Up until yesterday I was taking 3 Diclofenac Sodium a day and had managed to reduce my cocodamol down to 2 a day.
I have been doing really well, doing my exercises and am up to a mile a day walking, with minimal pain and discomfort. I have had virtually no swelling or bruising.
Yesterday my doctor refused to prescribe me any further Diclofenac as he said there is a risk of bleeds in the stomach when taking anti-inflammatory meds and the blood thinners which I am still taking.
This morning I am much stiffer and have a constant nagging pain in my groin.
I would be interested to know what meds my fellow hippies were taking at this stage?
Hi Paula. Sorry to hear you are still having a little pain and your doctor is being stubborn. But he is right.
I am now 5 weeks post op and because I have had my left hipo done but not my right I am really suffering and trying to walk but not doing as well as you.
The meds I am still taking are co - codamol, Oramorph, Lasoprazole and asprin. I only have to take the asprin for another week and it will then stop as will the lasoprazole. But the oramorph and co - codamol will still have to be taken because of the excrucviating pain in my right side and left lower back. I have been trying to cut back on the oramorph and try only to take it if the pain is too much to bear. My pain releif has not changed in over a year except the asprin which the hospital prescribed as a blood thinner to help avoid DVT.
Hi Paula ... interesting ... I am 9 weeks post up and still taking pain medication - I have stopped taking them because I thought it would be better over all.. well, the pain came back right away and preveted me from doing exercises, walking etc ... I understand that it is more important to have less pain (taking the pills) than not being able to move, so to speak - in addition to the pain medication (Meloxacam right now, but had Diclofenac and Celebrex before) I have to take Omeprazol as stomach line protection ... then paracetamol, 3 x 2 daily ....
I have been on Fragmin injections for 6 weeks --- I hope you will be able to talk to your doctor again - can you see another doctor? or your surgeon? it was the surgeon who prescribed the Celebrex upon discharge and I just have the prescription refilled with no problem - good luck and take good care of your self ... don't push it - big hug
Hi Paula, sorry to hear you are still in pain. Diclofenac does have side effects but I would have thought you should have been prescribed Omeprazole to protect your stomach while you are taking the pain killers. However, taking anti-inflammatories and blood thinners as well maybe the Omeprazole would not be enough protection. I am two weeks post op and was discharged with just paracetamol and codeine. I was taking the paracetamol four times a day but not the codeine. I have a supply of co-codomol prescribed before the op and just take two of these at night mainly to help me sleep. I haven't taken any pain killers for the past two days now. I still have to take the blood thinner tablet - Rivaroxaban for 35 days post op. Much better than the Clexane which I had to inject into my stomach after my knee replacements! I hope your doctor can prescribe something more suitable that Diclofenac to help with your pain.
Interested in all posts and have found this forum so encouraging. Thinking of those having their ops today. Be encouraged. Remember we're ALL different in so many aspects of recovery. And it's not a competition. I'm a week behind Paula (5/5/15) and am very impressed that you walk a mile a day. I'm much slower and more cautious than that but my confidence is growing. Moment out yesterday and walked round garden centre (not huge!) but didn't have any rest in the afternoon and was shattered and quite weepy in the evening. I guess my best thing is not needing more than 2 x paracetamol three times a day. I have to be on anticoag drugs anyway owing to s previous condition, so they were giving me clexane in Hosp as well and I must wear the TEDs for 6 weeks. I liked the security of the leg pumps in hospital too! I'm 68 and hopefully my other hip didn't have to overwork and compensate for too long before my RTHR. All the best to fellow hippies, whatever stage you're at. And the best advice I've had? listen to your body - it does speak clearly ... 🌺
I can only say I have been very lucky, not needed any pain killers since day 8 post op. Was prescribed diclofenic foe 14 days post op, was on meloxicam before the op, finished the fragmin injections last week. I have however booked a consultation with my doctor to review medication for the future. As for walking, I go up to the town centre daily, total there and back around a mile and a half. Still walk with a crutch outside and like a penguin indoors, unaided, at 6 weeks
Hi Hailea, I'm nearly 4 weeks post op and am taking paracetamol coedein 30mg, lansoprazole and aspirin - so very similar to you. I have nearly 3 weeks left of aspirin and like you will be able to stop the lansoprazole then. The only cutting down i've managed is for the paracetamol and codeine to 3 times a day instead of 4.
I'm very achy in the hip and although i can walk a couple of hundre yards with 1 crutch i can only do a few shuffles without. I'm finding it very difficult to put weight on the operated hip. I get pain in lower back on same side as operated hip. Yesterday I tried a few steps unaided but felt a crunch in the hip which was really scary and very depressing. Especially as i had the other hip done years ago and recovered really quickly. I don't know about you but i worry that it's not going to improve. I expected to be pain free by now.
I had to stop diclofenac 5 days before op because of Risk of bleeding.
i am taking paracetamol, tramdol, gabapentin when needed , no bruising, bit swelling, do excericering and walking , I am 3 weeks tomorrow I do get uncomfortable if I don't take tablets trying to stop taking them I also inject in to stomach the blood thinner
Hi AnneI have no itching now I have stopped wearing the TED stockings. I still have to use 2 crutches because of my right hip and it is getting worse. I am not sure I will make it to september when my surgeon says he will do it. It is already so bad I too get pain in my lower back on the opperated side but I have put this down to what my surgeon has hat=d to do to me and I am sure it will go in time. It is a waiting game when you have had operations so please do not give up and think it won't get any better. I have had so many operations and some take much longer than others to get over. If you heard a crunch may I suggest you go and get that checked out ? You will have peace of mind knowing it is ok if you do.
I promise every operation is different even if it is the same one but on a different side. Your body can and will react in different ways every time. Just the same as everyone recovers at different rates to anything they have had done. Please don't let it get to you. I am sure it will be fine Anne. But I would go get your joint checked out just to be safe. It will only be an x ray and it will put your mind at rest.
I am going to see how it is today, so far although its aching there are no untoward noises and i managed all the exercises, but will probably ring the doc tomorrow when my own doc is on duty. No point ringing the hospital as they just refer you to your gp. Like you say it's only an xray but it seems a long time till june the 9th when i have my post op meet with the surgeon.
I am glad you seem to be ok Anne. But better to be safe than sorry and you are right. You are better seeing the doc that did it rather than some one who is not aware of everything that was done or your medicle history.
Im 3 weeks 5 days so we are similar. Have not really had much other than paracetemol x2 three times a day, x2 asprin in the morning and x2 cubrofen twice a day. I seem to need the medication more now a night as Im not taking anything after the breakfast ones. I think when Im up and about I dont think about it but at night I still feel discomfort trying to get comfy last night was bad, seemed to be wriggling for hours felt like I was in a tumble dryer!!
I decided to stop taking everything! The first day was terrible, I've been taking pain relief for so long I think my body rebelled, everything hurt and I had a terrible headache. Today I feel quite a bit better but my operated leg does feel heavy, I hadn't experienced this feeling since about day 3 but I'm going to persevere.
i have pain but it's nothing compared to preop with no meds so I will continue with my exercises and walking.
Are you in the UK Kaz? Are you managing to walk much? Have you been told to use 2 crutches for 6 weeks? So many questions lol!
In the end there was no recurrence and an orthopaedic lecturer/nurse said that as long as the pain wasn't excruciating it was likely to be settling in. Since then I walked half a mile yesterday and 3/4 mile today with one crutch and although tired afterwards there were no problems!