4 weeks and 1 day post op

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi hippies,

Just wanted to say that I have found this forum absolutely invaluable and thank you to everybody who's contributed to it. It's been very re-assuring knowing that so many people are experiencing a similar situation.

Background: I'm an active 64 year old male, live in southern UK, who's been suffering increasing pain in my left hip for over 2 years. I saw my GP last year who suggested I have a THR but I went into denial, asked for pain killers and stated I was too young for such a radical operation - fool!

Roll on a year and asked the GP to update the paid meds but he refused and basically said "let's get this sorted". I had a consultation and X-ray at the end of August, diagnosed severe OA and was asked if I wanted the op in September (I panicked again), it was inconvenient etc and was asked what WAS convenient.  The NHS is truly marvellous.

Between late August and the 25th October when I had a LTHR posterior operation,I spent virtually every day in the gym concentrating on hip exercises.

It paid off, I spent 3 days in hospital, totally pain free, and have been ever since, was walking on 1 crutch within 2 weeks and have been exercising and walking ever since. I had my first physio today and they were very positive, doing well etc. so things are moving on.

I feel much happier than I've felt for several years and realise that the hip pain was dragging me down without recognising it.

It's not all sunlit uplands of course. It's such a drag sleeping on my back.

This month has been really tedious. Being stuck in the house apart from walks, not sleeping properly, watching TV for hours, it's all a bit Groundhog Day - but it's got to be done.

I've stuck religiously to the exercise regime but naively expected some sort of contact with somebody, anybody, to re-assure me after hospital discharge. An exercise sheet and some general guidelines aren't much comfort.I thought a district nurse or some such would "pop in"! How old am I ha!

Looking forward to my 6 weekly review when hopefully I'll be able to drive - fingers crossed.

Best wishes and good luck to all.

Bob

 

2

hi Bob

it sounds like you're doing absolutely great, well done for your positive vibes! 

im somewhat similar in my. journey, in denial for years longer than you & thinking myself too young at 60!  Now i'm so glad it's all done, 3 weeks ago, with a very successful recovery so far. 

i agree absolutely with your comment on being left to your own devices, my comments exactly. i can't believe you are just turned out with a photocopied sheet of exercises, a choice of removing your own dressing or seeing a nurse ( i chose the latter!) and in my case no follow up with consultant until 12 weeks post op. i am seeing the physio every 2 weeks so maybe he can tell me when fit to drive. 

Keep up the good work, sounds like you are doing very well!

Margaret

3

Great to hear your positive thoughts....

​How we all think someone will contact us after such a major procedure... that was many years ago that happened.   Believe me even Cancer patients do not get that service from the GP;s here in the South of England.

​Where are you?  I am in Eastbourne but had my bi-lateral THR in North London....as local hospital refused to consider me at my age. was told to contact them when I was 60 for a review....

​Good luck on your recovery, do not expect much on the physio front unless you are more fortunate.... I get once every 3 weeks!!

4

Similar story ...fit 54...took the surgeon 5 goes to convince me I needed to get it done ,including the morning of my op ..I went privately to get it (just easier for me as I'm self employed)...like you been doing I'd been focusing on my leg and hip exercises for the past few months ..now 3weeks and 1day post op ..

I too feel that the hospitals don't give you quite the back up you need ,even privately ..I have my first physio thi Fri...

You seem to be doing very well ,it's always great seeing how people embrace the new hip thing ...onwards and upwards..gm

5

Well done you I put my op twice as so frightened

gave in couldn't cope with o/a bone on bone

any longer,best thing I ever did pain free yahoooooo.

I also haven't had any at home after care which

I think is really not on after major surgery,you

don't no what your feeling within your body is

how things are ment to be.

Even at my 7 week hospital check I didn't see my

consultant I saw his nurse not happy about this

also I had so much to ask him.

My next hospital check up is next month,guess

what had letter telling me I am now getting a

telephone consultation what's that all about,I'm

18 weeks post tlhr now and still feel pain when

climbing stairs on my op leg,I'm going to try

some how to see consultant again fingers crossed I wish you well keep healing .xxx😱🙋✋

6

Lol .. Get you ! I am 56 and was told the youngest they had done was 17 . Yes there is no contact after only to have the stitches out and your 6 week review .. Although I find the doctors quite amiable if you want more pain killers or sick notes . They seem quite sympathetic . But after that your on your own ... Hence this forum is a lifesaver ! Good luck

