mindfullness App ? I use it to try to relax in the small hours -( and you can take a free 10 day trial). I' m too catching up on telly! ( I never usually get the to watch ) I'm a bit into the real housewives of Cheshire at the mo! Also my go to film is four weddings and a funeral-I watched it my first night home!( comforting) last night I watched Moana with my daughter I'm up to date with Line of duty ( shocking!) so today I will explore Netflix ... After some form filling and making a second cushion for my chairs.Hope your day goes well . Take care