Thank you both so much for your stories both of you I feel so much better now after reading them I really have. I did get a questionnaire had to measure height of loo, bed, easy chair and dining chair that's another thing I'm not looking forward to is sitting in a hard chair for ages numb bum comes to mind but won't be forever and after reading all this I'm actually looking forward to getting it done and getting back to normal.
Are you ok with stairs I am a bit worried about that and also getting to the loo in time as that's the first thing I need when I wake up I'm really stiff first thing in morning now and from what I can gather this gets a lot worse after.
Thanks again tina x
The chair they provided me with is a big leather chair and is great, it does get uncomfy after a while but i just get up and go for a walk around the house to take the pressure off.
Stairs are easy, you get taught how while in hospital, going up you lead with your good leg and use your sticks and coming down you lead with your operated leg and use your sticks.
I'm a bit stiff in the morning but only cause my leg is swollen and bruised, i've been told i'll be like this for about 2 weeks, my toilet is downstairs but its no bother. Have you ever had a dead leg? The stiffness is like the feeling you get after one of those for a few days.
What's your date for going in?
Don't worry about hard chair - put a cushion under you ! also the district nurse advised me to keep my leg raised a lot to reduce the swelling. I found the best way to do this was to sit sideways on the settee with my legs up. Rather tricky getting up at first but soon got the hang of it, leaning on a crutch and pushing off the back of the settee.
They teach you how to manage stairs before you leave hospital. Yes, you're very stiff when you first get up in the morning. I found that taking a pain killer and moving my legs about before I got up was a help. Fortunately my loo is quite near my bedroom- but I know what you mean....
Thanks to both of you for ideas will keep these in mind when it's my turn, I'm going in on 27th march 2weeks today it's a private hospital but also caters for nhs patients as they said in my letter as your an nhs patient I will be charged for phone calls, meals for family and visiting for nhs patients is between 3-8 pm so in other words it might be a private hospital but your not going to be treated as a private patient lol that put me in my place.
That did make me chuckle but never mind wont be long now and I would certainly be feeling a lot more nervous if I hadn't found this site x
I had my right hip done in July 2012 and my left done in October 2012 I was terrified but to be honest once you go to sleep (epidural) the next thing I remember is being woken up and being asked how I felt.
The pain in my groin had gone the cuts were tender but the pain killers keep it at bay. Just remember the pain you are in at the minute will go and you will only have to deal with a little discomfort.
Well that's me 2 weeks post op today!
I've got to say I'm feeling fine, I had my staples out today, 28 of them and I was a little worried it might hurt but 26 of them didn't :-) only 2 stung and that was only for a second or two. The district nurse came to the house this morning to remove them and she was in and out in 10 mins, all done, she said it looked great and as far as she was concerned she was now discharging me from their books too so that's great.
I can't believe I was so worried before I went in, there really is nothing to it, in fact I said to my wife that if I need to get my left one done it wouldn't bother me, it might come to that as I have arthritis in it too but not as bad as was in my right.
I just wish the weather would clear so I could get out and walk a bit, this snow is doing my head in but hey that's what you expect when you live in Scotland I suppose.
I'm doing plenty of walking around the house but its not the same.
I'll give another update next week, hopefully I'll get out a bit before then...
Hello everyone,
Glad to hear your doing so well wilky really pleased for you, I went for my pre opp check yesturday temperature was 37.4 they said that was a bit high and today I had a phone call today to say my white blood cell count was 12.3 which is a bit high and I may have an infection somewhere but I feel fine I made a quick visit to doctors today in case I needed some antibiotics and he gave me a quick check up and said he can't see anything wrong with me to give me anything and temp was fine today I have to go in on Monday morning for another blood test just hope it will be back to normal or there will be no op for me on Wednesday he said he can't see why it wouldn't be and they are just being cautious god I'm going to be worried about that now until Tuesday when I get the results.
Hope you manage to get out soon wilky keep up the good work x
Hello everyone
Sorry I've been a bit late getting to you but I've had a bit of trouble logging in anyway here I am.
My opp was done on Wednesday after all the trouble with the bloods the 2nd test was normal, got there at 12.15 as told to do saw the surgeon etc and didn't get to theatre till 6 what a wait that was I was last on the list for that day.
Got back into my room at 9 15 ish not bad at all didn't sleep much that night was awoken every half hour by nurse checking me over.
It's now Saturday and I've just got home so that's not bad is it and I don't have stitches it was glued anyway will post some more soon as I've not long got in and need a cup of tea.
Good to hear that you've had it done and that you are now home. Hope all is going well. That did sound like a long wait on the op day, but you got through it. Let us know how you are getting on.
