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THR Sept R Hip recovery

R

Reefboy

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I thought I would finally post regarding my recovery for those that are worried regarding their upcoming surgeries. My wife told me that most forum posts are related to issues with surgery/recovery and highlight negative aspects. So, I wanted to post the positive here.

I had my R hip replacement in Sept of this year after prob 6 months of severe pain and almost 2 years of progression to that point. I was to the point of using a cane for daily activities for about 2 months prior. I’m 56 years old and presented with lateral hip pain which I thought was IT Pain radiating into my buttocks. Tried everything from supplements to muscle stripping etc to no avail.

Had surgery using the anterior technique 9/16. Woke up in what I thought was significant pain once the spinal wore off. Had about 5-6 pain injects prior to them getting me up and sending me home. Took pain meds for 3 days and have not needed even a Tylenol for my R hip since. Walker for 1 week, cane for about 1.5 weeks. Released to drive 2 weeks. Did 30 PT sessions with nothing more than an ache from time to time. Honestly, leg feels like a 20 year old hip. I wish I won’t have waited, it was inevitable anyways. So there it is, couldn’t have went better.

Ortho told me he thought my L hip would start soon after and of course he was right. I’m now scheduled for my L hip in May. I’m trying to move it up to March/April if possible. I can only hope it goes as well as the first.

Ron
 
@Reefboy
Thanks for a positive report about your new hip.
Let us know when you have a firm surgery date for your left hip.

Here are the Hip Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

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​
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
​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
​

6. Access these pages on the website
​


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 the 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 the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

OneStep information
 
Nice to hear from you, Ron!
Thanks for taking the time to share such an uplifting account of your recovery so far. I hope your next surgery and recovery goes just as well. Please let us know when you get a date scheduled and we'll add it to your signature and be here for support. I hope you have a Merry Christmas! :carols:
@Reefboy
 
I have some questions regarding my upcoming hip surgery ( 2nd hip). I have a leg length discrepancy of 12.5 mm on my LEFT per my ortho surgeon. It was more like 10 mm prior to having my R hip replaced (9/22). I am going for number 2, which is the one I injured ( had pinned) as a child. Surgeon states he’ll even out so both are now equal first time since I was 13. So the questions are; is there a maximum he can add to the length and is this pretty routine?
Surgery coming up 3/25/23 . Other one went well as above, but I am still starting to freak a little.

Thanks in advance,

Ron
 
Last edited:
@Reefboy
It is common for surgeons to even up the second THR with the first THR. I am not aware of any maximums, but 12.5 mm seems doable. Best to ask your surgeon about the maximum he can correct.

Most of us start to freak a little before surgery, and are relieved when it is behind us.

Here are the Hip Recovery Guidelines to help you prepare for your upcoming THR.

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​
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
​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
​

6. Access these pages on the website
​


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 the 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 the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 
Last edited:
Did you mean 12.5 mm or cm. There is a big difference.
 
Glad you are doing so well!

So far I have had my right hip done. My doc did not want to over correct and cause other problems with my gait. I think he added 7mm.

I am able to use a small shoe lift to level my hips.
 
Glad to read a positive report on your THR. Even with my dislocation 1st week in, I have no regrets having the surgery. The hip pain I experience for years is gone. If I can just get this Numbness in toes resolved, I will be a happy Camper. Good luck going forward
 
L Hip in the books! I went in to surgery @ ~0830, in recovery @ 0945. Took a couple hours for the spinal to wear off. No real pain to speak of, but RN gave me Percocet & Toradol to stay on top pain before it started. PT came got me up, did a few short laps with walker along with a few steps. Was home elevating and icing @ ~1430.

Plan is take pain meds around the clock and solely use walker and evaluate after my first post surgical PT session on Monday.

Surgeon came in and told me legs are now even and expect it to feel off for 6 months or so until my body gets use to it. He didn’t give me any exact length numbers, but it definitely feels longer now. Was off by 12.5mm, so hopefully pretty close. Surgeon stated last week if he gets to a 2-3mm difference, he would consider that a victory.

So glad it’s done!
 
Welcome to the double hippy status! :froggies:
Glad to hear that the surgeon helped to prepare you for the feeling of possible leg length differentials while your body recovers and adjusts.
Your soft tissue will be tight for a while, which can make things feel off, when they aren't.
We recently, like 2 weeks ago, left yu the recovery guidelines so I don't think you need to left here for you to mull over, but just remember that you can scroll up on your thread here to re-read them, if needed.

Rest, ice and keep track of your medications. Back home already, isn't that just amazing?
 
I so appreciate bonesmart! The wealth of information, community, and compassion is surely humbling.

Day 2- no pain to speak of, but still going heavy on the pain meds for now. Plan remains as above, rest, ice, and keep track of meds. Will probably start extending the frequency of the pain meds and see how it goes. Nothing crazy a few hours here and there.
 
Congrats on the second hip. I’m about 7 weeks into my second one and very happy to be getting back to living. I’m even planning some hikes with my wife when the weather gets nicer. Something I couldn’t imagine saying for the past 3-4 years. Hope all goes well with your recovery.
 
Reefboy said:
Will probably start extending the frequency of the pain meds
Click to expand...
Wow, it's very early to start stretching doses. Please give yourself more time! It's so important to stay ahead of the pain, because once you fall behind, it can time to regain control.

You might want to re-read this article about pain management:
bonesmart.org

Pain management: importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart

The process of pain/swelling/healing and all is this In other words, it's not so much that pain causes swelling but that the after effects of surgery is swelling as the after effects of any trauma to the tissues is swelling. So you have a double causative effect (otherwise known as a...
bonesmart.org bonesmart.org
 
Very cool that the differential is better. It sounds as if the surgeon was really diligent and knowing your early history is so important.
 
Trying to adjust pain meds isn't a good idea early on. The pain med problems aren't caused by people taking their prescribed pain meds days after surgery, the pain meds help your body and mind heal. One problem people seem to have is getting in the cycle of doing too much post-op and then taking pain meds because of the pain from that. Or they take pain meds to be able to do unnecessary PT and keep the cycle going.
 
Eman85 said:
Trying to adjust pain meds isn't a good idea early on. The pain med problems aren't caused by people taking their prescribed pain meds days after surgery, the pain meds help your body and mind heal. One problem people seem to have is getting in the cycle of doing too much post-op and then taking pain meds because of the pain from that. Or they take pain meds to be able to do unnecessary PT and keep the cycle going.
Click to expand...
That’s me for sure. Always want to do more. I’m going to take it easy and heal up. If PT pushes me to hard, I’m just going to say No until I’m ready.
 
Day 4- doing pretty well overall. Much more swelling than the last hip. Been pretty much icing consistently. Went to PT yesterday and they wanted me to do leg raises I told them No. I remember those didn’t work out well for me before.
 
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