I hope you are all doing well, and gently moving towards good health whatever stage of the journey you are in. Big hugs to all.
Well....yes you have guessed it! After patiently waiting for over six months for the pain to ease in my left non operated hip, I have come to the conclusion it isn't going to get better, it has in fact started to really really hurt... after a few hip collapses on the stairs I thought it might be soon time to get the other hip sorted out...(heavy heart - big sigh)
But hey I am not hyper ventilating this time...so this is progress...
What do I need to know about the second THR? Is it the same? Will my new hip be able to take the strain for a while? How is it best to prepare?
I have a feeling that I have rose tinted glasses with regards to the pain last time...I think I know what I am doing this time, but do I??
From what I have heard, every THR is different, even for the same person, both legs at the same time or at different times, or as with Graham, on the same leg! Now, you might get lucky and have things go perfectly both times, but no guarantee. You just bite the bullet, and do it, and hope for the best. I have another surgery coming up on the same hip, and I am hoping things will go MUCH better for me this time, with real recovery and return to mobility and no pain.
So sorry your leg is hurting so very much. It's awful, the bone-on-bone pain, just so all-encompassing. Hoping all goes well for you!
Sorry to hear that you are in such agony with pain in your non operated leg too. Is it a foregone conclusion that you will need hip surgery on it?
I will let you get guidance from the double hipsters who have gone through similar experiences and can let us know that there is a light at the end of what seems a tunnel at times.
I am so sorry, darling - eventhough you knew it might be in the cards for you, it still comes as a shock - You are right - the pain will get worse and you will look forward to get that one done -
What i have read in your post-op posts is that you are doing great - the new hip is strong and you got your mobility back until now -
So I don't think there will be any problem there - My old new hip was not nearly as good as yours sounds - nd you will be surprised, or at least I was, how good it felt to have the OA pain gone , again ...
It was not the same for me - As said before, you cannot compare the 2 surgeries (but you will anyway) -
Some things you will remember (like the lovely raised toilet seat, the grabber, putting on socks etc.) - or some reason I thought the oain was a wee bit worse post-op 2nd one but was tld that I had forgotten how I felt post-op 1st one -
Not a horrible pain by far though -
But I felt much more confident and less afraid of dislocating the new joint ...
which resulted in being cocky and overdoing stuff --- big sigh - oh well
Do you have a date for your surgery already? How is your summer with the girls so far?
are you taking pain medication? this is not a fun time Rose ... but you will make it, darling - start to be gentle with yourself already okay ....
Well l am the best person to talk to as l have had both done one after the other. I had mines 8 weeks apart. Here is how mines went. My 1st one l thought was hell the days after the op as you will know you leg feels like a dead weight and l thought l was never going to be able to move it as l could not move it at all when l was lay in bed. I could not even bent it slightly or lift it the most l could do was wiggle my toes. The pain was severe the first couple of days and when doing my physio l struggled at first but it was soon feeling better and it was a textbook recovery just with the usual ups and downs but l still had the OA pain in other leg which l felt was holding me back. At 4 weeks l was great l begged the doctor to do my other one as l felt ready. He said ok but his first avalible appointment was feb giving me 8 weeks inbeteeen. He warned me the 2nd might be completly diffrent from 1st and he was totally right. This time after the op the oain did not feel as bad and l could ladi move the leg right away. I could move it up and down the bed and lift it slightly which all seemed great. I new what physio l had to do so it was much easier and my other leg was fine supporting it. This time l was only in hospital 4 nights instead of 5 llke l was the 1st time. Because l new what to expect. But and here is the but.....the.recovery never went as smooth it took much longer. I started getting sore backs and knee's still nothing major bad happened apart from. me getting a bit down as l felt l was not getting better fast enough so l would have my days of crying and getting knowwhere and then l would have a good week. But the diffrence being everytime l tried to walk or do normal things my.knees ended up in agony and it just got worse. As you probably know by now l had xrays and need both replaced. So thats whats holding me back. My hips are great Rose. The odd niggle and pain if l do to much and my sleeps still not right l wake everynight and move to couch. But my 1sr knee replacement is august and l have to go through it all twice over again. But l would recomend you het the other hip done ascl hsve no OA pain and ascl say my hip are healing fine. My issue is my knee"s now so don' let it put you off. Go for it as my hips are great. I just wish l did not need to go through it all again as l have heard the knee replacement is much more painful for longer so l am having a having a having a tough time with that and my mum. beimg ill.
I have tried to write you 2 replies in the forum but they keep getting sent for modiration l have no idea why. Its just to let you l have had both hips replaced 8 weeks and it went fine. What l was trying to tell you is that the 2nd was diffrent from the 1st. It was not as painful and l could move it right away where as the 1st was a dead weight and so much sorer. The only thing l will say is the recovery was a lot longer and l got very down because of it but maybe this had a lot to do with the fact my knees were getting more painful as l tried to exercise on my hips. But as you will probably have read its now been confirmed l have OA in both knees and they both need replaced. My 1st knee replacement is in august.
But l would say go for it Rose my other leg hadcno problem supporting the new hip. I still get the odd niggle in hips but thats normal
Hey Rocket - how are you? How is your commute going? Is it getting easier now?
