Hello - I had my right FHR on Saturday, came home yesterday, was a little tearful at first, didn't want to leave hospital, but feeling better today. I'm 43 and so pleased to have had my hip replaced, I've had to stop doing all the things I've loved but hoping to get back to riding my horses soon.
Finding my leg and bottom get really numb with all the sitting around, plus my leg feels like I have restless leg syndrome. Looking through some of the posts on here I've started using a heat pack today which has really helped.
Sleeping is nigh on impossible - I've likened it to having a new baby, up every two hours as am weeing more than usual. Feeling ok during the day, doing my excercises and finding them ok.
Did you have a spinal, I did and found that the gap between thinking I might need to go and NEEDING to go was frighteningly short. Fortunately it passes and things are near normal now. I found that I needed a spell on the bed for an hour or so in the afternoon because my ankle was swollen and sometimes I would have a nap as well. That wears off as well.
It's early days, you had significant surgery and your body is in recovery mode, be kind to it , Most of us find we have the odd bad day before things move onwards again so don't panic.
The multiple wees wear off after a couple of weeks....I'm down to one ...3.30am on the dot! Lol!
The numbness is annoying...I got pins and needles in my non op thigh for weeks but have worn off now....
there are some sleeping tips on another thread...cushion under the knees ...small pillow under the heels or they get sore too....get as many gadgets around you as poss and try to do some 'normal' things too...the first 6 weeks will fly by and then the pace of recovery speeds up even more...I've just had my first crutchless shower...quite a high step into the cubicle so I've been taking my crutches in with me!! Could also reach most bits with long handled brush and sponge and dry myself too...that spray on moisturiser is really good to get to the bits you cant reach!
Don't walk too far..remember you've got to walk back!...and you'll need a nap afterwards, everything is exhausting!
Keep posting and updating your progress it does help!!
I had my right hip replaced last August I am 56 years old.
Like yourself I was home by the fourth day following my op using 2 walking sticks.
By the 10th day I was down to 1 stick and no pain killers by day 14.
I went back to my full time job 4 weeks after my operation and was driving in week 6.
I set my self goals for each week and tried to achieve or excel them. I am a great believer in mind over matter. I also have 3 grandchildren and one of my greatest achievements was being able to bend down and pick up the youngest for a cuddle. I also love my garden and have been getting back into this over the last couple of weeks planting baskets ect.
I hope that as you recover from your THR as well as I did and you gradually go back to doing the things you enjoyed before especially your horse riding( surely this should be your goal).
Keep updating your progress and have a speedy recovery.
You really are in the very early days and things do get better quickly.Sleeping is a real problem and having to go to the loo a major activity at first,but as the others say it gets better.Make sure you take your painkillers,I took an extra 400 Ibruprofen and 2 paracetamol before I went to bed even though they had only given me one Ibruprofen from hospital a day,also the hot water bottle helps and the pillows under bad leg to liftleg off bed.
Be positive and look forward to your little walk then a longer one and then using one crutch and do your exercises and you'll soon be on the horse again.
Keep posting especially if you feel low,I found this site great.Good luck.
Thank you reading through the posts the support from this group is amazing!
My goal is to be out competing again by the end of the year and to be up for team selection next spring. Very challenging I know, I've got my Physio on my side and start with Bowen treatment this Monday - really looking forward to that.
Sleep is rubbish isn't it? Up every hour last night - although the good thing is it appeases the numb bottom feeling! Have to admit to trying to sleep on my good side my first night home with a pillow between my legs - won't be doing that again in a hurry! Honestly thought I'd dislocated my hip!!
Did you all find your leg swelled up quite a bit during the day? And the standing on bad leg excercise - did you find it really hurts your knee?
Hi Bonny...what do you compete in..I used to do long distance riding, Bronze and Silver Buckle and the odd cross country event...lived on the Wirral and riding along the beach is the best!!....
Anyway...I didn't try the side sleeping till after my 6 week review and I'm still really careful with my body pillow!
