hi all, I'm new to all this, I was scheduled for hip replacement surgery at the end of August but they had a cancellation and now I'm going in on July 25th, I was planning on losing some weight and working out some but that's not going to be possible before the surgery next Tuesday. Now the op is getting closer I'm getting concerned as I can't take any pain meds from now to next week when I have the op and wondering how I will manage with the pain. Also wondering about pain after the surgery and I'm getting very anxious about the whole thing. BTW I'm 62 and I am in pretty good shape apart from the left hip. Any help would be appreciated.
dear mary,
warm welcome to this hippies forum ..
wow .. that must be a bit overwhelming but you still have one week to go ..
Don't worry too much about losing weight and working out - You say that you are already in pretty good shape - if possible, keep doing what you are doing as much as you can ... I was in too much pain myself and could only whimer on my couch .
Do you mean that you are not allowed to take your or any pain medication before surgery? that can be rough - Tylenol (Paracetamol) might take the edge off ..
there is a great web site, created by one of our forum members - you might have a read :
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-
then scroll all the way until the bottom where you see 487147- A layman's guide by Rocketman, aka Graham ..
and of course come here any time you have a concern or question, okay ..
big warm hug
renee
Dear Mary
Very tough not to be allowed your pain meds. I wonder what the reason is for that. Might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about this.
Good luck
Richard
Hi Mary, try not to worry too much, sometimes the thought of doing something is far worse than actually doing it. I am almost four weeks post op. One month before my surgery I had to stop all medication I was taking. My pain relief, my HRT, my anti inflamortory and I was also trying to cut down on my cigarets. I asked my GP about pain meds and he said it was ok for me to take paracetomol so maybe worth asking. It isn't quite what I was used to but better than nothing. I know we are all different but as for my surgery I had my op on the Wednesday late afternoon, I was out of bed Thursday walking with a frame, by that evening they had me on crutches and I went home on the Friday afternoon. I am 63, don't carry weight and reasonably fit. Not overly fit but I can hold my own. Every week is a bonus and you will be surprise (I hope) how it all comes together, it's slow but sure and does take time. I am now down to one crutch, I walk regularly and rest too and my healing seems to be going well. Do le me know how you get on. All the very best. Cindy x
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I will keep up swimming and watching what I eat for the next few days, I do have my pre op appointment this Thursday and I will ask if I can take some form of pain relief, I guess the reasoning behind not taking any is that it can thin your blood and could cause a problem with the surgery? I have been in considerable pain the last few days so it will be a relief to get this fixed so I can sleep properly again and get back to going on hikes and walking. Will I be able to bend over and tie my shoes afterwards and how about raising my leg, I guess I'm worried the hip will dislocate easy.
thanks so much for your response, not sure how to respond to everyone at once on the forum. I will ask this Thursday if there's something I can take for pain I was just given an instruction sheet that said all vitamins and pain meds had to stop one week prior to surgery. Wish they could fix it with a majic wand instead of surgery!
Dear Mary
I can only speak from a twenty year old uncemented total hip replacement and a revision to it eight weeks ago.
Following the first one at 55 I made a very quick recovery and was certainly able to tie shoe laces without any issues. Right up until the prosthesis failed requiring
hi mary,
I know that it is important to stop taking some kind of medication prior surgery, but it all depends wich one you are currently taking ...
my pre-op also included an appointment with Pharmacy who reviewed my medication and supplements - I was on Diclofenac and could take it until 24 hours prior surgery - I had to discontinue all herbal supplements one week prior ...
Cindy is right - try not to worry too much - first you get the hip replaced and that will be a tremendous relief which you will feel immediately -
One thing, one day at a time, okay ...
People often don't realize how much courage we hippies have to go through with this -
Thinking of you and sending healing rays
Sorry about the premature sending. Right up until the prosthesis failed I was able from a standing position to put both hands flat on the floor directly in front of me. I will be taking it a lot more steady with the revised hip for quite a time!
I could basically do everything I did before the surgery but I restricted my running to absolute emergencies though I was fine with jumping off and onto things and climbing ladders and doing large roofing jobs.
Having a hip replacement need not change your life unless you are very unlucky or allow it to. Be positive but realistic and weigh up the risks of course.
Good luck
Richard
Hi Mary
I can onl tell you it's worth it. I stopped magnesium one week before but could take tylenol up until 24 hours before.
I am over 7 months now and feel great. I had all restrictions removed after 6 weeks. Recovery is surprisingly swift. Walking normally and quite fast. Ride the staionary at least 4 times a week and will restart aquafit in fall.
Best of luck and speedy recovery
Susan
Hi Mary
Good news that they are bringing the date forward. I don't think you should worry too much about your weight. The surgeons prefer not to have a lot of fat to get through but you aren't going to lose a lot from your thighs in a month.
As for tying shoelaces. I have had difficulty doing that since my hip replacement. I can do it, just. Like cutting my toenails. But you may be more flexible than me.
You probably won't be allowed to try for a while after the op, some surgeons don't want you bending the hip more than 90 degrees.
Hope it goes well
Mike
Hi, I've had my lefthip done 8 days ago and I'm only taking paracetamol and ibuprofen. Which is fine. The first three days in hospital I had stronger medication but the surgical and recovery team will keep youpain free . Good luck
Hi Mary, hope it all goes really well. My hip op was mainly v positive. Re meds, do check, I just had to stop certain ones. Still could take paracetamol, and codeine I think? (Though can't remember.). All the best, Judith
I ad to stop taking my chondroitin and msn but was allowed my pain tablets paracetamol and codeine but not ibuprofen
I'm surprised they have told you to stop pain meds
Hi Mary, they have told me I must not bend my hip more than 90 degrees for six months. I do feel that I could do it but I'm not going to just in case my hip dislocates. I believe, and maybe one of the other members can jump in here, that after the six months I can return to my pilates class, bend to fasten my shoes and raise my leg up. I could always touch my toes with the flat of my palms very easily and I'm hoping to do that again but all in good time. Do keep me posted on what they say during you pre op, catch up soon xx