8 weeks post op cementless RTH age 52 F

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I have posted before about feeling blue throught this process..

But what im going to do today is.. tell about my journey.. so others who are not there yet.. can get a feel for what its like..

I could barely walk prior .. due to hip dysplasia. as well told I had anteriir subluxation.. I let it go longer than I should due to my mothers illness. which was alzheimers. She passed Spet 2016.. I saw surgeon again in October again.. and gave the Go ahead for surgery.. but I wanted to wait till the end of December..It only deterioted more as time went on.. Prior to I had a diagnosis of Migraine and took 50 mg tompamax daily and as well took 10 mg prozac,, for mild anxiety..

I did feel anxious prior to surgery.. but Honestly.. No one prepraes you for what its really going to be like..

hours after the surgery.. it was like a honeymoon.. I felt no pain.. could walk around the nurses station with a walker.. happily.. After the pain med they gave me in the OR wore off..I was given Oxy..well therein my troubles began.. I threw up multiple times hours later.. which told me that.. It never digested to begin with in my stoamch.. I was so far removed from any pain  med almost 24 hours later..  I felt I could not cope.. I was given zofran for nausea and then given 1 norco..I could barely get through PT without crying.. I was kept one day more.and then released..

NO one can prepare you for what you are going to feel..Iwent two more days with being undermedicated.. unles by the grace of God The surgeon called me and asked how i was doing 4 days later..I was in tears.. he then told me to Take 2 norco.. and one naproxin 500 mg.

Miraculously.. the pain became more manageable.within 4 hours.. and hence.. MY advice.. Ask for more pain med.. NO one knows your pain threshold..dont be shy.. or a hero.. YOu neef t oheal and get through this,,.Fast forward to now.. 8 weeks later..Ive had my minor successes.. not using a walker or cane.. but very wobbly.. 

My surgery was done Anterior LAteral..Ive been walking 2 miles day..for many be a week.. without any use of help..

IT usually feels uncomfortable muscle wise later and the next day..I have had no further PTsice the second week. per my surgerons request..

I am no longer taking pain meds.. NO longer taking Migraine med and NO longer taking Prozac..I feel so clear in my thought process..feel betetr over all.. just cant quite walk straight..

I have no idea if IM going to be released back to work..

Ive been told it taks longer for a cemenetless hip to heal and recover..

MY employer.. well.. IM sure they expect me back.

I work in healthcare.. SLiding heavy pts.. assiting them out of wheelchairs.. Up and down all day long..its a fast pace..

I need to go back to work for my mind..more than any thing.but my doc is very conservatiove..

but what I want to drive home mostly . is this..

If you didnt have the THR.. mostly likely you wold be crippled over time.. IT had to be done.. they were not doing it for sh--ts and grins

Also.. face it.. Its going to hurt.. so ask boldly for pain meds and more if its not cutting it enough for PT.

YOu will feel a wide range of emotion after.. ups and downs..

also.. Dont expect people in your life. to really care that much.. ALL i was told and heard was.. how. a THR is so much easier than all other joints.. so quick ect.. Forget it.. ITs tough.. its going to be alot of work afte the surgery.. and Patience.

Internally celebrate your little successes.little things you where not able to do.. 

Myself I have found I have no joint pain any more.. just alos tof muscles out of whack . also  feel a clicking or something rubbing in there.. 

Have no idea what that is.. but i hope nothing.. I see my Doc on wednesday..I pray to God he feels I can move forward and that I have  done no damage along the way.. Ie Micro MOvement.. only no cement patients will understand that..

I hope this has helped you .. any of you..

I feel proud I finally did it.. you should too..

also ignore peoples rude commetns about why did you need that done or . YOU are so young for that..

You are taking care for YOU>> for YOU.. for the future and YOU can do.. just understand the realitys of it all.Its major surgery..but YOU can get through it..

2

You will just keep on gaining strength.

3

I am 6 weeks post op on my right hip today and had the other one done last February. I keep comparing my progress this time with my progress last time,and feel I am a good couple of weeks behind.MY muscles in my thigh and bum are still tender,but I know I will get theRe. I am still on one crutch when I had the other done I was off crutches at 5 weeks,when I saw the surgeon he said my right one would always be weaker.I see the surgeon next week and am hoping for the all clear so I can drive .Good luck on your recovery x

4

Had two primary THR and one revision. It's always a work in progress and a fight thru THR pain and recovery. Pain meds is always a issue and some docs don't stress that enough. Depression can take a toll. If PT hurt they should have stoppped. No one should suffer til they cry with pain. I am sorry that this was a difficult time it's always a roller coaster ride. I'm 6 weeks post op and still hanging in there.😊

5

Melissa,

Thank you for sharing your journey. My husband has stepped up to take care of me and cook great meals, remind me tobtake my meds, change out ice packs, and keep me comfortable.

How true that others don't understand. My husband heard the surgeon state at our pre-appointment, "we will have you up and walking, including walking stairs, prior to discharge the day of your surgery." Based in that understanding he did say, and believe, that I wasn't having major surgery. After all, "it wasn't heart surgery".😀

I continued to read the posts on this forum, expecting that I would not have either of the extreme experiences. I read and processed everything in order to be prepared no matter the outcome. I am now 20 days post op and continue to use a walker. I am getting stronger each day. And do my 16 exercises (3 x daily). Walking outside is difficult to do with all the rain we are having in California these past few weeks. My PT doesn't want me to risk being out in the rain at all to potentially slip or fall. I walk laps in my home when it rains. My family feels the cabin fever, but not me...my body needs the rest! I'm fortunate that it has been raining and not warm and sunny.

I don't see my doctor until March 6th. I don't think the PT is going to allow me to drive before that...after all I still have been in the car. We do have permission to go out for an all you can eat Crab dinner this Saturday evening! Can't wait for that 🦀

Hang in there Hippies!!!

Keep yourself on track and

6

This is a major surgery! Full of ups and downs for your system. The drugs alone given to slow down your bodily functions in surgery so you don't bleed too much are very hard to detox. I have felt that the drugs are a bit of a challenge. I have been very emotional since surgery. Not just sad tho, very thankful and happy. It's been a funny old time, and I am tearful. Hips are an emotional seat in the body, if you go in for all of that. In yoga if you teach students and do poses to open the hips, many students cry and don't know why. It's a release. Imagine the release during a THR.