My op leg swelled hugely for the first couple of weeks ...rule is move, elevate and ice.....so don't sit still for more than an hour, raise your foot up...but not too far..should be higher than your heart if lying down....and wrap up some ice and tie it on your leg with a scarf!.....does really work.
My ankle still swells a little bit during the day but not really noticeable.
I couldn't weight bear on my op leg for 6 weeks (small crack in femur during op that had to be wired) but if you think what your poor knee has suffered with the drilling and hammering no wonder it hurts!!
My op thigh, femur and muscle above the knee are still tender but getting better.....still taking a couple of paracetamol now and then but nothing like the pain was before the op...no joint pain at all. Think the other one will need doing at some point though!!
Is the need to go to the loo through the night a result of the epidural & anesetic? I find its 3.00 am for me I never used to have this problem before & it drives me nuts although as you have to move to get out of bed it does provide a chance to move, get off the bed & alleviate numbness to bottom. You must have had your 6 week consultant check as I have mine next week. Were they pleased with you? I think I am a bit behind you having had 2 THR's done. I am still on 2 crutches but am taking 30 minute walks now. Physio started me on some basic step work this week which I am finding hard as having to rebuild muscles in hip not used in years. Desperately want to return upstairs & get in a shower & sleep in my own bed.
Hi Helen...yes had my 6 week review and xrays show good bone growth around the wiring in my cracked femur and everything fine with the new joint..amazing...soooooo...all OK, one crutch now and can walk around the house a bit without!
Have done a bit of driving and side sleeping....
I havent had a problem with stairs but I guess you have to have a good leg to do that...you must be pleased with your progress though and at least its over with in one go...I think I'm going to have all this again with my left....think I'll wait till I retire next year for that though!!
I had a general anaesthetic so dont know if the nighttime toilet trips are connected...I always had to get up once but sometimes its been 3 times...maybe you're right and its your bidy saying'move'!!
Off to Cornwall later today but I have my ipad and wifi....keep posting!!
It's interesting how physio differs. Standing on operated leg was never mentioned by mine although I started standing without holding on to something earlier than my post-op booklet suggested (in hospital when pulling up my pantees). I'm waiting for my other knee to be done as well and I found that going down stairs on the unoperated leg once I got home was scary. The treads are a couple of inches deeper than the ones at the hospital and the physio there didn't seem to take that on board. Anyway, I had a couple of weeks of respite care and when I was distracted I went down some stairs there on my hip and found it so easy.
Anyway I phoned the hospital and they said it was OK but most people found it difficult and a bit painful but if I preferred it then that was fine. I said three cheers to myself and away I went. My rehab is now stalled, my knee is beginning to moan and since my gait is good at the moment I don't want to develop a bad limp because of the knee. I'm glad someone mentioned knee discomfort in the operated leg because that knee is feeling a bit 'clunky' and that is my good joint (the other hip is pretty arthritic as well). I have a feeling that I shall be costing the NHS even more money a few years down the line.
I'm a dressage addict was showjumping up until last year, but had to stop as I couldn't control where my kegs were and the pain was becoming too much. So will be sticking to non ground leaving activities from now on I think.
I had a spinal that didn't work so was put under. I also suffered from low bp throughout so was told to drink loads - was having approx 6 jugs a day of water and still trying to have as much fluid as possible now I'm home. Been looking at my diet as well and need to ensure I have a good balanced diet to help with the healing process.
How come your femur cracked Chris? Was it just bad luck? But sounds like it's on the mend now which is great and having two hips done Helen - gosh! But then you were probably in huge pain before so maybe it's less bad now hopefully.
Apparently cracking around the top of the femur is fairly common about 1:10 it happens when they hammer the new shaft into the bone...wanting a tight fit !! Eek..rather not know really!! Anyway it just meant definitely no weight bearing for 6 weeks and using 2 crutches and for once I did what I was told!!
When the bone grows fully around the wiring it should be even stronger..so he says!
