Hi all its lovely to be able say I'm 11 days post op and doing well. Apart from swelling on my knee and thigh, I am getting back to normal and pain free Although I am elevating and icing my leg for the swelling, is there anything else I should be doing for it? It would make walking a little easier if I could get the swelling down.
Sinead
Great that you are doing well. The other thing that helps the swelling to go down is muscle movement. So I think moving your feet while your legs are elevated is good. It may take a while though. My leg, admittedly after somewhat different surgery, has only just returned to normal after nearly 4 months.
Mike
dear sinead,
How wonderful to hear that you are doing so well - pain free and getting back to normal at 11 weeks post-op ..
well, 11 weeks post-op from such a major invasive surgery is still early in recovery -
during surgery your muscles, tendons, etc. were cut, hip joint forcefully dislocated, bone cut as well and the reaming etc. to have the hardware placed can make fluid build up in the hours afterwards. This can stay or ebb and flow for days, a couple of weeks. sometimes some months -
In addition, some aches and swelling in the hip can persist for some time because bone, a living tissue, continues to re-model and adapt around the metal implants. This increased metabolic activity can lead to lingering soreness and swelling after some activity, all of which will disappear with time. .
My swelling started upper thigh and made its way down to my ankle where it stayed for weeks - looked scary, all swollen and tight .
Don't worry, you are really doing great - just make sure that you don't have a fever - one step, one day at a time -
be gentle with yourself -
big warm hug
renee