I am 5 weeks post op and still have significant pain off and on throughout the day. It is nearly impossible to rest as I have a 5 and 10 year old. At five weeks out they are tired of playing nursemaid and want mom to get on with it! I have had some help from family , friends and bbsitters however the rest of this week and next week I am on my own (hubby works 10 hours a day...) and the 17th I return to work . I am a music professor at a local college. My Physical Therapist assures me I am right on track for 5 weeks post op which comforts me, although I am still very uncomfortable and can't sleep though the night (it is 3:51 AM now...) My daughter told me a few days ago,"this surgery is the worst thing that has ever happened to this family!!" in a very angry tone. 10 year olds can be so narcissistic. I am taking it day by day--some days I need my crutch again, some days I take a lot of medicine. I just yearn to be continually feeling better--it feels like it is one step forward and two steps back. Do you all think it is typical to still be in significant pain off and on at 5 weeks post-op? I am still taking strong medicine here and there, am I taking this for too long? I guess I just need some reassuring and empahy AND honest feedback. My girls are lovely and I adore them-I wish I could be the swimming, chasing, biking sort of mom they want me to be..... soon I will be!!!
Your posts are comforting to me, it is nice to know there is a group of us out there all going through similar situations. Thank you for sharing with me!
Love,
Collette
I have included a picture of my oldest and our pooch.
I am 12 weeks post Op and I still take the occassional pain killer when i have over done things such as alot of walking and bending, just reassure them as soon as you can you will be back to swimming etc with them, i know that kids can be quite insensative at times lol
Hi I am in the UK and had bilateral hip replacements 5 weeks ago, also have a 7 year old boy and a husband that works too, my left hip is great but right hip is taking longer to heal, still need 1 crutch now and again ESP the stairs and have been told to use both crutches if I go outside, just came off my painkillers but if I'm too sore I will take them, dong be hard on yourself 5 weeks is no time at all your doing great, it's hard on the kids are they just want you and don't really understand why you can run around and bend down but you will get there
Hi Michelle-- wow, I am happy to hear you are doing so well, that is amazing having both done at the same time! How has your 7 y.o. reacted to your surgery?
Hiya he has had a few days of being a bit moany when I got out of hospital but he has been great mostly, every new thing I do he thinks it's amazing and I can see he is so happy that I'm getting better, it has been hard but def worth it, you will get there just remember you will be able to do all these things with your kids when your ready and you will have a better quality of life x
Sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. I am 12 weeks post op and disappointed to say that during the last week I have had significant pain in my groin and buttock. I saw the surgeon on Monday and he said this is normal as the muscles and tendons heal. I suspect as you've got young children that you have an uncemented prosthesis? and I believe these take longer to be pain free than the cemented variety such as I have.
Pain is easier to prevent than cure, so my advice would be to take your pain meds more frequently, not less. Also, although I know what a nuisance they are, use your crutches when you're outside the home so you're not putting too much of a strain, not only on your new hip but on your other joints and muscles too.
Finally, and I'm sure you're doing this already, try and organise things that will tire your children out whilst not putting too much of a strain on you.
Well done you, 5 weeks post op with two kids and hubby working FT, don't know how you do it superstar! I know the one step forward and two back feeling so well, I'm sure a lot of us do! You're getting on with it well done, if you need painkillers you need them, I'm still having to take some, 7 months post op because of the bursitis that developed after my LTHR. Your still very early on at 5 weeks. I think you should pat yourself on the back for coping. This surgery is 'the best thing to happen to you' to help you be that swimming, biking, tree climbing(!) mum again!
Thanks Rosie! Yes I have uncemented variety...it is so true that pain is easier to prevent than cure. Yesterday morning I woke with such discomfort it took half the day to get it under control....
