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THR Second one - hope it's better than the first

Hey guys I have yet another question for anyone that can help me please?

I will be 5 weeks pre op on Thursday!! Yaaay can't believe it's been that long but as some of you know, I have had restricted movement in my hips all of my life.

Fast forward to my protrusio acetabuli diagnosis and my shiny new hip!! Now my surgeon told me nothing so have no idea what style, size etc hip was used but I do know I had the 90 degree restrictions.

I still can't open my operated leg any wider than I could before and have not pushed it due to the restrictions. I am still in pain with the leg and cannot bear full weight on it going up the stairs so still haven't even attempted driving! I use 2 crutches when walking outside as if I use only the one, I have dreadful backache. I assume that's because my pelvis had to be rebuilt with bone grafts. Then my new hip is in the correct place and hence the now bad one plays up. Hoping when this one is done I will be ok.

Anyway my question is this, when I am at the 6 week mark will I be able to stretch my leg and start getting more movement in it? I have to ask you ladies as my surgeon just never gave me any answers and at the moment as I am still in pain, walking is difficult and I still have no movement. I am questioning why I had this done!!!

I know I have been told not to judge everyone else's recovery with my own but everyone else is so positive about the op but I am feeling far from positive! I know that my hip was so bad and if I had left it, it would have eventually smashed right through the pelvis. Not good so I really didn't have any choice but I am not feeling any benefit at the moment?

The only good thing is the intense groin pain that I had when I used to get up from the chair, which used to take my breath away. This bone on bone pain has gone but I do still have groin pain!!

@Josephine can you please advise if I will be able to get more movement after my restrictions please Jo? Oh this journey..........
 
Hi @Bevlah you are still in the very early days of your recovery and you’ve been through a lot more that hip replacement.
I was always very flexible (could do the splits up to about 3 years ago) and have found my lack of flexibility as my joints worsened very hard to accept.
I’ve found that increasing range of movement is a gradual thing and not something you can force. It comes back on its own with time. And it’s a lovely surprise when you find you can do something. At the moment my operated side knee is some way off when I try to bring my knees to my chest. But I’m sure that will come back with time. This operation has finally taught me to be patient.
Please don’t be downhearted when your restrictions are removed and you still find it a struggle to get your socks on etc. I know it was a few weeks after the 6 week mark before I could do my laces up and putting socks is still not easy.
Keep up with your pain meds and focus on gentle walks. Take care of yourself and take your time recovery will happen :flwrysmile:
 
@Jackie222 thank you Jackie I guess I just need reassurance! Trouble is I read an earlier post, can't remember which one, where they were moaning that their range of movement wasnt great at 4 weeks! I started to panic then as I was wondering whether I should be stretching the hips more! As per the instructions on here I am not doing PT, just gentle walking, now I am panicking as my recovery is so slow, that I should be doing the excercises!!!! Aagggghhhh my brain is so confused......:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes:
 
Plenty of time to work on those things...Jackie is right, some things will come when they are ready.
Personally, with the bone graft I would not push that at all.
I know that particular ROM marker about how far you can get that spread has been a concern and hopeful improvement....but way early days yet.
Patience is the hardest...
 
I stopped doing the PT exercises very early on as they caused significant grion pain and just focused on walking concentrating on my gait and not limping rather than distance. My walking is now pretty good and I’m back doing gentle yoga at home, and I do mean gentle I do everything slowly, avoid some asanas and really listen to my body. I didn’t do any stretching at 5 weeks and now at 12 weeks I still don’t push anything. I’ll try things, see how they feel and if they feel fine continue with them if not stop. I found recently that I could cross my legs while seated on the floor BUT I only sat for about a minute as I could feel my hip starting to complain. I elevate and ice every day as often as I can fit it in.
But please don’t take my timescales as what you should be achieving. We’re all different and I didn’t have your issues. Be kind to your body movement will come in time
 
Only one month, dear Bevlah.
Happy Anniversary Hip!
 
@Bevlah - your situation is so different from others. Even without the extra issues, each person progresses at their own rate. You also start from where you were. Give it time!
 
The problem with average recovery time is that some will be quicker and some longer to get to that average. I think you can also be quicker at one thing and slower at another. My common sense tells me that the pelvis rebuild and grafting would make for a longer recovery (but I have no medical background). I do know that over the course of the first year with my left hip, I would suddenly realize I was doing normal things, like squatting to a low shelf at store and getting back up.

I think walking is therapy, and just what humans are meant to do. Certainly talk to os with concerns.

Hope today is not too frustrating for you.
 
Please don't worry prematurely, Bev.
Your situation is unique compared to most.
Five weeks post op is such early recovery. Let's see if Jo can offer some
re-assurance regarding your situation and progress.
Hope your day has been good so far.....wishing you a peaceful evening!
@Bevlah
 
@Bevlah 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?
 
Hi @Bevlah so sorry you are having a slow recovery I can't give you any direct advice although perhaps I can draw some comparisons from my line of work that might give you some hope I refer a lot of people for cataract surgery and then see them for follow up the vast majority of cases are straight forward and within a normal time frame everything has settled patient is happy job done however a small percentage will go into the surgery with known complications glaucoma high myopia etc etc in so many of these outlier cases healing and patient satisfaction becomes drawn out over a longer time I hear the same comments I wish I had not had it done etc but invariably these outliers make a full recovery but the time taken is that much longer I hope that gives a bit of comfort sure you will turn a corner soon
All the best Martin
 
I think it’s hard for us to be patients for extended periods @Bevlah. I know I can be pretty good the first week or two but after I month I think it should all be behind me. I know my first hip was still experiencing healing at the one year mark.

Also, I think we are being a good patient when we bring up things that don’t seem right to us. We are the only one who knows how our body feels so we have to let docs know.

Hope today is good.
 
Going well @Bevlah. Like everyone, I would prefer to be running around after one week with no issues, but this gash in my thigh tells me something has been done that may take time to heal.
 
@MammaT gash in your thigh describes it well!! Mine is so sore swollen and very lumpy which is really not making me happy!
 
Hi Bev,
Wondering if you're still icing with any regularity?
It may help with the swelling....
It will be interesting to get Jo's take on all.
Hope you're having a Happy Valentines Day! :loveshwr:
@Bevlah
 
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