THR RTHR recovery

[Jujubee50]

I had my right hip done January 23, 2023. I now have bilateral hips. Left was done July 14, 2021. I am noticing with this new right one that when sitting with my legs extended, my foot tends to prefer to point to the right. I have to consciously make it point straight. The left hip does not do this. Is this norma? Anyone else notice? Hopefully my implant is correctly placed!

 

[Layla]

Hello Jujubee50 and welcome to recovery!

I experienced the same before and after THR. My surgeon referred to it as external rotation and assured me surgery would correct it so I was a bit concerned afterward when I noticed it hadn't. I did bring it up at my first post op visit and was reassured it would ease with time which it did. I am guessing it will be the same for you, but I'm sure you'll feel most assured hearing this from your surgeon, so don't hesitate to raise the question at one of your post op appointments.

I will leave a copy of our Recovery Guidelines as a refresher with best wishes for your comfort and a smooth recovery!

HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES

As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.

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

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity progression for THRs​

The recovery articles
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.

 

[Merrimay]

Hi, @Jujubee50 , I came out of surgery with the foot on my left operative leg pointing inward. I worried a lot. At my 6 week OS visit, he was nonchalant. Took an x-ray and reassured me that everything looked great and the situation would work itself out.

I'm now at 3.5 months. The foot is straighter, though not as straight as the other. That said, I walk fine with the operative leg. leg. Remember that you're still very early in recovery. When do you next see your OS?

 

[Eman85]

Don't panic, my right had a similar problem and my left didn't. It all worked out in the end.

 

[Newhip_Pol]

At rest both my feet tend to externally rotate but now 3+wks post second op I can reposition both limbs as necessary and walking seems ok. Second outpatient PT visit for RTHR due on Tuesday (4wks postop).

 

[Ocean]

Hello, my second hip surgery, the right, made my foot turn in. The physios said straight away that I must consciously try to make it go forward. It righted itself when I did this.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Mine turned out, has corrected itself.

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary!
How is recovery going for you? I hope you're doing well. We'd love to read about the progress you're making if you have the time to share an update. Hope to hear from you soon.
@Jujubee50

 

[Jujubee50]

Thank you for all the replies! I forgot to mention it to my surgeon at my 2 week visit. Now at almost 5 weeks out and it seems to be normal. Feeling pretty good, still have some soreness in the joint area when walking. Definitely figuring out I have good days and bad days. Today having more of the burning pain just above my knee towards the outer part of the thigh. Surgeon had told me the burning is a good sign. He said that means the nerve did not totally shut down. It had gone away for about 2.5 weeks. Now is coming back. Still a lot of numbness there as well. Some days I feel almost ready to ditch the cane, then I think I overdo things and get very sore the next day. Cannot wait for it to feel like my other one. Also been dealing with superficial (hopefully) incision infection. They put me on Keflex. It does seem to be clearing up. Just hoping that is not what is causing my soreness in the joint area.