Did you see the chap in Stanmore? What was the outcome in the end?
I am actually going to ask for a catheter this time, as I couldn't go last time, as I couldn't feel anything below the waist, and the fluid builds up, also it is just one less thing to worry about trying to get to the loo all of the time!
I worry about your new bionic hip being damaged on a fall from the non operated hip, and also I can't actually do everything I would love to do as my hip starts to really hurt after a very short time standing for any length of time, I can see the same pattern. I won't leave it this time until I can't walk
Good luck Annie with your next surgery. When will your operation be? I so hope for you this time you really will be pain free. I remember your situation well.
I am just thinking the next THP through, as you say no two are the same, and each one is a worry. But my other hip is just starting to really become a complete pain now....so need to consider what to do.
I have the same pattern of pain as the other one, it is slowly getting worse and worse, there wasn't an alternative last time, so I doubt there will be this time, but you never know! I can live in hope. I have an appointment with the consultant in the next few weeks, but I know the drill now, that is the only difference.
I left it too long last time and couldn't function and barely walk, I won't make the same mistake this time.
Thanks for your message Cathy, I hope you are feeling well x
How have you been? Did you still manage your voluntary work?
As usual you are spot on, I did suspect all was not well with the other hip, but after this period of time I now know for sure it has gone the same way, and much faster than I thought! Maybe the strain of the other one...who knows! I wish I could use some unladylike expletives, but I won't as Alan will get sad...but you know for goodness sake! Springs to mind.
The summer is going much better than last year when I remember crying my eyes out for most of it because I couldn't do anything with the girls, and the bone pain was awful with the heat, and so this year at least it is better...not perfect...but better which becomes the new normal for most of us!!!
The picnic still poses a problem of trying to get on the floor and back up again without rolling around like a beached whale! And the left hip hurting like it does means we won't be scaling mountains anytime soon, but I am deeply aware this is so much better than last year.
Big warm hug back, let me know how you are okay? xxxx
OMG I knew you needed your knees replaced, I didn't know it was next month. Oh hun, this must be such a shock for you. Do both need doing? From what I can remember you are young no? 43 pops into my mind. Darling girl you are being so brave about all of this. To have had two THP and now to face two TKR is not ideal at all for you. Will you keep posting on here so we all know how you are? How you are doing?
Have you been out a little bit more recently? The last time we spoke you were having trouble with your confidence, I hope that is a bit better for you now. I am sending you huge hugs Laura xx
Yeah l have to have both done like my hips and your right l have just turned 43. I am staying on the hip forum l did try the knee forum but it does not feel the same l asked a few questions and did not get much responce except that a hip replacement was not near as bad as a knee replacement and that it was much easier and less painful getting hips replaced which l though was a bit unfair considering l have had both done and it was painful and not easy what so ever. I also got told the pain was off the charts which scared me more and l asked if there was many people my age had it done and l git told no it was all older except a couple of woman answered nice and one said she was 47 and was getting on ok 6 weeks on but it was hard the 1st 4 weeks.
As for my confidence rose the same week l got told l needed new knee's my mum found out she has cancer so l have been on the go taking her for scans and boipsy then pet scan its serious we think but will find out next week what trearment if any she can get. The family is in bits so l have had to pull myself together for the sake of my mum and put on a posative front and be there for her and my dad as much as possible so l have not had a chance to think about myself l can be fixed l just want my mum to be ok. I just hope my ops don't interfear with my mums treatment and me seeing her l have a sister and brother to so hopefully we can all pull together. But so far its been me thats been there fir her all the way. Lifes so hard but you just have to get on with it.
Rose get your other hip done you won't regret it my hips are great its my knees that are in pain.
So very sorry to hear about your Mum Laura; but at least it is forcing you to leave the house and partcipate in life again, which is probably the only silver lining in an otherwise very difficult and stressful situation. You know you have all of us to get you through it, so don't worry if the other forum doesn't really work for you - we are unique here I think, quite unique.
I know of people that had knees replaced and they were fine, and definitely not worse than a full hip replacement according to a friend of my parents, so I would not worry too much about the pain, I guess most of the knee replacements haven't been through a THP possibly, however I am sure they are not a walk in the park either. Perhaps a hip replacement is seen as more serious than a knee replacement, so perhaps people are less sympathetic as a result.
Either way I know you will be fine, you are very brave and you can do this and get through it.
Keep your chin up kid, it will be a bad year for sure, terrible, but everything passes even the worst of times, it all passes in the end. You keep going and do whatever you can to lift your spirits - and come on here as much as you feel you want to for support, people are so nice on this forum and they care - big hugs x
Not to intrude on your conversation with Rose but I just want to add my support for you and all you are going through with your own health, dealing with recovery from 2 hip surgeries and now preparing for knee surgeries on top of being there for your mom.
Not to mention the fact that you and Rose and other hippies are so supportive reaching out to others like me. The people like you on this Forum are truly awesome.
Just wanted to also thank you for your post to Laura and to me and others showing the support and connection that we have with people on this forum. The understanding, lack of judgement when you give encouragement to those of us who don't have as difficult circumstances means a lot.
This post recovery journey and life's other crises that arise is certainly an eased with the sharing from the caring people on this forum.