and then i find out i have to have a LTHR!!!shock doesn't even come close.i'm 54,recently widowed,house up for sale and worried about paying mortgage and bills-still feeling raw and grieving,so the very last thing i need is to have to take more time off work.And i'm absolutely petrified of the procedure and everything else that goes with it.so i'm truly hoping i find answers and support from everyone here.HELP!!!
Karen
Karen welcome to our group. You have come to the right place, we help, re-assure, answer questions and just let of steam or vent our anger...... feel free to do any of these. Most of all we are friends and will remain so through thick and thin..... ask away and we will tell the truth as it happened to us it's up to you to sort out whose answer you want to take as you may get 15 or 16 different views at a time
Karen, I will support you! I'm pre consultation and pre op, so we can do this together. I'm so sorry for your recent loss! I can't even imagine the pain you are in. I'm 66 , retired and was looking forward to an active retirement. Now in so much pain I can hardly walk. My consult is Aug 12
Debbi
Hi Karen I am also 54, and have just had two Hip replacements since May, first may 16th and second July 31, I was suposed to be put to sleep and I was during the first one, but was concious during the second one, I assure you there is nothing to fear, and if you are in good shape, you can be back at work in 6 to seven week, thing is it probably has to be done , as life gets so painful almost to the point of unable to live with it, dont worry we have all been through it as you will soon find out when the regulars here answer your cry for help, keep in touch Ian +++
I am 6 weeks post left hip replacement. I also was really afraid of operation. I kept putting it off but I was only getting worse not any better and I did not want to wind up in a wheelchair not being able to walk. The fear of the operation is worse than the operation. The pain that I was in before the operation is much worse than after the operation. I was in constant pain and couldn't hardly find a comfortable position to sleep in. I had my 6 wks. checkup yesterday and everything is good and I have no restrictions. My right hip is also bad but so far it does not hurt but if it starts hurting me I will not hesitate to get it fixed. You will need help for a few days after the operation. I had anterior method - done through the front.
Hi Karen,
I too am 54 and my RTHR is 2 weeks old today. I was shocked too when I found out that I had to have this op in May this year. Believe me, everyday I just get stronger. I am cooking, cleaning where I can, walkng up and down the stairs, showering, doing far more than I imagined.
The surgery was amazing, I had an epidural and it was not a problem, in fact after I returned to my ward room I downed a whole plate of chicken pie and veg, I was starving!
Think positive- there will be no more pain when you are fully recovered. Be reassured though that we are all here to listen and support you.
Love and light x
Hi dear Karen,
I'm so sorry for your loss. This forum is a wonderful place to get support for your hip replacment surgery and more. Everyone is very kind and reassuring. I am 5 days post-op and 6 months ago did not believe I would survive the surgery and was very afraid to proceed with the operation. With support and prayers from family and friends and from reading this forum for months and months before the surgery, I became less and less afraid and more confident about a positive outcome. I am so grateful to everyone on this site. They helped me so much and didn't even know they were doing it. You are wiser than I was by reaching out early in the process to get the reassurance and information needed to be able to face up to doing this somewhat daunting surgery. I am in so much less pain now than before the surgery
and see improvements each day. Although the whole process was much easier than anticpated, the first couple of days are an adjustment period and it would be best if you had help.
Will be happy to answer any questions you have.
love and hugs,
Jeanne
Hi Karen,
You're a year younger than my Mum when she had her first hip. I'm 45 with 3 young children a mortgage, full time career and had my RTHR coming up on 6 weeks ago. None of us want to have this type of surgery but eventually a normal life can't continue without it. It is a terrible shock and the prospect is very frightening. I am feeling fantastic since my surgery, and you will too.
This is is a great place to ask questions, get support and find out more about what you need to ask your surgeon. Please find comfort in the support on this forum.
🌈💌🌈💌
Hi Karen I understand why you might feel scared and overwhelmed at the moment you have a lot to contend with, but one thing I can say is do not fear this operation. I am 3 months post op and although still a little stiff I have no pain everything went really well and I am beginning to get my life back. I was widowed suddenly last year and although our circumstances may be different I do understand what it's like to have everything chucked at you all at once. Use this forum to support you for your impending THR and there is support out there for your recent bereavement don't be afraid to ask. Keep posting it always helps to be single yo share. Take care x
Oops predictive text went wrong...it always helps to share xx
Dear Karen,
I wish I had words to comfort you - I understand how you feel - Everything comes at once - like an avalenche, taking your emotions down for a ride ...
It is a lot and you must feel overwhelmed ... I am so incredibly sorry for your losses -
You have come to the best place for love and support - not only the practical support but also emotional -
Do you have someone close to you? who can help you and go with you?
Please come back here with all your questions and concerns - you are not alone ... Have faith that everything will be okay - that is all you have right now - and you'll see, everything will work out ...
Angel blessings and warm hug
renee
Oh my goodness, you sound so sad, but if you need the new hip, if your level of pain was anything like mine, you will literally feel like a new woman when it's done. It can't take away the grief or the loss of your home but you will recover. I hope you have someone who can help you in the early days. Though we are all here, dropping something on the floor did reduce me to tears in the first few days!
take care, let us know how it goes, Susan
All I can give you is hope. It sounds really bad now but, although you can't see it, once you get the other side you will be much better and, pain free. I'm day 14 and have no pain now. I do take pain relief to help me sleep but I can see a new way of being.
good luck, you will be okay and go on to have that happy retirement, walking is highly recommended post op?
wow! 5 days and feeling good. Well done, It can only get better from here now. You must be doing something right!
infind I've set myself some achievable daily goals, simple things, like deadheading the dahlias! My garden is very important to me.
Susan
Karen, I am like you found out I had to have my right hip done, and thanks to the lovely family of hippies here after a while I agreed to the operation. So come OCtober /NOvember time I will be having it done, I am petrified but reding how well everyone is after I know I can get help so like me grit your teeth, agree to the operation and you and me will do this together.
sue
Dear Karen
Welcome to this group of lovely friendly people. I am so sorry to hear of the tough time you are going through.
I am 63 yrs young, now 8.5 weeks post op and I cannot begin to tell you the difference this op has made to my life. Prior to my op, I was in dreadful pain day and night and working full time, this was exhausting for me. I used to dread putting my foot to the floor every day when I got out of bed.
I was apprehensive about having this op to start with and really was in denial about the seriousness of my arthritis.However, you get to a stage where there is no fear, because the operation is a much better option than the miserable life you are going through. Yes there is some post op pain and discomfort, but it is controllable and gets better day by day.
Now:
I have no pain
I can walk without crutches
I can drive and no trouble getting in and out of car
I can walk up and down stairs normally
I look and feel better as I am not permanently exhausted
I can sleep
I can do most of my household jobs
I can work
This site has helped me so much, so just chat away, with all your concerns. There is always someone here day or during the nights when sleep is difficult to chat with you.
Hang on in there, Karen, you will get through all this
KIndest wishes Linda xx
I'm so sorry for your loss and hope we can all help answer any questions you have and allay your fears. I too like many was shocked to have to have an LTHR (I'm 44 and was working away FT) but am on the other side of it now and that awful grinding Osteoarthritis pain is gone!
I've been thinking about you today. Before I had my first left hip, two years ago, my world had got very small, lost a lot of weight, couldn't drive, work was hugely difficult. To be the other side was truly amazing. Lessons learnt before the second one 14 days ago.
Have all the beauty treatments you can afford, particularly a pedicure for short nails!
Have a great haircut, you won't be able to get out for one for a long while. And sitting still isn't great.
Anything else that will make you feel like a star before your surgery
Take care.