Just over a week since THR and experiencing a lot of swelling. both legs due to inactivity. operated leg is really tight ans swollen, especially my foot. am fully aware of DVTs as hadone in the past. i am injecting clexane every evening. i know we are all different, just wondered what people had experienced in relation to swelling. im trying to stand more and mobilise every hour or so. i think this is causing the swelling.
If you have been reading replies on here,the biggest factor is elevating your leg and icing it.Get that leg elevated so your foot is higher than your heart, lying down with pillows underneath it. Twenty to thirty minutes at a time.And don’t forget to do those ankle pumps,to keep that blood moving in your leg.
i remember the same feeling it is a bit unnerving. the injections will help prevent blood clots. remember RICE …rest, ice. elevate and compression. i purchased… on amazon… no surprise there…, um battery operated compression device.cheap and felt so good. the air tubes like compression socks push and pump air inside for compression on the op leg, just place around leg and theigh area three times a day helps with swelling and pain. bed exercises and walking on a daily scheduLe as tolerated helped get the swelling down too! BEST OF LUCK to you… soon this stage of healing will be just a thought in passing! xxxxhope
I am 13 weeks post op, Kay. You need to get moving as much as you can even if it’s only in short blasts. Put your feet up when you sit down. If you are still worried, go to your GP. He/she won’t think you’re wasting his/her time. Wrapping a bag of frozen peas in a towel makes a good ice pack but it sounds as though yours is too big an area for that. I hope it settles soon. One week is very early on. Do try to get moving. Good luck.
Hiya Kay…
I’m at 5 weeks post op and have swelling still to operated leg, as people say try to move around the house a little, keep elevation going, I still lay on sofa with legs up for an hour a day…
Just over a week is very early days on recovery, another couple of weeks and things will feel better, have you got help at home? 
All the best with your recovery, I’m sure all will turn out good…
Stay Safe & Stay Happy
Pete 
I had really swollen legs and usually I’m slim, so I found it quite surprising! Keep taking your meds, do your exercises and walk around. When you do sit down, as the others have said, elevate your legs and put something cold on the swollen parts. A while ago someone on the forum had a really good idea. You wet a couple of flannels/ face cloths and freeze them. Apparently they freeze quickly, and they’re very flexible for wrapping around. Good luck! (I think I had swelling for about 3 weeks.)
HI ALL. Thanks for the responses. much appreciated. I Think i did too much yesterday and swelling worse. pain has increased. i am taking as much pain meds as allowed at present. feel really stiff and lots of referred pain up and down my leg, especially at the back of my knee. am going to try to be up and about more often but for shorter bursts and see if this works. Ps thanks all. i am happy this forum is here!
Dear Kay1119,
Good Afternoon,
Just wanted to join this discussion and see how you are doing?
I also experience an awful lot of stiffness and swelling after my RT THR in September.
I also iced the are where the swelling occurred and elevated my legs during the day an also at night while sleeping which was very helpful.
Have you also tried compression stockings in order to reduce the swelling, I know that they are a pain to get on on but they do help to reduce the swelling.
Do you have Physical Therapy?
I had Home Physical therapy starting the third day that I came home from the hospital for three weeks and then attended OP Physical therapy and also made certain to do my standing and bed exercises each day and also to walk every day.
Also I was told by the physical therapist told me to massage the are where my leg was stiff and to apply heat which also helped me.
It took several weeks before the swelling and stiffness did subside but they are finally gone.
Just being active every day is the key to recovery. We all recover differently and it does take time.
Hang in there and you find that the swelling and stiffness will eventually subside.
Please keep in touch and let me know how your recovery is going.
Regards,
Sue
Hi Sue. the swelling is now going down and my mobility is better. i am walking daily, doing my exercises and sleeping when i need to. three weeks in, i am allowed to use one crutch. getting stronger daily. i have reduced painkillers a lot and now have a clearer head which is much better. i am going to try to sleep on non operated side tonight to see if my sleep can be better at night. thanks for your contact and take care. kay.