Hi
I was coming along nicely, approaching 6 week milestone (yesterday)Then last weekend and this weekend had family to stay and feel as if I've overdone it.
I don't feel as flexible or as well as I did at the 4/5 week mark.
Using one stick all the time, steps one at a time and legs feel so very heavy. 10 days ago was able to walk without sticks in the house. Also tingling in legs is not improving, especially in the unoperated side.
Have been walking a mile every day which I know isn't much but suits me. Also regular exercises.
Mentally (apart from tiredness) feel loads better. But physical recovery......feel a bit stuck. Maybe I'll have another spurt next week... Is this how it goes? I just want to get back to normal
Sorry, moan over. Thank you for listening!!!
Barbara xx
Hi barbara
It is what happens, I think the dangerous period is when you start to feel better and forget and think you can do everything, but your body is still healing. My consultant told me it takes 6 weeks for the muscle to attach to the new joint which is why we have to be extra careful before then, but I'm finding when I've done too much, I'm getting pains and worn out and I just have to rest before I start again. Im 12 weeks. Don't worry, just rest for awhile and I'm sure you'll feel better again. Look back and see how much you've moved forwards already, and you will continue to do so. I'm currently resting as I've been hoovering upstairs and downstairs and cleaning and now I have to have a rest before I continue. Lol !
Hi Barbara, you go ahead and moan all you like, we've all been there!!!! The way you are .feeling is completely normal, I had right THR in October then left one in December 2014 and for the first 3 months felt poleaxed !!! Gradually it does improve, you must remember your body has suffered major trauma and it takes time to heal. My surgeon said although outwardly you heal quite quickly it can take between a year and eighteen months before inward healing is complete ! Just take every day as it comes and don't beat yourself up. Take care and good luck love Maggie xxx
Hi Barbara:
I am at week 5. And it sounds like you're doing amazingly well. I am in Canada and I have been told to use a walker not canes or crutches.
I have fest very tred for many weeks, I sleep a lot through the day or rather often.
I haven't headed outside for walks yet. It seems to me my hip muscle at the front of my operated right leg has shortened. It's as if, I've been in that stooped over position for so long my muscle has atrophied or shortrened. I don't see my surgeon again until April 30th. But my physiotherapist ensures me that " we'll get that fixed!"
I also contracted a bacterial infection called Cellulits and, it is quite serious with hip surgery (probably other srugeries too). I now have a new type of doctor an endocrinologist. He studies diseases. He has put me on a heavy dose of antibiotics . I have had to have a PICC inserted in my forearm that delivers the antibiotic 24 hours a day at home! A PICC is a "Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter" which stays in my forearm until the medication is finished. Kind of creepy, but it works. Thank Goodness I don't have to head to the hosptial every 8 hours any longer!
I hope you continue to gain strength. I have been very weak since coming home I believe a lot of this "oh so tired" feeling may have a lot to do with having this infection. I was triing to figure it out early on if others were as tired as me. So, I'd say it's the same.
Barbara: I'm at 4 months post op, and to be honest, this still sounds very familiar to me. I don't walk everyday, and when I do its about a mile. Soreness is still very much there, and I'm not sure if the pain I feel on the non-op side is due to things 'realigning' or if the other hip is getting worse over time. My doctor says to give it a full year to recuperate, so we'll see! In any case, I do feel like I may be pulling back to little on the exercise to see how things are on their own, in case my walking every day was hurting the other hip. Family gatherings help mentally but can cause more pain, that's for sure. It might be that we just need to be patient, but I think good spurts and then some going backward in recovery may be the case.
Hello Barbara. I am 4 weeks in and was doing okay but Friday evening pain set in, cannot find a reason. Saturday I did manage a bit of walking with crutches but had to rest all afternoon. Pain with me all night so today I am only doing the given exercises and not walking at all. It is right in my hip and very bad when I transfer the weight from one leg to the other. Seems to be responding to rest so hope it settles overnight so that I can get back on track. Had hoped to be down to one crutch on week 5. All part and parcel of the recovery I guess. Do not recall anything untoward
i know how you feel, 8 weeks post op back at work 1 week,using static bike every morning, felt tired but ok -yesterday I went to shopping center (more medicinal shoe shopping) and then supermarket - silly old me!!! this morning I ached literally all over, my hip hurt, my scar hurt, I just hurt - so I kept in bed late, took breakfast back to bed just chilled and now i feel better again - i reckon this is our life from now on but I wouldn`t go back to how it was before xxx
You are quite normal. I think because we feel so much better and painless about 6/7 weeks after the op, we think we can do stuff we did before, not realising our bodies are still recovering from major surgery. Just take it a bit easy for a few days and you will soon start to feel better again.
