Hi everyone, , i’m a 40 year old female who had a fill hip replacement this Friday (20th).
I was out the same day, so havent really had the health professionals around me to ask for advice.
I seem to be in a lot of pain and very very stiff, and wondered if this was normal with your experiences? the pain is horrendous in my knee as well, which I did expect, but cant seem to get any release from it.
I am also experiencing some clicking when trying to do the exercises, once again is this normal?
Thank you for taking the time to read, I think if I had been kept in hospital I wouldnt be so anxious etc
Hi Emma,
I am 57 and had a THR about 7 weeks ago.
Totally get your concern: I had the same thing. This feeling that they placed a part of the Titanic in my hip and my leg had to drag it along. But it will pass with time. Just keep on doing the exercises they advise you to do and listen to the signals your body is giving you. After all this time my prosthetic is gradually less ‘present’.
I live in Holland and we have a quite ‘down-to-earth’-medical approach (like for instance giving birth without any type of painkillers) and I was advised like every other patient when it comes to recovery.
My THR was the result of an accident and could not be compared to those who are operated because their hip is not functional anymore due to for instance arthritis. Yet I was approached in the same manner.
I needed more time and that is what I gave myself. Don’t let anyone push you.
Stay active but respect your body; gradually increase your activity and exercise level.
As to the clicking I know that sometimes patients experience clicking of the prosthesis, although I hope yours is the result of the fact that you just had surgery.
I experienced movement as well in the beginning. Not so much a clicking sound and something slightly moving out of place it seemed. That is gone now.
If you would keep on experiencing the clicking after a few weeks, even when you feel less stiffness I would definitely discuss this with your surgeon.
Good luck!
I think the knee pain is normal. They basically have to use it as a fulcrum to pop your hip out. We laughed pretty hard when we realized the bruising on the back of mine were finger prints!
Good luck,
Melanie
THR, lateral, March 20q
hi. I’m almost 18 weeks post OP from RTHR posterior approach in the uk I was in hospital for 4 days which for my hospital is standard. the booklet I got from the hospital for hip replacements states some people hear the clicks long term but says it varies. I know my hip clicks if I’ve not been for a walk for a day but with activity it soon settles. I dont think it’s anything to worry abt but you should be able to ring the ward you were on for advice if need be ( uk you can anyway). also the pain is normal. some seem to get more than others - think some of that very individual but will depend on the OP as some will have been harder to do than others. I was on strong opioids in hospital but then on codeine paracetamol and ibuprofen when I came home. which I gradually reduced.
it’s still very early days for you so plenty of rest as well as simple exercises is my advice. I live on my own and the first few weeks seem to have been spent sleeping /eating/ resting my leg up when sitting / bit of walking
best wishes anyway. it does get easier
It must be hard coming out on the same day, I had a couple of nights in hospital.
Were you given pain meds when you were discharged? I had blood thinners, codeine, and paracetamol, and I took everything that was prescribed for the first fortnight. After that I reduced them because I realised that I didn’t need them. I also did my exercises and rested when I needed to.
I can’t help you regarding the clicking, but I’m sure other people on the site have mentioned it.
Take it steadily, it’s very early days, and it should all get better for you. Maybe you could ring the hospital if you have worries.
emma
I’m 9 weeks this thursday in uk and you are going to be stiff and sore in different places as rest of your body taking up the slack of the operated leg. I had serious calf pain for about a week and you dont realise but your just walking slightly different . I was walking probably way more than needed but I religiously did my eccercies 3/4 times a day and stretched loads including squats. you have to not let muscles get restricted so keep stretching. I felt like I had a shot putt in my ass cheek for about 3 weeks .
wow out the same day ! I THINK THAT IS TERRIBLE
i went when i felt i was ready and learnt what i needed to to get around ok
just wondering if your cermatic on cermatic as that combination does make clunking noises .
My left hip is like this
take your time get advise and listen to your body
Be careful you do not do any of the not to do stuff eg cross legs , bend over 90 degrees etc
all the best
HI Keith
I had RTHR on Monday 23rd, 59, keen cyclist and yoga (yes very amusing poses with arthritic hips!)and wondering what stretches you did and when after procedure? I’ve only done neck arm etc stretches along with the textbook exercises And in exercising, did you have a sense of whether pain was cut, ruptured muscle (assume you also had invasive in UK) or merely stiffness be bleeding from operation? Or did you just say stuff that and run through it all?
