THR Sandy's Recovery Thread

[myglasshalffull]

So happy to find this group. I am 70 and 12 days post op, having staples removed today.
Hip surgery 2/16/2022 in St Thomas, USVI while on vacation!
Still experiencing some groin pain which I will discuss with doctor today but otherwise doing pretty good. Will be glad to get staples removed cause they are pulling and makes sitting for any period of time quite uncomfortable.
Anyone have knee pain once walking again? Not sure if this is normal or just more pressure being placed on that joint now. Again will discuss all today with doctor. I'm still using a walker although been practicing with a cane as well.
Thanks for any encouraging words, I've had a couple of crying jags since I returned home but have a wonderful man that has patience of a saint! I'm extremely active, walking 3 miles a day and volunteer at dog shelter 3 days a week, walking dogs before this accident.

 

[Layla]

Welcome to BoneSmart! Thanks for joining us and congrats on your new hip. I’ll leave our Recovery Guidelines and type more in a post below this one.
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.

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

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. Here is a week-by-week guide

Activity progression for THRs​

6. Access to these pages on the website

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

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 the at each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[Layla]

We’re happy you found us too! Yay for staples out today . I didn’t have them and I’m happy because I can imagine they would feel as though they were pulling at times. Thankfully relief is on the way!

Many complain of knee pain post op. Myself being one. The knee is often manipulated rather aggressively during the dislocation process and can feel tight / swollen and painful post op, even bruised. I’d suggest you ice your knee right along with all else (groin) that is causing you pain or discomfort. There is an article on ICE in the Recovery Guidelines above.

Crying jags happen, you’re not alone. There is also an article on Post Op Blues in the info above. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the blues seems to fade as quickly as it comes at times. It will get better. Hang in there, it’s still really early days for you.

I hope you stop back often to share your progress with us. We’ll be here to support and encourage you along the way.

Happy Monday and best wishes with your appointment today!

PS
If you’ll please let us know which hip was replaced, we’ll create a signature for you.
Thanks in advance.

 

[myglasshalffull]

I had my staples removed yesterday, incision looks good no redness or infection. Because I was hurt while on vacation and my surgery took place in USVI I've been using my primary since we returned back home last Sunday. But now I have referral to ortho so he can check to be sure everything is where it should be as well as discuss milestones as far as driving and other activities.
I'm 2 weeks post op tomorrow.
It was my right hip and from what I was told it was the ball that needed to be replaced. I do have paperwork from the hospital on St Thomas and I will bring to my ortho visit.
I'm able to walk pretty good, baked cookies this AM, can stand at stove and cook, etc.
Thanks for being here.

 

[Mojo333]

Hi @myglasshalffull
I was just trying to clarify...did you sustain an injury while on vacation that resulted in surgery?
Did they replace only the ball?
This is known as hemiarthroplasty, when the ball-like head of the thighbone (the femoral head) has been fractured or traumatically injured. The procedure replaces the femoral head with a prosthetic implant made of a strong polished metal or ceramic material. The original cup of the hip socket, known as the acetabulum, remains intact.

I imagine travel back to stateside so early after surgery was tough.

Hugs for healing coming your way.

 

[myglasshalffull]

I actually fell in my driveway on a small patch of ice several days before going on vacation. I had to be helped into the house and felt something had broken. About 3 hours after falling I took myself to Urgent Care in my neighborhood to get some xrays. They took xrays of hip, knee, groin.
Doctor said nothing was broken and 2-3 days should feel better so we proceeded with our vacation.
I was still walking although it was painful.
Around 4 days after arriving on vacation I could no long bear weight on that leg (right).
I was hoping to just get through the vacation and get home to go to emergency room but it became too painful and I was taken to emergency on St Thomas, USVI, we were on St. John, and only service there is a clinic. They transferred me after performing xray and told me I had a hip fracture.
Following day I had the surgery on St Thomas.
I was able to travel 4 days later home. It was a lot sitting all that time, airport, plane, ride home, etc.
I'm seeing ortho tomorrow, staples have been removed and incision is healing nicely.
Ortho will do more xrays to be sure everything is in place and give me a timeline on when I can drive, work, etc.
I'm getting around pretty good on walker, we went grocery shopping today.

