Hello everyone, I'm a 55 year old female and I've had a total right hip replacement 9 days ago due to oa. I'm still in a lot of pain and am very swollen from the knee down into the foot. I feel like the hips going to pop out every time I stand up, I also feel very depressed. Any advice guys. Xx
Hi...RTHR 03/15/16. Take your meds and use ice. I used it whenever really sore especially after the dressing was removed at night. Take it easy rest when your tired and move as much as you can...you've had major surgery, and it's very early. Some of what your feeling is from the anesthesia if you had it...there's ups and down days even now at 14 weeks. ...this group has been through a lot and is helpful. Do you have exercises! Do them faithfully...it will improve...good luck.
Julia, rest, ice and elevate! The first two weeks are the absolute worst. I was a basketcase at 9 days, all I could do was to go from bed to bathroom to dining room for meals and back again. Was VERY uncomfortable, taking opioid pain meds around the clock. Make sure you are properly medicated for pain, as that will help you with mobility. Depression after THR is common, as we are in pain, completely dependent on others and recovery takes quite awhile. Keep posting here with your questions and feelings and comments. It helps!
Hi Julia,
I am 64 and had a posterior THR on my left side at the end of Feb and expect to have my right hip done at the end of the summer.
But I don't think I will forget ever forget how challenging the first two weeks are.
Catherine and Annie gave you excellent advice. It is worth using a timer try your phone if you have one (thank you Graham) to ensure that you take your pain meds on time (too late allows the pain and swelling to build and too early risks danger to your liver and kidneys).
I can not overstate how important I found it to do my stretches and exercises regularly and even extras when your le muscles, etc have cramped up. This also helps keep the swelling in check although it gets quite bad at times. I did not appreciate how sitting and standing for extended periods can cause fluids to gather in my the lower areas of my leg (but then, I never had an operation quite like this before either)!
As the others have said - elevate, ice (keep off the incision and respect the 10 min on 20 off rule I just moved the pack to another section). A bag of peas can work - just mark them well when you put them back in the freezer.
And ... music (I cannot believe I needed another forum member to suggest plugging in my ipod and favourite music), puzzles, this forum ... anything that can help distract you as you stare at the ceiling or walls waiting for the pain to ease, to sleep or for your next pill. This period sucks - no two ways about it. Sorry.
Remind your friends that you need help and visits and let them know how tough it is.
Sending hugs and hopes that you find your balance in all this.
L
Hello, thank you all so much for your advice. Another morning filled with the dread of movement. It's good to know I'm not the only basket case out there, I was beginning to think I was the only one who was finding it so disabling. Love to you all. X
Julia, you will have pain for a while. You must take your pain killers every 4 hours. Also, and very importantly, you must also take an anti-inflammatory once per day.
I was put onto an anti-inflammation tablet called Arcoxia which does not affect your stomach. The active ingredient is Etoricoxib. I still take it and it has done me know harm and I am convinced it has really helped towards my recovery.
I have not had any swelling in my leg, only where the cut is and my ankle has gone right down.
I know doctors don't really like you being on anti-inflame for a long time but my GP has told me that this one is ok.
Hope this helps.
Hi Julia,
i am on day 10, so I know how you are feeling! This is a wonderful site, with so many people who care enough to give you their experiences.
as for me, the scar skin is so very tight so I am applying a non perfumed moisturiser around it until I find a good silicone washable cover for when it irritates against clothing during the day.
i also found it so useful to gently clench and squeeze the butt muscles many times throughout the day to tighten them. They help to keep the joint in place apparently, which you may find reassuring.
My lower legs are like trees, even with the compression stockings on!
From now on things should get better a little every day, and you have been given good advice about pain control.
stay positive! Jillx
Julia,
Ice, elevantion, and pills ........ 9 days is very early, and most of us get these pains and swelling. This can go on for quite a while - see my website.
Address is in here
https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025
and in the moderators useful resources thread at
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Graham - 🚀💃
Hello Catherine, thank you for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. People have been so generous with their time, best wishes to you.💝
Hello Annie, thanks for making me feel normal. You hear so many stories of miraculous recoveries that it makes you feel so inadequate. Glad to hear your feeling much better, gives me hope. Thanks again take care. 💖
Hello Linda, thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post. Very good advice thank you. I'm finding this forum very helpful indeed, don't feel so scared or alone. Take care, and hope everything goes well for you. 💝
Hello Patricia, thank you for replying to my post. I have started taking ibuprofen and this seems to help. Glad to hear your feeling better at this stage gives me hope. Thanks again. Hope your recovery is a speedy one. Good luck. 💖
Hello Jill, many thanks for your reply, and yes we are lucky to have such a generous community of people to turn to. Thank you for your advice about the butt crunching, my hip feels quite unstable, will start doing this straight away. Hope your recovery is speedy. Best of luck. 💝
Hello graham, thank you for your reply, people have been so generous with their time and advice. My hip feels quite unstable and at times feels like it's going to pop out, is this normal. Best wishes. 💖
Hi julia l am a time served hip forum guru 😅
I am 43 years old and have had both hips replaced 1st on dec 9th last year 2nd 15th feb so l had about 8 weeks apart. So l am now 13 to 14 weeks post op.