That's brilliant, see, told you it wasn't that bad :-). Just remember, don't rush things, do as the doctors and physio's told you to do and you'll be fine.
That's me 3.5 weeks post op now and I've been into town with my wife, we also had a trip to the local garden centre and, when weather permitted, I've been out walking too, about 3/4 mile I'm up too so not bad. I'm still a bit stiff but I guess that'll wear off as i keep doing my exercises.
Glad your home and all went well, keep us updated on your recovery :-)
Iain
Hello woke up at 3 am needing a wee got back ache ass ache leg ache n can't move on to my side and curl up and sleep in a little ball god what I would give to do that, so I've come downstairs and lay on my comfy sofa on my back of course.
I woke up on the day of the op a bit nervous not too bad actually didn't have a light breakfast as they suggested had I known I would have done. Got to hospital all ready to go until I got told I wouldn't be going until tea time I was a bit fed up but thought oh well can't fo nothing about that mind you no cup of tea or nothing it was a bit of a wait. At ten to 6 after waiting for 6 hours a nurse and porter whizzed in checked my tag and who I was and said goodbye to my partner and within 5minuets I was dôwn the operating room having a spinal block blood pressure going over the scale the nurse said are you a bit anxious my reply was yes I'm shitting a brick which made everyone laugh I remember chatting to the anethsitist looking up into his eyes he was telling me about his honeymoon in the Maldives next thing I woke up in recovery and that was it.
I am now a bit sore already fed up of lying on my back but then it won't be forever looking forward to summer and getting out on my bike, so until my next achey night, omg just realised I'm lying here with my good leg crossed over my bad leg naughty naughty eh, night everyone x
Hey wilky are you still on your crutches on these long walks of yours? God think I need a wee again now time I get upstairs sorted out n down again I need to go again well that's wot it seems like, I remember the night after the op the nurse came in with a cup of tea and two dry biscuits she said I can't give you anything else in case you are sick, was I gutted or what so I said ok could you pass my handbag over please so she did on her way out, two chunky kit Kats later n cup tea I was sorted lol and wasn't sick that saw me through until breakfast.
Could go with a cup of yea now actually if I put kettle on time I get back from loo should be boiled, night again everyone till tomorrow night x
Yes still on my sticks, I've to use them for the 6 weeks after my op until I've been back to see them. To be honest, if its something I want in the kitchen I'll go without my sticks but wouldn't go upstairs without them or anything. You'll be surprised how quick you recover, I'm getting more bother from the good one than the operated one now lol. You take care and don't rush it, it'll get better in no time :-)
Omg I can't sleep for very long on my back I get so stiff and numb the two nights I've been at home I've ended up on the sofa, are you still on your back wily after almost four weeks, I've tried loads of pillows and just losing down with my usual couple of pillows but still finding it hard, I'm not bad during the day as I've put raisers on my chair and an extra cushion under it as mb9 suggested and I'm trying to keep as mobile as possible, in fact it's not half as bad as I thought it would be its just the nights I'm struggling with right now.
The pain is not bad at all also not as bad as I thought it would be my leg has swelled up though looks a bit minging compared to my good leg but I'm not bothered about that to be honest, any ideas with sleeping at night would be great though.
Thanks for everones help and ideas x
Hi, having no bother now, I can sleep on my good side but I make sure there's a pillow between my legs to stop them crossing over. I struggled at the start just like you and spent a few nights on the couch which I found more comfortable than my bed, I mentioned it to the district nurse when she first visited and she arranged for a blow up mattress to be delivered, it goes on top of your own mattress, its only about 6 inches deep but what a difference it made and I'm now sleeping right through no problem, might be an idea to mention it to your nurse when she visits.
Did they deliver a chair to you or are you on your own furniture? They delivered one to me because my furniture was too low, at first I spent half the time on the chair and the other half lying on the couch but now I only lie on the couch when my leg aches.
The swelling will go down after a couple of weeks, I'm still numb around the wound area but I've been told it'll wear off eventually.
Keep in touch and let us know how you're coming along, hopefully this thread will help others if they stumble across it on this site :-)
Hi all,
Well Tuesday night I went to bed and within an hour I was down on the sofa again and I must have had a good 5 hours on and off. I was dreading Wednesday night and went to bed with a book I turned the lamp off without even starting to read just to see if I would nod off and I did but woke up again about 3 hours later I tried turning with a pillow between my legs onto my good side was a bit sore though I don't know if this is a bit soon to be on my side but I really didn't care I just needed a good couple of comfy hours sleep I woke up bit stiff and sore but ok, I did the same last night and am finally getting some sleep. Do you think this is a bit soon to be on my side my bad side is a definite no no.
