Hi fellow Hippies,
I had my first left hip replacement in January and my second in September. In my mind's eye, the first replacement was without hiccups and I sailed through to complete recovery. However, the second, whilst, of course, making a comparison, was no where near as good as the first and I felt I was way behind with my recovery.
Today, seven weeks post op, I saw my Consultant. I had with me a list of questions. My name was called and without realising, I walked, unaided into his office.
I told him that I had a leg discrepancy; that I still had pain within my groin and also over the prosthesis; within the middle of my thigh and that it really hurt when rising from a chair. I also relayed that I did not feel that I had progressed as well this time and that, previously, by seven weeks post op, I had been virtually pain free.
Regarding the leg discrepancy, I was shown my X Ray that, quite clearly, revealed, a slightly tilted pelvis; this made my newly operated hip/leg very slightly longer. This, can be rectified by merely wearing a comfort sole within my left shoe. I had visions of forever having a limp or the need to wear ugly built up shoes. Not so.
Regarding my recovery.
Prior to my TLHR, I was, for a very long time, in inexorable agony and my hip was in a really terrible state. For this, I received a fully cemented replacement. My Consultant explained that, as a result of the torturous agony, prior to the first op, any discomfort, after the surgery, in comparison, appeared minor and this is what I remembered.(Rose coloured glasses).
With the second,although I was in a great deal of pain, I had not reached the agonising, inexorable stage and I received a "hybrid replacement". This is when only the stem is cemented and your own bone adheres and grows over the prosthesis. A procedure that will last much longer than the fully cemented.
All that I am experiencing now, I did experience before. I did have pains within my groin; over and along the prosethis; it did hurt when I got up from a seated position and, without the aid of a crutch, I did limp. In fact, everything that I am now feeling is completely normal and I am not, in any way, behind with my recovery.
Now that I am thinkly clearly, I recall, when nine weeks post op after my first hip replacement, I collected my Granddaughter from school. The school kept the disabled bay clear and I walked, with the aid of a crutch into the school where, through exhaustion, I had to sit down. In truth, I returned to my aqua areobic class some thirteen to fourteen weeks after the first op and I found it to be really hard going.
So don't beat yourselves up. It takes time. And if you are having or have received a second op, don't like me, make comparisons as they are likely to be fanciful.
I am so much happier now and thinking in a straight line.
Take Care, all of you.
Rocketman.
Did you have your revision? If so, how did it go.