THR New left hip 20 October<

[Jamesdean]

1. Posterior

2. Stabbing upper thigh 4
Swelling feet 4

3. Paracetamol 500 8 per day
Ibuprofen 200 2 bed time

4. Yes icing 40 mins 3 times a day..started 2 days ago

5. Yes. elevating at least 3 hours. Started 2 days ago.

6. tea making, lay table, washing clothes, some washing up, sandwiches, some hoovering

7. Buttock clenching 20 mis during day, ankle pumps 20 mins during day, static quads 20 mins during day. Walking around the flat using one crutch about 30 mins per day.
PT stopped after made me do bridge exercise and it hurt too much. Physio stopped after incision bleed 5 November. Outside walking now down to twice a week (sorry for essay).

NB Pain in thigh greatly reduced when stockings are off.

Sorry forgot pain and numbness around incision site about 3 when I sit on it. Also, because of bleed have had 6 taxi trips in 4 days which were painful.

 

[Josephine]

3. Paracetamol 500 8 per day
Ibuprofen 200 2 bed time

What times are you taking these?

7. Buttock clenching 20 mis during day, ankle pumps 20 mins during day, static quads 20 mins during day. Walking around the flat using one crutch about 30 mins per day.
PT stopped after made me do bridge exercise and it hurt too much. Physio stopped after incision bleed 5 November. Outside walking now down to twice a week (sorry for essay).

Don't apologise for the essay - make it a list please!

 

[Jamesdean]

6am midday 6 pm 11pm. Ibuprofen 10 pm

Ankle pumps 7mins 3 x day
Static quads 7 mins 3 x day
Buttock clenching 20 mins 2/3 times a day
Walking 30 mins per day

 

[Jamesdean]

Morning all. Woke up to find I had another bleed overnight so will try to get the district nurse to visit....Much easier said than done. This is the second time for me. It's coming from the small hole where they tied up the stitches and then just snipped off knot. Last week it happened and Sent to hospital in evening, they put on dressing but had to go back the next day to see the surgeon who checked the dressing and then back again Saturday to see him to change the dressing. He put on a waterproof one and said it wouldn't bleed again and take off after a week but alas dressing now bloody again. District nurses in our area not keen on coming out so it will be a struggle.

 

[Mojo333]

Gracious...are you also taking blood thinners?
I do hope they can come so you don't have to worry.

 

[Jamesdean]

hi, yes, injecting blood thinning everyday since operation and thankfully only 4 more syringes to go. waiting now to see if GP has referred me to district nurse???

 

[Mojo333]

they contact you soon.
Sorry you are dealing with this...

 

[Jamesdean]

Thank you @Mojo333 . Just phoned GP and I have been referred so as long as district nurses have referral they will visit at some time today, fingers crossed, touch wood etc UK system can be complicated at times. Last time I was told I was referred I wasn't referred. Also when I went to GP to get my sick note for work they had not been informed about my hip replacement by hospital!!!!

 

[Mojo333]

Oh my stars...don't need to be dealing with all that nonsense when you are trying to get well.
Wish you would ask nurse about the thinner as you are so close to being done with it and you are having these bleeds.
I'm certainly not any kind of medical professional but seems like that can't be helpful. Do ask!

You aren't even one month out and this can be a time of really struggling with post-op depression and cabin fever. Was for me, anyhow.
I do hope this is the last of this kind of incident. Sending good mojo your way!

 

[Bionic]

@Jamesdean
I hope the district nurse turns up today Andy that things turn out to be ok

 

[Jamesdean]

Thanks for good wishes. Well done @Mojo333 as the district nurse is going to suggest to my doctor that I stop the blood thinning injections and maybe knee high stockings instead of thigh high. Yes district nurse has been and fantastic. Wound cleaned and redressed and said it was very clean anyway. She is also going to talk to GP about pain meds as apart from

@Josephine I have no idea what I should be doing/taking. this was not mentioned on leaving hospital. They gave me enough for 5 days and that was it. Apparently I was supposed to contact my GP but no-one told me about that or I was stupid not to think of it myself.

Thanks for your support.

