I am now two weeks post op I am walking around great on my crutches. My scare has started to heal good overall I am please problem I have is sleeping on my back I wondered how long before I can lie on my side? ? Also the pains I get in my ankle and shin is this normal.
Hi
What did your consultant say about being on your back? There are differing opinions here I've noticed but the majority seem to get the instriuction 6 weeks on your back and then on your operated side for a while before rolling on to your un uoperated side!!!! I know its hard, its the hards thing of all after a THR
Love
Eileen UK
Hello and good morning. I have reached week 8 and have my check up today. Have been on my back all this time as instructed getting about 4/5 hours broken sleep per night. Wake up with stif back. I hope today I get all restrictions lifted. Might go mad if told another 4 weeks. We all get different advice depending on our state of bones.
Pains in various parts of the body seems to be the norm. I have new ones developed over the past few days
Afraid we have to hang in there as it will pass.When I was told 8 weeks recovery it felt like forever and here I am on D day
You will find ways to cope and come out the other end
Dear touchy ... welcome to this wonderful forum of fellow hippies ... great love and support here !
I was allowed to sleep on my non-operated side while still in the hospital - they gave me a pillow to pout between my knees to prevent my leg from dropping ... funny enough I went back to laying on my back as that felt more comfortable .. who knew ??? maybe the thought that I have a choice ???? I can lie on my operated side since last week - for some reason it was painful before - The pain in ankle and shin I experienced as well as in the upper thigh ... go slowly - you are doing great !!!!!
hi ann ... please let us know about your check up !!! mine is tomorrow ... it feels like taking an exam or something ... good luck - big hug
Hi Touchy,
I was shown how to sleep on my good side with a pillow between my knees in the hospital on discharge day. I try it if I wake up in the night but try to spend as much time on my back. Ask your physio.
Good luck.
Hi Eileen
Thanks for yourself reply the hospital never mentioned turning on my side, so I have just stayed on my back. I have phisiio next week might mentioned it to them.
Hi ann
you sound like you are doing well please let me know how you get on with your check up
mine won't be for a few weeks,glad to here I am normal it's good to hear other people's
comments
I AM ALSO 2 WKS POST OP. I HAVE 4 MORE WKS WITH A WALKER, DOCTORS APPT TODAY, I HAVE BEEN ON 75* RESTRICTION AND NO EXERCISES ON LEFT LEG( HAD LTHR) I HOPE HE LIFTS THE 75*. I HAVE MORE PAIN IN MY LEFT KNEE, WITCH WAS REPLACED 8 MONTHS AGO, THAN I HAVE IN MY HIP.
Hi nice to hear from you
It makes me feel better knowing you are experiencing the same. I have never been told to try sleeping on my side will wait a few weeks till I see the doctor.
I'm at a similar time to you 2 weeks and 3 days. clips out and scar healing but still tender. At least 6 weeks on your back to avoid the risk of dislocation and to let the muscles heal to keep the new hip in.
I have a lot of knee and shin pain to oand doing the leg raise exercise standing up hurts. I think it's quite common. I think the physical nature of the surgeons dislocating and manipulating you leg during the operation can be the cause of these pains.
Thanks ann that's what I wanted to here I have just had my clips out too. It helps to know we are going through the same process and this is normal.
Hi ann
Another question for you, I had booked a hoilday before I new I was having my hip operation. I will be 9 half weeks post op when i am I suppose.to be going , do you think I will be feeling ok , oh it is abroud just feeling a bit nervous
Thanks
Gosh depends on how you feel. I had made the decision not to go abroad this year. My travel insurance would be too high and I did not want to risk being abroad with a problem. Of course I do go to far flung places. Think the continent would be okay. Depends on your age and if you travel alone. Just got back from hospital. He manipulated hip to check movement and happy with that. No X-ray. Have to take care over the next 4 weeks. No bathing or squatting. Must continue with the same exercises but increase the number of times. On no account must I go to a gym or private therapist. Not necessary for me to have Physio at this time. Walk as much as possible preferably without support unless on uneven terrain. Yes I may carry my 8 kilo camera kit. 90 degree been lifted but to take care. Low seats okay if careful. Can sleep any way. Allowed to drive but start with short journey. He will see me in 4 months for check up and then consider Physio if necessary. A good outcome
My instructions regarding sleeping were that I was to sleep on my back until I could tolerate sleeping on sides or stomach. Although I kept trying to change position a few times it took about 4 weeks before I was comfortable on my unoperated side and stomach. I am at 8 weeks now but still not comfy on operated side.
Hi Touchy
If they didnt mention on your side I would assume it will meanon your back for 6 weeks.
It wont do any harm to ask the physio when you go
Hello Renee. Was surprised not to have an xray. Surgeon had my after op xray on screen which he was pleased with. Asked why not having one and he said if i had stuck to the rules and not suffered excrutiating pain there was no need. INSTEAD he put my hip through its paces, breaking the 90 degree rule - not nice. I did take paracetamol before going, thank goodness. He was impressed with the movement and said I was obviously doing the given exercises. Asked about walking and able to report between 3-5 miles per day and only used sticks on uneven terrain. He was very impressed. I am now allowed to sleep however, use normal toilet and carry my camera kit which weighs 8 kilos and drive. I must take care with all other things for the next 4 weeks but can sit on low seats with care. The DO NOTS - no squatting,no getting into bath, no going to gym, no hiring private therapists. Asked if I should have some physio - not at the moment as healing is still ongoing and I must just do the given exercises post op and keep walking as much as possible. I have a ressessment in 4 months when he will then take an Xray and it is at that point physio may be gven if deemed necessary. He thought probably not as I am so committed and by that time will be walking 8 10 miles 3 times a week and 3-5 miles on the other days. Questioned him about the gym and other therapists - "do they have your xray and if they do can they interpret it" Bossy, bossy, but he is right he knows the state of my bones and they are so easy to break. He said it can take 6 - 12 months for my body to completely repair and there is no point in undoing the work so far. He answered all of my questions. asked about the niggling pains and it is all muscle and tendon and once they have repaired aches will go but only if i keep to the regime and not start running marathons. I left my appointment feeling very confident that all was well. He really is a very caring consultant. Glad I put on the big pants as i had to strip down
Good luck tomorrow
Hi Ann ... congratulations ! you passed ! thank you for your response .. interesting how different the approaches are ... I have to have an x-ray done before I see him - also was advised to make an appointment with a physical therapist right after I was discharged from hospital and already have to the gym to see her llast week(I cancelled today's appointment as I was dreading the stationatry bike) .. I will wear big pants too then ... thanks for the tip .. already nervous about wearing jeans as it irritates my scar ... have a wonderful night - you must be so relieved !!!!
Hi Touchy!
I slept in a recliner for 2 weeks then slept in bed on my side with a pillow between my legs. My doc said that I had no restrictions because I was cut on the side and not the anterior or posterior.
I am now about 6 weeks out and still sleep this way with no problems.
Good luck to you!
I do think it depends on state of bones. I can fracture by turning over in bed which happened in 2011. So it's not surprising that he wants me to take extra care. He thinks I will get another 2 years out of the other hip. It does not pain me but they prefer to do it before the possibility of a fracture. At least we know I have one safe joint now. Let's hope if I take a tumble I land on my new one. Last tumble sustained a wrist fracture. Well feel sleepy so goodnight
Iron your pants😀