I'm new to the forum and have been reading through the comments and find them reassuring. I'm 19 day out from THE and wonder if I'm not recovering fast enough. I've seen others walking unaided, no crutch or cane within 2 weeks and I'm still struggling with walking aids. I do my exercises twice a day and try to stay active but I don't know if I'm on track. I have numbness of the upper thigh and barely sleep
Hi Susan, one thing I have learnt from this forum is that everyone is different. It is not a race and you must do what your body feels comfortable with. I am 8 weeks post op now and feeling good. I think sometimes it's confidence as I would take stick out with me but really didn't need it. If you are that concerned maybe contact your health care team. As long as you are progressing it doesn't matter how slowly so try not to worry. Like I said, we are all different. Keep positive xx
Yes, don't worry you are on track. We are all different and some quicker than others. I used one crutch up until about 5 weeks, odd times without one at all. As for the numbness, some don't get any at all, others do for some months afterwards. Just keep on doing what you are doing, you will get there. As for sleeping, are you still sleeping on your back? Try putting a pillow or rolled up towel which I did as found a pillow was too bulky, under your knees which helps to relax them a bit and make your leg feel a bit more comfortable. You could try sleeping on your non-operated side with a pillow between your legs, as long as you don't bend your op leg too much and don't cross over your legs, you should be okay with that, if you are used to sleeping on your side. Good luck and stop worrying.
As Linda has said we are all different and as such, do not compare yourself with others. Do what you are comfortable keep being positive. Do not overdo things as it will come back to bite you on the bum !!
Hi Susan , 19 days is very early so don't worry .
Sleep seems to be everyone's big prob as is tiredness .
listen to your body and rest as much as poss .
i used 2 then one crutch until 6 weeks outside .
am 10 weeks post op now and don't know where time as gone !
still have some aching and tightness in thigh at times but not as bad .
Doing my exercises to get rid of a slight limp .
I am 60 by the way , age obs has something to do with how quickly we recover .
dont try and be same as someone else we are all different .
if you are not squeamish watch a video of an op on you tube . I did ( after mine ) it helped me realise what we go thro , no wonder we ache .
when I went for 6 week check the dr said you are doing well but by week 8 you will feel much better and he was right . You will be amazed how quickly you will get there .
good luck
Mary
South Wales uk
Hi Susan
You are doing absolutely fine, as the others have said everyone is different and their bodies take time to heal, also people on here have different types of surgery, have different health issues, different ages and circumstances.
The people whom you have seen walking within a couple weeks and not using a cane are only a very few, for most people you'll see it follows a regular pattern.
Just keep going as you are, your body tells you what you are able to do, cos you just suddenly do it.
When you leave your crutches behind is when your body is asking do you necessarily need this or both all the time and the same with walking when you find you are just getting up to get this or do this without thinking about it, you are ready to do it.
You will see progress week by week and about 5-6 weeks is the usual turning point for people and certainly was for me.
So keep on with the good work and don't worry by the way, tearfulness and anxiety come with the territory lol.
Happy hippie Easter.
Thanks so much for the reassurance. I'm so grateful to have come across this forum.
Thanks for the great sleeping advice and reassurance.
Everyone who responded thank you so much for the reassurance that I'm on track. I don't feel alone with this anymore.
Thanks for the hand holding Mary reassurance was exactly what I needed. I did look at a few YouTube's of the procedure and it is pretty intense. I'll keep up on my daily exercises Feeling better now, thanks
Thanks Christine for all the words of encouragement, that is exactly what I needed as I felt maybe something was wrong and I wasn't doing well. this forum has been a godsend
Good luck , you know where us Hippies all are so don't feel alone
happy hols
Hi Susan.
i'm not sure that anyone should even try to walk unaided at 2 weeks! Don't worry about others, it's not a race. Your body will allow you to do more as it recovers. This is a major op & you have to have time to heal. Exercise when you can & it will all become easier.
Do you have any follow up physio appointments? They helped me a lot & re-assured me that I was doing ok. I'm 8 weeks post op & still have some numbness around the scar but have been told it can take up to a year to fully recover.
I've never had any trouble sleeping unlike most of the people on here so don't have any tips for that.
The forum us definitely fantastic, Its certainly helped me through, to know how others are feeling.
I think it should be on everyone's letter with details if the op lol.
Don't worry and take care of yourself.
Happy Easter.
Hi Susan, we all recover at different rates, so dont worry youself about that, just go with your body, you can only get better and better, I dont think any of us get a good nights sleep. But we will !!
Brian uk
Totally agree Christine. The only ones who really know what you are going through are those going through it! Love this forum x
Definitely not alone. I'm 4 weeks post op and couldn't manage without one stick. You have to let your body tell you what it needs and can or can't do. Please don't compare yourself to others, everyone is different. It's a major op (I had underestimated how major) and it's about mental healing as well as physical.
Take care and best wishes
I do have a followup physio next Tuesday. I've been following my home exercise program they laid out for me twice a day. I will see if they will rev up the types of exercise I'm doing most of it now are ones I can do in bed. Like I mentioned before the quick responses here have been incredible to making me feel better and a lot more confident. The support everyone here has given me is fantastic and I thank you all.
Thanks Brian for the encouragement. One thing I hAve discovered during my sleepless nights are all the wacky television shows on haha
Hi Susan,
Greetings - I wrote a very similar letter to yours here at 19 days cos two people said they were crutch free at 2 weeks: then someone answered by saying for them even at the 6 week-ish physio check up date she still needed her crutches, and thus kept them longer....
good luck in your awesome unique recovery!
Mic
x