I am so glad to have found this forum - I am a 51 year old female on day 7 of full left hip replacement. Never had major surgery before and found the whole process quite traumatic. I had envisaged having a general anaethetic but was encouraged to have a spinal block, so was awake during the procedure. Anyway - I am on day 7 (op was last Friday) and I am completely constipated. i am on lactulose, been eating high fibre foods (little and often), trying to get round on crutches to increase exercise levels but still cannot go - I have been prescribed codeine for pain relief, which I know can contribute to consipation. My hip pain has reduced but lying flat in bed is absolute agony - and the pain is across my lower back. is this normal? I am managing an hour or so sleep at a time and then awake for a couple of hours just watching the clock go around until i can take the next dose of pain relief. Anyone else experienced similar?
Hi Jane. I was given tablet laxatives to take along with my other meds but found that when they eventually did work, it was inconvenient to say the least. I switched to lactulose and took it mid morning after a light cereal and after a day or two it seemed to do the desired trick without the unpalatable rush to the bathroom. Drink plenty of warm fluids throughout the day this should also help, liquorice tea can help if you can stomach it! Back pain may be attributed to the constipation so don’t worry too much about that. I think it’s a case of more liquids and getting the lactulose dosage right. If still no help after a few days see if your gp or pharmacist can give you something stronger but be warned, you may not be able to venture far from the bathroom. Take care
Helen
Hi Jane
i had my right hip done three weeks ago am 58 years old and like you never had any major surgery before and i couldnt believe the effect it had on me altogether !!! and like you found this forum a god send especially in the middle of the night when i so wanted to sleep but couldnt , just knowing others had experienced what i was going through is so reassuring.
a lot of people told me the first two weeks are the worse and then somehow everything starts to improve and it DOES , my mind became a lot clearer and that gave me focus and not putting pressure on yourself is key too
when i had my clips out last week the nurse again reminded me that the surgery we go through in traumatic and our bodies are in shock so give it the time and care it deserves and if i fell asleep 4 time that day who cares, if i cant sleep in the night watch some rubbish on t.v ,if i fancied a chocolate bar have a chocolate bar its all part of the recovery and its so true Jane
am into week 3 now some days my leg hurts, my bum aches , my back aches from not sleeping well ( i still cant lay flat)or am just out of sorts with myself , this morning i had a mile stone for me , ive been for a walk on my own no big thing to lots of people but to me it was like winning gold at the olympics before the op i couldnt walk more then 5 mins before the pain got so bad
i still go to work full time and i love my job and am a pretty active person enjoying time with family and friends but until i feel ready ive learnt to just take a step at a time its part of the healing process.
one thing i have found helps with the constipation is massage my bum cheeks for a few mins before hand ( from one of the nurses at hospital)
flocker
thanks Helen - glad to hear that the back pain is to be expected. I have increased lactulose and after speaking to the doctors surgery, have been advised to try suppository (deep joy) - how are you now?
hi Flocker - gosh working full time after 3 weeks??? I think i underestimated the impact of the operation - I was telling everyone that I would be back behind my desk within a few weeks myself - but at the moment, it takes all my effort to get out of my chair. Well done for going out for a walk on your own - I am so looking forward to be able to do that.
Know what you mean about rubbish tv - i had every intention of perhaps doing some online courses while off work but to be honest, endless rounds of “come dine with me” seem more appealing.
Feeling positive that you say things get better after two weeks ..I will try the massage lol.
Jane x
hi . I dont think till we’ve had the OP we realise how traumatic it is to our bodies. I’m just 20 weeks post OP now and compared to pre OP I’m like a new woman lol. altho atm I’ve slight issue I need see drs soon abt I’m quite happy I can now walk a good mile + a day without pain to my hip.
as for the dreaded constipation I found I needed 30mls of lactulose twice a day till I started to reduce the codeine. I took it in the morning and if nothing had happened by abt 2 pm I had a nother dose which seemed to do the trick. I ate lots of fruit fibre and licorice as well which helped.
the pain you’re getting lying flat could also be your leg muscles going into spasm or if you’ve done too much in the day I’d get that at night. gentle massage / heat helped mine plus keeping on with regular doses of painkillers to keep my blood levels up.
agree the first 2 weeks are the worst and I just slept when my body told me to.
