For reference, I'm a 53 year old male who had a ceramic left hip fitted by Mr Ganapathi 25 days ago at Spire Yale hospital in Wrexham.
I had a review with the physiotherapist today that went really well, and am now down to just one crutch! I have followed the prescribed physio exercises religiously, and now walk briskly for about an hour a day. I am completely off all pain relief and feel, quite frankly, bloody marvellous!
Along with others, I had swelling of the leg, ankle, and foot of comedic proportions shortly after the op, but this was completely resolved by the end of week two.
I also had incredible pain in the groin (on the operated side) very soon after the op, this too has now completely resolved, and was put down to a pulled muscle probably caused by getting back onto the hospital bed without help the day after the op. For future reference, that's what the call button is for in your hospital room - ask for help!
Of course, the very best news is that all the preoperative pain is completely gone! All this, and just a 3" scar.
Thats brilliant. I am on day 8 and can manage one crutch round the house but still in a bit too much pain and swelling to think I could go out walking yet. When did you really start walking in earnest? I am thinking end of week 2 to up the exercise. .and were you walking with 2 crutches outside for an hour?
Take care
Kate
What a 3" scar bloody hell lad. I'm a woman 49 year and have a titanium hip but my scar is at lease twice that. I still have trouble with the stairs and getting up off the floor. But doing very well now and feeling the difference every day. Which is a good thing as I have a MRI on my other hip on Saturday to see if they can repair or replace.I will need another op soon but not sure when or how big the ops going to be. So it's the waiting game again for me. Hope all is well with you and your recovery is swift and pain free. Take care.
You are doing brilliantly
Hi Kate
I wasn't really able to start walking in earnest until the middle of week 3, and gradually ramped up the time (and distance).
Even now I intend to continue using 2 crutches when walking outside, I go at a fair old pace you know!
Look after yourself,
Neil
Thanks neil
I think I need to be patient but nice to hear such a positive story . Can I ask a really naff question but when you walk fast with 2 crutches do you place them simultaneously on the ground in front of you or do you do crutch, foot, crutch then foot
Many thanks
Kate
Neil,
if if ever I needed encouragement to have this done you just have, won't no when till October but thanks to this fantastic family I will have a lot of knowledge and support, great to hear how wry you are doing
sue
Hi Kate
Both of the crutches and the left foot swing through and hit the ground simultaneously, followed by the right foot swinging through. Repeat ad infinitum!
Regards
Neil
Thank you. I will pplan my walking regime to start next week
X
Fantastic news Neil. Onwards & upwards. I'm pre op & can't wait to be where u are
good morning neil,
well done and thank you for sharing your encouraging story and helpful tips ...
have a wonderful day ...
big hug
renee
Great News, Neil
Glad you are feeling so good - It's amazing the improvement as the weeks go by. I am 10 years older than you so probably not quite so sprightly, but at 9 weeks walking unaided everywhere and no pain, just the occasional aches here and there if I do something different or a bit too strenuous.
I too have a small 3.5 inch scar from Superpath procedure. This truly is a life changing operation!
Kind regards and all the best for the future
Linda xx
Hi Linda,
weve be messaged previously. My op is on 4th Feb (superpath), and I'm wondering if I will need a recliner ... Lots of hippies swear by them, but not sure if necessary with superpath.
what sort of chair did you use?
Hi LDW
I did not bother with a recliner chair, just got myself a second hand winged upright armchair and put a riser cushion on it and it was fine
To be honest, I didn't use it a lot. I found if I needed to rest, bed was comfiest place to lie, with plenty of cushions.
Rise recliners are a bit bulky and of course expensive - entirely up to you, but I found I was walking about a lot of the time, I felt so good.
​Wishing you luck with your op - are you having it done at Coventry with Michael Cronin? if so you won't need any luck, you are in the safest of hands!
All the best Linda xx
Hi Linda,
from all all replies ive had, I'm def thinking that bed will be the best place to rest lol!!
op is with Mike Cronin at the Nuffield (Choose and Book waiting list shorter there than at Cov or Rugby, and free too 😊).
im sure I have picked the right surgeon for me, just getting nervous now about the post op and recovery.
even though my pain/restrictions have been going on for a lot less time than others on this forum ie since May 2015, I seem to have forgotten what it's like to have the freedom to drive, move freely, be without pain, so the op just seems like "one more nail in the coffin", rather than a means to a full and vibrant life again. Mmmmm need to reflect on this today and shift that big old mental block!
Hi Lindsey
​You will be absolutely fine. You will have 2 surgeons doing your op as Superpath is a bit more time consuming to do. Mr Cronin was operating with Mr Sarantos when I had mine done. They are both amazing guys - I was having a cup of tea and biscuits within a very short time after coming round from op. I felt wonderful - the relief and sense of achievement is overwhelming
​Just accept that there will be some discomfort but ask for pain relief day and night (when muscles relax and pain is worse) They will top you up with morphine which does the trick. When you get home just rest whenever you feel like it - let everyone wait on you! I felt that I wanted to do things pretty quickly once out of hosp. You will find sleeping difficult so get an iPad and plenty of reading material. This forum is wonderful for communicating at night - no one can sleep. Once you are allowed to sleep on your side, you will find sleeping is much better.
Just go with the flow at your own pace - chill and don 't worry about a thing. You are going to feel so much better as the days and weeks go by.
​This op is your passport to your new life!
​All the best Linda xx
Thank you for your reassuring and kind words Linda.
its pre-op on Friday.
am working on the mental block.
l x
Btw Linda, how long were you in for?