THR New LHS Hip 16th Nov<

CAPELLA

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I'm so pleased to have my new LH hip fitted on Fri 16th Nov. I had anterior approach with spinal block and light general anaesthetic. I felt nothing and woke up in a pleasant euphoria. Everything OK and was home on Sun. I’m using a cold pad and elevation to reduce swelling and 50mg Tramadol with Paracetamol or Ibuprofen every 6hrs to control pain. So far so good.
 
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Yours sounds similar to mine - I had antero-lateral with spinal block and sedation. If you carry on as you've started, I'm sure you'll do well. I'm at 4 and a bit months now, and most often forget that I've had a new hip - apart from appreciating the mobility side of it - but I must admit that for the first few weeks trying to sleep on my back, etc., made it a bit more miserable. Soon over though! (BTW, I'm fascinated by your tag - Capella - nothing to do with singing is it?)
 
Good to hear you're doing well after only 4 months. Sleeping on my back is not too much of a problem for me and I'm hoping that rule will end after a short time (I must check that.) My wife has disappeared into the spare room because of the snoring. Capella is the model of my Sea Kayak pictured on a beach on the west of Ireland.
 
@CAPELLA Welcome to the other side! Sounds like you are doing well! Ice, elevate, meds, rest and repeat. You are on your way!

Here are your recovery articles to refer to during this journey:
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
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

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.
 
Congrats and welcome to recovery! :welome:
Stop by often, we'd love to follow your healing journey and support you along the way.
A great rest of the week to you!
@CAPELLA
 
:wave: and good to see you on the healing side!
Back sleeping is definitely a common plaint of recovering hippies.
Was for me too.
Hope you are comfortable (as possible at this point) and try not to rush things along.
Slow and steady is definitely the way to win this race!
Big investment in a happy strong hip pain free life!:yes!:
 
I was told to sleep on my back for 6 weeks, then gradually introduce side sleeping with pillows. I sing in an a cappella choir, but your kayak is probably more fun! Assume you're hoping to get back into it a bit easier in a few months.
 
:wave:@CAPELLA
How is the recovery going?

One month is prime time for getting bored and impatient.
Hope you are doing well!:yes:
 
Hi all esp my LTHR 16 Nov buddy @Alitm. Managed a short walk outside for the first time today with 1 crutch and it was wonderful to be out in the fresh air. Will try the Christmas market tomorrow with my wife as escort. Off painkillers now except for the occasional ibuprofen. Fingers crossed that will not change after my light exertions today. Feeling a little guilty at doing zero PT but will probably start soon.
 
Happy Monday!
Great update, thanks for sharing. You're doing really well. Strolling around a Christmas Market sounds fun.
I hope you enjoy it and have a great week. Don't feel guilty about not engaging in PT. Check this out -

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.

Until next time...Enjoy!
@CAPELLA
 
Great news left hippy twin @CAPELLA! Things are coming along quickly for you...excellent!! Lets hear it for the one crutch club!!! Last hip I moved onto hiking poles, but am finding I am leaving my crutch in various places in the house. It is said here to keep using an assistive device until we get ride of the limp. @Layla and @Jaycey recommend focusing on the heel to toe walking to help with one's gait. I've found that really helpful both times.

My OS recommends walking as much as feels comfortable for the first six weeks, and it has stood me in really good stead thus far with both hips. I found my ROM increasing as built up the walking, it just happens. I have found with both surgeries if one walks, eat well (not including all the baking and goodie that well meaning folk drop off), rests, ices and sleeps as well as possible, and find the balance with all that, the healing and movement just unfolds. Don't feel guilty about the PT, there is plenty of time for that, after your soft tissue structures heal. I can feel how strong my new hips are, but was also aware that the soft tissues needed to heal before I did/do more.

Everyone's pain tolerance is different. I've been off the strong stuff since end of week two and am downgrading on the frequency of the acetaminophen, but still need it for my activity level. I find I still get stiff and achy without it!