best thing I did was keep a diary so I could look back and see how I’d improved which cheered me up. agree abt the first few times you go out for a walk. I now love my daily walks before I’d have been scared to walk any further than my car .
anyway best wishes and hope the constipation settles 
I too was extremely constipated in hospital and they inserted a glycerine suppository it worked immediately at home I drank liquorice tea until I stopped taking pain killers hope this helps you can buy the suppository at the chemist’s
Hi Jane, my right hip had it’s first birthday last week, it feels great, still have an odd twinge but nothing that bothers me, my biggest fear is falling, I have a balance issue and find walking down steep hills a challenge, uphill I am like a mountain goat!! Unfortunately for me, my left has started to booger up, saw doc last week for a referral so it’s a waiting game again. I have booked a trip to South Africa next month, sun and sea will do me the world of good! don’t intend anything too strenuous more than a few good hikes and lazing about. I am similar age to you and I feel so much better, it took a good 3 or 4 months to get there but exercise and walking helped lots. Let’s all hope for a mild winter like last year for all fellow hippies so that they are not housebound over the dark months. Take care
Helen x
Hi Jane
I am 52 and week 11 today . I know from.experience the codeine will be d you up no end . One of the other things I noticed when I had the op I drank more water than I ever had in my life and actually went to the toilet ok after couple of days . something we dont realise is we eat different, we drink different and we are not moving as well as we normally do . I would get off the codein as soon as possible. In relation to the sleeping I take it you are elevating the leg with a pillow below it ?
Hi Jane
sorry i wrote that wrong, i havnt gone back to work yet , i was meaning its something else that can wait until am ready
angela
Hi, the first couple of weeks are hard work, but hang on in there because it should all gradually improve.
I hated the nights, didn’t sleep well; had back ache and felt stiff every morning, but once I was up and moving I loosened up.
I had the lactulose , and also as Keith said, drink loads of water too. I also ate a lot of dates and prunes, and seeds on your cereal are helpful! (flax seed, chia seed, linseed.) I found that when I was off the codeine everything went straight through me…!
All the best, Judith
Hi Jane,
The constipation hit me pretty hard to. I took dulocese (I know that I spelt it wrong). It did help me out, I then went on to take it every 2/3 days for about a couple of weeks. After that I was fine. Drank plenty if apple juice and ate foods to help me go to.
Had spinal block as well but also had sedation as I didn’t want to hear anything.
I am almost the same age you,. And 8 months down the line, I am so glad that it has been done.
I am now once again tying my own laces .
And just remember that we all heal differently.
Ann
I too had severe constipation despite eating lots of fibre , I put it down to effects of the spinal block anaesthetic. I took the prescribed laxatives and lactulose to no effect, so in the end after a couple of weeks I took max SENOKOT, and it got things started again. It will get better. I also added allbran into my muesli to give it more kick, and that kept up the progress. I too could not lie flat in bed and found if I put two pillows under my knees so the back of my legs were not on the bed I was able to sleep more comfortably. Best of luck with your recovery, and remember to do all the exercises. It pays off later.
Hi there, i recall lying flat as uncomfortable and painful. I think you are right re trauma i found it traumatic although the emotional and mental aspect doesnt seem to be something that is acknowledged.
thanks Judith - first night without codeine - came to bed at 1040 - slept for what i thought was hours - woke up to find its only half past midnight. going to be a long night …
great to hear that you are doing well with your right hip - hopefully, you will have your other hip sorted soon x
its really good to hear that you are pain free when walking.I was sitting in bed earlier thinking why on earth did i even have this done??? I am almost into day 8 and i know everyone says the first two weeks are the hardest, so staying positive and taking it a day at a time. The diary is a good idea to record progress. reduced my codeine tonight in an effort to sort the constipation - looking at the clock, I have another 2 hours before paracetomol
Hi Margy - I have spoken to gp and will try suppository tomorrow. been advised to ring doctors if things dont improve. Hubby going out to get me some liquorice tea in the morning x
thanks keith - have gone onto paracetomol only tonight in an effort to reduce the codeine - just cannot lie on my back as too painful so going to sleep sitting up in bed at the moment
hi Ann - so glad to hear you have had a positive experience . Am looking forward to tying my laces up on my shoes - its amazing how we just take these things for granted until we cant do them . I know that time will heal - just want it to happen yesterday…