Hi I had my RTHR 4 days ago and after buying all these grabbing aids etc the hospital has given out a new book about exercises. Apparently we can now bend right down to pick things up and twist if necessary and sleep on either side immediately after op. The physios also told us there are now no restrictions and my consultant who trained at Stanmore said times are proving the precautions of the past aren’t necessary if the op went ok and if it wasn’t a revision. Obviously you don’t keep on doing everything as before as it’s too much for your physical strength but I must admit I was very surprised we can now bend right down immediately after the op. I’m not good at sleeping on my side and last night in hospital I tried sleeping on the non-operated side ( the other side was too painful). It was ok but managed to roll up my wound dressing so a bit of blood on sheets and a new dressing applied. Anyone else been told to ignore the old rules?
Hi,
Yes my physio’s said the same! Bend as much as you’re able, sleep however you like! I was surprised. I have been bending to put on socks, kneeling etc and all been ok.
Don’t think the message is the same with all though as my physio at be local hospital where I now go told me to follow the restrictions so god knows what is right - i’m Seeing consultant on Monday so am gonna ask!
X
I definitely was not told that. In fact they extended my precaution s for three months. I just got off them a few weeks ago. But now my leg is so stiff I can't put on socks or tie shoes with putting on a serious show of pain grunting and almost falling out of my chair. In my early weeks I had a few missed steps and boy it woke me up quick as everything felt like it was coming apart. Be careful!
Same for me. Anterior THR. Just can’t run for 3 months
Hi Sarah
I'm currently deciding weather or not to go ahead with a THR and the lengthy rehab is one thing that puts me off, so this makes interesting reading.
Did you have posterior operation ? And are you in the uk ?
That's very interesting! I'm 14 days post op from my seond THR today and have been following the 90 degree rule, sleeping on back etc. as before. However, one of the physios in the hospital this time did tell me that it was ok to bend to reach my feet as long I did it slowly and carefully. He said it was quick jerky movements that might cause dislocation, not the bending in itself. Sleeping position wasn't mentioned but I might just try sleeping on my good side tonight!
Dear Philip
After all the posts explaining why you should not delay I'm rather surprised that you are still uncertain!! BTW recovery does not have to be lengthy and I'm speaking as someone who had a replacement hip over twenty years ago and a revision earlier this year both using the posterior approach. If you feel a phone chat would help you to make up your mind just message me to fix something up.
Cheers, Richard
Yep sounds real interest, could make for a more speedy recovery maybe.
All the best Sarah with the recovery 😀
Stay safe
Pete
Yes Sarah - I'm 12 days post left THR and I was also told that advice has now changed re what you can and cannot do. I have been able to bend to pick up things but keeping my operated leg as straight as possible. I can sleep on both sides with a pillow between my legs if I like. Have only slept on non-operated side so far. I will also be able to start driving soon as it's my left leg and I have an automatic (UK resident). My only negative to date is some swelling of ma ankle and lower leg. That tends to go down if I rest and is said to be common.
Thanks Richard
I'm really grateful for all the positive feedback and I'm 100% certain you are all correct and will certainly help me make that call it's just me being a coward but I'm sure I will go ahead plus I'm sick of my wife moaning at me for limping lol. I have a manual job and on my feet all day that's why I am concerned about the recovery time but with a positive attitude I'm sure I would be ok.
Wow Sarah, that is great news if this is to be the norm. I hated the six weeks lying on my back and would have loved to have laid on non operated side. Good luck with your recovery.
Philip, dont think about the recovery, think about a pain free hip! I agree with Richard.
I can’t comment at the moment philip as only 4 days post op. I never expected any of this, now just been told I need a blood transfusion!!!! And they now can’t get a cannula in as my veins keep collapsing. Can’t get my head round all these things going wrong.
Yes and yes Mary
Thanks Sarah and I wish you a speedy recovery.
Dear Auntie
Yes it would be great to have no restrictions but to be frank I would not want to push my luck. This is how I see it if it's of interest to anyone here!
Your new joint is bound to take time for the ball and socket to become one secure item like it was years ago, and it is basically only your muscles and tendons holding it together, soooo it takes time for this to happen which is the reason for the restrictions. This is why dislocation happens so just bear this in mind people.
Just step back a moment and think of what is going on with that new joint when you move it a lot to one side or the other. You are basically levering the ball out of the socket if there is nothing there to hold it in position. Do you want to gamble on your recovery because in many cases a dislocation leads directly to a revision and that is really bad news as some here will testify.
As I see it unless you have been fitted with a "constrained" hip joint (very unlikely BTW) you are at risk of dislocation until your muscles have recovered much of their strength.
Stay safe and plan on taking some time for a good long term outcome, and remember it is you who will have to live with and deal with the consequences not your surgeon or your physio. or anyone else....for them it is extra work and income <BG>
Cheers, Richard
Totally see where you’re coming from Richard and I’m not stupid or fit enough to not be very careful. But my consultant told me it had all been under review for a long time at Stanmore and the overall result was there was nothing to be gained from obeying the 90deg. Rule/ sleeping only on back. But yeah of course common sense is needed.
OK I really, really do not want to worry anyone but that is not quite correct! I was about four days out of hospital and dislocated by doing this very simple movement.
I was in my correct height swing chair and reached forward a small amount to pick up a 500cc plastic water bottle from the table directly in front of me, swung around about 180 degrees to face my work table and reached forward a bit to place the bottle on the table and as I did so I felt and heard a loud clonk from my hip and it was such a jolt that I dropped the water bottle.
The pain was awful and some time later I was taken to the local hospital for investigation. They found the hip still in position and deduced that I had suffered a dislocation but was very fortunate as it had gone straight back.
Phew I was one of the lucky ones who had just got away with it...... Don't count on it guys!
Cheers
Richard
Sorry to hear of your misfortune Sarah hope they get you sorted soon and get you well on your way to a full recovery.