 

[Mojo333]

Oh thank goodness...and glad you got rid of those horrible stockings too. Torturous...

Apparently I was supposed to contact my GP but no-one told me about that or I was stupid not to think of it myself.

Certainly that isn't stupid.
You just had a major surgery and alot of hiccups. And you aren't usually a complainer I'm seeing ...so how were you to know?
I'm betting if you get your pain meds sorted...maybe he will let you just ditch any sort of stockings? and that incision tightens up..you will be on your way.
Try and have a good day friend.
This will all just be a memory one day and that new hip is going to be a blessing...not a curse.

 

[Jamesdean]

I am very privileged today, not only did I see the District Nurse I have received a phone call from my GP. However, as only 4 days left of blood thinning syringes have to finish and as only 2 weeks 3 days of stockings left [but who is counting] should keep them on, oh well. Although if I could walk to his surgery and back without pain can take them off straight away, its 2 miles so keeping them on and we did have a laugh about it. As regards meds he is anxious for me to stop ibuprofen as I had real big problems with naproxen before op so am moving on to cocodomal 15/500 6 to 8 a day with plenty of prune juice, figs, fruit, veg and liquorice which works for me.

Having absorbed everything that has been said on bonesmart I felt I was in a position to ask the doctor about the exercises. Told him that I was having problems with especially the heel slides [hurts my mid thigh] same for inner range quads and quoted if it hurts should I stop - no was the answer just push through with them as best you can. I was surprised with his answer as he has been somewhat of an ally for the last couple of years but he said that I need to do as much as I possibly can because of not really having used the muscles on my left leg for at least two years and just dragging it round with me. Will stick with bonesmart I think and some nice walking and some exercises unless they hurt, I have at least until first week of January before I go back to work so no need to hurry. Ugh, work, bakery in supermarket, still a jobs a job and at least I wont be longingly looking at the evacuation chair or lift to get me up and down one flight of stairs and can clear off quickly at knocking off time.

 

[Layla]

I hope the bleeds stop. Surprised your GP has you finishing the blood thinning protocol with only 4 days left. Wondering what he attributes the bleeds to at 3 1/2 weeks post op?
Those socks are miserable. I wanted to burn mine in a bonfire once I was done with them
I think you're wise in stopping any exercises that hurt. You're leg is injured, why do something that causes you pain? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
I hope today is a good day and you are feeling stronger week by week. You're on your way!
@Jamesdean

 

[Jamesdean]

Hi @Layla and thanks for message. He said that finishing the blood thinners important to avoid any problems. But no-one has actually mentioned what has caused them and that includes surgeon, houseman, staff nurse, district nurse and doctor but all agree better out than in and that the wound is very clean.

I feel better without the stockings but only 17 days left...I have little points to aim at: one dose left for antibiotics for the bleed :4 days more syringing : 17 days more stockings: 20 days before driving and seeing surgeon : 24 days before best friend and wife come to visit for the weekend and I go to restaurant : 42 days Santa comes down the chimney and brings everyone at bonesmart only good things and futures. And should Santa trip he can have my f.......... crutches

 

[wcgirl]

I tried to stop blood thinner shots early, but my mum had leg clot, so I had family history. I also inherited her skinny legs! I enjoy your sense of humor. Thank you for holiday good wishes on your countdown.

 

[Jamesdean]

Hi @wcgirl . Your legs don't look that skinny in your photo. The thigh high stockings do not suit me in any colour. You are brave having both hippies done, I need other one done but not just yet...not brave enough....

 

[Josephine]

@Jamesdean I'm so sorry to be so long answering your questions. But here I am - finally!

2. Stabbing upper thigh 4, swelling feet 4
pain and numbness around incision site about 3 when I sit on it.
Pain in thigh greatly reduced when stockings are off.

If the TEDs hurt, then take them off! They are really only required for the first few days when you are not very mobile. But now that you are, they are unnecessary.

