The Hip Post-Operation List....Let's keep up with you and your progress....

[chaloo]

Dear all

I am 47. I had uncemeted ceramic/ceramic RTHR on 25/04/08 in the UK. I think my recovery is well so far. I fixed a door at 2 weeks, cut the hedge/weeding at 4 weeks, started driving at 5 weeks, walk unaided for about 30 minutes once a day (slight limp), went back to work this monday (Immigration Officer).

Learnt so much from this forum.

Jaz

 

[ceci1957]

July 16 is the first month anniversary of my right hip replacement. The left one is being done Aug. 18. I got better with each day that passed and with the exception of a bladder infection, I have felt and done great! Though the last few nights I haven't been sleeping well and the nurse said it may be the pain meds having the opposite effect on me since I really don't need them anymore. I was taking one percocet at bedtime and now I will stop that.

I started driving on Sunday, went to work 1/2 day Monday and then ran errands. Today I didn't go to work because I overdid it and I'm achy. I think I will take at least five weeks after the next surgery. I'm extremely fortunate and grateful to have a husband that doesn't mind being a nurse and gives me my Lovenox shot every night because I'm too squeamish! It also helped that our church family provided meals the first two weeks after I came home.

Don't hesitate to have the surgery. I waited two years and that was way too long. Don't let life get in the way of the surgery or you will lose your quality of life.

 

[JudyS]

I am now at 6 1/2 weeks post op right hip.
I finally drove on monday. I also swam 1/2 mile. I start outside pt this week which also includes my spine surgeon's prescription for neck and thoracic. I think I should get a priority parking place or something at pt.

I am happy to report that I ,for about a week have felt stable enough to walk my dog. He is small.

Things are going awesome with the new hip. Every day when i think about it I am so amazed at what is in my body and how I can not tell at all. And of course at how great it works.
I'm off with the dog
Judy

 

[sunshine]

Eleven weeks post opt. Really pretty much the same for me, no pain till I tried to swim the other day which was normal if you think I haven't tried to swim for several months. So now I am using kickboard and working my way up. Still using a wheel cahir and walker. This is because left hip and leg is hurting pretty much again up to 7-8 on my scale. Think I am doing great considering.

 

[rejoyce318]

Just saw the surgeon yesterday for my 1st post-op appointment, 3 wks. post-op.

I'm still walking with a limp & need my cane, but a lot of that is due to residual pain from last week's act of "stoopidity," when I strained my thigh muscles.

The OS wrote a prescription for another mo. of PT for flexibility & strengthening, gait training, etc. I have no restrictions - apparently, I didn't ever have restrictions, but I'm kind of glad I did use precautions, b/c I think it made me think before I acted. The top of my (anterior) incision is still a little weepy, but considering it's inside my belly overhang (yuck!), that's normal.

I asked my OS, "When can I crawl on the floor?" (I have a 2-yr. old niece, & may be working with pre-schoolers this fall). His reply: "Oh, that'd be great exercise for you!" My response: "Yeah, but I still have to be able to get UP afterwards!" ;D

Joyce

 

[JudyS]

Good news Joyce,

The getting off the floor gets easier. About at 5 weeks I went to the beach and was tired of sitting in my beach chair (with pillows to raise the seat) I decided to lay on a towel. I think I got down ok without breaking any precautions. Getting up was another story. My husband had to haul me up!!!Talk abaout a beached whale.
Now at 8 weeks today I have a core stabalizing exercise in the crawling position and getting up is much easier!!!

You'll be crawling with those kids soon
Judy

 

[Alsheehan]

Hi all,
I'm at 3 weeks post LTHR with DePuy metal on metal prosthesis and anterior incision. The staples are out and I have no pain in the hip. However, my energy level is so low, especially in the mornings. I seem to perk up as the day goes on. I'll have my first post-op visit at Duke Univ Med Center, about 5 hours from my SC home. I hope the OS will take me off all hip precautions because I'm using a platform walker, and my shoulders and arms have been killing me. Maybe that will resolve when I can get back on Enbrel for my rheumatoid arthritis. I've had a Home Health PT come to the house 3x week for 2 weeks. I'm anxious to get back to my water aerobics group.
Alice

 

[Desertdweller]

46 year old who had LTHR (posterior) on July 7, so 6 weeks post op exactly today. No more stockings, toilet seat or strict precautions ! I was fairly back to normal about two weeks ago. I had MIS (3.75 inch scar) with a OMNI stem and ceramic ball (36mm) and a Smith and Nephew XLPE liner and cup. I was very well prepared mentally and that really helped with the three day hospital stay and first week at home when I was using a walker and a cane and needing help with basic activities. At two weeks post op, I was able to drive and do short errands. A shopping cart makes a good walker ! I kept up with my hip exercises, minded the 90 degree precaution and and kept my knee rotated outward whenever approaching 90 degrees. After my first post op appointment at 15 days, I was able to begin sliding my operated leg up the other to form a figure 4. Back to work (desk job) without the cane 16 days post op. A few days into the figure 4 exercise, I was able to put on my regular socks and tie up shoes, although I still wear my comfortable Merrell slip ons. Another week and I was actually able to remove and put on the TEDS compression stockings, albeit carefully. At four weeks post op, I had lost the limp (except a bit in the morning) and was mowing the lawn, garderning, swimming and back to normal. I had swam and biked a lot before surgery, so my muscles were in very good shape. I was hard to not work out for a few weeks, but as soon as I could, it felt great to get on an upright stationary bike (adjusted to keep form going past 90 degrees) and feel my muscles and new joint moving.