I am sleeping a bit on my first op side now with the pillow between my legs, but still mostly on my back with the the elevation pillow under my legs. My poor husband sleeps through all the pillow arranging mid shift!!! :heehee:! I am allowed to drop the pillow between the legs and the raised toilet seat at six weeks, but OS would like me to adhere to the 90 degrees until three months...although I can lift wheel barrows and hay, to comfort, or about 50 lbs, at the six week mark. I am also allowed to start the elliptical machine or swim at six weeks. I originally hail from Bermuda (lived there for 52 years) and find I have a hard time getting my head around an indoor pool, smelling of chlorine (call me spoiled, but that is what is available to me in my area here), so will go the elliptical route I think!! Have help with the horses until the end of the third week in January, so will have some time to devote to physio before I get back to mucking out!

When do you hope to get back to kayaking? Do you cross train at all for that?

Onwards with the healing!! Wishing you and your family the very best for the holiday season!

Alison.

:treestar:
 
A Happy New Year to you all. I had my post op meeting with my surgeon at week 6. I drove myself to the appointment which was no problem as my car is automatic and it was my left hip. I think he was a bit surprised to see me still with a crutch but after sitting for a while I find I need help to get going again. After going through a few exercises and an x-ray he told me all was well so that was a relief. He told me I could return to my table tennis after three months which is great because I was thinking more like 6 months. I’ll see how I feel when it comes to it.

On the way out I met the chap who had been ‘done’ before me and we had a laugh about having to walk to theatre and climb onto the operating table ( I felt like running away at that stage lol) and how pleased we were to have had a Catheter which meant no frequent loo breaks but a bit of an ‘ouch’ when the nurse took it out. I think I was more worried about having a Catheter than the operation but on balance it was a blessing. We both had spinal block and a light total anaesthetic which was fine except we were both sick afterwards.

I was feeling my recovery was a bit slow compared to some (it’s that competitive thing) so today managed a 2 mile walk and only used my stick for about half of that so I am well pleased.

Onwards and upwards.

Best Regards

Bob
 
I was feeling my recovery was a bit slow compared to some (it’s that competitive thing) so today managed a 2 mile walk and only used my stick for about half of that so I am well pleased.
Please do not feel pressured to do more. Your recovery is just that - yours! I hope you have done 2 miles with a stick before. If not, perhaps rest tomorrow and do half as much the next day. It's all about building up gradually.
 
How is recovery treating you @CAPELLA
1546117540-HAPPY_NEW_YEAR.jpg

New Year and good things to come!
 
Happy Two Month Anniversary!
and
Happy New Year!
I hope 2019 is all you want it to be.
@CAPELLA
 
Coming up to 3 months since my op and still have some pain at the top end (pelvis end) of my hip. Also after sitting down for a short period and first thing in the morning the pain is quite severe. Having said that after a hot shower and 200mg ibuprofen I can walk fairly well unaided for 2miles or more and can tie my shoe laces.
I'm a little concerned that I still have pain and wonder if this is normal.

Best Regards

Bob
 
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Hi Bob,
Sorry you're struggling with some pain. Since you mentioned it can be quite severe I'm tagging the forum Nurse @Josephine. Please check back in case she has questions for you.
I hope you have a nice weekend!
@CAPELLA
 
I'd really like to offer you some structured advice but in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?
 
Yes please I would be very greatful for your advice.
 
Here y'go then!

It would be very helpful if you would answer each one individually - numbered as I have done - in as much detail as you can then I'll come back as see where you are

1. what approach did you have for your surgery? Anterior, posterior, lateral? You can look here to see the various types THR approaches or incisions

2. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't forget to factor in other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness).

3. what pain medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

4. are you icing your painful area at all? If so, how often and for how long?

5. are you elevating your leg. If so how often and for how long?

6. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

7. are you doing any exercises at home? If so what and how often?
This is the most crucial question so please help me by using the format I have left as an example
(which means please make a list and not an essay!)

Exercises done at home
- how many sessions you do each day
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.

Anything done at PT
- how many times a week
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.
 

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