 

[Hip4life]

What unfortunate circumstances. I’m so sorry you couldn’t enjoy your vacation. I hope everything checks out tomorrow and you feel you have a better idea of what to expect going forward. It sounds like you are doing pretty well so far. Please keep us posted. Blessings for continued good healing.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Thank you, I'll post tomorrow after my ortho visit.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Ortho visit yesterday, xrays and consult with doctor. Because home ortho didn't do the surgery nothing to compare xrays to, however, "ball" in place and appears to be healing well, however part of implant the goes down into femur was questionable???
One xray looked like all was on healing path but another view concerned the doctor.
So I have to go back in 10 days for more xrays and see if the area in the femur is improving. If so them I can start PT, if not might be back at square one and redo the surgery, so I'm hoping for the best.
I have minimal pain, really on 1-10 scale maybe a 2 and that's not all the time. I'm 16 days post op and not using any narcotics, just Ibuprofen.
So that's where I stand for now.

 

[Jaycey]

however part of implant the goes down into femur was questionable???

It's a bit early to be concerned about any bone growth around the implant. It takes weeks to begin to see any changes. Did you get a look at the x-ray?

 

[myglasshalffull]

yes, I have the xrays

 

[Jaycey]

Can you post the x-ray here? Here are a couple of threads with tips on doing this:
Uploading a picture or x-rays in a post
A few tips on posting x-rays

 

[Eman85]

You mention the ball and the rod in the femur, did they put a cup part in your pelvis too? That's the way mine are done. At 2 weeks I remember getting an x-ray but I remember there wasn't much in the way of bone growth filling in yet. I had an x-ray before my 2nd THR that showed my first and it was obvious the bone growth by then.
If you read many of the posts on this forum you'll find that most of us found PT overrated and not as much help as just walking in the first months.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Seems more I read more I feel PT might not be all that useful as just plain old walking. I broke an ankle 3 years ago and did PT and after a few weeks it was so repetitive and most stuff I could do at home. Plus each time I went it was $35 so that adds up quickly if you go 2-3x's a week.
I'll try and post the xrays

 

[Layla]

Seems more I read more I feel PT might not be all that useful as just plain old walking

Yes! Give that a try for awhile, slowly increasing distance as your body allows. Check out the Big Tip from the BoneSmart Recovery Guidelines -

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.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Thanks, sounds like a plan

 

[myglasshalffull]

Good morning
I've been taking it slow as suggested by ortho I saw on Thursday after xrays. However, my leg overall feels much strong last 2 days. Much easier to get in and out of bed and walking with walker is fairly easy. I'm trying to think positive and hope femur area is ok when it is xrayed once again next Tuesday, however for anyone here that had to redo surgery what was that like? Is recovery worse 2nd time?
I'll be 3 weeks post op on Wednesday.
I'm just hoping and praying everything will be ok but that little voice in back of me head keeps playing out having another surgery.
Only positive for that is I'm home, not 1700 miles away like first go round.
Guess I need a pep talk and some reassurance this AM.
Thanks for reading

 

[Layla]

Easier said than done, but please try to ignore that little voice in the back of your head that is causing you anxiety with thoughts of an additional surgery. At not even three weeks post op, pain is certainly not unusual.

I have minimal pain, really on 1-10 scale maybe a 2 and that's not all the time.

I’d say this is pretty good for only 16 days post op, which is what you were when you posted this last Friday.

It’s difficult to tell what anyone’s recovery will be like, even with a revision because we each heal differently and don't follow the same timeline. I think it’s a good sign that your leg is feeling stronger. The pain you describe sounds minimal and sporadic and you haven’t mentioned that it’s increasing in frequency or intensity. Try to relax, rest, ice and elevate, avoid any PT, but use walking as your only form of exercise. Check this out if you haven’t already and consider following it to stay safely active - https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/activity-progression-for-thrs.13187/

I’m not sure if your appointment is tomorrow, or a week from tomorrow, but I hope you’ll keep us informed. We’re here for you and we care.

 

[Eman85]

Old saying, don't go borrowing trouble. I'd say most of us did something in recovery and had the same thoughts that we messed up the implant and had it turn out we didn't. For me every time I was concerned ice and rest made it better and that showed me it was all soft tissue pain from straining the healing muscles.

 

[Elf1]

@myglasshalffull glad you've joined us. What an unfortunate set of circumstances. Good thing is you're home, you sound like you're doing well all things considered. Your pain seems to be in the area that you would kind of expect so soon after surgery. You're getting noticeably stronger and are able to move about better. I'd say those are all good things. We know it's hard not to worry but try your best to occupy yourself until you get the next day done and done real results. You've got this!