THR Riding the Recovery Roller Coaster

[mystikfairy61]

@Josephine @Jaycey @bottomshollow @Poppet @Jamie Ok this question is for anyone who has had this happen....I have one annoying thing that is happening. I have tried several times to sleep in my bed, but when I lay on my op side, the muscles in my butt and side start to ache and I end up having to come back to the couch. I can lay on that side only about 10 mins regardless of where I am laying. This is so aggravating, I so want to sleep in my bed but can't seem to get comfortable. It seems like the gluts bother me worse than anywhere else, even just after a normal day. Any suggestions anyone??

Also went for my 5 weeks post op visit and all was well. I did have them take a look at my left knee and I was told that although it wasn't bone on bone that it did have some pretty severe degeneration and a replacement would be needed later on. I asked "so about 5 years or so" and the doctor said probably not that long. He changed me from Ibuprofen to Mobic and has me coming back in 6 weeks to see if it is helping the knee. He asked if I wanted an injection in it and I said I didn't want to subject the tendons and ligaments to the steroids since it is bearable now and I know repeated injections can make the ligaments and tendons brittle. So I will save that for later on if the pain gets worse. That is probably why my knee was hurting so badly when I came out of surgery because it wasn't supported and probably hyper-extended. So now I know I have that to look forward to down the road, although I think I have known it all along.

 

[chaseyboy]

@JoeL...you are so right about -mystikfairy61...one awesome lady!!! I Love her!!!!! Everything she told me was the truth...You will do just fine Joel. I am 3 weeks post op and I have turned a corner. My strength is coming back and I feel good. The anxiety is awful...but really relax. I think I spent to much time stressing out..but I guess its normal.. everyone does. You will see the first time you stand you hip pain will be gone. You are just trading it in for the temporary surgery pain...which while you are in it you feel it will never end but my friend it does....Just take your pain medication on the clock. Don't let the pain get ahead of you. I thought I wouldn't need the meds...but you do. April 1st Joel is around the corner....you will be sooo happy I know you will. Like I keep telling everyone here...If I did this so can YOU!!!!!!!!

 

[ccrofoot]

I second that re:the pain meds. Once in the hospital and once at home missed dosing time and went from pain@2 to 6

 

[Jaycey]

@mystikfairy61 being able to sleep on the op side can take awhile. Can you lay on your non op side with no problem. I can't remember when I could finally sleep on the op side without waking up in pain - but it was well after my 6 week follow up visit. Does sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs help at all?

 

[mystikfairy61]

@Jaycey I can lay with no problem on the other side. I do use a pillow as well and it makes me more comfortable but I can only stay on op side about 10-15 mins. I will just be patient with myself, just aggravated that I can't sleep in the bed with my hubby. Also what is your take on the buttock pain, I was thinking increase in activity but just wanted to be sure. I am still icing regularly trying to keep the pain at bay. It seems like it is just muscle pain the best I can tell. It is located in the middle of the right buttock and to describe it, kind of an achy pain with a little burn to it. The reason I say muscle is because it reminds me of how a muscle would feel if overworked, that kind of sore.

 

[ccrofoot]

I tried aspracream for bum pain and pain on the incision site on a chance it would help. It did some. I also ice the spot . I am 6 weeks post op and I can lay on that side about 15 minutes

 

[bottomshollow]

@mystikfairy61, everyone is different when it come to when they can sleep on the operated side. It was two years post op before I was able to actually go to sleep on the op side. Now I don't give it much thought.

 

[Jaycey]

@Jaycey Also what is your take on the buttock pain, I was thinking increase in activity but just wanted to be sure. I am still icing regularly trying to keep the pain at bay. It seems like it is just muscle pain the best I can tell. It is located in the middle of the right buttock and to describe it, kind of an achy pain with a little burn to it. The reason I say muscle is because it reminds me of how a muscle would feel if overworked, that kind of sore.

I had the same muscle pain - in fact it started as spasms, not just an ache. Increased activity coupled with carrying yourself a new way with that new hip all adds to the aches and pains. Are you still taking pain meds at night? I also found gentle stretches helped - but very gentle at first.

 

[mystikfairy61]

@Jaycey I am still taking Tramadol twice a day,morning and night. My OS also started me on Mobic which I will be starting on Tuesday. Again, just like the sleeping in my bed, I will be patient. Thanks for letting me know, it eases my mind and lets me know I won't be on the couch forever,LOL!!

 

[glmrphy]

@mystikfairy61 , thank you for asking this question about sleep positioning and I am having the same issue. I still have yet to sleep on my UN-operated side, but I get in the bed and try anyway. Not a back sleeper, so I prop and stuff pillows every which way I can in order to sleep. Here's hoping we are sleeping like babies soon with no worries as to position, lol...

 

[Jamie]

These things do take time to resolve themselves. And they usually do. Actually 5 weeks is very early in the recovery process. It is true that you'll just need to be patient with your body as it heals.