Hi
I feel like you at 5weeks. I think we have ups and downs! Also I have rather a lot recently and I think the body has a way to say "no". No problems about moaning I think we all need to do it!!,
hilary
Thanks Barbara and everyone else that responded.
I think it's right, we start to feel better and then our bodies remind us we are still healing. I know some have gone back to work, think Valerie did at 8 weeks. Not sure I feel anything like ready. Seeing consultant next week so will see how that goes. It will be 7 weeks by then.
Thanks again hippies, love the posts xxxx
you are so right about doing too much,but you just cant help it when you feel good,but as you said your body soon reminds you .i went out for dinner today which i really enjoyed,but slept for 2 hours after.something so simple just wore me out.didnt bother with my excercises either,so back on track tomorrow.will be starting my 4th week post op x
That's absolutely it. Could cry this morning, woke up aching all over and will be a real effort to get going. But know once I do and have a wander in the sunshine will feel better.
Physio today--- hope she is understanding.
But I have had a brilliant weekend and enjoyed a glass of champagne!
Xx
I am so very happy to have found this forum -- I am 5 weeks post-op and going through the same thing - I even took it out on the Physical Therapist and accused her of not doing enough - If you haven't done so, please watch the surgery on You Tube ... I have so much more respect and understanding for my body -
It is great to be able to moan and groan to like-minded people - what a relief -
Big Hug to all -
Sympathise Barbara. Starting my week 5 and had 2 bad days but rested completely yesterday and pain has eased. At my hospital we have 6 Physio sessions before coming home and then DIY with booklet for reinforcement. I have done them religiously and up to 4 times daily now. Also daily walking. Once I am signed off at 8 weeks I will ask GP to arrange a couple of sessions related to my hobby to ensure I do not do anything daft. Have booked a train trip up north of Scotland in June so hope I am fighting fit by then. Need to be able to take all photographic gear with me. Decided to forgo a walking holiday this year as do not feel confident. Best to potter and have Mid week trips. Sunny here today in the South East so will enjoy a wee walk along river. Enjoy Physio you may get some new exercises to add to the repertoire x
Hi Renne I did watch the surgery on tube thank goodness I did it after my op and yes it makes you realise the trauma to body and not surprising we are not jumping around at 5 weeks
I forgot to mention that my "good" leg was hurting so badly that I couldn't put any weight on my left leg ... THR was on right hip -
It is getting better now, but it scared the hell out of me .... Anybody had that experience?
Hi Renee
Yes I certainly had pain in my unoperated leg post op especially at night, I had pains shooting all up and down it when I went to bed, I took an icepack to rub all over it which worked sometimes, it stopped after about 2-3 weeks if I remember rightly. This could be from a pinching of the nerves either during op or at spinal block site. I also couldn't stand on my unoperated leg as I had pain in it but I now think that was the pain from bearing all my weight for so long pre op as that has subsided.
It will get better, given time.
Hi Barbara I,m just over 4 weeks post op and have had a simular experence
at 3 weeks I could walk about the house and a trip down the garden with no sticks and with my left hip waiting for a thr as well I was really pleased, I was not able to walk any real distance without cructhes but the other day I had a short uphill walk at the shops and I was done it took me a day and a half to recover, I always expect to have good and bad days and knowing me I probably pushed myself but it is such a downer and it helps to hear fellow THR's experences
Regards Ron
Hi Ron
Yes that does seem to be our bodies telling us it's pay back time when we get above ourselves!
Stick to downhill walks for a while!
Best wishes
Hello Ron
Me just over 4 weeks. Been doing well till the weekend with very painful hip. Can walk round house support free. Using my crutches gives me mor pain and I think I have a tendency to lean on them thereby increasing the load through the hip. Will be conscious of this today and may use my hiking poles where one does not lean. All too tiresome but a better nights sleep