hi,
im 3 weeks out, and I'm struggling a bit with lower back pain on my operated side.
i have a tilted pelvis since the op (which I'm told will rectify itself over time). I'm wondering if this is one of the causes?
i had back pain prior to the op, but not as bad as this.
anyone else suffered with this?
is it one of those rings that eases with time?
thanks for reading.
lindsey x
I still do even after 10 months, I use a heating pad it helps. I see my Surgeon in May, and will discuss this with him...I do have a bad back but it never hurt on the left side, this came with surgery...
i have had lower back pain on both sides it was terrible when i came home i think it was from the spinal tap ihad some massive bruises there as well i"m 4 weeks now it"s not as bad but i feel it when i"m tired and been up moving around a lot hope that helps you Lisa
Hello, I never had any back issues prior to my surgery. However , I have lumbar pain on both sides on and off! My MRI of the lumbar was remarkable ! I am seeing a neurologist very soon.
Hi lindsey,
you must get sick of hearing this but: you are still early in recovery - THR is major surgery and your whole body is involved in the healing process -
Around this time usually we start to feel a little (a lot) stronger and do more -
Of course i did too - and had back pain, I mean so bad I couldn't straighten my body ... I was so out of balance - the way I sat, stood, walked ....
I am still (have to be) mindful about my posture -
relax your body, darling - all is well
big warm hug
renee
Hi lovely renee,
you are truly a forum star!
thanks for replying.
yes, you are right, I am still so early in recovery, and I would have said exactly the same to someone else at this stage.
but as you say, we start to feel stronger and do more, and I guess it's only now that we are finding out when more becomes too much.
ive realised that I am a real worrier about these post op aches and pains. I go from "ooh that hurts," to "I'll never walk again and be in a wheelchair" in about 60 seconds. And when fear comes in the body tenses, which exacerbates everything doesn't it?
i remember reading an earlier post of yours where you mentioned that you used to fret about each twinge.
i take it your back pain eased after a while? (Although I hear you when you y you have to be very very careful posture wise)
how are you overall now? I can't quite remember when you had your second THR? My sense from reading your other posts is that your pain is a lot better, but that you aren't yet as fully mobile as you would have liked to be?
has it been you own learning and experience that has pointed you in the right direction about walking, sitting etc, or have you had some specialist intervention eg physio
you are a great comfort to us all on here......
Thankyou.
lindsey X
Actually, it was pointed out by one of our hippie family members, Kikeena -
She started a discussion about (I think) old dogs learning new tricks and mentioned proper walking - I looked up the video clip on youtube - it is short I instructor is PT Lin ... it makes so much sense -
I was not prepared to have all that stiffness and soreness, pain in groin etc. though, but now realize that I have never been this far in my recovery 
- duh !!!!
2nd THR was September 10, so almost 6 months ago - good Lord ...
angel blessings
renee
Hi Lindsey
I intended to reply to your message to me about your back, but haave had such a busy week.
I did have chronic back pain in the early days, it is definitely made worse by your tilted pelvis, sleeping permanently on your back and not walking properly.
The back pain was far worse on some days than any othe pain! So I am understand why you are worried about it.
It will ease considerably once you are walking completely without aids, and walking well (ie not limping) which will all happen in time. Also being able to sleep on your side will help alot.
I used heat patches available from any chemist and supermarket (dont buy the over the clothes ones they don't work as well) but there are some good skin on skin hot patches that you can stick on your back that will ease the pain considerably. Soon you can have a hot bath and that will help too.
I have arthritis in my spine so was not surprised when my back started to hurt, and the surgery itself is pretty full on, so your back would have had to take a bit of a hammering.
Unless I stand for ages in the cold, my back has virtually stopped hurting now ~ I am sure yours will settle down too.
Yay, I'll do the usual and echo everyone else!
I have arthritis in my lower spine as well but the pain over the last week has meant stepping up my pain meds again.
I believe that the pain is irritated by once again being back sat on my bum a lot and not exercising in the way I was. It radiates out from my spine, across my hip and down my leg.
I have just started using a rubber ring to try and improve things but truly believe that when I can move a bit better it will ease off. At this stage (I am 3 weeks today) we still can't do too much but need to keep things moving.
Hi, I'm 4 weeks post and noticed i get back pain also. Im thinking its due to the crutches and distance related,
People say its early days but if your used to working, a month of work seems much longer especially when your not in fulll working order. I have an annoyoing ache plus cant get comfy for longer than an a hour. Moving about is ok but at the moment its a long way to the finish line. Don't get me started about the sleeping routine.
Slow and steady wins the race. As long as its not fallen off or grown an extra leg its probably normal. ;-)
Dez
I like what you are saying, Dez, the arthritis in my fingers is twice as bad as it usually is because of taking my weight on crutches, everything seems to be affected but I also know from already having one hip done that it all improves, albeit slowly.
I will bring up sleeping because I really think it's the key to making bigger strides in recovery. A good nights rest is essential but we are all plagued with broken, pain interupted sleep patterns. This is what I did.
First two weeks I went with the flow and just slept when I could but during the first hip last June I found that the worse my sleep was the less I progressed.
I am not a back sleeper so this time I had a plan.
By week two I slept with two pillows under my knees and a pillow either side of me under my elbows to discourage turning. At the beginning of last week I put another pillow running down beside my good leg and keeping my hips straight I turned slightly to rest on this pillow = a four hour stretch. As the week progressed I removed one pillow from under my legs and shoved it under my bad side to prop me over a bit further = 5 hour stretch. Two nights ago I put a firm pillow length ways between my legs and turned nearly all the way over still with props behind my back.
Last night I slept from 11pm - 7.30pm all the way over on my side.
it may not be your habit to sleep on your side but my advice is to re-train your body to get to the place where you can sleep comfortably.
As long as you are supported and your hips are straight you can get to where you need to be and sleep!
Some people prefer to sleep on their op side and I don't think it matters, we are only told to sleep on our backs so we don't twist in the night.
You're probably right des.
This recovery is certainly not linear!
Thanks rose.
your replies are always reassuring.
i seem to remember you were off your crutches around 6-7 weeks.
I honestly can't imagine being off mine in 3 weeks ..... But I guess a lot can happen lol!
Hope you are still recovering gently, and the family is well.
L xx
OMG, People actually sleep for 8 1/2 hours? For real?
i doubled my pillows inbetween my thighs last night and aooeared to have got on much better.
i am also working on the theory of doing a little and enduring some pain but worth it in the recovery dept.
There are many variables in our THR it is only to be expected things are different all round
Dezx
I suffered from walking stick induced shoulder pain.
Everything is connected, and when we rely too much on another part of the body, it complains.
Graham - 🚀💃
Apparently people do sleep that long, they are the ones who do not have to get up to the bathroom every hour in the night !