This is my first day home. I am so tired and sore. Keep watching all of your posts with interest. Thank you so much for sharing all your experiences. Any encouragement is much appreciated.
Sandra.
You've got this Sandra, each day you will see improvements, changes for the better. I remember being 2 days post op was 6.5 weeks ago. Each day, each step it will get better. Rest as much as you can, nap when ever you can. xoxoxxo wishing you improvement with every step! Annette
I had my replacement five months ago. Recovery was tedious at times as well as frustrating but this week my husband grumbled that I am now like a "b**** gazelle" when we are out walking and he can't keep up with me. It made me smile as I had become so slow and cumbersome before the operation. Do your exercises, take lots of rest and DON'T overdo it once your six weeks are up. I overdid it at 10 weeks and it put me back a full six weeks or more. Never mind, I am fine now and happily walk six or seven miles or more. It was all worth it. Good luck with your recovery!
Glad you're home Sandra. It seems like the best advice from a soon to be THR Hippy is get plenty of rest and follow doctor's orders!
Kristen
Listen to your body. As others say rest, do your exercises. Make sure you rest for 2hours every afternoon on the bed. Your body needs it. I was in hospital 5 days and discharge team that came out to me over a few days were brill. I was feeling not get anywhere but they encouraged me and gave me a cuddle. WE all heal at different rates. Took me 6months to actually feel well again but a year on I can't believe the difference in me. Love my hip it moves so freely compared to the old one and I don't wake up stiff anymore. Xx
Take each day slowly, each day is different. Plenty of rest, do not try to run before you can walk.
This site is wonderful if something is worrying you... just ask and you will get an answer and support. We have all been there...
You will be tired and as one of my girls says in the office "I am in a mucking fuddle" (That's when the brain has had enough!) . So as everyone here says rest rest rest when that body tells you and you must do the exercises. It will get better believe me as I am nearly 7 weeks post op. This is my second hip replacement and every day gets better. Good luck :o)
Thank you Polly and everyone for your advice and kind thoughts. Xx
Hi Sandra, Welcome. I didnt get sent home from the hospital for 10 days. I am in awe of you that get to come home so early. It has been a little over 3 months since i had my surgery and i still experience a lot of soreness. I do my pt daily, and try to walk as much as possible without my cane, as my dr. urged me to do at last visit. I think because i am 74 it is taking me a lot longer to heal than some of you young whippersnappers lol. Hang in there if your Dr. let you go home he must thing you are progressing to that point.
Hi Stephen glad to hear your doing so well
now I'm 11 weeks post op tlhr still uncomfy
around hip area and pain when driving ,how did you manage to hurt yourself and put yourself
back ? Hugs xxxx
Hi Sandra: Just remember that it will get better and better. You are so new in the healing process. Try not to get to discouraged as we all seem to come to that point at one time or another. Some days may feel as if you are not making progress and then other days you will be saying "yea! I couldn't do that yesterday". It is all baby steps, but remember each step forward is improvement. So many of us were not familiar with the healing process (including myself with the first replacement), and I had some mis-interpretation of what it would really be like. Of course I had high expectations and was quite let down when I found out it was a lot more than just getting over the pain. I thought I would be walking and moving better immediately...it isn't that way. It takes time but that time will come and you will feel so much better and be so much happier. Wishing you well....Barb
Hi Sandra.
Just be patient and know it will slowly get better.Its not like getting your appendix out wher you heal up and you kind of over it.Its definitely more work,.Rest your body,don't let yourself get too uncomfortable.The pain meds allow you to move,and the movement is very important.Let yourself heal ,don't overdo it. Be patient,Be well.Take care
hi sandra,
wonderful responses here -
You are not alone anymore, just come back here any time you have a question, concern or just want to chat, okay ?
