Nuevo aquí - 7 semanas después de la cirugía de reemplazo de cadera

Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
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I've been lurking for a while (sorry) but I must say thank you for all of the reads. Sometimes at my most worriesome moments I would read here and feel a little better knowing I wasn't alone.

Anyway - I'm 40 years old and after about 7 years of pain which always seemed to be localized in my knee - and every time I went to the dr they shooshed me off saying nothing was wrong with my knee - I finally found a good orthopedic who said "maybe it's not your knee - maybe it's your hip". Sure enough, X-rays then showed severe arthritis in both hips - worse in my left. Tried medication and cortisone shots - nothing worked so off to surgery it was.

Had an anterior approach surgery 7 weeks ago today. Frustrated though as I was told that after 6 weeks I should be doing good. I have given up the walker and the cane. Every single time I get up, those first handful of steps are excruciating!! Sometimes I have a limp, sometimes I don't. I still take prescription meds at night and sleep with a gazillion pillows and my ice packs. Most nights I can sleep for 3-4 hours - then I'm up again. I take ibuprofen during the day - trying to give up the pain meds but if i don't take them I can't get through the day. My husband says I'm doing so well - I feel like I should be doing better and it's getting me down.

Why so much pain after 7 weeks? So frustrating. I have to do the other side within 6 months (earlier If the pain gets worse) and I'm terrified. I just want to feel normal.

Anyway - wanted to say hi. Finally got enough courage t join and hope to chat with others going through the same things.

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I have found this forum so supportive myself. Nothing wrong with "lurking", I'm sure everyone here understands that.

I'm only 2 weeks post op and am feeling pretty good, so I won't be of much help. What has your doctor said at your post op appt? I was told I will be getting an X-ray at 4 weeks. Have you had one yet? Are you doing physical therapy? Perhaps too much if you are?

I hope you find some relief. And I wish you all the best with your next hip. Sending you positive thoughts

Jennifer

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Hi, I'm seven weeks (full hip replacement) post of this Thursday. I have my post op appointment with my Surgeon scheduled on this day. 

I seem to be getting more mobile and flexible by the day...I'm off all medication, walking unaided and managing the stairs albeit gingerly!....but the damn pain in the groin is depressing me terribly ! Like you getting up from a sitting position and the first few steps are extremely uncomfortable. I also have scar tissue pain but this seems to be easing. 

My groin pain now is actually worse one than before my op which automatically makes me think "was it all wiorth  it"?.....I will be anxiously awaiting the post op X-ray (which I assume will occur) and the Surgeons explaiination and hopefully words of recovery timing encouragement?

It's only the encouraging, honest and supportive comments on this Forum that keep me sane and hopeful it will all come good in the near future!

cheers and good luck with your adventure...

Philip

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Hola,

El miércoles hará 8 semanas de mi operación. Mínimamente invasiva posterior. También estoy confundida con mi recuperación, pero por lo que se oye aquí, todos somos diferentes. Empecé a caminar en la cinta de correr y me toma 45 minutos hacer casi una milla. Esperaba que ese tipo de caminata larga "aflojara" las cosas. No lo ha hecho. PERO me siento mucho mejor que en los días previos a la operación. Ni siquiera podía caminar, mucho menos en una cinta de correr. Así que creo que solo nos está tomando un poco más de tiempo. Tomo Tylenol durante el día.... Este sitio ha sido una verdadera bendición para mí, ya que entro a medida que progreso y leo información y aliento. Llegaremos allí, solo tenemos que tener paciencia. Abrazos desde Canadá y no estás solasmile

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Hello, OneHip! Sorry you are having trouble. Do I understand correctly that you're having severe pain all the time, but it is even worse when you get up and take the first few steps? And you are not using any walking aids at all? Might I ask if it hurts less if you use a walking aid? It is probably not a good idea to walk without an aid if you are still limp, even only sometimes, especially this soon out of surgery. 

I am way farther out from surgery than you are, and I still limp, and while I don't have pain while using an aid, I do have pain when trying to walk without my walker or crutch. 

Your extreme pain does sound quite concerning, and unusual. You should check with your doctor about it. I was off all pain meds by 5 weeks, and only take an occasional ibuprofen after overdoing things. Good luck getting to the bottom of this.

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Hi onehip-

Warm welcome to our hippies family - and yes, it takes courage to share your story - You already found that personal stories are shared, that there is so much support and good advice here and you definitely are not alone !

