im 6 weeks post op on a THR. I went out for my first drive today & it felt ok ish! It still feels that no matter what I sit on it's like sitting on a walnut still. I can really feel it & when I put my hand on that point (right where my scar is) it feels well, it feels it's right at the edge with no cushioning around it at all. Is this normal? I'm seeing the surgeon for my 6 week follow up tomorrow so along with other questions such as longer leg, sleeping on my side etc, I'll ask him about this.
Ooeerr you possibly shouldnt be driving yet - usually 8 weeks before the consultant gives the ok - and it could affect your insurance.
6 weeks is really early and your muscles will have to rebuild after being sliced and diced Its too early to know if your muscles are fixed right as they are still getting over the shock of being assaulted! There isnt much cushioning there normally for most of us hence the bursar pockets that can occurr to relieve pain on a joint.
Do you know i felt the same thing today, thought there is not much round it, it will be interesting to see what Dr says, let me know please, iam 1 week today. was your anterior or posterior, feel i am doing quite well, i am in rehab so see Dr and PT everyday, my PT say its ok to sleep on your side, going to show me how tomorrow.
1 week post op? Wow, I didn't know you could sleep on your side that early? Sorry Lynn I don't know the difference between the two operations, all I know us that I was on my side & the scar is more on my bum than my hip LOL,
Bursar pockets are the bits that the body adds around boney areas to create padding. You have them in your feet, hips etc they can become painful to lie on or are sometimes found to cushion parts of the skeleton from wear and tear. sometimes on the outside of the skeleton under the skin and btw boney bits!
Hello Martin, I am just over 3 weeks post THR; my consultant said I could drive again at 6 weeks; elsewhere I read that it's about 6 weeks depending on how you feel and maybe how much effort the car is to drive (e.g. Easier with an automatic if you've had left hip done), and as long as you can do a full emergency stop.
Physios weren't keen for me to lie on my side ( risk of dislocation), but when I saw consultant after 10 days he said it would be fine to lie on non-op side with pillow between legs, esp if I slept better like that (sleep being an imp part of the recuperation). My replacement hip is apparently a larger ball than done traditionally as I'm younger (active 48yrs with expectation of being active for a few more years yet!) and therefore less likely to dislocate (consultants words). Physio then said well, ok, if he said so. Also said ok to lie on op side too, when if felt comfortable enough to do so, which is definitely not yet.
When sitting in any tight chair or car seat, I feel like I'm sitting on the edge of a hard-back book. Question for me when I see the consultant next week - hope it's going to wear off as it feels weird as well as uncomfortable.
thanks for your input. Appreciate it. When you say it feels like sitting on a hard back back I get the impression that it feels hard all the way across for you then? For me it's just where the op was done, feels like a large stone or walnut etc
Hi Martin, There's an awful lot of guff about about driving post-THR ~ especially, I suspect, by the NHS, determined to cover their backsides...
On the day after I got home (11 days post-op) I 'phoned my car insurer. Incrediably, the rep I spoke with had had a left THR at age 24(!?); & said they were quite happy with me driving that very day, if I felt up to it. By luck I have an auto transmission, & had my left hip done. So, living alone, in a farm cottage 2 miles from nearest bus (2/day) & 6 from village shops, I got in & drove at 3 wks post op. I could feel a wee bit of pressure on the joint, not painful, as I got in; & again getting out. I wouldn't have tried driving if I still had a normal transmission, as I would be worried about getting my op leg up & operating the clutch. Are you still doing OK?
Martin..I had the go ahead at 6 weeks and never looked back...although I was still using 1 crutch for a while.....using a plastic bin bag on the seat to swivel around helped getting in and out!
had my op in Feb and still cant do long sitting on hard chairs!,
Hi Martin, I have an automatic car - and a THR right leg at beginning of year. I didn't feel comfortable driving until Wk 11 post-op. I had sat in the car several times before that, but like yourself it didn't feel 'right'. Every time I tried to lift my leg to put my foot on the brake, I could feel a pain shoot through my hip. It was also difficult to get 'in' and 'out' of car - so I bought a Car Seat from Argos which swivels round to assist in accessing the car. It was absolutely fantastic & I still have it in the car now. SO don't rush things, and remember not to drive too fast until you're sure you'll be able to do an Emergency STOP - wouldn't want an accident now, would you?
Someone mentioned Insurance. I had to advise the Insurance Company about the THR and then again advise them when I had resumed driving.
I had a similar feeling Martin..tried driving after 6wks and couldn't really manage it..
Didn't drive again til 10wks..even then sitting in the car seat was painful.
Its a long slow healing process,and wasn't til around 16wks I started to feel any real benefit..
24wks on and my operated hip is 100% improved..
My only issue now is that I need my other hip replacing,but that's arthritis for you,it moves around the joints..as my GP said,you cant get arthritis ever again in a replacement joint.
As you soon learn on this forum everybody's healing time is different.