Andrew
Hi.
I had my THR on Monday (I’m 49) and should have been a day case but for a admin error which meant my take home meds weren’t ready, so I had an unexpected overnight stay. I think they assess day care patients very carefully and they would only consider you if you had the home support in place, post op.
I have very little post operative pain. My thigh is tender but by no means uncomfortable. I’ve had excellent home care from the local district nurse team and physio. I’ve not experienced any clicking but I don’t think it’s unusual but speak to your consultant if you have any concerns.
Hope you see some improvements soon,
Deb
Andrew
Firstly life isn’t over . I think you have advantage being fit and strong legs from cycling so muscle memory should be good. I had posterior approach in uk and in hospital for 28 hrs and out. You get all this advise and the basic excercises and all the things you cant do . It’s not because you cant but a precaution if muscles not strong enough. I didn’t need a raised toilet seat and dint uses crutches only stick for 10 days . I did the excercises from day one religeously 4 times a day . leg raises ,lying on back leg out to the side,crab walk , pelvic raises and believe it or not squats only sissy ones at first and full squats by day 10. I was adamant I wouldn’t use raised toilet seat and didnt but toilet was worst for few days . You will feel real swelling in ass cheek and I did loads of stretches. I concentrated on exercising my operated side to equalise the muscles. I had no bleeding or anything with the would and have again rubbed in scar cream . I walked probably far more than I needed too but had real bit between teeth. I did feel very tired for first week and did twice a day raise leg above heart and have doze . I had very little bruising too for some reason . I did a park run/walk/jog at week 4 and have progressed well ,boy that was an experience carrying a shot putt in my ass. Let me know how your getting on over the next few weeks .
Deb
Glad your doing well . I had some clicking and I could actually hear the prosthesis metal moving and creaking but this went away in a week or so
Thanks Keith.. I’m surprised how pain free I am..! I’d be totally happy if it wasn’t for the length anomaly! Hope it will remedy itself over time..?
x
Hi Emma,
I’m 61 got my hip replaced in Jan 2000, I have been very lucky, to this day I feel no pain in that joint. My lone natural hip hurts. A lot of pain and discomfort I think is due to slight misalignments in our bones after such large changes in our original set ups. My body had to adjust from one set up with a degenerative joint to a metal hip whatever compensation my body made resulted in my situation now, I didn’t exersise my body into another better alignment. I am just surprised my replacement has lasted this long. I think our bodies make all kinds of small adjustments depending on our individual strengths weaknesses and life styles. Like that song ..hip bone connected to the thigh bone thighbone connected to the shin bone…and so on our bodies are a system. I think anyway, give your self and your body time to figure out this new set up. A good Podiatrist might be a blessing.
good luck
Dennis
Andy
you should start a discussion topic as too often it is there are comments about all the bad experiences which I dont want to detract from but there is the other side where people are very glad to have it done and no issues for thos length of time . Some people need encouragement.
i agree my first two hips i had at 43 and 45 were very successful , and the pain i had was gone . I went back to normal things within 3/4 months.
great news we need more good stories. my journey is just beginning
hi Emma - how are you doing now?
Jane x
HI Jane
Hope you are well?
im doing ok thank you. Still not sleeping great but i am moving around a lot better.
Still surprised by the pain i am getting but i think this is due to having the shorter stem fitted, so taking longer for the tissue and bone to take (my surgeon did say five weeks).
hoping to get on exercise bike next week
xx
a word of advice about exercise bike ( and i’m on one as i write) first few times mount from bad leg side. both feet on ground then put good foot into pedal strap and take your weight up into saddle. also saddle to be as high as is comfortable - which is higher than most oeople would have it - to avoid bending bad knee too much. finally Very low resistance. i would normaly be on 13 but started on 2 at day 5 and still only up to 8 at day 17
thank you Andrew for the advice. Really appreciate it.