My diet has gone to pot...too much chocolate from visitors, combined with a partner who insists on 3 'proper' meals and of course very little exercise!!
Yes was in lot of pain & mobility non existent legs moved as a single unit as no seperation to move legs jndependentl. Hips were fused, no cartiledge, joint collapsed, no sideway movement, couldn't step up & shuffled. When I stood it would take me 10 mins before I might be able to move due to pain. Now I can get up & actually stride off. Pain gone however I do seem to get soreness on left side particularly when sitting. Not sure if that's because of scar & healing as op done via buttocks & of course you are sitting on operated area. Did you have your op done through front. Now walking for 30 mins on both crutches & taking strides which is unheard of for me. Physio had mentioned hydro to practice steps as buoyancy will help. I know the aim is to walk aid free & that makes me nervous but have followed all advice by physio & when they think I'm ready it will be interesting to try. My goal at moment is to be ale to get up my stairs once again.
Helen....hydrotherapy is absolutely the best....if your hospital offers it..if not and you can afford go private.....makes you feel almost normal in the water and its so soothing.... I've had 4 sessions and future physio in the gym.....would definitely recommend!
Physio is going to put hydro as recommendation in report to consultant who I see next week. I will go private as there is hydro facility really local to me. I will also be co-ordanating hydro with my normal physio as still have a lot of work to do particularly around steps. Hope you do OK with the long journey today & the sitting. Have you built up car journeys ahead of this one?
Sort of ..but we're stopping overnight in Bristol which is about half way- 150 miles and obviously will need to stop at a services for coffee too...hoping the longest stint will only be about an hour and halfish.....I'm only going to do a little bit of the driving though...
Hoping to drive to visit some friends while my other half plays golf
Made it down the stairs one foot on each step this morning....haven't done that for months!! Always both feet on each step one at a time! Progress!!!
Hi there Chris and fellow HR patients! I'm Louise, nearly 45 and live in London. I've been following all your posts and Chris in particular your op sounds similar to mine in so much you can't weight bear for 6 weeks. They told me they had put a small support around my replacement as I have a very short pin. I am now wondering from your posts whether that means they cracked my femur and didn't tell me! I am sure they would have done though…..I had my op last thursday so I am a week in. It was so hard coming home, and I am in a lot of pain today. Does everyone find they have on days and off days?? Also, it's so hard to know how much rest is too much. Yesterday I was downstairs about 3 hours. On a chair mostly and just shuffling around on my crutches. I went for a 10 min very SLOW walk outside and that was it. Today I feel very sore although I have been resting in bed 3 hours this morning and 2 hours this afternoon interspersed with being up and about for 2 hours on and off a chair etc. How long does everyone take the painkillers for? I still feel as though I need as much as I needed in hospital although I cut down on the codeine/paracetamol and just did either or instead of both at the same time.
Hi Louise ...if you had an xray the day after your op you should have seen the wire if thats what you had....my surgeon said it was the 'ring of confidence'...if you didn't see it...when you go for your first physio ( mine was after about 10 days)..they'll have it in their notes and should tell you.
No real probs not weight bearing for 6 weeks just stay on 2 crutches and not go down to one as quickly as others! A bit frustrating but do what you're told!
I stayed on the bed till lunchtimeish, getting up every hour or so to do some exercises and doing the bed exercises too....same downstairs, try to move frequently there are some good exercises on the internet.....
Don't overdo it on your crutches...I found it killed my arms...I now have rippling biceps(lol)
Very sore some days but as long as its your muscles, bone or wound and not the new joint then thats OK...take whatever pain relief you need ..no point being a martyr! I'm still taking a couple of paracetamol and ibuprofen but have stopped the Tramadol all together after a week.
As you'll see from other hip replacement threads everyone is different..also just when one ache goes another one starts...realignment taking place as the healing process progresses...
If you can get hydrotherapy sessions that is THE BEST...
Keep posting and ask away...someone always responds....
reading through the posts the support from this group is amazing!