JUst wondering if others hve felt the same. Im 5 weeks post right cementless total hip..Im 52.. was workiing at three jobs .. one fulltime.. I scheduled this so I could fullfill my duties to work holidays ect last year.. which i did.. and in such pain >> I was told by 8 weeks I would be able to reurn to work at my 2 week visit..
as I questioned my orthopedic doctor.. HIs PA replied to me.. stating.. I would only be able to do light duty..
I am not in a light duty job..I felt like crying..and again questioned her through email.. She seems to intercpet his messages..
My boss felt I wouldbeback at 8 weeks.. at the latest..
I feel very isolated and cut off.. I try to go out and do as much as I can.. but walking without a cane for very long is difficult..I cant walk up steps without support.. meaning bear weight totally on the right hip.. but can do so going down steps..
I just feel all alone..
my pain was not magaged properly in the hospital.. was throwing up oxycodeine.. so they stitched to Norco.. but not high enough dose.. I went 4 days taking 1 norco every 6 hours.. thats it..Im good on pain meds now.. take tylenol and maybe on naproxin..
but I guess I expected to be better soon.MY surgery was done anterior Lateral.. using a Styker..
I have taken just 10 mg of prozac.. before.. but stopped.. once I was in recovery for this hip..
any thoughts?
just feeling profoundly sad.. could be a number of things..i guess. lack of mobility.. my mother passed awa less than 6 months ago..
Hi Melissa, I was 49 when I had my THR. I too went through some depression shortly after my surgery. Chronic pain over a long period of time can easily cause depression. I was approximately 8 weeks out when the nurse called to check up on me. I burst into tears!! That poor woman...lol. The good news is that it should only be temporary. At least it was for me. The stronger I became through PT, the happier and more confident I became. I went back to work after 9 weeks, but unlike you, I have a desk job and my company has been very supportive.
I live in the US. Here, you're unable to go back to work until your doctor signs a release form. Isn't it the same where you are? Surely your boss wouldn't expect you to come back too soon.
Try to take one day at a time and don't expect too much of yourself. Focus on the positives. In no time at all you'll have all this behind you and a new lease on life
Dear melisa sorry about your loss and your situation I Am 34 and had right hip replacment I was not even go out from home by 8 weeks my surgin warned me to not to step up any stair as my apartment was on second floor I went home by ambulace and get home with strechair i had to use my walker for 8 or more monthes I used to sit high chair more than 6 monthes
So sorry Melissa . I'm sure the passing of your mother is affecting you as well . We have that connection to them that defies explanation and even if we don't talk to them daily ,we know they are there. I am supposed to go back at8 weeks,I'm at 4 weeks now.Still using a walker,As 1 st hip done now 7 months ago ,which fractured at the femur. I work full time as my husband is disabled and can not work. He cooks ,and does some cleaning . I'm 58 and looking to retire .4 more years .I have had 3 joint replacements in 18 months. Was in chronic pain for 2 years plus and was also getting depressed . Ask to talk to your doctor,let the PA know,with all respect that you want to talk with the Dr. . You have that right,tell him what you are experiencing,and ask what you can do to get to a state that you are more comfortable . You should also get assessed by a PT to figure out how to strengthen your muscle groups.There is also a Depression forum on "patient" that you are on now so you might look at that to help support you through the loss of your mother . That really is big . Good luck,be well
Sorry for all you have experienced. 3 jobs, loss of a parent and Hip Replacement takes it out if you. The hip will get better with time. Ok to grieve. Only thing I might suggest is talk to your Doctor and start taking the Prozac for a while. It will have no effect on your hip but will help with the depression. Best of luck
I was let go from my job when my hips got bad because it was a physical job and my employer was afraid I would become a liability. I am also a single father with full custody of my two teenage daughters. I got my right hip replaced and 6 months later my left. 2 weeks after my left hip replacement our house burned down. We didn't have insurance and lost everything so I guess you could say I suffered some depression. That was 4 months ago and we survived it all.
I had to make it down two flights of stairs with a walker to get outside. To this day I still have no memory of how I managed it. My warfarin ( blood thinner medicine) was in the house so I had to call the hospital on a Saturday to have them call in a refill at the local pharmacy.
We had to live in a hotel for 3 days until we found another place to live.
We survived and found a nice place to live. The bummer is that my daughters room sustained the most damage and they lost everything. They were at a soccer game at the time and I was home alone so I couldn't save anything except myself.
Hello Melissa, Sorry to hear you are going through this sadness, pain and possible depression after a major op and 6 months from your mums passing.This time too shall pass and you will be in a far better state in the near future I have just had a bilateral hip replacement Tuesday 24th Jan and came home this Monday. I had a very tearful day this Tuesday with taking the amount of drugs affecting me in a negative outlook,not being used to taking pills of any kind if I didnt have to.. Having rationalised the reaction I was a better person for thinking it through the next day. In terms of your work, try and break the reasons down while looking at the situation you have to work with.
sorry disconnected my self.. You say you normally work 3 jobs but can only handle light duties. You can only do what your body shows you Melissa. If its a financial difficulty, that may possibly be causing underlying stress or anxiety.That is something to consider on its own merit if that is the underlying concern, Nothing can be done in terms of pushing your body as that could be a contributing factor to you needing a hip replacement in the first place,
I am a workaholic which certainly contributed to my double hip replacement.I ask you to look at that cos by having this type of personality, I had to weigh up the downtime and how I would fill/face it. My Boss is only too happy for me to come back to work because of my input and results..( that need to prove myself) also contributed to my double HR.)..I wanted to be the solver of all problems.. Look at all the factors and recognise each area for what they are. In the end nothing is as important as your body healing properly. Nothing!
