Hi
@Andyinhull
I also had my left hip done - the day after yours. So Monday will be the official 6 weeks for me. I’m also getting the right one done in December.
Everything I’ve read on your posts so far lines up very similarly to my experience.
- my foot and ankle were also swollen in the beginning. Like, ugly swollen. Lots of ice and elevation really helped. I would also ice my knee (replacement in there also) and hip at the same time. So I made good use of the refreezable cold packs. I still ice every day after walking.
- I was also paranoid RE dislocating the new joint. So many people preached the 90 degree “rule” it started to make me nervous. But I saw my surgeon for 1st follow up yesterday and he’s given me the ok to start riding the bike, picking stuff up from a lower than waist level height. Said joint looks perfect and was very pleased w my progress so far. Whew!
I don’t know how you started working again so soon! I’m fortunate to have retired early so don’t have it to worry about that.
My first 2-3 weeks were really difficult - pain, not sleeping, swelling etc etc.
But at weeks 4 and 5, I made huge leaps in getting better. My dr had to remind me (again) that this process is not linear. I’m still going to have bad days but hopefully the good ones will outweigh the not so good.
I also watched the incision carefully. But believe me, if you had an infection, you’d likely know it quickly. I’m told to watch for redness, heat, oozing and fever. If you don’t have any of those you’re likely fine. But I check mine every day anyway!
Good luck! Do you have a date for your right hip? I’m waiting to find out (prob next eeek) but thought it would be funny if we were scheduled for the same day! (Btw, there’s no way I could’ve gone home same day. I was in for 2 nights but it was mostly to monitor some other stuff I have going on)