Today it has been 15 weeks since my hip replacement. I still feel pain getting up, going up stairs and walking at a decent pace. I am 51 years old. I feel I walk without a limp most of the time. I have to focus after I get tired. I have been told time and time again it will get better. I am returning to my job January 5th. I work with children with Autism. I try to stay positive but am tired of the pain. Is there still hope to get rid of the pain in the future. I try diligently to keep up with my therapy exercises. Please give me input.
I went back to work after 12 weeks..phased return but probably not really back to normal till about 6 months...just persevere and keep up the physio exercises..I'm totally pain free now...9 months though...worth the wait....
Thanks Crissy!
mk,
I am twelve weeks post THR. I still have some pain occasionally when I get up and sometimes while sleeping. But, besides the therapy exercises I also walk for exercise in my neighborhood, which has many small hills and inclines. It was hard the first time but now feels great! And the more I walk the better it feels. Remember not only do your bones have to heal but you need to get your muscles back to support that leg.
Good Luck,
Kathee
15 weeks is still very early in your recovery. It takes longer to start feeling back to your old self. Muscles have to strengthen and it can take up to a year to completely heal. I think where pain is concerned it seems some heal quicker than others. If you have any concerns you should speak to your doctor. Perhaps returning to work in January is too soon for you. If you have a physically demanding job it may be too soon. Are you able to return part time to start with? It is a major operation and not everyone feels wonderful for some time. I think that those type of recoveries are the minority. I am in a lot of pain a year aft er THR and I am not physically back to my previous strength in my leg but I have unfortunately had complications of Femoral nerve damage. I was told I would regain my pre op strength and feeling within a year this has not happened despite extra physio the last 3 months. I wish you all the best in your recovery. Also have a great Xmas and happy new year.
I don't think that what you are experiencing is unusual or abnormal. However it does sound as though returning to work so soon is a bit ambitious. There is a general tendency to underestimate what a traumatic and serious operation this is. Our hips have been dislocated, sawn and hammered. Muscles stretched or cut etc. If this had happened as the result of an accident, would we expect to be back to normal so soon? Be kind to yourself. See your doctor in the New year and see if you need more recovery time. Overdoing it too soon can set you back a long way.
I know exactly what you feel, so sorry just try to hang in there. I went from March 7 To November with pain and then it stopped in that hip.
I went back to work after 10 weeks and I am on my feet all day at work. The first week was hard but it got better. I feel it was good for my hip. I was still having some pain and just like walking the more I did the better it felt.
Hi Mkwins.
you've got lots of good advise on your page, Everyone heal at different stages, some quicker than others.
Am 8 months THR and just started to feel the bennefits of a long slow progresss, Just hang on in there try not to over do it and keep up with the exercises it do help and be careful when you go back to work, do not do any heavy lifting and do take regularly sitting down time, ask your doctor to write that on your return to word note.
Good Luck.
UK
Does anyone experience pain in the back of the knee lower leg area.
Thanks everyone for your advice! It has all really been helpful.
Up Vote
I agree, don't carry anything heavy in your hand on the side you have had the surgery on. Like a heavy bag of groceries, carry heavy bags in the hand of the side you did not have surgery on.
I did not. But for aches & pains I suggest Voleteren cream. It is topical, you rub the cream into the skin in the affected area but it really does work. Doens't last long, but it is enough for a while so that you can walk or fall asleep.
Yes I have pain more like aches you may want to check for Fibromyalgia
Yes I mean the pain behind the knee
I was the same went back to full time retail job at 12 weeks out.At first could only stand for 2hrs before needing to sit down but can now stand 7 hours straight.Still feels stiff when getting up from a seated position if have been siiting for a while.I limp until i get going and then am fine.Iam now 17 weeks out from THR.
Hi
I think thats normal........I know it wont help the walking but when I felt like that I used to revert to doing the stairs the way I was told to after the op.
Good leg goes up to heaven and bad one goes down to hell 
It felt like a step backwards to me but it helped.......I know thats only a temporary measure and not sure about the walking?
Love
Eileen UK
I will now be 16 weeks post op. I am returning to work next Monday. I had to do a lot of stairs yesterday and now today I am very sore, struggling not to limp. I just feel like I am getting no where. This is definitely not what I expected.
Hi
I found if I struggled with stairs I went back to doing what the physio had told me pre op
Good Leg up to heaven and bad leg down to hell......did that for a little while and I was fine......if it happened again....I did the stairs that way again,,,,,maybe only had to do them once or twice and I was fine
You'll get there.
I know I felt it was one step forward 2 steps back
Four months isnt a lot.
Will you have a lot of stairs to do at work?
Love
Eileen UK