like many any before me I've read through lots of postings prior to the op. Now it's the real thing.
I had my op at 8am on Thursday. It's now sat night and I can't get to sleep. Have dozed lots during the day though. Each time I got out of bed to do an obligatory walk on crutches I was exhausted. Normal I guess?
was in quite a lot of pain immediately post op so had pretty high dose of morphine which knocked me sideways. Further doses on Friday had me hallucinating and with the shakes. Intravenous paracetemol eventually did the trick, (and I'm avoiding any opiates like the plague)but as I'm going home tomorrow I'm now just on the pills which don't have quite the same pain killing Effect.
the pain isn't a 10, more a 6, which has me dreading having to get out of bed and to the toilet, as I know it'll get worse.
it feels like my pleated leg is longer then good leg too. The surgeon said that the legs are exactly same length, and that post op X-rays showed that my pelvis is tilted. Apparently this is very common and rights itself after a few weeks of walking properly. But I guess I must have some special instruction from the physios to make this happen. Plus it's kinda scary to find myself walking like this.
i think I'm in a bit of shock too - just from the trauma that my body has gone through. I cried like a baby earlier before my husband went home.
im sure this is all normal, and in fact ion reading lots of posts prior to the op, I registered that in the majority of cases the first 2 weeks are pretty bad, then people seem to start to slowly turn a corner.
so, I guess I'm just sharing and looking for reassurance that this stage will pass and things will get better.
almost 3 weeks post op so can remember the first 2 weeks vividly . I was so tearful , and when I got home cried whenever my friends came to visit . Getting up and down to the loo in the night is such a bother , and painful getting on and off the bed .
But it does get better, honestly . I feel at nearly 3,weeks ive turned a corner . I'm more mobile, walking well on one crutch and not tearful ..hang on in there, it will get better . Your body has been through a trauma, be kind to yourself xxx
I was in a lot of pain, especially getting my leg on and off the bed . And when you first start to walk you are using muscles you havnt used for a while if you have been limping for some time, so they hurt . I always did the exercises and still do, I just stop when it hurts . It won't be long before you start to feel better . Next week friends are coming round and taking me out for a coffee etc, that's the next step , to go out of the house . I feel so much better than I did last week . . You will soon feel like your old self again . Just take it slowly and listen to your body . Everyone heals at their own pace xx
Hi, your experience sounds so similar to mine. I had my first op 9 weeks ago. I was in horrific pain immediately after the op as my spinal anaesthetic didn't work. Took ages to get the pain under control. I cried a lot too. It's very hard the first 2 weeks but does slowly get better once your home.
You need to rest as much as you can in the early days and just do little as possible except for your physio exercises. I felt really low and emotional a lot of the time too.
I'm having my other hip done this Tuesday so am starting to feel anxious again,hoping the anaesthetic will work this time. It's daunting to have to go through it again so soon but not having the OA pain any more is amazing.
how soon after the op could you appreciate freedom from the OA pain?
the pain from the surgery is masking that for me a bit, I think.
sending huge amounts of good luck your way for 2nd op. The chances of same thing happening again with spinal must be virtually nil. Or could you have GA this time?
It's probably around the 10-14 days stage that I suddenly realised the OA pain wasn't there just about the time when your moving much easier. I think you concentrate so hard on doing all the right things and moving really carefully and the healing pain does go on for a while but lessens quite rapidly after 2 weeks. Of course my other hip just started to deteriorate which also makes you appreciate the pain free one.
I'll have to speak to the anaesthetist when I go in and see what's best for me.. GA is definitely a possibility I think.
My right hip was always more painful although the xrays show very similar damage. I think you put a lot of pressure on the unoperated hip while your recovering which probably escalated things for me anyway. The plan was always to do the second one at around 8 weeks if I had recovered well enough to withstand a second op.