3. Paracetamol 500 x2 1am, 6pm and 11pm.
Ibuprofen 200 2 10pm
cocodomal 15/500 6 to 8 a day

This isn't a good routine for pain meds.
You need to take the co-codamol regularly every 6hrs, even in the middle of the night. So a 6hrly routine would be 8am, 2pm, 8pm and 2am. If necessary, set your alarm to make sure you take and 2am dose.
You see, these meds are only active in your system for about 4-5 hours so if you take them at 11pm and then not again until the morning, that means you have 2-3 hours with no pain meds in your system at all.

Apparently I was supposed to contact my GP but no-one told me about that or I was stupid not to think of it myself.

That's a great shame but in truth, we would tend to regard it as standard practice so the hospital staff probably wouldn't tell you.

4. Yes icing 40 mins 3 times a day..started 2 days ago

Good

5. Yes. elevating at least 3 hours. Started 2 days ago.

Better to elevate when you ice!

6. tea making, lay table, washing clothes, some washing up, sandwiches, some hoovering

That's quite a lot for 3½ weeks out. Did you read the recovery articles that were left for you in the third post of this thread? In that list was this article Activity progression for THRs which clearly lists what activities you should be doing and when:

Week 3
Lengthen the walks to about 15-20 minutes once a day, maybe twice a day if it doesn't cause your hip to be painful.
Activity: prepare yourself a meal or help prepare a family meal but not all of it.
A little bit of laundry but not all of it.

Weeks 4 and 5
Increase walks around to 30mins, longer if you feel up to it.
Activity: now you can do some dusting and push a vacuum round the middle of the living room; do a little meal prep (for yourself not the family!), maybe fill and empty the washing machine​

Ankle pumps 7mins 3 x day
Static quads 7 mins 3 x day
Buttock clenching 20 mins 2/3 times a day
Walking 30 mins per day

As for exercises, at the end of the list of articles (in post 3) there is a paragraph with the heading BIG TIP
It read thus

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.​

I know your GP said otherwise but he is wrong. And even more so when he said to push through the pain. Do not ever do that. It is the pathway to getting worse pain, trust me.

 

[Alitm]

@Jamesdean So glad you have joined the forum. You won't regret it. Thankfully my OS told me to walk to comfort only for the first six weeks while the new joint capsule was forming and all the soft tissue that was "disturbed" (I get a laugh out of that as they were more than disturbed!!) are re-forming (joint capsule) and healing. He wouldn't give me a rehab schedule per say, but said no to PT. I followed the Bonesmart Activity progression for THRs and it really has stood me in good stead. I can't emphasis it enough! I'm back having my second hip done on Friday, and I will do exactly the same again. I am a very active person, so it was hard for me, but the benefits are fabulous! My muscle memory is still there, but the muscles need to heal first, before going back to normal activities. The icing (and elevating) for the longer periods of time and frequency per day really help the healing. The healing just unfolds if we let it. I've read so many threads where folks ramp up the PT while they are still healing, plus activities of daily living, and they have developed all sorts of soft tissue problems....which really could have been avoided. At six weeks my OS cleared me to swim or start the elliptical, but actually didn't mention PT or encourage it!!

Good luck with your continued healing journey and I wish you comfort!

I had a good laugh at your countdown.....nice gift for Santa if he trips A good sense of humour gets us through some situations!

 

[Jamesdean]

@Josephine Many many thanks for getting back to me....have started on the meds as you have said which makes a lot of sense [normally sensible and my name do not figure in the same sentence]. Walking will be as you suggest and of course elevation and icing.

Like many on here, was disappointed with my setback but that was really brought about by the unexpected bleed, although of course that could have been my fault for pushing too hard, who knows.

Can't thank you enough for your help, other than do not cross your legs after surgery had no idea what to expect, how the heck I ever passed a degree I do not know. Oh yes, I remember now, I just did enough to get by.

Also, I forget that for a good couple of years, my left leg was just a passenger so obviously muscle etc etc will take some time as will my new gait, I did walk like I had one foot in the gutter for a couple of years, so having two legs the same length will take some getting used to for my whole body, already feel that I am so much more upright when walking....

Thank you once again for your help. It's fantastic and please you should not have apologised for taking time to get back to me. Sorry for the essay, next post will be in bullet form.

@Alitm Kind words thanks, and really helpful. I am beginning to understand but as I am merely a man it will take me some time to put it all into practice.