I had a complex THR and bone graft to acetabulum on the 9th. Had major ups and downs, mainly due to trying to get my analgesia right. I had quite a large blood loss as my op took over 3 hours and needed a load transfusion, also my BP was very low until today. Seemed to have finally turned a corner and now practicing hopping on my good leg using frame, as I'm none weight bearing for 12 weeks. I'm half the age of the majority on the ward who all seem to be doing really well and most discharged home quite quickly. I've felt quite down at times, feeling ill never get anywhere and the pain is so bad as I'm having to hold my op leg up off the floor at all times. Luckily I've got good upper body strength so that helps.
I'm hoping to be discharged tomorrow and looking forward to it. I'm sat here now on a big busy ward listening to the most horrendous snoring going on all around me. Good ear plugs are a must!!!! As are baby wipes/hand wipes/drinks, as water doesn't always quench your thirst/lip balm is handy and snacks as you may not always feel like eating at meal times.
good luck to anyone about to have the op!
That brings back some not too pleasant memories but it gets better, good luck.
So sorry to hear you are having a rough go at this. It will,get better for you!!! Keep your head up. Your turn to get out is around the corner!
I know pain is so depressing and mind numbingly awful.
Hugs to you as you tackle this hurdle.
Vick - Congratulations you have got though the first hurdle, the surgery, now for the getting well. Wow that is a long time for a hip surgery, and I think when they do a blood transfusion, they only top you up till your safe, they don't replace all the blood you have lost, so you will feel wiped out for a while yet, also remember they took a fair bit of the marrow from your leg as well, and that makes your red blood cells, they your carry oxygen, even more reason to be wiped out. Get all the rest you can while you are in the hospital, you are going to need it, I would even say if you wrangle a couple of extra days take it. We all do the getting well part of this surgery at our own bodies speed, not what some of us might suggest on this forum, bit like giving birth, swear black and blue during labour "i'm never going to have another baby" and us girls keep coming back for more. You do forget about all the pain and dis-comfort in time. Good girl and happy Xmas, look foward to hearing your progress.
It was day 7 I turned a corner with low no and energy levels - and I am sure you will start to make big leaps of progress now. Is there any reason why you can't go home? Do you have someone to look after you? Are you all set up at home?
I personally got better much faster at home because it was quiet and I could rest, no one kept disturbing me all the time. I didn't need to be polite to the nurses - and I felt happier in my own surroundings.
Given that you are non weight bearing your progress with be a little slower but you will get there!
Plan the journey home carefully, make sure you can confidently get to the loo and I would push for a discharge.
I left two days before it was recommended for me - and you sound a lot stronger than I was when I escaped and I have been fine - home support will be a must though. As you have a few different challenges at home - stairs, loo, getting in and out of bed, but you can do it! The worst is definitely behind you Vicki! Well done xx
What exactly happened in your op? I know my thr is going to be more complex than usual due to the extent of my problems and in incredibly young to be having the surgery to. Im woundering if youd op could be a little similar to mine. Hope you get to go home soon though. Stay strong 😊
Hey Vicky,
how are you feeling today? will you be discharged?
that was a rough start, wasn't it? just take your time getting stronger - the no-weight bearing is important and good for you that your upper body is strong -
big warm hug
renee
Hi Renee, I was hoping to go home today as feeling much better and doing well using a walking frame. Had Physio review today and they want me to move on to crutches now, so I can use my little tray on wheels from the kitchen to the living room. I'm a bit unstable at the moment partly due to all the meds I'm on! I'm getting there though and will be reviewed again tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Thanks for asking and a big hug to you too
Vicki
Vicki - thinking of you from Queensland as well, you sound as though you are making good progress, and will be home for Xmas. As I said previous take advantage of the hospital and wrangle a long a stay as long as you can. Pain killers can make you a little drunk, and wobbly, and I suspect to are on a pretty strong dose of those, and maybe your blood pressure is still on the low side of normal, woudn't be surprised, painkillers side effect is it slows down your breathing and heart beat, that also can make you a little wobbly, following you along with interest. best regards Lyn
Thanks Lyn, I'll keep you updated!
Vicki
Hi Sarah, sorry for the late reply, my brains addled due to the meds. I had a few operations on my hip as a child and was told to expect a replacement by the age of 30. I got arthritis and put off a replacement for years. Anyway, I'm my op they had to remove all the damage and apparently it was difficult due to the old repaid being in such a mess. I had a bone graft, were doner bone is ground up and used to fill missing parts of bone. The new hip was put in place and the graft pinned. I've gained most of my leg length! Has your consultant explained what you'll be having done? X
Hi rose, thanks for your message, I came home from hospital last night.
The delay was due to my late start in being able to mobilize due to blood transfusion and very low blood pressure. I also had to have input from the pain team as due to the complex surgery and bone graft the pain was excruciating. Once I got going I thought they would discharge me but they wouldn't let me use crutches at first until I was confident using the Zimmer. I then moved into crutches but a bit wobbly at times as hopping. So glad to be home and your right it's so nice to do your own thing!
Hope you are recovering well and have a lovely Christmas with your family
Vicki
No because i didnt see him so no one explained. Ill be going in blind. Im 19 and this will be my 12th op but im really nervous because i dont have a joint or socket as its completely fused so iv no idea how its going to happen. Hope your feeling better x
Ooh. Tray on wheels. I might ask for one for Christmas! Thanks for the idea. It's been fun (not) trying to carry hot coffee around and keep two crutches under my armpits...
I don't understand why you weren't seen by your consultant. How did you get to be on the list for your op if you didnt have a consultation? He or she will certainly see you before you go into surgery as they need to explain their plans and tell you the risks in order for you to sign the consent form. My joint and socket were such a mess, as i'd had previous surgery, they were taken out and the new ceramic hip pinned into place with a bone graft. This will take a long time to heal but my own bone and vessels should grow over the graft making it stronger. It is estimated it will last 15 years, depending on how I look after it. I'll then need further ops as I get older.
Feeling a little better but hard work and going to be a long process.
Wishing you all the best Sarah
It's actually 2 trays, one higher up than the other, supplied by occupational therapy who showed me how to use it. Give trolley small push forward then hop with crutches, then repeat!
I saw a different doctor but not my doctor but she didnt tell me much haha
oh dear ... I wouldn't be able to do that without spilling - sounds challenging Vicki ..
I bet that you are happy to be at home - Are you on top of your pain? (apologies for asking)-
think of you - be relaxed and go easy okay?
big warm hug
renee
Vicki - hope this finds you better today, slowly slowly, does it I'm afraid for a few weeks.
Here in Australia, you never get to see the consultant if you go too a public hospital, I saw mine for about 30 seconds as he introduced himself to me on the operating table.
The Dr's seem to work as teams with the consultant/professor being the named Dr, but then there seem to be Fellow's, orthopedic surgeons from overseas, on a lteaching/learning transfer, working under the consultant, then there are senior and junior registrars, and they have medical students with them as well.
I had the fellow from edinburgh do my first hip replacement, he did a brilliant job on it, length perfect exactly the same as my natural hip, thats my opinion when I overlay my before and after x-ray. thats the one where I was walking the hospital corridor by day 2.
Left hip was done by the consultant/professor, as previous he introduced himself on the operating table, I thought myself lucky, HAH, not so lucky at all, even I can see again when I overlay my before and after x-ray that I have a 12mm difference, and they keep telling me its perfect.
Soo bloody perfect i still can't walk to the front gate without being in severe pain, and I had my surgery in Feb 2015.