THR Mum of 4 in recovery

[Mumof4]

Hey I'm at the other side now I'm on day 3 post op. Currently laid up in bed with an ice pack on my groin the medication from hospital as warn off and I'm feeling it . I've also got a toilet frame thank you very much I can't wait to be pain free

 

[MarilynR1234]

Congratulations here’s to an easy and safe recovery!

 

[benne68]

Hey I'm at the other side now I'm on day 3 post op.

Congratulations on making it to the healing phase of this journey!

When you feel up to posting again, please start a new thread in the Knee Recovery section to update us about your experience.

 

[Zorro]

The worst is over Mumof4. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[Jaycey]

@Mumof4 Welcome to the other side! I started a recovery thread for you and moved your post op content to it. Please keep us updated on your recovery here. You might want to bookmark this thread.

I'll leave your recovery guidelines here for you:

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.

 

[Mumof4]

Thank you everyone. It's going well really hard to get in and out of bed and to do the excersise the hospital sent me home with. Any ideas when my leg will stop feeling so heavy and when the pain starts to go. I'm not rushing it I understand its major surgery just wanted to know how long I will be suffering. Thank you x

 

[Jaycey]

Any ideas when my leg will stop feeling so heavy and when the pain starts to go.

This is different for everyone. My suggestion is stop the exercises. They aren't really needed this early out. Just walks around the house at regular intervals throughout the day. Focus on ice and elevating. And most important - rest! Log leg (as we call it) will ease with time. A belt from a dressing gown or a dog lead is a great leg lifter.

Please do take your pain medication as prescribed and around the clock. At this stage it is important to stay ahead of the pain in order to get more mobile.

Early days @Mumof4 !

 

[Mumof4]

I was thinking of putting of the excersises it just feels too much at the moment thank you. I will try the dressing gown lead too thank you so much x

 

[benne68]

it just feels too much at the moment

It is! My surgeon told me that my only job for the first couple of weeks post-op was to rest and recover -- which is what I did.

Your body is using all of its energy to heal right now. There will be plenty of time to exercise later.

Sending hugs

 

[springs12]

Hi there! I am just ahead of you! June 22nd! My surgeon and his PT were very clear at my pre-op that my job was to rest the first two weeks. I was told to get up and use the restroom or get a drink of water. My only PT exercises were bed exercises for circulation, and the PT told me if any of them caused me pain or discomfort, not to do them. I mostly did ankle pumps, abdominal bracing, and glute sets. There were a couple gentle quad ones that some days I said no way and other days I could do. I was to use the walker for 2 weeks no matter how I felt. I was bored out of my mind. Haha.

My leg felt really heavy those first two weeks and started to improve the past few days after I switched to a cane and started moving more. That's just my experience. From reading these threads, it's really amazing to see how different all the journeys are.

 

[Mumof4]

Hi there! I am just ahead of you! June 22nd! My surgeon and his PT were very clear at my pre-op that my job was to rest the first two weeks. I was told to get up and use the restroom or get a drink of water. My only PT exercises were bed exercises for circulation, and the PT told me if any of them caused me pain or discomfort, not to do them. I mostly did ankle pumps, abdominal bracing, and glute sets. There were a couple gentle quad ones that some days I said no way and other days I could do. I was to use the walker for 2 weeks no matter how I felt. I was bored out of my mind. Haha.

My leg felt really heavy those first two weeks and started to improve the past few days after I switched to a cane and started moving more. That's just my experience. From reading these threads, it's really amazing to see how different all the journeys are.

Wow thank you so much for this yes I can manage going for a pee and getting a drink just them standing exercises kill me. I'm definitely going to wait till I'm stronger for them ones then it makes me feel so much better reading how other people got on. Such a peace of mind thank you. I thought I wasn't doing enough and it would affect my hip after but your plans sounds perfect for me! Really appreciate it x

 

[springs12]

standing exercises kill me.

Did they give you any bed exercises like ankle pumps for circulation? Just simple and gentle. Like you said, the leg feels heavy and like a log. How's your pain doing now? Did they send you home with pain meds?

 

[Mumof4]

standing exercises kill me.

Did they give you any bed exercises like ankle pumps for circulation? Just simple and gentle. Like you said, the leg feels heavy and like a log. How's your pain doing now? Did they send you home with pain meds?

Hey yes the leg pumps and things I can manage the sent me home with paracetamol they barely even help a headache. But luck enough I managed to speak to my gp yesterday and she got me some oral morphine sent out the same day. And the improvement is huge I feel so much better today I've noticed I'm more mobile. Still sticking to the bed excersise for a couple of days. Starting to get swelling too but I do feel much better. Thank you

 

[myglasshalffull]

Take advantage of this down time and relax, all will work itself out, no need to be exercising other than the bed exercises to keep circulation going. Get up, use bathroom, grab a snack and back to bed.

