I had a hip replacement on the first of June, these are the things I can now do:
1 I can sleep normally on my back and my operated side.
2. I can get up from a chair without any pain.
3.I can go up and down a flight of stairs using the bannister with minimal disconfort.
4.I can sit down/drive for a long time without any pain
5 I don't have to take any medicine at all
Things I still cannot do:
1. reach down behond my knee on the operated side.
2. long walks without feeling pain the following day
3 short walks without feeling a light pain /discomfort
4 moving my knee up to my chest
5.sleep on my not operated side
I am still improving in many ways but I am been told that it takes up to a year to reach a "full recovery"...
I am writing all this not to show off but to help who is in the beginning of this adventure called "hip replacement".
Best wishes to all of you, wonderful people writing in this forum.
Ella
Hello! Well done you! It seems as though your getting there! I am 5 months post op tomorrow! But even now not without problems for me.!! Mainly because I am a full time carer for my hubby,and he's got awful mobility!! He's severely sighted and deaf.and also has oa of lumbar hips and knee's! So we are a couple of right hop along at the moment! I know it can take a good year to get back to normal! I am having reflexology and am going to focus on having jacuzzis! As I suffer from stress!! Regards Amanda
I am a month behind you, Briskwalk, done on 30th June so it is good for me to see your progression - thank you.
My pain is gradually turning to discomfort except when I am tired. I have halved my co-codamol. I have an un-cemented joint and still get quite a sharp pain mid thigh, again, worse when I am tired.
Happy 2 month birthday to you and your continuing progression. I am still in awe and amazement of the magnitude of this op and the way people on this forum help and support each other over all of our questions and niggles. To see someone write down where they are in their healing is not showing off all I think you should be showing off - high five!
Happy birthday Hip
This is a great post for someone like me who is at the early days (day 5)
It helps me see how positive the forthcoming weeks will be for me
Hope your next few weeks see you achieve without pain the ones that do at the moment. Xx
Hey, brisk walk - you are doing good
Give yourself a pat on the back - I am sure you are so much more improved than pre op and will continue to improve
Kind regards Linda xx
Dear Amanda,
You are doing so much!!! I wish you all the best in your recovery...take care and write in this wonderful forum...we are here to help each other!
Big hugs
Ella
Dear Kate,
when I am tired I have pains everywhere, and the only thing that helps me is to go to bed! My implant is cemented...it's routinely done if you are over 60 years old!
I love this forum as well, and I am amazed by the way we can regain our strenght and independence...I am so grateful to moden surgery!
Have a good and quick recovery, take care
Big hugs
Ella
Dear Sarah,
the first fwe days are very difficult, I remember it well...But we improve a little everyday and this is very comforting. From now on you will feel better and stronger...It's a long process but we will get there in the end!!
Take care, best wishes for everything!
Ella
Dear Pansy,
Thank you for the pat on my back ( just done it!)...
Pre op i coudn't walk at all, I coudn't sleep for more than two hours, I coudn't sit, I coudn't go upstairs:.I had to do one step at the time and I was getting worse and worse by the day...I would be in a weel chair without this operation!!!!
Best wishes and big hugs
Ella
Don't know where you are, but I'm in UK and, out of four THRs, only one has been cemented. Last one few months ago, uncemented, and I'm 65.
Such differing practices and guidance.
Elaine
Hi Elaine
Yes, mine is uncemented and I am 63. I believe revision is easier with uncemented, so if you are an active person, you might need another hip replacement in your lifetime. That's what my surgeon implied anyway!
So many different trains of thought!
Linda xx
I am in the UK (Berkshire/Hampshire). I don't really know the pros and cons (cemented, uncemented), I am just repeating what my surgeon told me...
Yes, there a re so many differences !
Ella
Hi Elaine,
My surgeon told me that with the "new" materials they use now, an implant should last a life time and he prefer to do a cemented on on bones which are over 65 years old... We will see!
Ella xx
Sounds wonderful. It took me longer than 2 months to bend at the waist & pick something off the floor.
you could work on getting your knee to your chest by doing it in bed. Lay in beg, heel on the mattress, toes up, and drag your heel to your butt (bending the knee). This would be a low impact exercise that stretches those leg muscles.
Very good news to hear. There is life after thr.
Its good you posted your healing progress for others who have just started this journey.
Continued success on a positive journey of life and healing!
Good one also if I may suggest the important butt squeezes. It helps all the muscles especially the core muscles.mi still do them.
Hi Jodi-France,
I try to bend my leg up to my chest every day doing the exercise you describe, now I can lift my heel from the bed...It's getting better, but I think it will take up to one year to regain all movements. I bend at the waist to pick something up from the floor but also I make sure that the operated leg is stretched out at the back...I have been able to do this a few days after the op...
How are you keeping?
Ella
Hi Hope4cure,
Thank you for your kind words. When did you have your op?
Are you recovering well?
Best wishes
Ella
Dear Ella,
What a wonderful and encouraging post - especially listing all the things you CAN do - all the other things will just naturlly follow ...
As said here by so many others, we all heal at a different rate - it is such a personal journey even though we might have had similar surgery ...
And for all of us who are waiting for our 2nd THR, we are in it together - now isn't that a lovely thought... we are not alone !
Have a wonderful Sunday
Thanks for sharing that Ella. It's great encouragement for me at nearly 5 weeks and wondering if I will ever be normal again. Interesting that you can sleep on operated side and not on non operated side. I cannot sleep on either side yet.