Hi everyone,
well it ill be 4 weeks on tues. since my opp, I still get pain in the hip after walking around the house, it feels stiff, I dont know what its supposed to feel like at this stage in recovery, but I'm less mobile than I was before the opp. I can do all the exercises without pain, its just the weight bearing that's a problem, I now feel like a complete cripple, especially when I hear of people at my stage going out and driving, I haven't been out since I got home, please tell me this is normal and that things will improve, I'm supposed to get the other one done in march, but I'm now not sure, as I know about the pain in my own hip and how to cope, but being scared to move in case of dislocation terrifies me
Hi Lynne, remember when all your worries were just about going into the hospital to have the surgery!!!
It is always something as there are so many stages to recovery. You obviously have the exercises from your PT, that you are doing...have you spoken to her about this...and have you had your follow up visit wth your doctor.
the only place I went at 4 weeks was to my physio appointments, I was not doing walks, shopping, etc. like some people on this site have said they were doing. I too was paranoid of doing too much in case I dislocated my hip, so I went at my own pace (somewhat like a snail), so don't compare yourself to anyone else. I also used the walker for a full 4 weeks, and then a cane in the house for along time, and outside used it for at least 3 months!!!!
Also with so much pain, what are you doing in regards to pain management...I didn't have any pain but reading this site, many people said they kept on top of the pain, so they could do their daily walks around the house etc., and in time the pain went away and they were more active.
I know I'm not too helpful, and I'm sure you will get many responses with perhaps more practical suggestions.
Hi Patricis,
thanks for your reply, firstly I don't have a pt, as the hospital thought I didn't need one, second I'm taking paracetemol and tramadol as and when I need them, I only use one crutch, but must confess I spend most of my timein my chair, apart from walking to and from the kitchen and toilet, I just feel depressed,
regards,
Lynne.
Hi Lynn,
Please keep me upto date on your progress Thank you and hope everything works out...I need my own THR Jimmy
Hellou Lynne
I realise every one is different,I had my thr around 4 weeks ago too,but if you can take the pain killers prescribed and work through the pain,never pushing yourself too far,you will find that your hip will become stronger each day.Set yourself goals re walking a little longer every day.I am now walking quite long distances on my two crutches each day and walk around the flat on one crutch. Dont give up it will come I am sure
All the best Sylvie
Hi Sylvie,
thanks for your kind words, so you are in the same time zone as me, re recovery, does your hip sometimes feel stiff?
Hi Lynne
I'm in the UK and we are not allowed to drive untill 6 weeks post op and the go ahead from the surgeon. Otherwise if anything happens you are probably not insured.
Yes...everyone heals at their own pace so please dont compare yourself with others.
One other thing i was told on leaving hospital was Keep on top of the pain.......dont play catch up with it.....in otherwords dont wait until you are sore before taking meds. I think that was good advice.
Do try to move about a bit its not safe sitting for long times {DVT} and it will not help your depression.
Have you someone that could go out with you for a short time?
It would be a help if you could get out.....I know anytime I'm stuck in the house I get really "down"
Good Luck
Eileen UK
Yes it does and it radiates down to my ankle,especially in the morning,but once i do my excercises it loosens up,remember,that a lot of work has been done to your hip and the surrounding area,it takes time,honey.It is amazing that each day i can walk a little further,is there someone who canwalk with you for moral support this helps enormouslyxx
no theres nobody, and my house is elevated outside, so there's 5 concrete steps to get down to street level, so I just walk around the house, also the skin around my scar feels rough and hide like, thanks so much for your advice,
xx
I think you should be using a walker and take pain meds at regular times for a bit
Your scar will feel like that, in a while you will be able to buy special oil to rub into it,which will help enormously.Why dont you search on line,you might be able to find someone locally who would enjoy walking with you,it will help your recovery so much getting into the fresh air.dont give up God BLessx
Hi Lynne,
It all sounds normal to me. I had my right hip replaced back in August, I did not have a lot of pain but was incredibly stiff. The pt exercises really helped with that. Also I think I was lucky cos the weather was nice so I got out with the walker almost everday. It must be really depressing, being house bound, do you have anyone that could help take you out and about a bit? One thing I have learnt is that we all have a different recovery experience and not to judge ourselves against others. I met a guy in the summer, who was back at work 3 weeks post op, good lord, despite my incredibly uneventful experience, I was nowhere near that. You will improve and you will get better. I just returned from Mexico where I walked on the beach every day, this time last year that would have been impossible. Bye for now. Lorraine. Canada.
