I don't even know what to say..... It is 8 weeks since my hip revision. 2 weeks now that I've been full weight bearing and walking. Dr still has the hip precautions I seem him Oct 18. I can't get myself out of this depression. Crying every day. Thoughts of hopelessness and feel like I can't go on. I try to be positive, comment on all who post with well wishes and prayers. There have been some with some very sad stories and hardships. I keep trying to tell myself it's gonna be ok....but I can't get myself to believe that. I lay in bed and don't want to move. I'm not in pain when I walk. It's just that it feels so tight when I take a step. My knee barely bends at 60 degrees with a little force. It feels weird when I walk. And it discourages me so much. I can say there has been improvement in the feeling but it's still there and I fall back into depression and discouragement. My daughter is getting ready to go into basic training and I'm already missing her. I'm worried about my granddaughter, her daughter, cause I'm not sure how she will take it. She's 13. Plus I'm useless right now. I can't take her to school as I can't drive yet. Then today I find out my grandmother is in hospital and very weak. She's 109! Sad part for me is I won't be able to see her or go to her funeral if she does pass away. She lives 6 hours away. I'm still having problems sitting as I have that dang lump in my thigh/bum area! I'm still having to ice. And I use heat. Last Friday I went to my daughter's house for the evening. It was nice to finally get out but I had to take that darn potty chair and took my wheelchair so I had a place to sit as to not break the 90 degree. I'm so scared of that! I'm scared to bear full weight too! I try but I get scared! Thanks for letting me vent. I just want to feel better again. My family needs me.
Been through a few (failed) hip scopes and found the narcotics made me very emotional. I traded away the pain for being free of the narcotics, and was glad to do it. I went thru the same thing you did, i'm uyre many of us have, what works for me may not work for you, but that's what I did. Narcotics played hell on my emotions, oxy was the worst. I'd literally rather be in pain than sad all the time. I'm sure it will get better for you, please keep us posted.
Just take one day at a time your doing great I did read that is was quite common to feel depressed around the 6/8 week mark take one day at a time you will get there x
Oh Linda sorry you feel this way. I Remember being petrified for 12 weeks about dislocation. Feeling that lump will go in time. I said to my surgeon I'm being silly but I can feel a lump. Your body will soon get used to it. Your muscles sound as I feel they are extremely tight. Have you seen physio or been given any exercises to stretch them? Sending lots of hugs your way xx
Hi Jeff. I started weaning myself off pain meds 2nd week. I've been off pain meds for about 4 weeks now. I was taking tramadol. I think it's just me. Having hip dislocated threw me back. 2 major surgeries within 3 weeks. Non weight bearing for 6. Home bound for 6 weeks now. I'm trying to stay positive especially in front of my family. Thank you for your comment. Hope you are doing well. LD
Thank you Glenn. I'm trying but it's so darn hard!! LD
Thank you Auntiebeanie. Since I dislocated my first one I'm scared its gonna happen again!! Plus all this tightness is annoying! But I knew this was going to happen as I was 1 & 1/2 inches short before surgery and he gave me back almost all the length. I think my expectations were too high. And yes am working with a physical therapist in my home. And we are working on the knee!! 😖😖😖. LD
Hey Linda,
I still have a lump feeling in my groin when I lift my knee up past 70 degrees and am at 10 weeks. Also have tendinitis in my groin area which still needs babying. I finally put a 1/4" lift in my shoe to equalize my leg length because it was making me weary (and slightly depressed). But compared to where I was, things really do keep getting better every day. Some days are definitely harder than others.... like being amazed that I'm stiff one day and not the next. The pain killers are probably messing with ur emotions too.
In regard to you grandmother, that sounds really emotionally difficult to bear. Is she cognocent? If she is maybe someone in your family could help you do FaceTime with her in the hospital....it's not the best solution but at least you would get to see her and tell her that you love her. So sorry for the awful timing.
Hi Linda,its a wonderful group here,& it's OK to vent. Please remember that you have had a big operation! For many people it can take a good year or more to get back to normal.I am investing in Cherry juice,its good for joints,also I am going to try a magnet bracelet,too see if it helps.I have awful sleeping problems as well.Ihave a warm milky drink with honey 'have rescue remedy,at nigh.I also listen to a relaxation Cd.Hope this help I also have Reflexology & i have crystal s that helps.Regards Amanda h
This is wha many hippies go thru. Depression is not always discussed by the dr. It may help to take a antidepressants for a whoe to Eli you get thru This ruff journey. My dr put me on them as my hormones from the stress from surgery and recovery can be quite overwhelming.
Eat at well exercise a and this will passes soon.
Best wishes.
Thank you Hope. I just feel like this is escalating. Sometimes I don't want to eat. I am doing the exercises. It's more when I'm alone. And I'm alone most of the day. but I am going to talk to my dr about this. Thank you. LD
Vent away, Linda! Your situation sounds very difficult, and it is understandable that you are so down in the dumps. Post-op depression (even without other negative circumstances like you have) is quite common. I read that you will talk with your doctor about this, and that is good. Keep talking with doctors until someone has some effective treatments and help for you. You have a number of legitmate concerns and physical problems. I hope you will reach out for help with all of them. Some things you can't fix, such as not being available for your very elderly grandmother, or to be able to help with your granddaughter. We can only do what we are able to do, and that's hard to accept sometimes.
