THR sportbrown's Hip Recovery

[benne68]

Thanks for sharing this, @sportbrown. These details will be so helpful -- and reassuring! -- to others who are still in the early days of their recovery.

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary, sportbrown!
Thanks for sharing your healing journey with us. May it only get better!
@sportbrown

 

[sportbrown]

Thank you both!

 

[sportbrown]

Hello! Today is my 4-month anniversary. I'm doing about the same as I was at the 3-month anniversary....still very stiff, still pain upon getting out of chair or bed, still need assistance getting socks on, still walking slowly, etc. etc. Additionally, I've developed a bad case of tennis elbow (though I don't play tennis) just from the struggle of getting up from chairs and bed, and my shoulder is painful, too. I also have developed plantar fasciitis on my non-operated foot/heel because I'm relying so heavily on it to get up and down from sitting and from bed and up and down the stairs. This surgery has helped my hip (though not all better by any stretch), but it has harmed other body parts, unfortunately. I think one major problem for me is that I'm very tall, and so getting out of bed and chairs is harder because my hips are lower than my knees, which makes it difficult. Anyway, that's the truth as I know it. I'd like to feel I'm improving, but this may be as good as it gets. Thanks for reading my post.

 

[mendogal]

@sportbrown
Nope, you have at least 8 months before it's "as good as it gets" in terms of healing and various soft tissues settling in.

To optimize things...

I strongly urge you to get large sturdy elevation blocks under your bed, dinette/dining room chair, plus what you like to sit on in the living room. It's not good for re-settling tendons and ligaments when you keep struggling with knees above hips when sitting or trying to get up.

We did it with our very heavy sleeper sofa in the living room - including paying our handyman to help lift the darn thing! - it was a game changer!

Have you seen a well regarded local podiatrist for treatment of your plantar fasciitis? Are you icing under the arch by rolling ice made in a little dixie cup?

 

[myglasshalffull]

Yes, all those aches & pains come with recovery for many of us. Me, my knee, my shoulders, etc.
Then top of my foot developed arthritis. What the heck?
But now after 2 full years I'm back to all my activities. One year post op I was pretty much back to normal but I did continue to improve in Year 2 as well.
It takes time, we need to take that big "patience" pill that none of us want to take.
All my best.

 

[benne68]

I strongly urge you to get large sturdy elevation blocks under your bed, dinette/dining room chair, plus what you like to sit on in the living room.

I want to second this, @sportbrown: I am NOT tall and I really struggled in my THR recovery until we put those risers under the furniture. I also add a slanted cushion to my kitchen chair to keep my knees below my hips when I sat. Also put one in the car and pushed the seat back far enough to achieve the same effect.

It took a few weeks, but I noticed a big difference in my muscle tightness and pain getting up and down. You can get risers in a variety of heights on Amazon and then aren't expensive.

 

[sportbrown]

Wow! Thanks for the tip on the risers. I will definitely get these. Also, the encouragement is very helpful to me emotionally, so I appreciate that more than anything. Will be back at the 5-month mark. Thanks again!

 

[sportbrown]

Five month anniversary today! My hip is certainly doing better, so that is the positive side. I am able to put my left sock on all by myself now. (Do I sound like a 3 year-old? Ha!) I had been walking longer, too, around the block, and getting in and out of bed and chairs more easily. But from the beginning, this recovery has been extremely hard on other body parts I've had to rely on, so I'm currently coping with plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow (and I'm not playing tennis) and worst of all, left knee pain. The knee pain has really set me back for the past several days. I'm trying to rest it and am using ice regularly, but now I'm back to just sitting around like I was the first few weeks after the hip surgery, which is pretty depressing. I had no idea that this surgery would set me on a downward spiral with the other body parts that I've had to rely on so heavily during recovery. I had hoped that I'd have only positive things to report today, five months out, but it is what it is. Thanks for reading my post.

 

[mendogal]

First I am sending you a big ((hug)) because I know your first days post op were so trying and now how dispiriting these issues must be.

It happens sometimes that over time our bodies (mal)adapt to arthritis in a weight bearing joint - to compensate some muscles and tendons tighten and contract while their counterparts stretch and grow lax. This can tug on bones from sacrum and pelvis down to foot and ankle throwing things askew.

All at once in the OR the hip or knee is changed (for the better!). But on top of a year of healing, the body's entire structure has to start readjusting. This sometimes does cause unpleasant soft tissue problems that are slow to resolve and in some cases - certainly your plantar fasciitis! - require separate treatment.

We have had members - including @Jamie our Senior Admin here! - who needed to search out practitioners who could address these issues - sometimes quite a long time after the replacement. Sports medicine doctors, physiatrists, highly experienced advanced practice massage therapists, and doctorate prepared PTs are among the specialists members have consulted to develop treatment plans.

Know that you're not alone - we're here for you - and that at five months you're still early in recovery with lots of room for improvement.

 

[sportbrown]

Thank you, Mendogal, for your reply. My recovery journey has certainly not been what I had hoped for or expected....it's been mostly a discouraging and disappointing journey from which I am beginning to realize I may never fully recover. My trust in the medical profession is at about a zero at this point. My 6 weeks of physical therapy right after the surgery only served to set me back right from the start by causing me more harm than good. It turns out that stretching is the worst thing for me, so I certainly wouldn't go back into any time of physical treatment. Given that physical therapy is always the first line of treatment that the doctors send a patient to when experiencing an orthopedic issue, I am hesitant to make a doctor's appointment. At this point self-treatment (ice and rest) in the hopes that things begin to improve is where I am. I realize that many people believe strongly in physical therapy, but my experiences with it have never been good, and I have had many over the years. The only reason I did it again after this surgery was because the doctor ordered it, and I was trying to be a good patient even though deep down I knew it would be a problem for me (as it always has). Anyway, I hate to be such a downer, but I did want to pop in once a month on my anniversary to post my status. I don't think it's a very encouraging post for others who are earlier in their recoveries, and I apologize for that. I wish I could be of more help and inspiration, but the truth is sometimes not pretty. Thanks again. for your input. I wish you well.

