Still finding it difficult to get down and pick things up. At times it's like something stick and I have to use things to pull myself up.
I am being told.to be patient but I find when out if some one stop in front of me I can't do a quick turn or twist other wise it hurt.
I am 56 but feel 80
i was fit and mobile before but now find many movements and doing things difficult and some very hard if not impossible.
is this normal as I was expecting to be a lot more mobile by now than I am especially as I am on my own with 4cats and a dog to look after and need to get back to work as I can't afford to have my wages go down.
any advise. Or help would be gratefully received
Mary, I remember not being able to bend comfortably for a long time after the op. It was probably the best part of a year. Now five years on I can put both hands on the floor. Don't try to force your body. I was also told to be patient. They were right. Were you really fit and mobile? Why did you need a replacement?
I had times when I was in agony with my hip but it improved for months then would blow up again.
certain movements and actions would start it up again.
Being a nurse I found certain work did not help
the consultant said it was bad enough for doing I was surpris and needed to think about it.
by my next visit I had a bad flare up so decided to have it done
at moment finding wish I had not had it done but as I can't undo it I have to get on with it
I have met at least four ortho surgeons in my build up to having the op. All of them said I had to decide when I wanted to have it done. I waited years mainly because I was terrified but in the end I felt as if I had to go for it. My life had come to a full stop. It sounds as though you could maybe have waited longer. It should get better as time goes on.
Try and think of it getting better daily. I had an improvement suddenly. Mind you I still regret having it done as I too feel older and weighed down when I was light of foot prior to surgery. It seems they do not give us enough physio at the crucial stages of recovery and swimming did it for me. But the feeling of huge regret and it changing our life for ever is always present. Whilst I have fuller rotation, the feeling of being violated and basically having such a huge foreign object in the body is awful. Also while floating in the water I went round and round in one direction; something to do with the steel I guess.
I believe resting is as, if not more, important than the exercises. And nutrition eating and sleeping well. The lying on the back is murder and I tolerated it for 3 months, then used a pillow between my legs. And taking painkillers for as long as it takes. It is easy to gradually reduce them rather than to do without.
I do hope you continue to improve. You can always ask for a further xray from the gp once you are 6 months on. They do make mistakes, but the body is super efficient at coping with these huges changes to our physiognomy; it will adjust somehow. I am now at 7 months and the other hip is giving me trouble, but no way will I EVER do another one.... My entire posture is affected and standing erect feels totally alien. Slowly slowly Mary it will get better and by the end of June you should feel much better. Are you getting any physio? Good luck for the future... "this too shall pass".
I had mine about a month after you. Bending down is usually OK although I can't even contemplate cutting my toenails! I still have problems with dodging people, partly because I am waiting for a new knee. I would find it difficult to do some types of nursing, would it be possible to go to roles like running out patient clinics or some of the admin jobs for a while which would be less physically demanding.
I'm going to a physio planned exercise class which is improving my balance a lot and I just miss out some of the exercises which involve iffy hip moves . I try to do some of the exercises at home, especially those which build up abductors and transfer of weight from leg to leg. I'm getting a lot more confidence now and letting the hip flexion develop as it will. On days where my hip feels a bit tight I put my operated leg behind the other one to reduce the pull but that is happening less often. I'm pleased with my progress and just hoping the knee goes as well.
Good luck
Mary, it is different for every one. Even when you recover fast you are bound to relapse and slow down. It happened to me and i tell you, lesson learned. I went back using the cane - aka stick, and being more careful. Be patient, it will change and get easier.
I was finding as I tried to squeeze through small gaps at work to help a patient it would cause hip pain and a couple of times as I was trying to help move some one in a difficult spot my hip almost gave way
so in end was also worried I was unsafe in my work.
though I can't afford to be of sick much longer so will have to speak with them to see what else I can do if my movement don't improve soon.
How soon did you manage to go back to work
Did any one else have problems going down to pick something up and almost getting stuck. And painfully with it
i can only describe it like a door not shutting right like it's not quite aligned
also most of time feel like i am sitting against something hard
cant lie on operated side for more than a few minutes then ache going onto throbbing.
and I am 4 and half months
Make sure to do the golfer bend when you pick up from the floor. Stand on non operative leg and lift your operated leg straight behind you while you are bending down.
When I was in the hosp after surgery and doing therapy I found out about a lot of different products to make life easier, such as a device to help one put on socks and a grabbit for picking up objects and pulling up pants. While I had the typical grabbit the hospitalsa was different. When I got home I found my daughter,who is a pack rat, had the same one the hosp had. Another trick is to sit on a plastic bag in a car. You can slide in easier. We all go at our own pace. You'll be ok
And of course i am assuming you are using grabbers to pick up things...i have several of them all sizes and shapes, most useful. Even for normal functioning people.
Reading what you have written, I can only think that you too had the op before your hip got so bad that you had no alternative. Believe me, I was a cripple and depressed with it.If I had had it done five years earlier, I too might have felt I wish I hadn't done it. It's normal to experience grief at the loss of our perfect body. But that goes with the territory of being human and getting older or being sick. I used to be in nursing and care work. No way after two replacements would I ever consider handling or moving people again. My hips are now just for holding me up and that's enough. A dentist at the practice where I go has just retired after resuming work after a thr. He has found it too strenuous. It's time to take stock of your life. Could you move to a different nursing job? Could you use your experience to do something different?
I too had times when my hip wasn't so bad, but I was always aware of 'it'. I went into nurse management and believe it r not, that was when my hip got really bad, I think it was because I was mainly desk bound and in no time at all my posture changed, I got a knee contracture, I had to plan when to go to the loo as it took me ages to get up and walk. I'm having my hip done in 3 weeks and though terrified, I know it can't be any worse than what I've got now, but it will take time to get back to 'normal'.
I don't know where you live, but in England we can't drive for 3-6 weeks, so work is out for at least that length of time and then you are limited as to bending down anyway for at least 12 weeks post-op. Are you within that 12 week period? If so, patience is the best measure.
No I had my surgery in January that why I am worried.
am also on my own divorced last year so I have to manage but I have found every thing a struggle.
i work in out patients but was always rushing around often in trouble as never had time for dinner.
Before surgery I was asking my colleagues to visit worried I would get bored. And over do it.
well that never happened I found every thing took much longer though it was. Nice to have visitors.
i have been told mt money
Opps pressed wrong button.
my son got me this iPad to help me.
now though I am going to have to go back and am worried as I don't think I will be able to manage but as I have been told my money goes down to half pay soon.
being on my own and being left with debt I can't afford that to happen.
Well they should offer you a phased return to work after so long off on the sick. You could also ask about spending some time on more admin type work which might help a bit. It must be worrying when you have financial problems as well so it might be worth trying to get a meeting with Citizens Advice to see if there is an option to help with that if you do have to take a pay reduction for a while. It is better to be proactive with financial problems.
I hope you find people sympathetic and helpful and that your hip settles down soon.
It may be that going back to work is a good thing, as you will be getting physio by default, but...that does mean you'll be on your feet loads. Have you spoken to occupational health as they may have alternatives to suggest and if you are in a professional body eg RCN, they may also be able to help.
Not sure how bad things are, but obviously a debt adviser through Citizen Advice might be helpful. Hope things start to improve soon.
I'm returning to the pool today for therapy in the pool. I'm going to try floating to see if I go in circles. 😊 That would be weird. Funny but very weird.