Hello Lynne, 4 some reason my 4th week was my worst as well with my 1st THR. I was depressed but went on with my exercises & walking. I think u work yourself through the pain as u take less pain meds. I know it's hard but we all work through this in different ways. My problem was I wanted 2 do 2 much 2 quickly. Take it at ur speed, it takes time, but I'm sure you'll b ready 4 ur next. It's been just over 6 weeks since my 2nd THR, this 1 is much different than the 1st a little more pain & I still have some.I didn't have a pt either, did all my exercises as I'm still doing & move. That's the ticket. Get up & move around every 30 minutes ur awake. Not sure if I've helped u out much but it can b a slow process. Keep up the good work & you will b out & about pain free & enjoying yourself once again. Good luck 2 u!
So glad you are still doing well Lorraine. I too am managing to walk a fair distance now without any aids after my op in August.
Lynne, it does get easier I promise you. The main thing that makes it all worth while is that I no longer have the horrfic pain I suffered before the op
If you can't get out do do the exercises as they definitely help and for the depression, I know it's tough isn't it sometimes the thoughts that go through our minds! One of the nurses said to me, this hip is ten times as strong as your old one....I thought thats funny they've never found artificial hips in archaeological digs! Plus I had my old hip 70 years .....really! 
Four weeks isn't long though, I was told it can take 6 months or even up to a year by different people! Our own pace but take advantage of a sunny day if you can get into the fresh air for a while. Don't be hard on yourself though, it's a big operation but one of the most successful just takes time and patience! All the best.
Lynn,
It's very important to exercise and walk, walk, walk. The more you walk the better your hip will feel. If you don't exercise the hip will heal stiff with no mobility. Exercise will give you range of motion so you can live a normal life. I am 11 wks post THR and still have some pain when getting up. But after that most of the time I forget I ever had surgery. I was off the meds at two weeks and driving at three. Mowed my yard at five, carefully of course.
As long as you obey the new hip "rules and guidelines" you shouldn't have to worry about dislocation. Even stairs should not be a problem. Just remember up with the good foot first down with the operative foot first. Good luck and I wish you
a speedy recovery. By the way, I was on my own too.
Kathee
Hi Lynne
Dont worry about the scar...if your dressing is off start using Bio Oil on it {Boots chemist} or I got a cheaper version at superdrug. I've been told even baby oil helps. So just keep putting that on a few times a day and it will soon soften and it will help it disappear eventually...but for the moment it will soften it
Love
Eileen UK
On this website please look up tramadol.
For some people (me) it has horrible side effects.
I had hullcinagenic dreams about me committing suicide to save me son, just black balck sh*t.
The DAY I got home from the hospital I suffered through the night, determined NOT to take it and my general physican made a house call the next day and prescirbed a pill, Codeine 25 mg + paracetemol 400 mg which was WONDERFUL! Codein is constipating so you have to take precautions, take a stool softenr & drink prune juice. All my bad thoughts went away once I stopped tramadol. `of course codein is addictive so you ahe to be careful for that, but i found I never got high by taking codein if I was in pain. Only one time I got high and that was becasue I took it without having sufficient pain, that is when I cut back, cutting the pill in half, diminishing the doasge, twice per day, then only at night. I am not an addictive person so once I realized what was going on, I made the appropriate moves to not become an addict to codeine. But when I took it and had sufficient pain, there really was no high, only pain releif. If you are getting a high off of it that is the indicator to scale back. No high? Keep taking it for pain.
Lynn, I had tensonitis of my Psoas muscle so I basically was either prone on the bed or sofa. At right around 4 weeks is the first time I really even tried to make an effort to walk beyond bed->sofa. Don't panic I made rapid progress right around this same time period you are at now. You go from nothing to zoom, I don't even need a cane. It is all about the recovery. Just rest and let your body heal, once it has healed you can get up and progress. I really dind't do any exercizes at all for the first 4 weeks. I gave myself time to heal.
Yeah I know what you mean about the scar feeling thick. That will thin out also, but ti takes a long time, not until like 5 months/6months.