4 weeks post hip op ,how's everyone doing ?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

hi everyone out there who has just had a hip operation. I would love to hear how everyone is finding it. 

I myself was quite pleased that at two days post op was able to walk with 2 sticks and climb stairs ( if there was a hand rail) and was a sent home. I had no pain at all in my groin/hip just obviously discomfort of the healing scar which was to be expected.i was really happy .

But 4 weeks in I seem to be very anxious that things haven't moved on and I fact I feel less well than 2 weeks ago. 

1: My legs are still soooo swollen I can hardly bend my knees , my legs are too swollen to get those stockings on.it feels like I have a tight elastic band on the back of both knees stopping them bend, nurse just says it's a major op you will have swelling ,but this bad ? 

2: been getting sharp pains in my scar ,which apparently are just the nerves firing back up in there I have been told, didn't have any last night 😀

3: I have a bit of groin pain and some buttock pain which I didn't have for the first few weeks ,bit like old pre op pain so am walking slower and turning with even more care than before to stop this from happening. 

4: an annoying twitch on  operative leg bottom cheek twitching ,no pain but goes off on these strange spasms ,is this normal.?

5: still can't lift my operative leg whilst lying flat on the bed to do the work sheet exercise. Fine on the other leg . But it just won't move ,try several times a day but no movement at all. 

6: feel like my operative legs is going out slightly to an angle ,finding it so hard to walk with that foot forward ,it keeps wanting to turn out to balance me. 

I feel we are sent home with no extra follow on care other than surgeon check up at 8 weeks ,we get told to get moving and get back to normal ,but then again don't over do it . 

On a more positive note ,I was so worried I wouldn't be able to sleep on my back as I usually sleep on my stomach or sides but I have been sleeping really well slightly propped up with my v pillow so pleased with that as I really love my sleep 😀

Would love to hear from anyone who has had total hip op and there experiences .Would be good to help and support each other. 

Warm wishes 

suzie 

2

Hi Suzie it is a rollercoaster ride.

​One step forward and then 2 back... I am 14 weeks and have taken a big backwards step... disappointed as thought I was getting there..  I had both mine done at the same time and thought it would be similar in each leg.. but no different and I am now back on full pain meds to get me through the day.

​See physio on Monday and will be asking lots of questions as feel a little dispondent today.

3

Yes suzi I am 5 weeks and get all these except the swollen legs. It is so early! My scar throbs and is hot and sharp pains , groin pain , muscle pain, walk at an angle .. Apparently it is all quite normal . You should see a physio too .dont worry it is a very long process but your ailments I share as well ! Good luck !

4

Too much too fast!  Rest. Elevate leg.  Don't push yourself. One hint about those stockings which helped me--I had the same problem as you do.  They switched me from knee high stockings to thigh high stockings and  it was such a relief! 

​It seems that because you started out so well you were pushing yourself more and more and your body just couldn't keep up with the demands while trying to heal.  So much of what you are now feeling sounds so very normal after this surgery.  If you overdo your activities your body will take you back a week or two until it catches up.  THis is normal.  I did wonderfully for the first two weeks after my surgery.  Then my body revolted. It became harder and harder to do the things that I had been doing earlier.  My doctor told me to rest very frequently.  Elevate leg.  Use ice or heat-Whatever helps most.(I used heat).  And keep pain to a minimum with pain meds.  He stressed that pain actually will slow healing.  He said that I don't have to sleep all day but I do need to rest.  Therapy will help so much but only in moderaton.  If you can't do an exercise 10 times do 5 times or 3 times or whatever you can do without straining.  SOmething that helped me in the beginning was to skip one day between exercises sessions.  My therapist said that muscles often need a recovery day after therapy.  He was right. Especially when he added more advanced exercises.  There are so many things that you will experience now that will correct themselves as you heal and your muscles get stronger, such as one leg being shorter than the other or leg turning in or out, etc.  I'm 6 1/2 weeks post op. now and I'm doing so much better now that I've learned to accept that this is not a race.  You might be doing better than someone else or worse than others but in the end you will get where you want to be.  JUst treat yourself gently, do what you can, don't push, accept that there will be good and bad periods, and rest as much as possible. 

I look foreward to hearing how you're coming along.

 

5

Thanks for words of encouragement Patricia X 

It sounds so clear coming from someone who has obviously been through it themselves. Had a much better day ,feeling more positive ,many thanks. Hope all is good your end. X 

6

Hi Elaine 

so sorry to hear you have taken a step backwards ,you haven't dislocated them have you ? 

Wow both done at the same time ,major recovery . 

Life you need meds definately take them. 

I came off mine at day 10 then went back on them ,definately helps me recover I think. 

Good luck on Monday with physio ,let me know how you get on . 

Sending hugs 

7

Thanks Hazel 

Think as your sent home without any real aftercare anything that changes make you worry . But reading others blogs makes me feel confident it's normal healing process . They don't really tell you what to expect do they . 

Seeing a physio in about 2/3 weeks that's the earliest they could get me in. 

thanks for encouragement hip buddy 😀

8

Hi again Patricia 

Did they change you to thigh high stockings as knee ones were too tight or just coz the swelling ? 

Wonder if they can get me some thigh ones to fit ,and that help .

Feeling a lot better the last couple of days ,think reading everyone's blogs makes me realise I am recovering normally . 

Night jerks have stopped and operative scar has had no more pains. Think it was made worse when I was re checked by the nurse who rubbed my scar to see if it was sore ,she was actually quite rough. 

The nurse that took out the staples a couple of weeks previous made it bleed at 7 different points so it still has a few scabs which are a bit tender. 

Dont think the nurse was up on hip ops as she was looking nearer my butt for the scary,then said oh there it is on your leg ..... 

Hope your doing well Patricia 

9

I complained to the nurse that the knee high stockings were very tight and I had rolls of swelling over the tops of the stockings. It felt like I had a band around my knee.  She said that the doctor always uses thigh high stockings for this exact reason and I must have been given the wrong package.  The thigh highs were the same size as the knee highs but oh so much more comfortable.  Makes me wonder why the aide who applied them in the first place wasn't aware of that fact.   Take care

10

Thanks Patricia

which hospital did you have the op ? 

Wonder maybe I could get some on the Internet will look into it

best wishes 

suzie .