I am 5 weeks post surgery now and i can tell you it does get better. I remember the 2nd night in the hospital was the worst for me and the first few nights home were pretty rough. I was sent home with vicodin to take every 4 hours( i am allergic to some of the stronger meds). I am not one to take medication but i did take it every 4 hours. The first few nights i woke up from pain almost every 4 hours so i took it. I found after the first few nights i would sleep a little longer and not need the medicine quite so often. I was told it was important to try to stay ahead of the pain to aid the healing process. I remember having some of the same questions as you. It is normal to get tired so quickly because of the trauma to your body and all of the energy it takes to walk even a short distance. My leg felt longer than the other too but for me that has gotten better, even though i am still trying to regain a normal gait. I used a walker for the first week and a half and then moved to one crutch which is where i am now. Try to be patient, although I know that is hard. All the emotion you are feeling is completely understandable as well. It will get better. Listen to your body. Wishing you the best.
LDW, my sympathies to you for your pain and distress post-surgery! I hated every single minute that I was in the hospital for 4 days. I probably only slept an hour or so a day, for many reasons, I was in pain and had big difficulties with mobility. By far the worst days were the first two. I am hoping that things will get better for you every day. By the time I got home, my pain was very well controlled and I was able to get much more sleep there as well. Those two things helped enormously! I hope that will be the case for you, too.
LDW, Good for you for reaching out! Lots of wisdom and many big hearts on this site!
I have had two THRs since Dec. 1 and am still very much in recovery. First one was easier, second one had more swelling, pain and bruising. Either way, you are right, it IS a huge shock (TRAUMA!) to the body. I think my soul is in more recovery than my body at some times. (like when I stand in the shower and sob)
I too struggled to get in and out of bed and even though it's much easier now than in the first two weeks, I still lie there as long as my bladder will allow. It doesn't help that it's February and 5 degrees outside....you do get through it. You just keep starting over and beginning again. The courage of baby steps.
I have not found the path of healing to be particularly linear either. Meaning Thursday I had a great day, Friday was a total washout involving crying and great discouragement and today was sort of neutral. I hold myself accountable for eating as well as I can, doing my exercises as best as I can and resting when I can. I also accept whatever help is offered.
I wish you well heading home and I know that you will find comfort on this forum. Gail
what you are going through is perfectly normal although I would still go see your GP or at least get a phone consultation and get your pain under control. No need to suffer like you are. I have gone through two hip replacements in 9 months. Both have been so different. This time I am in a lot more pain and swelling than at the same point last time. I am one of the lucky ones who can actually take oramorph and have no ill effects. But my main pain meds are co codamol and I only take the morphine if I really have to. There are other pain meds you can get that should not cause you issues. So please don't suffer get your meds sorted 👍
Am 4 weeks post op and last night was the first I had in my own bed; although had to get out for a loo visit a couple of times. Have always found sleeping difficult and have used a recliner most
of the time. Lying on your back and getting nerve spasms makes it hard to relax wherever you lie down.
Like you I also found that the painkillers they give you when you
leave hospital are not enough and my GP gave me tramadol. It
eased the pain alright but as with all opioids it plays with your
head. So by week 2 I managed to force myself off the tramadol,
suffering horrible side effects, and now rely on paracetamol and
Ibuprofen. Like you I will try to avoid opioids in future.
How are you today? That really sucks to be in so much pain and I am so sorry to hear this -
The 2nd day post-op is not fun - I had GA and after the anesthetic around wound had worn off, it was painful- fortunately my surgeon had told me that this would happen so I expected it.
Everything will feel funny and weird for some time , darling - Your whole body has been out of whack for a long time, ; it is sort of corrected now (big major traumatic event)) - now comes the time to start walking again, properly -
but first things first --- get home, rest, do your foot pumps and ankle rotations (jn bed) ; exercises - ease into this routine -
Sounds totally normal - especially as you seem to have a problem with opiates.
It's not the 'nice and easy' "procedure" the medical profession keep dressing it up as, it's a major trauma to your system, and you must expect some pain, but this should pass in the next 2 weeks, and you will suddenly find you have turned a corner and don't have thet awful OA 'lightning bolt down the leg' feeling any more.