The walker and cane are stored away and am getting in and out of my car without much thought. I still adhere to the 90 degree rule, somewhat, but with the advice of my surgeon, am able to safely squat with knees rotated outward and pick things up off the floor. Those reacher/grabber devices are great for the precautionary period. Mine was six weeks, due to the capsular noose procedure performed by my surgeon who was trained by one of the best. Great site here;

broken link removed: https://www.minitotalhip.com/webpages/index.htm

I look forward to continuing recovery and hope all out there have as good a recovery as I have. My advice is to get a good surgeon, follow up regularly, get in good physical shape, read a lot about implants and surgical methods and avoid reading the bad stories about hip surgery. It's the most sucessfull orthopedic procedure and will only get better.

 

[Josephine]

Welcome to BoneSmart, Dd. Gad to hear you have made such an excellent recovery.

Many surgeons in both hip and knee surgery are trying to minimize their incisions and finding they actually don't really need as much exposure as they have been accustomed to making.

MIS is fast gaining popularity though it has to be said it is still in VERY early days and has yet to acquire the weight of experience behind it. No doubt that will come in due time - everything had to start somewhere!

 

[2hips]

I received a letter from my OS office time to make an appointment.
Last saw my OS in 12-07 and he said everything looked great and he would see me in 10 months.

Can hardly believe it will be 10 months since the 2nd replacement on 09-09-08.

My replacement history:
right hip replaced 10-05-07/left hip replaced 11-09-07
Stryker/non cemented/titanium stem/metal socket/poly neutral X3 liner
both done posterolateral and glued no stitches.

Waited 12 years losts of pain
went to OS for cortizone shot after xray he didn't see enough space to even insert needle. Both hips bone on bone with a large bone spur removed from right hip.

I think that spur was actually getting caught in the joint somehow as sometimes the hip joint would lock when standing up from being seated and it hurt like heck to get the leg straighted out. Hurt so bad I would break out in a sweat.

I have been thru so much pain, these operations are miracles to me.
It is a dream realized for me to be without pain.

Sorry for long post just thought I would share.
Deborah

 

[Josephine]

Deborah, trust me, 160-odd words is NOT a long post! 1,000 words might be ...

 

[2hips]

I sometimes get talkative when telling how great for me these surgeries have been.
Next step is to stop strangers and tell them the wonders of this surgery. LOL
Deborah

 

[Josephine]

Oh, you don't do that already? I do it constantly! Many's the time I've given info to total strangers in the supermarket and places - like the url of this site, the name of our local knee/hip surgeon, etc. No holding me once I get going!

 

[Alsheehan]

Hi,
I've had a setback since I last posted. At 4 weeks post op, I went back on Enbrel, a biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that consists of one injection per week. About a week after that injection, I developed an upper respiratory infection which went into pneumonia. My family practice doctor started me on an antibiotic which seems to be helping my URI, but then my arthritis flared up, and I had to see my rheumatologist for a shot of Depo Medrol. I'm starting to feel stronger again, but it's taken almost 2 weeks away from my hip recovery. I hope I'll feel strong enough soon to begin out-patient physical therapy. Thanks for listening.
Alice

 

[JudyS]

Alice,
I hope you are truly on the mend now. You have been through a lot. Rest
Judy

 

[Traceyleth]

Hi Alice

Sorry to hear you have not been very well. Wishing you a speedy recovery

Take Care Tracey

 

[rejoyce318]

Alice, I hope you are feeling better son & able to get on with your recovery.
Joyce

 

[ceci1957]

Here are my two experiences, eight weeks apart (Mon June 16 and Mon Aug 18). Right hip first then left hip:

Both were anterior. First surgery, I was given no pills before surgery and a heavy sedative. Second surgery I was given multiple pills to take with water (what?) and a light sedative (evidently).

First surgery, I slept a lot and PT had me up and walking a little the second day. Second surgery, I was awake in recovery, remember everything and didn't sleep until Tuesday a.m., even with Ambien.

PT was horrible the first few days after first surgery. So much pain and I could barely move my foot, much less my leg. PT after second surgery was a breeze. I walked a long way the first day.

Needed a blood transfusion after first surgery and promptly crashed. I learned in hospital with second that they nearly sent me to ICU. Left hospital on Friday and got on iron pills. Got a blood transfusion on second day after second surgery and left hospital on Thursday. Still on iron pills, but that's ok with me; whatever helps.

My right hip hurt really bad after first, but no pain in left unless I got out of bed and started walking. All the pain was in my lower back after second. Now, I also have a sciatic thing going on in my right hip and thigh that started about a week ago.

After both surgeries, I am much more sensitive to allergies and even running a fever with cough and sniffles when AC is on. After first, I also had a UTI and ingrown toenail.

That's all I can think of for now. If I think of more, I will edit.

 

[rejoyce318]

My THR was 2 mos. ago TODAY! :D

...and I think this is my 100th post, btw.

Joyce

 

[dcdowden]

I am now at 6 months post surgery on my left hip and it feels great - no pain and I am working on stretching to recover the ability to put on socks w/o aid and cut my toenails. I am able to reach the first couple toes already, but I am just letting gravity do the stretching on increasing the reach. I am now at 2 1/2 months post surgery on my right hip and I am continuing to make good progress with an occasional setback. Last week I started using my recumbent bike and it felt great the first day so I did even more the second day. Unfortunately, the next day I seemed to have a big flair up of my IT band that was very painful from the side of my hip down to below my knee. After taking it easy for a couple days I am back to walking well using the cane without much pain. Hopefully, I am on the verge of being able to walk normally within the next few weeks. I know that I have to build up a lot of strength that I lost over the last couple years as well. Patience and persistence seem to be the watchwords.
Doug