Have you had consistent pain all along, or is this new development?
aw, thanks Juliet! I think I needed that pat on the back I am discovering that a lot of this recovery process is mental as well....having to wake up each day and have a good attitude and deal with what comes. My PT is amazing with this and has been a great "cheerleader". I think docs completely ignoe the mental aspect of our recovery. I hope your bursitis resolves soon...
Hi Collette I am 10 weeks past my first and just had my second last Friday, my right was first and still gives me pain around the implant, as the muscles regrow, and I have pain right down my leg with the latest one, I take 2X50mg Tramadol for the pain and I use 10mg Amytryptiline at night with the Tramadol, and that works for me, the thing is to try and rest, but as you say a little impossible, but you just have to, if there a youth center where the older child can go, and perhaps a Jigsaw or colouring book for the little one, that you could do together.
Pain wise they say it takes about a year to come right, hope my iodesa place a seed in your mind, take care and keep us posted.
You're welcome so true re mental it takes a toll and my partner too has been a great 'cheerleader' especially on days when I've scraped myself into one piece! I'm having an injection in my hip under GA next week so fingers crossed it's the 'final leap home'! as it were.
You have come to the right people - of course you are tired - it is major surgery, you know ...
and yes, mentally and emotionally it itakes a toll on you ...
physical pain as mentioned is quite normal and certainly at week 5 - I can see how you want to get on too and perhaps overdo it at times - your body is letting you know that
great that your PT is cheering you on ...
what kind of a dog is your pooch !!!! gotgeous, both of them !!
Hi Collette, I am also 5 weeks post op (age 52, uncemented prostheses).
I like to compare what I was like 4 weeks ago to now. When not tired I am walking un-aided around the house, climbing stairs on alternate legs, I do some housework, I do some cooking, I can get in and out of the shower without help and drive for 1 mile.
However, when I am tired I can't do any of those things. Your body needs so much energy to heal that you need to rest.....a lot! Just because the scar is healing doesn't mean that muscles and ligaments have knitted back together.I still get pain (my knee, ahhhhhhh) but it's all normal. Think of it this way - the surgeon sawed off the top of your femur and hammered a spike into it. If you had broken your leg your would still be in plaster.
Being sensible, taking regular meds (I haven't dropped much) and resting between activities are the ONLY things you need to do at this stage.
If your children are trying to make you feel guilty (it's their job btw) then draw them a picture of what you had done and why. I have worked with children fro 33 years and believe me they will get through this short period when mom wasn't well!!
Please concentrate on you and please also don't rush back to work - your long term health is more important
No this is a new development. I have had various aches and pains throughout my recovery. It was particularly bad yesterday as I had slept very heavily on the operated side and my buttock did not like it at all! I haven't had to take painkillers during the day for weeks but yesterday and today I did. I do take them at the merest twinge though because at this stage I think its more important to be able to keep moving.
You have certainly reached out to the right folks. It must be terribly hard to have young children and go through this ordeal but be reassurred it will get better. Love the photo of your child and pooch, yes kids can be insensitive but they just want their Mum back. All you write about pain is normal so hang in there and time will ke it better.
That is so sweet! My kids do cheer me on too. My 5 year old notices before anyone if I am off my crutches, etc.... Love them to pieces. I hope you have a lot of support and help.
Today the children are at a craft camp in the morning and we are going to a movie this afternoon. Should be a fun restful day. I have heard that it can take up to a year to be pain-free... I have tried Tramadol, it gave me terrible headaches, I am taking oxycodone and tylenol.
You are still so fresh out of surgery--one week tomorrow? I hope you have lots of support and help--take care of yourself.
I am discovering that a lot of this recovery process is mental as well....having to wake up each day and have a good attitude and deal with what comes. My PT is amazing with this and has been a great "cheerleader". I think docs completely ignoe the mental aspect of our recovery. I hope your bursitis resolves soon...
so true re mental it takes a toll and my partner too has been a great 'cheerleader' especially on days when I've scraped myself into one piece! I'm having an injection in my hip under GA next week so fingers crossed it's the 'final leap home'! as it were.