I am doing an online course and planning a small business which takes the focus into a more positive state, Melissa, no one at this time is more important than you. Lastly is the medication right? Is your surgeon happy with the outcome? Take care..My heart goes out to you. I am in Perth Australia if you are here too. Happy to assist anytime in your healing process..Just remember and say to yourself.. this time too shall pass and you will get through.. xxLove and healing to you,
I was in a fire when J was about 5-6 years old.It was on New Years Eve in Lowell Mass .I remember all getting downstairs from our 2 nd floor tenement,There were 4 of us.My baby brother was still inside and she ran back and got him out.He had been getting out of the crib and my Mom had a safety strap across hiss stomach.Mom said her hands were shaking so bad she had to get a knife to get the straps off . She made it out ok.The children who were the first friends I remember died from smoke inhalation.Life was more important than stuff,believe me.
I wish I had the words to comfort you ... Losing your mother while facing major surgery must have been very challenging ...
Unfortunately the post-surgery depression is something that is not always discussed - and even then, when we are experiencing this depression, it takes us by surprise .. There are many explanations , including side effects from medication, the after effects of anesthesia, feeling helpless etc. The body is also mourning the loss of a part of herself -
Maybe talking to a grief counselor might help you -
why and when did you stop taking Prozac? sometimes withdrawal can cause depression and physical ailments as well ...
maybe you can just accept that this is how you feel and it is perfectly all right - it is not pleasant, but fighting against it is not helping either -
be gentle and kind to your self -
healing is taking place, darling, on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level ... sending you light, love and healing rays
I'm so sorry that you are feeling so bad. You're right - it probably is an amalgamation of a whole load of things all crashing down on you now. But this is absolutely normal and a common experience for people. Please recognise just how strong you are. Look at everything you have gone through, and you are still standing! You have been there for everyone else for a year or more. It is now your turn to be the centre of the universe, and you need to look after yourself first. All the prozac does for you is put of the reality for another time - right now this is your reality and you need to believe that you are doing well. Which you are!
I'm going to be blunt. I have one job, which can be mentally difficult and there are occasional long hours. I have had a dream of a recovery. No pain at all. Not even the surgical pain of the incision. Discharged at two weeks by the surgeon who said he could do nothing more. I have a light job physically, although it is mentally challenging. I went back at 9 weeks. It hasn't been easy with the hours full time, but I managed because my workplace is very flexible on hours, time keeping and working from home. But yesterday I had 10+ hours day to hit a deadline, and I am aching the worst I have since the op! So I cannot imagine a full return to a physically demanding job at 8 weeks. Maybe, with adjusted light duties or other changes initially, yes. But straight back and there jobs. I'm sorry my dear but you will kill yourself.
I know I am lucky to have a very flexible manager/ job, and to be in the UK where we have pretty decent laws to support us (although that doesn't always work out as it should). There not much of the world that is like this. And I don't know where you are. But please understand that this is the time in your life where other people's expectations take second place to making sure that you are safe and well. And you simply cannot pressure yourself into meeting them. No wonder it's depressing if you are working on what other people want.
You will get better and you will be stronger. But at the pace your own body dictates. You must let that happen - you will only delay your recovery at best if you don't; and possibly do yourself damage. Nobody wants to see that.
Sorry Melissa you going trough the sadness. To be depres is normal i went trough second and 3rd week. I live by my self and i did have to rely on on frinds. I cry lots. Going back to workafter 8 weeks its hard if you dont have office work but even office work could be hard after 8 weeks after hip replacmant. I went to work after 14 weeks and i sufer lots. Working in
nursing home and on feet 6 to 7 hours is very difficult. I come back home tired, limp litle and no energy at all. I have pain back, sore muscles, went back on painkillers. Today i spoke to my boss and i cut hours and im alowed to rest when I need too. Talk to your employer or doctor . From my experience 8 weeks to early. The pain will easy, mobily come with time
take one day at the time. Listen your body and to some excersice it helps
Thankyou all for your input.. Its like my mother is talking through you all and i need it .. need to read all of it.. It has helped me.. tremendously..
Hello Melissa,I'm so sorry you are having such a rough time .You're only 5weeks down the line and you've suffered a terrible bereavement.....please be kind to yourself .im 13weeks post op and am still having some depressive episodes,I truly think that getting this op done through the winter makes it so much harder ...I thought I'd breeze through it and I haven't ...for me it has been slow progress,but I am progressing and so will you .This site is great for info and support so please keep in touch ...gx