I had done items delivered and I borrowed a hard chair from work which i sit on sometimes aswell as my own chair.
I don't see any district nurse at all just wait until my 6week check up in may I don't have stitches or anything either just glue which is still looking good and intact. I went into town yesturday with my partner to get some friut and veg and also today I went with my daughter to look in new look which was nice, I was starting to get cabin fever being stuck in and was onlyvhome for 3days till I had to get out.
I can't believe how quickly you get up and about as a week ago today I could only just manage to stand beside my bed holding onto a zimmer and less than a week later I'm in town, unbelievable. Hope your still doing well wilky and getting out and about still bit cold though x
Hi all,
Well yesterday I went for my 6 week check up and everything's as it should be which was a relief :-) they asked me if I was hurting anywhere and I told them just above my knee on my operated leg but she said that was nothing to worry about, it was just muscle and to remember they'd had to cut thru the muscle to get to my hip.i also told her my hamstring was really tight and felt like it was going to snap, again she said that was normal as it wasn't being used as much as before, she's sending me for physio to build up the muscle and to slacken off my hamstring so all positives.
I'm getting around well with my sticks and she told me to try going down to one stick at first and then down to none, she said if I was in any discomfort or still had a limp it was too soon. To be honest I've been walking about the house without sticks but limping so I'm back to using one as I don't want to damage it.
I was told I can't go back to work for at least another 6 weeks yet and also still can't bend below the 90 degrees for the 6 weeks so my wife and daughter will still need to put my socks and shoes on for me. She told me if I follow her instructions it will help in the life of my hip and I should get between 20 and 25 years out of it so I'm doing as I'm told! When I do go back to work its to be a phased return (I'm an HGV driver and sometimes have to pull pallets that weigh up to 1.5 tonnes) she said I could take up to 6 months to get back to where I was before but I'm in no rush as long as I see the long term benefit in it.
I'm walking anywhere between 1 and 1.5 miles every day, (not counting around the house lol) slowly, but I'm doing it :-)
Tina, I hope you're still getting on fine? Keep us posted as I'm sure this conversation can help others in the future :-)
Hi wilky lovely to hear from you, I have my 6 week check on the 8th may
I read your post and thought omg I think I'm going way to quickly I have been getting dressed and putting my socks and shoes on by myself I'm walking with one crutch even yesturday I walked across the front room without any crutch and I didn't limp I was amazed I didn't limp so I did it 3times. I'm not pushing myself to do it I just feel that I can and it doesn't hurt or anything at all I wouldn't do it if it did but after reading your post I'm thinking I'm going way to quickly. I always use my crutches if I go out into town and upstairs just round the house I use one. I was thinking how well I was doing and thought maybe after my 6 week check I could go back to work if I took it easy, I have 2jobs in morning and one in evening all cleaning jobs but not so sure now.
I did a lot of reading up on line before my opp about how carefull you must be etc and been thinking maybe it's all a bit ott as I've been feeling so good must admit I am bit worried now but I'm feeling great. Still not sleeping much but I think it's because I'm not working and just not tired although I am sleeping through the night when I do get to sleep and on my good side with a pillow between my legs, ah well will have to see what the 6 week check says but I am honestly feeling good and I'm not pushing myself at all.
Looking forward to hearing from you again wilky x
Hi Tina,
Don't get too worked up, remember everyone's different and hospitals and consultants give out different info too, i'm only going on what i was told yesterday.
I have walked without my sticks but to an extent i do still have a limp but i think my other hip is causing that. Because they are aware of the problem the nurse told me yesterday that i wouldn't have to go through all the rigmoroll of getting pain killers and stuff, she would just refer me straight to the surgeon again and let him decide when and if it needs replaced.
To be honest while i hadn't even tried getting my socks on i have tied my laces a couple of times over the last week but i'll be getting my wife and daughter to do that for me from now on i think.
I've cut back my painkillers but i don't know if its because she got me on the consulting bed yesterday and i overstretched or what but i'm a bit uncomfortable today :-(
By the way, how's your scar? mine has healed up really well, its been itchy but that's just the healing process so i'm told.
Are you on FB?
Take care
Hi folks
I have 10 days to go until my op & it has been really good to read the positive feedback from you all, as well as the "be sensible" reminders. I have it in my head that 6 months is WAY too long to wait before I can get back on a horse, so real feedback instead of medical stuff is making a difference to my mindset.
Wilky - I've noticed you are in Scotland. Where did your op take place? I'm was supposed to be going to Gartnavel, but following their sterile supply problems, I'm now going to the Royal & would really appreciate any inside knowledge you can share!
Thanks in advance 