 

[mature mama]

Oh Donna, I am there with you with the knees. What is mobic?

My knee got so stiff during recovery from surgery that I still cannot bend it enough to climb a stair or pedal the bike .... such a bummer and really makes me feel like it is holding up my hip recovery.

Good for you on the zumba ..take it slow!

 

[mystikfairy61]

@mature mama Mobic is also known as meloxicam, it is an anti-inflammatory. My OS wants to change me from ibuprofen twice a day to it once a day. Not as hard on the stomach and still a very good anti-inflammatory. Oh my knees gave me a fit when I went into recovery after surgery. Both were extremely painful because they were not supported during it. They are ok now, just my bad left one bothers me a little. I have stopped the zumba for now, don't want to irritate things trying to heal by doing too much. Got really sore after the 10 mins I did, so figured it was too soon.

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

I'm afraid I had lots of pain and stiffness in my knee on operated side after THR ( never ever had any pain before it). I'm six months post op and having hydro and physio for it....it's not awful...just stiff but gradually getting better. Think it all just takes time! Where have you heard that before. Do hope the meloxicam works for you @mystikfairy 61 and that your knee feels better @mature mama xxx

 

[mystikfairy61]

@Hoppy Nanny The OS did some xrays and told me the left knee isn't bone on bone yet but will need replacing down the road. I already thought it would need it, since I had surgery on it in 2008 and it was pretty bad then. But I will worry about that when the time comes, no need to worry about it now. I had pain in left hip and low back before surgery, I think from not walking properly, but that has resolved itself for the most part. Hope your knee continues to improve.

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

So glad that your back and hip pain has improved since the surgery @mystikfairy61.... Certainly a result. Shame about the knee but hopefully now you are walking better it may not get any worse..hope not! My twin sis has just had TKR and doing well! Just hope I don't follow her!.....Chrissie xx

 

[ABZ revision]

Hi again @mystikfairy61
Thought I'd comment on this thread as I don't think we are supposed to chat on the badge of honor thread.

How is your recovery going?

Can I also ask about your shoulder repair? I am having trouble with my shoulder/arm and can't pin point exactly the problem. This has been ongoing for a long time but seems to come and go. It has certainly been aggrevated using the crutches lately.
I just wondered what your symptoms were.
Thanks
Tommy

 

[mystikfairy61]

@ABZ revision I agree about the posts on the badge of honor page, in fact I am going to go remove my post now. Let me see if I can remember the symptoms I had with my shoulder. The way I hurt it was getting up off the floor. I turned over and felt something kind of snap and pull in my shoulder. For the next 8 months, which is how long it took to find out what was wrong, I couldn't raise my arm above my head, and the only way to get the pain to ease was to pull my arm straight and sleep laying actually on it, with it under my body. I could not lay on that side, had trouble brushing my hair, really anything that caused me to have to reach above my head or behind my back. I had a little trouble holding my arm out the the side as well. The doctors treated it like bursitis for quite a while until finally someone said "lets do an MRI" which was when it was found. I was in surgery within a week for repair. The pain from it never really eased up, it was not something that came and went by any means. I sure hope you find out what is causing your shoulder pain and can get some relief from it.

As far as my recovery from the THR, I am 6 weeks post op today. Feeling pretty good for the most part. Still have the energy drain, just can't find the energy to do a lot. The only pain I have now is a deep muscle ache in the middle of the right buttock and a little discomfort when I try to lay on op side too long. My leg strength and ROM has definately improved. I can tie my shoes and put on socks, something I hadn't been able to do in over 2 years. I know I am still pretty early in recovery so I try to remain patient with myself when I feel I need a nap during the day, because I know I am still healing. I wrote a pretty long post a few pages back where I tried to recount at least the first part of my recovery. Feel free to read it if you like. I hope your revision did well and that you will soon be back doing the things you enjoy. I did follow you so I will know when you post so I can see how your recovery is going. Take care my friend!!

 

[mystikfairy61]

Just a little update, I am almost 7 weeks post op and I had an improvement that I did not expect. I was able to paint my toenails!! I was absolutely amazed!! I had been doing stretching and it has helped alot. I feel really good and don't really have pain unless I do too much, which is only occasionally. Then the pain is usually only in the buttock area, and I can tell it is muscle pain. I have to say that this has been the most life changing decision I think I have ever made. Although there was incision pain and muscle tightness after surgery, it was nothing compared to what I had beforehand. If I had to do it over again, the only thing is I would not have waited as long. To all those who are awaiting surgery, the waiting is the worst part. Know that you are making a decision to take your life back and go for it!! You won't regret it!!

 

[Vetgirl]

Hi @mystikfairy61 that is such exciting news about how you feel about your THR... That is why we are all here supporting each other so at the end of the day we can live with no pain and have some quality of life.

Painting your toe nails???? Major achievement ....those stretches must be working. Well done

Keep up the excellent work