 

[Mumof4]

Hi not sure if I'm writing in the right place sorry if I'm not. Just wanted a little moan I'm 10 days post op today I've been feeling great hardly any pain I even got to walking with one stick. I woke today feeling really positive then went to my first physio appointment they gave me loads of new excersises and I had to try them there one been squats. All hurt me so much I'm now in absolute agony is this normal I can't walk struggling to get in and out of bed. My mobility was so good before the appointment I feel so down in so much pain all day I'm so disappointed is this normal? Thank you

 

[springs12]

Hi not sure if I'm writing in the right place sorry if I'm not.

Hi there! I think you are supposed to post in your original thread, but it seems like no worries. It looks like a staff member will move your post to your original thread. I'm sure it's no biggie.

I woke today feeling really positive then went to my first physio appointment they gave me loads of new excersises and I had to try them there one been squats. All hurt me so much I'm now in absolute agony is this normal I can't walk struggling to get in and out of bed

I am so sorry! I had posted in your other thread that I am a little ahead of you....June 22nd. I cannot imagine doing squats. When I read people are given that at PT, I am in total shock. I'm 4 weeks post op on Thursday. Most of my PT has been very gentle. I was given new exercises to start at my two week post op appt for weeks 2 and 3 and then 4 and 5. At 6 weeks, my surgeon's personal PT in his practice will evaluate me. Mine are super gentle...like I do pelvic tilts that give me the most gentle stretch, and I love them. I never push myself and if it hurts, I don't do it.

The veterans on this forum and the staff say PT is not even necessary, so I would go back to taking a break and ice, ice, ice after this PT session you had. I hope you get to feeling better quickly.

Also, I'm 44 with 2 young kids. You are young with littles it seems by your username. I know it's hard and you just want to get your life back and get moving. Slow and steady really does win the race. Listen to your body. It will tell you if what you are doing is working and if what you are doing is not. Many hugs to you.

 

[Hip4life]

@Mumof4 I am so sorry you are now in pain from PT. Ten days out from surgery is WAY too early for any PT. This is NOT training, it is recovery from MAJOR surgery. Some PTs do not understand about THR recovery. This recovery can take up to a year or more to complete and all our hips really need is walking to recover but even that not to excess. I understand that you are probably anxious to get back to life and your young ones but as you have experienced, too much too soon just sets you back in your recovery. So where to go from here?

First, rest, ice, and elevate! Apply ice to your hip (wherever it hurts) for 45-60 mins with a cloth between your skin and the ice. Do this at least 4 times a day if you are able. Get that leg up while you are doing this. I would suggest you back off of the PT for now. Just try walking for now. Several weeks down the road if you feel you need to, you could always try PT again. Even then, it should NOT be aggressive. You are allowed to decide to hold off on a therapy mode that you feel is not appropriate. I and so many members here only walked through our recovery and did just fine. You sound like you were, too, until your ill-timed session this morning. Get back to that positive, hopeful place in your recovery again and don't do anything to or let anyone jeopardize that for you. Blessings going forward. Keep us updated.

 

[Debru4]

When my surgeon told me before I had my hip replacement that I did not need PT, I was skeptical, as I had a mental association with joint surgeries needing rehab. But I trusted him and am so glad I listened to his advice.

Daily life activities surprisingly involve far more of our core and other muscles than we realize as we move through our days. From climbing stairs to getting our mail, we use more parts of our bodies than we are aware of, since our motor responses are so embedded in our muscle memory.

I had a fairly easy recovery and I attribute a large part of that to not pushing myself, and not doing PT. I gradually increased my activity and listened to my body. Thanks to a wise, and supportive surgeon, and a heavy dose of good luck, I was in a good "head space". I have no doubts that had I pursed PT or a more rigorous recovery, it wouldn't have worked out so well for me.

 

[lanstan]

I agree with all of these wonderful people. I read their posts when i found this at 3 weeks and I never did any more PT. I am generally an active person so I just did activities I loved and didnt do anything that hurt. Like Debry4 said what we normally do every day as we slowly heal it all works out much better. Now if you just sit or lie down all day you have to move and walking is great. Be sure to read the exercises in the first thread from a moderator. I was doing some that are really a no no. Best advice I have received here!

 

[benne68]

Hi @Mumof4! Just checking in to see how you are doing as you near three months post-op. Please give us an update when you have a chance.