I also have some questions .... Have you had your follow up appointment ? usually scheduled around 6-8 weeks post-op ... 

You mention that your other hip has severe OA as well and will need THR surgery !!! well darling, that happened to me - I had my 1st THR in March 2015 in right hip - Left hip had mild OA (x-ray taken October 2014) - It went OK for a couple of weeks, but still pain, limping, taking pain meds, while also doing my exercises and taking walks - Had follow up appointment May 2015  and low and behold!!!!   left hip's cartilage was down to bone-on-bone - 2nd THR on left hip was in Septmeber - apologies for the long story - 

The time in between the surgeries was very challenging - Right hip, brand new, had to support and compensate for the rapidly declining left hip ... 

SO I am with you  and to be honest, it wasn't a happy time for me - but also had good days though - 

Maybe you should use a cane or some aid when walking - at this time your body is not in balance , so you need support - 

Keep moving the best you can - stretch your muscles and be kind to yourself -

Do not compare yourself to others either - 

I hope I did not bring you down though... this is my personal experience !

Big warm hug and come back any time if you have any concerns or wuestions.

renee

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Hola,

bienvenido al club hippie.

Llevo un tiempo merodeando por aquí y me alegro mucho de haber encontrado este sitio, todos han sido de gran ayuda.

Todos progresamos de manera diferente. Así que no compares. Es cierto sobre tu dolor. Siempre que no estaba segura de nada, llamé a mi médico y él me lo explicó. Eso es para lo que están los médicos, para ayudarte.

Llámalos y pregúntales. Tranquilidad.

Acabo de cumplir 50 años y me operé hace seis meses.

Cuando me operé por primera vez, estaba deprimida porque estaba limitada en lo que podía hacer y mi marido tuvo que ayudarme a lavarme, etc. Dios lo bendiga, pero soy una mujer independiente, nunca he tenido a nadie que me cuide. Siempre ha sido al revés. Yo recojo después de la familia y trabajo a tiempo completo y tengo a mis nietos para cenar todas las noches. Y de repente las tornas cambiaron.

Pensé que nunca volvería a ser yo misma. Luego, de repente, noté una diferencia cada día que pasaba y ahora estoy trabajando a tiempo completo, casi haciendo todo lo que hacía antes de la operación.

La única cosa que aún no puedo hacer es agacharme.

Pero bueno, está bien para mí.

Tengo que operarme de la otra cadera, pero soy muy anémica, así que no puedo operarme hasta que eso se solucione. Hoy voy a mi cuarto análisis de sangre para ver si las pastillas están funcionando.

Así que realmente la moraleja de mi historia es que no te preocupes demasiado, porque llegará y mirarás atrás y dirás ¿de qué iba todo ese estrés?

Cuídate, descansa y haz ejercicio. Esa es la clave.

Cuídate y que Dios te bendiga.

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Hi one hip - well done for posting. It helps our recovery to have direct support.

I am five weeks nearly six and wonder if you are simply doing too much to be on

that much medication? What happens when you have a rest day is the pain better?

Possibly you might be rushing your recovery - which is understandable as the impatience to be well and normal is understandable I feel so much like that too. You are doing so well, you really are, you don't need to push anymore - but should avoid doing so much you need ice and so much pain relief. I know I need to rest when it starts to hurt.

Why not have an easier day - just a few exercises and a little walk and see if that makes any difference?

Definitely come back - we don't mind you lurking but you will find the forum far more helpful if you post your own questions and worries - the support can be invaluable.

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Hi Onehip

why so much pain after 7 weeks?

 You suffered for 7 years before the op? I would imagine that your body compensated for the degeneration in your hip, ankle ached, knee ache. Mine did, and how my whole body complained for weeks after.

Gentle exercise and patience - hah. Having number two in a few weeks, no patience there either!!!

 

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Hi Hiphop times 2...  This site is the most amazing one...cheerful and supportive .  It will or some one will always be there to answer and give support.  You make friends even tho you won't meet...In the night when you might be at your lowest and no one else undertands...a fellow hippie will..and will post you..  It kept me sane and less anxious prior to my op in Sept and also still now 4 months on.  I have posts that make me smile and laugh also one or two that irritate but hey ho...we are a mixed bunch in ages and countries too.

