Hip Replacement pain

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi all,

I am 11 weeks out.  I still have pain when sleeping.  I constantly go from lying on my back to lying on my good leg.  In the daytime, when I get up from sitting, the first few steps I limp, after that I’m fine.  I’m interested to know  what symptoms you all had!!

2

Im 3 weeks post op tomorrow, and walking with both legs on my crutches, I take pain meds anyway for other stuff, but cannot tell you how severe my pain was before the operation I was taking 100mg of morphine a day. Im slowly cutting it down now and walking is just like a dream come true to me. 

3

Hi Katleen,

Thank you!

Regards,

Steve 

4

Hi Steven. I’m 1 yr post on one hip and 2 weeks on the other 

Didn’t have pain after surgery with either. First one started out with pain in upper thigh and and groin after started physical therapy.  Stretching helps but once I’ve been sitting for a while I have the startup pain once I stand up. 

I see my new hip is starting to do same. 

What did help me with that pain was deep tissue massage and walking. I just started doing that about a month before my current THR. Once I’m healed better I’m going back to that. I hope that startup pain diminishes. 

I had pain for at least 8 yrs before my first THR I don’t need anymore discomfort. 

I hope all is well with your recovery and you heal well. 

5

Hi Steven

I'm 12 weeks out today and have exactly the same thing. During the day I'm great, apart from if I sit for too long, but at night it's terrible. I can't sleep on the operated side at all and rolling over is very painful. I've just actually had an ayuvaydic massage done by an Indian Dr who said it's definitely the muscles that r causing the pain not the actual implant. So I'm goingto start seeing him as often as i can afford. He Did say that he'd also like to see my xray to make sure he's doing the right thing. I have my 3 month follow up appt with the surgeon next week so I'll be interested to c what he says. I also have one leg longer than the other which is starting to cause issues with my back. Apart from that the surgery had been fabulous lol

6

Hi Steven, 

I’m 74 and 10 months post op. Sleeping was awkward at 11 weeks but will start to sort itself out soon for you. Yes I did have start up pain and stiffness at first upon standing. All I did was take a moment or two to gently stretch my leg a little forward and backwards and give my hips a little wriggle. Might have looked a bit strange to those around me but I really didn’t care since it made moving so much easier.

All the the best for your recovery. 

7

 Mostly the same as you but don’t find it compfortable sitting still have to sit with my legs up on couch in the day I’m nearly 7 weeks post 

8

 I am only in my eighth day. I have mostly discomfort. I am sleeping on my back and use ice for swelling every day while trying to keep my foot elevated.  It is good knowing what you have experienced. 

9

At 11 weeks after my THR, I was recovering from the revision operation .  At 11 weeks after that ... I was preparing to go back to work, negotiating the number of days and hours with HR.

Sleeping at that time was on my back only, as I was still unable to roll over for more than a few minutes, and then only onto the 'operated' side.  I have only recently been able to sleep on my side  for any appreciable time, 22 months after the revision.

Getting up from sitting for any time at all was also difficult, getting that first step going was really hard, much like you're experiencing I suspect.  That lasted for about 18 months for me, but like everything else, it varies from person to person.  

Best wishes

Graham

10

Hi Dsilk,

Thank you

11

Hi Debbie,

Thanks for the input!

12

Hi Madnana,

Thanks for the input

13

Hi Christine,

Thanks for the input

14

Hi Tnuhr,

Good luck and thanks!

15

Hi Graham,

I feel it's going to take me some time.  Thanks for the input!

Steve

16

It always seems to take longer to recover than we think it should take. 

17

Hello Rocketman

Am really encouraged to hear you had pain that was bad for first few steps too and it resolved eventually. I am coming up for 6 months for right hip replacement and getting up and first few steps is really a struggle. Stiff and very painful, feels deep in hip. Hold my breath almost. Then it goes and can walk several miles brilliantly. It started about 12 weeks and been referred to physio who say its tendons.muscular but was starting to feel something definitely not right..but so glad to hear yours went after 18months. Still unable to put on socks or cut toenails and that will be a day in itself, but could cope with that as long as the startup pain settles.

18

Yes, it's good to know someone else has 'been there before', that's the beauty of this forum.  Your description of the 'getting up pain' is spot on.

I think for me, commuting in and out of London, and working normally at my desk helped my recovery so much.  It's good to do those things that were part of normal life before the THR.

19

Hi Rocketman

​I agree it has been brilliant to get back to life before hip pain took over.  I am fortunate or perhaps not as plusses and minuses to work from home, but it was good to be at my desk virtually straight away with a sense of normality - most people I deal with are phone/email based and I didnt even tell them that I had major surgery. which was good as I got bored being defined by it. Though glad of this forum to chat and for info and understanding! I have read your webpages. brilliant info! but missed you had this starting up pain. have a good weekend!