you are doing great - keep doing what you are doing and be very gentle with your self
big warm hug
renee
Hey Sandra
I had both hips replaced 8 weeks apart earlier in the year and the first week or two is the worst everything is uncomfortable especially sleeping on your back and going to the toilet. I just kept doing the bits of physio they gave me to do every day and practiced just walking about the house a lot. A lot of people need there walking aids but l think l ealked about the house so much without them as soon as l got home l never really needed to use them but everyone is diffrent you might not feel steady enough yet to do it but try moving about as much as possible as it gets the blood circulating again around your wound. It gets better honestly by week 4 l was begging my surgeon to do the other side as l felt my new hip was strong enough to take the weight. Its amazing how much diffrence a week makes. Still take as much pain meds as needed don't sit in pain it to near your op to stop taking painkillers. And if you are still really sore you are maybe not on strong enough ones. I was released with oxycodone which is morphine tablets which l needed and tramadol. I can't take nsaids so it was all painkillers that had no asprin in them. I also had dihydracodine which made me feel dizzy so they got changed to co-codamol. That was only for the first few week then l stopped them and keot on the oxy and tramadol l could not have coped without them. But Sandra a few more days and you will notice it getting better. Just hang in there you will have good and bad days but you do get better. As l said 4 weeks post op l was driving again able to walk a few miles and the pain l had been in the year prior was almost gone only my other hip was still sore so l had it replaced 8 weeks after 1st. This op was totally diffrent easier l could move my leg right away and again l healed quite quick. But that was not it for me my knees started getting painful l was sent for xrays and it turns out l had OA in both knees and they needed replaced to. I am now nearly 6 weeks post op from my 1st knee replacement and this was the hardest op l have had out the 3 l still am in a lot of pain but l was told that the knee replacement is much sorer and harder to recover than the hip but l did not beleive it until l have had it done and give me a hip replacement anyday other than knee. I still have to get my other knee done but l need a break from surgery so l am having half a year to a year if l can manage before l get it done and going back to work.
So l hope thus helps hun l would say the hip replacements are the best thing l have had done my new hips are great. Can't say that about my knee yet as am still healing and in pain. But give it a week and you will notice a massive diffrence.
Good luck and hang in there
Laura x
God Laura. Your brave. You've been through the mill. I couldn't take the Oxy it knocked me sick for two days but got tramodol before am and paracetamol and pain not too bad. First few days home and getting used to things. However everyone says the same about the exercise so will stick with it. Many thanks for your advice.
Welcome to the world's best forum. Truly with the most generous and well informed group and supportive.
I am day 6 after my 2nd through and doing reasonably well.
I won't repeat the great advice above.
I think social interaction and music have been absolutely key to surviving the great thr journey. Be clear with friends and family about how to help - esp in coming days when the challenge of finding a comfortable sitting arrangement becomes more and more acute. Not even the most ardent follower of activity and physio and rest recs can escape this - so you need distractions and cold packs and probably in equal measure.
This is all 'doable' but there is alsomno reason to maker it rougher!
Let us know if (when) something be-devils you. Between us we will come up with lots of opinions and good advice and support. So .. no point in suffering in silence.
With big hugs.
It will get easier,
L
Hi Linda,
I had both done together just coming up 6wks. I still use my crutches to walk around outside, and one around the home.
Some days I even walk around without, but due to my knees I am not stable enough..
I will need my crutches to stay around until I am brave enough to have the knees done but over many years they have become my friends.. lol.
Hope you had a good day, stay strong.. it will all take time.
That feels very, very brave and while it is done sooner overall, I am not sure how well I would coped if my recovery followed the pattern of my first thr - deep mental fog, nausea, nightsweats constantly and restless legs. It was rough trying to sleep.
While a bilateral was originally considered, it was judged too risky due to advanced osteoporosis in several joints and discs. I hope touch are managing well.
Big hugs,
L
Day 4 post op. Yes the mental fog and the nausea was awful. That has cleared now. I find I am more comfortable on the top of the bed with a loose snuggle blanket as I get to hot and the restless legs.
I get up and dressed during the day for an hour at a time and try to walk around a bit. Think I overdid the exercises yesterday as I seem more sore today and can't be doing with any of those strong painkillers. They make me feel worse. I suppose it's just a matter of accepting the healing process. I don't think I would relish the thought of another hip replacement. It is all pretty awful. Still 4th day coming up and I'm surviving. Husband not much of a nurse bless him but doing his best. What cannot be cured must be endured so they say lol
Morning Sandra well done lots of rest ,lots of
dozzy little naps you'll need them ,I myself in
those early days used to nap all the time your
body needs all this to help repair the Major
Surgery you have been through(brave girlie).
How are you getting on sleeping on your back?
Don't forget those exercises and I wish you
nothing but the best in your recover.Hugs xxx