​Keep posting and look at Rocket mans site. He complied it and is compliling it after his revision surgery last week and is so so useful.

ALice

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Glad you like it - gives me more incentive to continue ... it's quite a lot of work compiling it all.

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Thank you all for your kind words.

AnnieK - I am not always in horrible pain.  Most of the pain is just when I have been sitting and I go to get up.  Those first handful of steps are horrible.  If I am sitting or lying down, I don't have much pain at all....and after I am up a bit and walking around, then it's not bad either.  Although today, because I had a lot of online work to do (and any medicine makes me a bit sleepy) I tried to get through with nothing (I took my last pill around 4:30am) - but I just had to give in...I couldn't even get comfortable while sitting.  It is even painful around my incision and the scar....almost feels bruised but looks ok and no drainage.  It's just frustrating as I thought I would be better by now - or at least feeling like I can do more.  I have 4 kids - so getting a lot of down time isn't always in my cards, lol....so I know that I over do it many days but with one of them being 3 years old....it is what it is.   I have tried to see if using the cane would make much of difference but it really doesn't seem to.

renee01952 -  I have a lot of knee pain again - which was a worry of mine as I do have the arthritis in my knees as well but I worry maybe more of the pain is from over compensating my left side now, instead of my right.  The surgeon did take xrays again of the right side and didn't give me anything that made her think that it has gotten that much worse but I do worry - as it has given out on me a handful of times (2x today).  I'm terrified to do this again.  I know it is a given that I have to....but I just don't wanna (in my best kid voice, lol).  How has the 2nd one been?  Do you notice a big difference now?  

I did have my follow up with my surgeon last week.  I was a bit disappointed though as she never even looked at my scar, never had me walk....nothing.  They did do new xrays and she said everything that way looked great.  She was happy that I didn't have the cane and was walking on my own.  I voiced my concern that I am still in pain a lot of the time and have a hard time sleeping...she just said that I am probably over doing it and be sure to take the pain meds before bed.  Even though she answered my questions, I kinda felt as if I was being pushed out.  

I was discharged from PT a while back.  I think the Monday before Christmas was the last time.  I do my excercises here at home 2 times a day - one of which is usually in the hot shower, haha...not sure if that is cheating since the hot water usually loosens me up anyway, lol.

I look forward to "meeting" you all more...and having some to talk to to get through this  

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I think four children is the answer - no rest and a full on life. I have only two children and am struggling! Now I know why you are in pain, and why your doctor is not worried.

It is impossible to rest for very long, and very easy to see why you are finding the nights so bad.

I think it will pass for you - or you need more help - easier said than done I know! There is so much to contend with isn't it. I have never felt exhaustion like it. Sending you huge hugs and hope you will soon be feeling much better!

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Just a thought do you think you should use your cane a little more often? Maybe you are putting too much pressure on the hip too soon? It might help to take the weight off your hip for parts of the day? Just a thought - just may relieve the pain a little.

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Onehip, many people need to continue using walking aids past 7 weeks. Since you say your leg has given out on you several times, that is even more reason to keep using a crutch, walker or canes/poles. You could injure yourself further if you fall down. It should also help with the pain on getting up - less pressure on your recovering hip. Just because whoever you saw was "happy" that you weren't using them doesn't mean that you still don't need them. 

I understand that you have 4 kids, and one is only 3, but that doesn't mean that your recovery needs can be neglected. If you want to recover, you must take care of yourself. See if you can get more help with them, anything so that you can get more rest and give your hip a chance to recover.

I am very surprised your doctor didn't look at the scar or see how you walk. That was standard procedure at my 6 week follow-up. Be sure to let your doctor know your concerns. Be a squeaky wheel, since they are the ones that get the grease.

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So right Annie, I was using sticks right up to my second operation, which was 10 weeks after the original one.  Keep on using the walking aids al long as your body needs them.

Graham - 🚀💃

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Annie I love the squeaky wheel analogy! Also I think it is a good point about being able to walk without crutches but doing so too often may cause pain.

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hi hipsters🙋🏻, I'm new here and i to have had a total R hip replacement 7 weeks ago via anterior bikini cut... was wondering if anyone has experienced lymphedema in the thigh after surgery??

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I did not have lymphedema. It might be a good idea for you to post your own thread about this, as it will probably get more attention that way! You use the Start Your Own Discussion button. I'll try to link it here. 

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https://patient.info/forums/new-discussion/1109