Best wishes to you finding some help and some peace. I feel so fortunate that as I have had strong family support over the last 14 months since my failed hip replacement, and will continue to get that help with my new surgery in 3 weeks. I also don't have any loved ones in need of my hands-on support. I can't imagine what you are going through. Take good care of yourself, my dear!
Thank you Annie. You mentioned you had a failed hip replacement? If you don't mind me asking what happened? I'm still not sure when or how mine dislocated. So much stuff going through my mind. I just feel like I went a whole month back!! I don't want to whine all the time because I know there are others who have it worse. It's just for me a person who was active and did a lot of stuff am now sidelined. Wishing you the best and a speedy recovery. LD
Hey Wlee... Sorry to hear about your problems. I've had some groin tenderness. I am only taking Tylenol as needed. Not really in pain. Just everything is tight and feels weird! As for FaceTime that is a good idea. I'll ask to see if anyone has that. Hope you feel better soon. LD
Hi Linda D, 😄
It is not surprising that you are depressed - you went through so much with the thr , dislocation and second surgery. And six weeks non-weighting-bearing
followed by so much time at home is bound to wear you down. And with your daughter starting training you will lose an importantvsupport. Then your grandmother ....
really girl! (Big hug).
You've had some excellent advice above. I esp second getting anti-depressants from your physician and looking into facetime or phone calls with your grandmother.
But I think you also need to look into getting out more - maybe short sessions so you don't need all the paraphernalia, but get out! And challenge your friends to a girls night with you - order in pizza (or your favourite) and a good movie. Or see if you can get a regular driver (call a local charity who helps people recovering) to take you out to an activity so that you aren't sitting looking at the four walls or reading too many sad stories about surgical misadventures. You need to start living again and stop worrying about another dislocation - flat out ask your surgeon if you are still at risk.
Re rehab - I doubt there is any way around the tightness with that level of initial LLD. So that'she something you need to come to terms with - maybe it would be better to work out with a group - I saw one at my physio today (1st for hip #2 and she threw me for a loop with very different types of exercises was I ever wiped after).
Linda - you need help now. See your physician before this gets further out of hand ... please.
I am sending you prayers and hugs - you said they weren't ever silly and I think you need them right now.
Linda M
My THR 14 months ago failed in that I have not been able to walk without pain and severe limp since the op. Have a torn gluteus medius and need that surgically repaired. Will have that and exploratory on the hip to see if anything else is wrong on Oct 27.
Complications happen, and sometimes we don't know why. We don't know if my torn GM was because it never healed from suturing after THR or if it tore afterwards for some other reason. If we get an accurate diagnosis of what is wrong, then sometimes (most of the time, we hope!) we can get treatment, surgical or otherwise to repair. Hang in there, Linda! Reach out for all the help you can get.
dear linda, you are having a rough time, sweetheart and there is not much I can tell you that you don't already know - you are doing your best, you are grateful, you don't want to whine etc. and feel like a huge failure - it just sucks, doesn't it ....You also know that this is temporary - the muscles are stiff and will be for some time - you had 2 major surgeries within 3 weeks after all - Nothing seems to help at the moment - so I am going to say it again: just accept that this is so ... you would if you could and right now you can't - resisting to what is, puts so much stress in your body and mind - let go of all the "should's" - cry all you want - I also think it is a good idea to get help - it is not unusual to fall into depression after major surgery and there might be medication to help you out - nothing to be ashamed of - do you like your PT? is there anything she can do about the tightness of muscles ? okay, I am going to ask something and hope you don't get me wrong :what is your biggest fear ? you don't have to share it with us, but write it out for your self - do not censore what you write - Know that you are loved and that you are recious .. big warm hugrenee
Linda - I am so sorry you are feeling so depressed at the moment, I don't think it is surprising, and many of us (most of us) have days like this, if not weeks.
If you are still feeling like this next week maybe speak to your dr and see if they can help if you feel you are slipping into a deep depression, and not just a temporary one that comes with the surgery.
I don't think you can take responsbility for your grandchildren at the moment, have you spoken to your daughter? There will be a time in the future when you can whizz around again, but for now you need to look after yourself and heal properly.
I had to look after young children, and it was so difficult I can't lie to you, and mine was a straight forward full hip replacement and not a revision - so you are going to need longer to recover.
The tightness can be helped with a good physio, have you seen one yet? They will also give you confidence to walk and move more, which should help you feel brighter.
Of couse you are feeling scared, I was terrified and I am still ultra careful ten months on.
I know things feel bleak now, but you will come through this. Please tell everyone around you what is happening, so they can support you, we are all here to support you. Your dr needs to know as well where you are with this. You are not alone Linda, okay it will be alright.
Oh man Annie! 😞 I hope everything gets better for you! I know complications happen and it sux!! Sometimes makes me wish I didn't do it! I'm hanging in there Annie!! Just sometimes the depression gets the better of me. Let us know how things go for you! Prayers for a solution and speedy recovery!! Hugs, LD
I know Linda. Truth be known I pray every day and several times a day! I lost some faith and hope. I cry so much. I'm just so scared I'll never feel right again. My grandmother passed away yesterday late afternoon. She died peacefully. I know I need to start living, I want to start living!! It's just this depression and worries of walking and putting weight has me all balled up. all the thoughts of "what ifs" "should ofs " "why me"! Thanks again for everything! Hugs, L D