THR Reanda on the other side!

[Sportsider65]

I am at 8 weeks now. My pain was similar but in the quad muscle on the front of my leg. I couldn't bend my knee until week 3. This was due to the beating that muscle and area around the surgery received in surgery. After that I could gradually bend that knee and stretch that muscle a bit more each day. By the end of week 5 I had very little pain and could bend knee past 90 degrees. Yours being on the back of the thigh might be different. Try baby steps each day and don't push past any pain.
Good luck. Hope you are kicking footballs soon.

 

[Reanda]

Thanks Sportsider65. I don't have much quad pain, it's at the back of leg, I can easily bend the leg. It's not stiff, but hurts after bending, like a spasm. ! So just worried in case something is amiss in that area. I will not push it as you suggest.

 

[Schaargi]

Hi @Reanda

That does sound like your body is saying, "Hey, I'm not ready for that yet."

I had a sharp pain that went from my back and down my leg. My physical therapist told me to back off and don't even test it for several days. She said the testing would aggravate it and to just leave it alone! (She knows me too well.)

At three weeks, there are still a lot of muscles and tendons that are angry and need more rest.

 

[Reanda]

Thanks for posting. I'll endeavour not to 'test it out' and hope it will improve soon. In the meantime I've been a bit stupid and decided to play my piano as I've missed playing so much, and used the right foot pedal. I sat on raised cushion sensibly and only played for 20 mins or so and nothing felt uncomfortable or wrong. However... Later in evening pain in hip! Never had pain in my actual hip but now I do. The pedal pushing has obviously aggravated it and I am suffering the results. Totally my fault.

 

[Schaargi]

@Reanda

What?!? A piano playing injury? Oh, I'm so sorry. Who would have thought playing the piano would make your hip angry.

Actually, it makes sense, as you are hovering over and then pressing the pedal. It's definitely more work than meets the eye.

Things will get better, I promise. Take a couple of days off and then play for 10 minutes. It's good for your soul!

 

[Layla]

I’m so sorry to read this, Reanda. I’ll bet you‘re feeling like you can’t win. Enjoying a few minutes engaging in something you love and now dealing with the physical repercussions. I call NOT FAIR! I hope a day of rest icing and a good nights sleep has you back to feeling good.
@Reanda

 

[Reanda]

Thank you Layla.

 

[Eman85]

That's interesting. I asked my OS if I could play piano after my THR, he said sure. I found that strange as I could never play the piano before my THR. Sorry, I just couldn't resist a little Marx Brothers humor. Hope it passes and you can get back to playing.

 

[Reanda]

Ha ha... Very funny Eman85!!

 

[Reanda]

I can still play btw but foot now planted on the ground rather than tapping on pedal!

 

[Schaargi]

@Reanda

That's a start!

 

[Reanda]

4 week update. Hi fellow hippies! Glad to say the pain running down back of leg has almost disappeared and the soreness in hip around incision area has lessened. My leg and hip still has soreness and pain from time to time but not enough to need pain meds so that's a result!
I am generally feeling more normal day by day. I am doing household chores - trying to be slow and careful so not to breach the 90 degree rules which I have to keep up for 2 more weeks at least.
I use 1 crutch only inside and also for my little walks which I take most days if not raining (we've had lots of rain and storms!). I walk for about 20 mins which is enough at this stage. I feel I am on the brink of dispensing with the last crutch! As I am finding myself wandering across the room without crutch but my hip tells me 'No' not yet.
My daughters have stopped popping in so regularly as they see I am coping alone quite well.
The only issue is the blasted compression socks which I can remove myself (just) but cannot put on. So I'm having to time my showers for when someone will call round to put clean ones on!! I'm supposed to wear them another 2 weeks. Mmmmm. Not sure I can manage that. Advice anyone? I'm on blood thinners for 1 more week and fairly active now, can I safely stop wearing them?
On Monday I'm being taken out by car for lunch, my first excursion to outside world..Can't wait.

 

[Bodie’sMom]

Sounds like, you are doing great! Are compression socks a UK thing? I bought compression socks, once and tried to put them on with my sock puller. I gave up, pretty quick! We don’t use them here in Canada, thank goodness, or I’d be taking a shower with them on! I was on blood thinners, for a month too and no issues with swelling.

 

[Reanda]

Hi Bodie's Mom, yes they area a thing in the UK, though not all surgeons advocate them. It's to prevent blood clots (DVT).
As I understand it hip replacement ops are one of the riskiest for blood clots due (so I have read) to the potential escape of small fragments
into the circulation system. The compression socks maintain circulation during the unavoidable inactivity, hence helping to prevent DVT. Its a 'belt and braces approach' I suppose. But I'm definitely fed up with those socks!
Hope you're doing OK.

 

[MsRenay]

@Reanda So glad to hear you're steadily improving. I had to buy larger compression socks and and I also bought the ¼ length crew compression socks to put on when no one else was around to help me on certain days. They do feel good once you get them on tho.

 

[Layla]

I'm supposed to wear them another 2 weeks. Mmmmm. Not sure I can manage that. Advice anyone? I'm on blood thinners for 1 more week and fairly active now, can I safely stop wearing them?

Are you able to check in with your surgeon on this? I did and my surgeons PA told me that they prescribe wear for longer periods of time because they know people will probably cheat and that they’re happy if people are wearing them at least half the time. I am not advising this, only relaying my experience. I wore them initially and I believe I was able to keep them off for four hours out of every twenty-four. It’s one of those things that varies form surgeon to surgeon and some don’t even prescribe them. Since you’re still on aspirin and if you’re active enough, they may cut you some slack and tell you to wear them for less time, or stop altogether. It may be worth your time to call and ask for less time in shackles, lol.
Happy Saturday to you!

 

[Reanda]

Thank you Layla - and after reading this I did indeed ring for advice and was told I don't need to wear them any more!! I could have hugged the practitioner! She said providing I'm mobile and on the blood thinners for another week that's fine. So socks! You're time is up..

 

[Layla]

Freedom!!

 

[Schaargi]

Yay!!!!! I HATED those awful socks!!!!!

You will certainly sleep better and feel better without them!

 

[Reanda]

5 weeks tomorrow! According to what I've read my recovery seems average. So I'm trying to be patient with fact that I still have considerable soreness around incision site and thigh. Sometimes bordering on painful. Is this normal? I realise my increased activity level may be responsible for this, but I really don't think I'm overdoing it. I do light household chores as I live alone and walk daily for about 20 mins. I've been out twice to a restaurant with a friend which was marvellous! And made me feel normal and functioning. But the nagging soreness is there. Ice doesn't do much, elevating helps as does ibuprofen and paracetamol which occasionally I resort to. But think pain meds should not be necessary at this stage?
I use 1 crutch inside and out, although I am capable of walking across the room with no aids, but it hurts so I avoid. I seem to have a limp.
My checkup is on 29th Dec, I hope to get positive feedback then. But I am just dreaming of being able to walk around pain free and walk some of my favourite countryside places.
Happy Xmas to everyone!