 

[mendogal]

No apology is needed!!!! We're here for you, whatever your mood, your news, everything... here to support you.

 

[myglasshalffull]

No apology necessary, I quit PT after my ankle healed. $35 co pay & all they did was tell me to do 5 of these & 10 of those! I can do that at home.
So I was very excited to learn for hip surgery recovery walking is best & I stuck to that. Even my OS or primary didn't recommend PT.
You will get there, I felt my recovery was longer than I hoped for but it all shook out & I'm back to all my activities.
Hang in there, we are all here for same reason, good or bad.
And more than likely someone here has experienced exactly what you have gone through.
You've got this!

 

[sportbrown]

This is so nice. I expected someone to yell at me for hating PT, so I really appreciate the support. Will post back at 6 months.....hopefully in a better mood. Happy upcoming holidays to all!

 

[Jamie]

The problem is that not all physical therapists are equal in their training and expertise. It sounds like you connected with people who were unprepared for the wide variety of alignment and soft tissue problems that can occur after a hip is replaced. Frequently there are spine issues at play along with the muscles surrounding your hip. This can easily get out of the realm of something that an individual can resolve.

In my case, I gave my hip a full year and was still having issues. At that point I had tried a lot of personal trial and error with different things that included new orthotics and heel lifts (what the surgeon recommended) along with stretching and exercises. I still limped and had pain around the hip area that would move from place to place. I was able to locate a therapist who understood pressure point therapy, was trained in diagnosis of soft tissue problems (as opposed to just following the “standard” post-op exercises), and who found I had a host of misalignment going on plus a gluteus medius muscle that had completely quit engaging. Her pressure treatments and gentle pushing the misaligned joints back into proper position worked. But it took me a full 9 months of work with her to get significantly better. Now I am back on my own to continue strengthening the glute muscles so I can continue to improve.

So, I see nothing wrong at all with you working on your own for a while….especially during the holidays. But, if you’re still having issues come springtime, you may want to consider trying to find a proper therapist who can help you. We can give you some guidance there when/if you’re ready.

 

[Jockette]

My recovery journey has certainly not been what I had hoped for or expected...

I don't think it's a very encouraging post for others who are earlier in their recoveries, and I apologize for that.

I agree, no apologies needed. You are reporting an honest recovery, which is why we’re all here, and what members heading into joint replacement need to read.

I haven’t had a hip replacement but I did have a partial knee. Unfortunately, I didn’t find Bonesmart until a month after my surgery, when the damage from my PT experience had already been done. I went into this PKR with high expectations which turned out to set me up for unrealistic expectations, which caused me a lot of stress. So, thank you for being honest!

it's been mostly a discouraging and disappointing journey from which I am beginning to realize I may never fully recover.

I totally understand. But, at five months you are not quite halfway through this yearlong recovery. While understandable, it’s still way too early to think you may never fully recover. In my case, after a tough first year, I had a lot of improvement all through my second year, as my whole leg continued to relax and heal. I even saw some more improvement in my third year. I hope you will also see the same.

 

[Layla]

I expected someone to yell at me for hating PT,

PT is your choice alone, so no need to apologize. We routinely share that it is not necessary to exercise your injured hip to promote healing. The controlled trauma sustained through THR will heal on its own. Often though, we're impatient and want to move the process along. In doing so we run the risk of struggling with pain and setbacks stalling the healing process. The best therapy for recovery is walking, but not to excess. Start slowly increasing time and distance incrementally in an effort not to overdo it.

If the only thing shared here were success stories of perfect recoveries, there would be a lot of unrealistic expectations for those awaiting surgery. Recovery can be a challenge from person to person. It's healthy for others to read of progress and setbacks so they don't feel discouraged if their own recovery isn't perfect. Also, its a comfort and helpful to others to know they're not alone in a less than perfect recovery and there is also a camaraderie between those struggling with the same type of complication or setback. Sharing insights and helpful hints on what works for you may be of great benefit to another, so please continue to document your recovery here as a journal for yourself and for the benefit of those following behind you.

Feel free to post on your thread as often as you like. We'll be here and we do care. Have a wonderful week and month of November if we don't hear from you again soon.

 

[sportbrown]

Hello Bonesmart Friends! Today marks my 6 month anniversary of my total hip replacement. My 5 month update was very discouraging. Since that time I have been trying to pay more attention to my body instead of plowing ahead with the exercises that everyone (PTs, docs) tend to recommend. I am just going much more slowly in general. Smaller literal steps, shorter distance and trying hard not to antagonize my other body parts which have taken the brunt of the work while my hip has been healing. The knee pain is better, and I'm also trying to figure out ways to alleviate heel and foot pain with inserts, orthotics, special shoes, etc. I feel like maybe I'm headed in the right direction at the moment, but with lots of hesitation since I've had too many setbacks. I wish everyone here who is recovering and those who are giving the support and advice a very happy holiday season!

 

[benne68]

I have been trying to pay more attention to my body instead of plowing ahead with the exercises that everyone (PTs, docs) tend to recommend. I am just going much more slowly in general.

Good for you for listening to your body and taking control of your recovery, @sportbrown!

I'm glad to read that you feel like you are now headed in the right direction -- because you are. You WILL get there with time. And we'll be here to cheer you on.

Sending hugs your way.

 

[sportbrown]

You are always so good and encouraging. Such a nice person! Thank you!