Believe me when l say l know how you feeling. The 1st couple of weeks are the hardest but it is really important that you keep your pain levels to the mimimum by taking as much psinkillers as allowed and needed if yoo are still in unmanagable pain then phone your gp as you may need a stronger painkiller.
As for feeling depressed this does happen its a rollercoaster ride of emotions one week you feel great and feel like you are recovering so well then suddenly you feel down and the tears come anf you can't shake the feeling for a few days but it does go and as the weeks go by you will get better.
My advice would be to make sure you keep doing your physio that you will have been shown in the hospital. You are still at the begining of your recovery julia give it time its major surgery you have just had it affects everything your sleeping your moods going to the loo. I have been throigh it twice and have been of my work since november last year. I have had terrible times being stuck at home for so long when l was used to working full time and seeing loads of people everyday to seeing hardly anyone apart from.my husband and family now and then. It does affect you mentally but you just have to keep fighting on an it will get better l done it through 2 thrs and its been a hard journey harder than just doing 1 and l have survived. And l would not change it as l had a year of suffering OA pain and being miserable. I had no idea l had OA l thought l had just pulled a muscle in my groin and it just sreadily got worse as time went by l visited my gp and he to though the same until l could not hardly get dressed in the morning without crying and l got sent for n xrays. A week later l was being told both hips were in a terrible state they were both bone to bone and needed replaced asap.
I found this forum just after my 1st thr and it was a godsend so many lovely people who you can get help and advice and know exactly what your going through. It honestly got me through the hsrd times and l have got to know so many people.
So any questions or if you just need b support or to know your not alone we all have something in common just share your story of hospital with us if it helps.
I am now well on my road to recovery. I am not yet back at work but l am driving and doing most things l used to the only diffrence being l have not got the energy l did before l still sleep a lot but l can't sleep on my own bed for the full night l end up on the couch. But l sm getting there and so will you
Laura
X
Hi Julia. I'm at the 4 week post op mark and it feels like just yesterday that I was at where you are now. My heart goes out to you. It can be such a debilitating, frightening experience. I have really struggled also getting to this point. There just is no easy way around it. l think that all of the support that I received on this forum helped me tremendously. It seems like most Dr.s don't take the time to prepare patients for the aftermath of a surgery like this. I was totally caught off guard. Also, the loved ones caring for me did not have a clue about the level of care that would be needed and quite frankly, they still don't! They do try and I appreciate that. It can make you feel very much alone! Being dependent on others for some of the most basic needs can be a very humbling and gut wrenching experience. Take strength from others on this forum who remember well but would probably rather forget what the early days of recovery were like! It helped me and although I have a ways to go, Things do look better and more hopeful at this stage of my recovery! Let us know how you are doing!
Hello Laura, sorry to hear you have had such a bad time, can't get over how generous people have been with their time and advice. I was feeling so scared and alone, even though my husband has been a god send, they can't fully understand the emotional side of things bless em. I am beginning to realise that I am not a freak and other people are finding the whole experience painful and slow. You hear so many stories of miraculous recoveries it makes you feel inadequate. I'm glad your well on your way to recovery after all you've been through, gives me hope. Many many thanks again for your time. Wishing you all the best. 💝
Hello cindy, many thanks for your reply. I can relate so well to everything you have said. It is a massive shock to the system. No one prepares you for just how dependent you will be. Just going to the toilet is a daunting task. I agree, finding this forum has been a godsend for me, people like yourself are so generous with their time and advice, even though they are struggling with their own issues, they find time to reasure us. I do hope your recovery is a speedy one. Many thanks again take care and good luck. 💝
Hi Julia,
I'm 54 years old and had my op 14 weeks ago. The emotions,the pain do get better in time,don't try and rush things. Are you sticking to your 90 degrees and doing your physio exercises?
It can feel a bit strange to start with, your muscle and bone has to grow around your implant, plus the healing from where you were cut and pulled about.
My weirdest feelings in the early days, were feeling like it was clicking and when going upstairs it felt like my leg was going to pull off when I lifted it up. that's all gone now.
Take care
Lynn xx
I have not experienced that problem - it doesn't sound 'normal', I hope it'snot loosening at all - was it cemented or uncemented?
Graham - 🚀💃