Hi can anyone one of my fellow hippys out there help. I'm 14 weeks post op and last week returned to work on a graded return, my workplace are very good and are being very supportive. After my first week back mentally I felt so much better but physically I suffered at the weekend and I just did 3 hours days. Previous to going back to work the consultant advised it, I was a little nervous due to stiffness in my hip area, buttock and leg, he said getting back to normality will help. I'm now taking codine phosphate with paracetamol before bed and just paracetamol during the day but I'm wondering if anybody at my stage suffered with this pain. Looking at the wound there is nothing visible like an infection, and I'm doing my physio exercises before going to work thinking this might help, but I'm feeling more pain now than I did six weeks post op. Is this normal because I've gone back to work and doing more? Can anyone shine a light on this 😃 I would be happy for anyone input
Thanks Vicki 😃😃😃
Hi Vicki,
Bless your heart! It may seem that working this soon may be too much for you. Definitely speak with your doctor. Are you sitting or standing at work? If mostly standing, is the floor made of cement? Perhaps new extra comfortable shoes or if sitting a new cushion to sit on, or a new chair?
For me sitting at the 90 degree angle for long periods of time can cause me pain. However it is fair to state that my second THR was botched, but my good THR grows weary too when sitting too long/ Standing on concrete will hurt most people who have not even had the surgery you have had.
Are you wearing loose clothing? Dresses, skirts and loose pants? When my pants cross over the hip site for too long in the sitting position, I begin to hurt. For me, sitting on the wrong chair can cause me pain.
These are just some brain storm ideas and other will provide other great ideas.
Hope you sail through this phase!
Dawn
Hi Victoria, I had revision last year I couldnt go back to work until 6 months ,Going back was very hard physically i could hardly make threw 4 hour shift, So I went back to my surgeon who put back on disabililty because I have nerve damage from surgical site . Im not saying thats what you have but i never dreamed going back would be so hard . So im still on disabililty lost my job .
I guess what im saying you know your body best take one day at time if your having alot of pain go back to your doctor . Thats what i did you my need more time to recover .
Jackie
Hi Vicki,
Like you I am on a staged return to work, after hip revision 13 weeks ago. Have done half days since the beginning of Jan. First full day was yesterday, and I am pretty sore today, when I only did a half day. I work in a college so am moving between classrooms, and we have quite good office type chairs which swivel and have enough padding - I can raise them up a bit too, which is enormously helpful. For me, moving about is definitely better than sitting still for hours.
I think we are bound to feel a bit more pain as we are doing more, and using the muscles and joint in different ways. But as long as you are confident there is no infection or other bad things happening, I would guess it's a matter of time and building up strength.
I am back to five full days next week, have had quite a bit of pressure to do that, though my workplace is generally supportive. They said they could refer me to an occupational health doctor, who would be able to say if I was fit for work yet - is this an option for you, I wonder? Am assured the doctor will be impartial, even though the college are paying his fee (I wonder if that's true?!)
Take care, and if you are hurting too much, reduce your hours till it settles down again - it is not worth jeopardising your new hip, really.
Hope it all goes alright.
Jean
Hi Jean
It's my second week back have another two weeks of reduced hours then a review before full time hours, they are supportive but you wonder if it's just your body reacting to more movement and exercise.! I'm a community worker so in and out of my car but to be fair they are supportive will receive supervision this week to see if any work practice needs changing. I'm was just wondering if these aches and pains are normal.
Vicki
Vicki, it takes about a year for some to fully heal. This is quite a huge major surgery. Huge and brutal.
You consultant says very matter of fact 'you'll need to be of work for twelve weeks' which automatically makes you think you'll be fine after that very deceptive Dawn I'm thinking there something wrong with me, but now realising that these aches and pain are probably very normal at my stage of recovery. 😁
I believe so Vicki, it is more than likely that your experiences are normal, but it never hurts to ask your doc when things get worse and you are in doubt.
Search for all the ways you can bring comfort to yourself while you work. And remember that all your muscle groups can be out of shape and lost some strength throughout before and after the THR. My bet is that while it feels really tough right now, that you will gain strength quickly each and every day. Be real good to yourself when you are not working and keep up with the exercises for post op.
Take care Vicki and we are here when you need us for support!
Hugs
Dawn