7

I too am 4 weeks and 1 day post op, my op went well and on returning to the ward after coming round from the op I was greeted by the pyhsio dept who asked if I could get out of bed and give the Zimmer frame a try, I did and they were impressed that I managed 4 to 5 steps, so then they gave me 2 walking sticks and asked me to try them which I had no problem with walking with them. They asked me to get into bed and they would pop along and see me later. They came back an hour later and with the aid of the sticks asked me to follow them to a set of steps with a handrail and asked if I could get up and down them 3 times with a stick which I did.they then escorted me back to the ward and announced that the physiology dept did not need to see me anymore and discharged me, I was shocked, I would of thought I would have needed some sort of follow up treatment. I was discharged from the hospital after 2 days which I thought was a bit too soon but I'm only the patient. I received some medication and a leaflet with a couple of excersises on it. I had a phone call from the hospital 3 days later asking how I was and I have received a letter telling me my follow up appointment is at the beginning of January. It seems that a lot of people on this forum are getting lots of treatments and 6 week appointments and that I have been left to fend for myself, my worry is because my follow appointment is at 12 was if there is anything wrong it might be too late to repair any damage. I am getting about OK on 1 stick but leg stiffens up when I've done a bit much. I have all but stopped all the medication now and I am feeling ok. It's been a great help reading a lot of letters/ comments on this forum and I wish you all a speedy recovery and get well soon. Tony

8

Oh maybe you did too well on getting out of bed ! Lol . It was agony for me and I swore . Are you US ?

9

I'm in the nth of uk

10

hi kirk, 

warm welcome to the best hippies forum and congratulations on your THR ..

I too was in denial for a long time - unfortunately my pain was so bad and very limiting in moving - recovery for me is kind of slow - getting my 2nd THR within 6 months didn't help either, but hey ... I have 2 new hips now ...

you are absolutely right about no follow up - I am in Holland and also was discharged with sheet of exercises and follow up appointment at  6 weeks post-op ... I live alone  so had home health nurse come every morning for 2 weeks - staples were removed and had her come every other day - 

even my GP was not interested in my new hip(s) -

Surgeons are not the ones who can follow up except for the technical part ... that is all they care about and feel responsible for ... It would be nice if the ortho department of a hospital could provide follow up care, including classes - Not all physical therapists understand hip - or knee replacements --- sheets of exercises are generic which is okay to begin with -

if there is anything you are concerned about, you can call surgeon's office to make an appointment -

and of course, come here anytime ..

thank you for sharing your wonderful post ..

big warm hug

renee 

11

because we all felt left to our own devices, one of our forum members created a web site -

please have a look at :

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147 , scroll all the way down to find A Laymans Guide by Rocketman ...

12

Hi Elaine,

I'm in South Oxfordshire and had my op at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.

I can't praise the care and attention I received there enough but as I think we all feel, judging by everybody's responses, once you're discharged you're basically left to get on with it.

For example, I was lucky enough to borrow a "nursing home" type high chair and because I am so aware of the 90 degree rule have not attempted to sit on anything lower since my discharge. Yesterday the physio took me into her office and gestured to an ordinary seat for me to sit on. I asked her if I could do that because of 90 degree rule. She immediately backtracked and said it was up to the consultant to tell me etc. So, my question was well, am I expected to sit normally now or not but of course I didn't get a definitive response. I'm so paranoid about dislocating my new hip and having to go through the whole procedure again that I'm a bit frightened to even try. So the high chair it is for me for the forseeable future lol.

This forum is a fantastic source of help and re-assurance. Thanks to all for your positive responses.

Bob

13

Hi Bob

Im paranoid about the 90 degree rule too but was told by a nurse that its very rare to dislocate with advances in recent hip surgery- still scary though!

As soon as you start getting out & about it becomes harder to find suitable height chairs. I found this visiting local department store for coffee & needing to sit on a folded coat to bring the height up!

14

When I saw my consultant at 7 weeks he lifted all restrictions... but I still struggle with sitting on low chairs...

I have an inflatable cushion in my handbag that I can use if the seat is low or hard...

Even the GP surgery chairs are too low!!!

​Funny how you start to look at things with different perspective but like you do not want to dislocate my hips... as not sure I could go through it all again..

 

15

Well that's weird 12 weeks sounds wrong to me I would check that out .. Never heard of waiting 3 months following major op sounds like an admin error ? I am in Wales ... 6 weeks .

16

Im in Cheshire & had my THR through BUPA but still have to wait 12 weeks for consultant appt. i agree, sounds far too long to me, would be much happier to have reassurance at 6 weeks before driving etc

17

Hi elaine, 

good for you to bring an inflatable cushion with you ... low chairs were already a problem for me pre-surgery because of pain in hip .  

I also noticed the "normal" chairs in ortho departement's waiting room eek

 

18

That is crazy ! Here it's 6 weeks and then another at 6 months .. Seems mad to me . How do you know when you can drive ? Surgeon supposed to say ok to driving ...

19

I had a review for my disability allowance,,,,,,  NOT A HIGH CHAIR IN SITE... so my husband blew up my cushion in front of the assessor.... his face was a picture.... No one had ever done that before.  

​I am waiting for OT assessor re adaptations to our flat.. as I am still not able to bend enough to use the oven.... and still have raised WC seat... no grab rails. 

Life is a challenge everyday... not only for us hippies but others in the world... so lets keep our chins up and smile...

20

It's fascinating when you think of all the different experiences in even just a little place like the UK. I'm two weeks and two days, I had my first surgical follow up Tuesday and he decided I was so good there was no point in having more! So I got a number to phone if I have any worries  and told I'd be back in a year. On the other hand I can't get rid of my hospital physio appointments and they are useless for me and a waste of my time!