I had a THR 8 days ago with spinal anaesthetic. Was home on day 3 walking with one stick. Trying to get the balance of rest and excercises right is driving me mad! I was cycling 100miles a week just before my op, and worked nearly full time whilst helping to look after my 3 year old grandson. Am taking tramadol, paracetamol and aqupan for breakthrough pain. But ..... My problem is I am so impatient and have felt really depressed (which is not normal for me) for a couple days. I felt quite emotional yesterday, even tho everyone tells me I look good and am 'doing really well'
For 8 days you are doing fantastic. I'm 4 weeks and still using 1 crutch and taking lots of painkillers - and that is an improvement on the first weeks.
You can't expect to get over a THR extremely quickly. Even when I had my first one done and I had a relatively quick recovery I wasn't as far on as you.
Please try not to be depressed. I expect the tablets will be having a lot to do with that - I feel up and down quite a lot. Just focus on the things that are improving - even if they are only tiny and try to be patient. 8 days is not a lot.
Writing on this wonderful site is a great help. you will get a lot of encouragement. Remember that everyone's hip is different so progress will vary!
Good luck with your recovery.
Hi Christine! Well done you! Your doing well! But please remember you've had a major op! We all heal in different ways! I am nearly 11weeks post op and even now feel bruised! You must have help and do the excerise and also rest. I am having hydrotherapy and reflexology! Take good care and don't rush! Regards Amanda
Hello Christine. It may be the tramadol that is making you low. However I too was weepy in the first few weeks so think it is normal. Tramadol had a bad affect on me. Recovery takes time and you have to be patient. Each day will show small improvements. Keep a diary, I found it good for the moral to go back and read it. I am now week 9 and still find bending difficult but can at last do shoelaces. Going upstairs is still a problem. Surgeon wants to see me again in September for further X-ray. He said full recovery can take up to a year, this of course may be age related. It is frustrating but you will get there. Keep up the exercises and walk as much as possible
Tomorrow you will be able to do something new it may be small but an improvement
To give you some perspective, watch the THR operation on YouTube. You will then see the butchering you have gone through. Be patient; you have had major surgery!
Good morning christine - I hope you are feeling better today ... as said: 8 days post-op and you are doing great - please try not to compare things you could do before surgery and are not able to do (yet) .... it is different now, for sure - the weepiness and depression is normal, I found out - your body went through some major trauma and is in the process of healing - just accept and surrender to your emotions and feelings - you are not weak or less of a person - stop beating yourself up and be kind to your self - you know, like you are your best friend !!!
it will take time (oh how I hate this expression, but it is what it is) - take good care of your self - relax and take it easy - all is well -- warm hug
warning : this video is not for the weak of stomach - however, after I watched the whole thing, I had/have so much more respect for my body and the effort it takes to heal ...
Morning Christine, I hope you are feeling better today ..... Sounds like you are doing amazing, but I know that people telling you that and the way you feel inside don't always match. I too hit an emotional wall around day 8 ..... I am now week 3 and still have the odd hiccup and feel like a good cry (for no apparent reason) ! I just let the tears come and then go and do my exercises! Have a better day and let you body do what it feels like. Sounds like you are active and so you should be in tune with your body and how it speaks to you, just listen and you won't go far wrong.
take care
Same here , I am 8 days post op had a spinal too, it's hard work and frustrating when you can't do the things you want , I am 32 and feel like a helpless child , people fetching and carrying and helping me get washed , dressed etc
Remember you have had major surgery , it takes time , don't be hard on yourself it won't speed up recovery , try to think positive and remember why we did this , so we can have a normal pain free life again, a few weeks inconvenice and discomfort is much better than the pain I have been in for the last goodness knows how long
Best wishes to you and hope you feel better soon x
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. All of the comments have made me feel better, and it's great to have this forum to share experiences. How far were you guys walking in the first two weeks!? On reflection I probably tried to overdo the walking yesterday as I was feeling good when I woke up. I walked about 1 mile in the morning then another half mile in the afternoon!
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement - this is a great forum for exchanging experiences. Take care and thank you.
Hi Amanda, thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I am a member of a gym where they have a large jacuzzi pool. How long was it before you started hydrotherapy?
Wow that's a lot of walking! I was told just to get up every hour and a half and potter around the house walking for 5 to 10 mins at a time , doing my standing exercises 3 to 4 times a day to keep me from getting stiff, I go back to the hospital 1st of June to start proper physio , take it easy your body will tell you when it's too much , the surgery is brutal and take 6 weeks to heal at least.
Your muscles have been cut and pulled , you have lost blood, had implant hammered in to your bone and then you are expected to get straight up and walk and move, it still wears me out and I would say I am a for 32 year old lol it's a balance of not doing too much but still doing enough, I felt the same as you a couple of days ago , I thought inshoud be much better than i was, had tears the lot! But yesterday was a good day and I feel more positive x
You are doing really well Christine. One stick on day 3 is amazing. I am two weeks post op and still use two crutches outside but one indoors. I just sit down when I feel like it and walk about the house or garden when I feel like it. Like, you I am impatient to be up and about again walking my dogs and I get tearful too but like others have said, our bodies have been through major trauma so its to be expected. Just take it easy and try to be patient with yourself x
HI CHRISTINE.... YOU SOUND LIKE A LADY AFTER MY OWN HEART.... I TOO AM VERY IMPATIENT AND FRUSTRATED THAT I CANT GET ABOUT AND DO THINGS FOR MYSELF, THINGS I TOOK FOR GRANTED LIKE DRIVING AND SHOPPING! MY HUBBIES ACE AND DOES EVERYTHING FOR ME, BUT AS I AM INDEPENDANT, I DON`T LIKE TO RELY ON HIM TOO MUCH. ITS VERY HARD GOING THIS HIP BUSINESS, I HAVN`T BEEN GIVEN A DATE YET, AND HAVE BEEN WAITING THREE MONTHS, I KNOW IT`S NOT REALLY A LONG TIME, BUT IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER! I TO GT REALLY DEPRESSED AND TEARFUL, LIKE YOU, IT IS SO OUT OF CHARACTER FOR ME, I`M USUALLY A BUBBLY HAPPY GO LUCKY PERSON, BUT THIS KNOCKS YOU FOR SIX!
WE JUST HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT, KEEP SMILING, AND THINGS WILL GET BETTER, THEY MUST DO!!!! TAKE THE BEST OF CARE... X
Hi Christine! We must all remember to listen to our bodies! We are all different and have different healing stages! I am 11weeks on Monday and am just focusing on hydrotherapy and reflexology! So hope I will start to improve. I am still bruised but its not easy being a carer. Regards Amanda
Hi Christine,
Hope you feel lifted up soon. It is not easy to look at the top of the mountain from the valley, but you will climb there again and with vitality and no pain! Keep on keeping on! And this is always easier to say than do, at least for me. I am in the deepest valley of my life and the only way for me to get a glimpse of the top is to encourage others.
Hugs
💛 Dawn, USA
Dawn .. remember who you are and have continued faith ... know that all is well - you are a beautiful soul - thinking of you - take good care of yourself - warm hug
Hugs Renee and thank you for your kind uplifting words. 💛