been home for 3 days and it's slowly getting easier. I'm still exhausted but home cooked food is making me stronger. Still have issues with pain control and nausea/constipation. I definitely had too high expectations of myself and the recovery process - not least in part by posts on here from a Sarah who went back to work on day 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Catriona
Well done for emerging from yr surgery relatively unscathed!
I am 4.5 weeks post op (I cemented l/h THR), and have only just felt normal (for me) in the last 5 days. I have spent only about 2-6 hours up out of bed as listening very closely to what my body needed. I was just too fatigued to so more. As I nearly 63 (on Monday!) some of it is that I don't have the boundless energy of my 40s.
In that time I've been doing my exercises (incl the stretching ones) 4 times a day and laying flat for at least 2 hrs a day to prevent contracture; something really important. As I was peeing more this also got me up regularly! I still take the laxatives 3 x per week which were given to me, and that works.
I run a business so had 2/3 weeks almost incommunicado and do a few couple or emails a week.
I am know beginning to walk with the one crutch!
We're all different so you at your own pace; you're hardly out of hospital! Good luck!
Janx
Hi again Catrin , it's our own bodies we should listen to and not what other people can do . I know people's circumstances are different but I think it's silly to push ourselves too much . As the dr told me in my check up look after it because we want it to last you the rest of your life . I am 60 . Believe me it does get easier and it's amazing how quickly 6 weeks goes ! I know I have a long way to go but am feeling so much better than I was now I can do more and DRIVE ! Take care x Mary
Hello catrin, don't worry you are completely normal, you have had major surgery and it takes at least 2 weeks for your body to recover from that, so take your time and listen to your body. Everyone is at different stages before the op and everyone has different recovery rates depending on their body and circumstances. Sarah was out of the ordinary going back at 16 days the recommended time is 6-8 weeks. I sometimes wonder if people push themselves it could cause problems further down the recovery period. I had my 6 week check last Thursday and my consultant said I could go back to work now but I have a further 2 weeks to build my stamina, get occupational health in etc as I have problems with my unoperated leg.
Personally for the first 2 weeks I found everything very difficult, I was very tired and not sleeping very well, but it does begin to improve in small ways and you suddenly find you can do so much more. I found 5-6 weeks was my turning point when I found day by day I could do loads more (my consultant said this is the usual time). Although you can do most things,you still have to take care as apparently your muscles don't completely heal again until 3 mths and it takes a year before your hip is completely healed. So don't worry, take it easy, take your time and let your body heal and you will soon find that you are able to do more and more.
Hi Catrin
Pleased to hear you have had your op and are back home. I am 6 weeks post op and have found the forum informative and very supportive BUT........... Its always best to take one day at a time, take pain meds as you need them, exercise to help build up your strength and always listen to your body. Rest is also really important to help your body mend after such a major operation. Everybody is different, different ages, different medical backgrounds, different fitness and different jobs. Going back to work 16 days post op is very early but just because it worked for them doesn't mean it will work for you.
It is still very early days for you since you had the operation so be kind to yourself and just concentrate on getting better. You soon will be well enough to go back to work when your body is ready .......just not 16 days! You will be guided by your consultant when you see him for your post op .
checkup.
Take care
Linnet x
Hi Catrin
Please dont listen to other people who have been doing cartwheels in 2 days etc
Mr first THR.....I had a few people who kept telling me about their friends/relatives who were so much further on thatn I was.....I didnt think I was far behind but they were superwoman accoding to their friends
We all recover at our own rate.....you are only 8 days out of hospital for goodness sake You sound as if you are doing brilliantly.....OK constipation goes with it but that will soon go when you get really moving. Are you taking laxatives? Were you prescribed any? If so take them for a while please.
You're doing well
Good Luck
Eileen UK
Hi Eileen. I'm 8 days post op. and only 3 days home. Today has been easier I walked in the garden in the spring sunshine thanks for the encouragement
Hi Catrin. You are completely normal! I am 11 weeks post op. For the first two weeks I thought I was never going to be 'normal' again! I like you had been fed all the miracle stories and thought there was something wrong with me. No two people are the same, we all recover at different rates, I went back to work (part-time) at six weeks and was exhausted, five weeks on and I feel great. It just takes time and patience, listen to your body and do a little more each day you have had major surgery your body needs to recover don't rush it. I had four sessions of hydrotherapy in the first two weeks, if you have the opportunity give it a go the weightlessness in the water is wonderful and really helped me with my confidence I go to a swimming pool as often as I can now just to do my exercises x
Hi Catrin,
I am 8 weeks post op THR and it took me till week 6 to start to feel normal. It was then that my doctor cleared me to stop sleeping on just my back. And allowing me to drive. I am still not back to work although mentally im ready, my body is not. I had high expectations also as far as recovery, but finding this forum and reading everyone's experieince made me realize, that first of all, this is major surgery and second of all everyone is different. knowing this, made it much easier. Drink plenty of water and eat lots of fruits and vegetables to help with digestion. Just a little ray of sunshine for you: today i was able to get in my car, drive to a friends house for breakfast, then go to the grocery store all by myself. I took my cane along for the ride, but did not use it. (i did push the cart at the store though). so, it does get better, patience, patience, patience. Ginny, USA NJ
Hi Ginny, I feel the same, consultant said I could go back to work now 6 weeks post op, and cleared me to do everything but though mentally I could, my body isn't ready yet, I'm glad I got another med cert for a further 2 weeks cos now I need to try everything out and build on my stamina to go back to work cos as you say my body isn't ready for it yet, it still feels tired. I thought I would get straight in my car as soon as I could but 2 days later and I still haven't but I will over the next week and if I come on like I have over the last 2 weeks, I will be ready in 2 weeks to go back in all ways. I am doing more each day but it still takes time.
Hi Catrin,
I often feel like I am not doing very well but after reading through these forums I realised that in fact, I am doing ok! We are all different and progress at different rates so the main thing I think is to do as much as you feel able to but listen to your body. It will let you know what it needs. I'm 10 days post op and like you, finding it all that little bit easier each day.
Heres wishing you a speedy recovery
Ali x
Thanks everyone for the wise words of encouragement today I feel a little stronger and have already achieved a little more independence.
Well done Catrin, you are completely normal. carry on the good work and you will feel great after 5-6 weeks. Its amazing the difference in that time and it goes much quicker than expected.
I'm seven weeks post op, I'm 48, from what I had read and been told, I expected to be back at work....... Lol.. Yeah right, I've never felt so tired and worn out. Not sleeping, night spasms, pain (I was not expecting) I felt like I was failing, as I was not this superhuman I thought I was supposed to be. You can feel like you will never be normal, which can undermine your confidence and self esteem. I think it's hard when you think of yourself as a strong person and suddenly you are afraid, depressed and in yet more pain. I keep telling myself, and would say to anyone else, we are all different heal at different rates, cope in different ways, be kind to yourself. What was normal can be an achievement during recovery. We had hip replacements'
Hi cass I am 7 weeks post op and 60 . Find that I can only plan to do one big thing a day and glad of the rest afterwards . Retired so don't have the worry of returning to work thank goodness . Just caring for my dad , job in itself .
Good luck x
Hi Mary, feeling physically wear and tired can make normal life daunting, caring for someone else at the same time is a real achievement.
i wish you all the best
Cass
Thanks so much . It hasn't beef easy !
dad is a very stubborn 94 year old x