8th Aug I had THR for right hip. I am a fit 61 year old. After discharge from hospital I rcvd an appointment letter for check up 6 1/2 weeks post op. On arriving at hospital for this, I was surprised to learn it was only with a physio. He said you seem to be walking well. Yes true but I have muscle pain down the whole leg - cramps on many occasions, extremely painful and actual joint feels as tho been kicked. Oh this is normal expect for a further 6 months or so.... So when is next visit? Oh one year from now. I have NOT seen my consultant post op.... Is this normal? I live on my own but I feel as tho after the op, you are basically left to get on with it with no support. Had visit with private physio and she said all muscles in leg wre extremely tight, and she was very surprised that I had not seen a consultant. What are others experience. From the forum it seems most have 6 week and 3 month and 6 month follow ups?
Yep, a prod from the surgeon and 2 mins w physio over 6 month period. Tight muscles they do not address and yet it's crucial. Even a Czech gym instructor on my cruise said they get physio 3x pwk and a whole re hab program. We're on our own. Suggest warm baths, oil massage etc for circulation to the area as soon as you can after staples removed. Get the blood moving around the area. Simple but true
Hi gilEE Are you in UK? I'm in Gloucestershire and had my THR on 18th August. Have appointment with consultant next week! Indeed, the appointment was waiting for me when I came out of hospital 4 days after my op!! My husband had his hip replaced 2 years' ago and he had 6/7 week visit and then another one at 6 months when he also had an xray. At that point he was signed off by consultant but told to ring his secretary if he experienced any problems. Suggest you ring consultant's secretary and query your lack of appointment.
I cannot help you out because I live in the States. Sorry, and I hope you are able to resolve your issue soon.
My Best,
Dawn
Hi
If you live in the UK the norm seems to be 6 weeks after the op you see your consultant {approx}
He took an X Ray, then I had an appointment for 6 months later
In between times I saw the physio once and he was satisfied.
at the 6 months appt with the consultant there was another X Ray and if he was happy with that you were discharged.
Its a GP that deals with Osteoarthritis, Rheumatologist deals with people with rheumatoid arthritis
Really after that you go to your GP for repeat prescriptions. Usually a pain killer {I call them pain dullers} and an anti inflammotry if necessary.
Ring the consultants secretary and ask her if you are not going to see him for a 6 week post op appt. I know its past that time now but as soon as possible.
I find the secrretarys are usually very good and can get the ball rolling
Love
Eileen
Hello Eileen,
I was informed in hospital that physio was NOT scheduled as routine post op. Not beign happy with that I have arranged from private, besides I am horse rider (endurance) so need to get fitter more than most! NHS physio is only list of exercises whereas private hands on! I am surprised tho as had arthroscopy last year followed by physio and regular consultant vists. It was unsuccessful hence THR! It seems what you rcv post op depends on where you live.. Once again NHS post code lottery? I just wanted to check what others had been thru before getting onto consultant sec.and "demanding"... Pain killers? I asked GP for repeat of codeine.. the receptionist ditehred Oh it's not on yr list of prescribed drugs... Yes because it was from hospital..Yes but they have not said about repeat... Eventually I rcvd repeat BUT doubt if they will do another...
Hello Pat, I am in Dorset. I think lack of appt is more to do with post code lottery and cut backs! Also no physio scheduled which is why I arranged for my own private... Odd as after arthroscopy last year it was schedueld but post THR ..No.! Not deemed important and yet with such intrusion I would think even more nec. in order to build back up muscle and ligament strength and flexibility. Will contact consultant sec tomorrow as I know Thurs he has clinics, so she will in. Also I am surprised that , yes they took X Ray before discharge, obv to see all OK. But after you have been home and doing your own thing, walking etc another X ray to see all still in correct position etc. It'ss the "beign left to fend for yourself" I find so odd... I am fit, so in short tiem was walking up to 3 miles a day, only to be told No this is too much.. How are you supposed to know with no support/guidelines? It is not a one size fits all advice, patients difft ages, levels of fitness etc. and they shld allow for this....but they do not. Esp. when one lives alone....and in a hamlet of 50 houses.
Hi
Yes
I was shown some exercises in hospital then give a list and that was it...get on with it. {North East} I did see my physio once who said I was fine and once again that was it.
What about your GP rather than the receptionist for your repeat codeine. Make an appointment and go and see her
It does seem to be a post code lottery. I'm on a different forum and they are all UK and some get physio post op and others just get a list like we did....What area are you in? As I say I'm North East
Love
Eileen
Hi i am in US. I had 7 week and i will be having a 12 week. At 12 week they take another xray and i believe will release to work if all is well. This is my second hip op. I will say that you will feel aches and pains for many months. my right hip is 6 months old and if i overdo i feel it in thigh and groin. Ive read it takes a year to fully recover. At any time you feel really uncomfortable I would call Doc. Good luck!
Hi. I am 9 weeks post op. Saw surgeon for checkup at 5 weeks. No physio at all post discharge. Surgeon happy and said he would see me at a year. Following week I was in extreme pain upper aspect of buttock, sit bones, knees etc. felt awful. Phoned physio and am now being seen by NHS physio weekly. She thinks pain may be back related as hip mobility seems ok. Says that sometimes following this type of surgery back problems can flare up. Have exercises and she is giving me massage to undo the'knots'. Feel that preop and operation care was very slick but postop being left very much to my own devices. Totally agree with you on that. Have mentioned this to hospital. If you feel unhappy please do not suffer in silence. Phone your surgeon secretary and ask for appointment. If the physio intervention does not improve things soon I will be asking for an earlier appointment. Pain killers ok short term but not the full answer.
I think, as another lady said, it is a bit of a post code lottery. I was given no physio advice whatsoever, had a 6 week check with the surgeon and basically that is it for a year! Like you, I have many aches and pains but the fact that I am walking unaided is all the surgeon is really interested in. I am 62 and like you, used to be very fit. I am trying to get back to the same level of fitness, but I am left sore and tired after everything I do. I think I underestimated the recovery time and probably a year is about right.
Same here..I never saw my surgeon pre or post op.
Saw a registrar after 6wks for about 5 mins..he just said everything was fine and that was it. No X-Ray or physio needed he said.
Luckily 6 months on and everything is OK which I'm happy with,but the aftercare was pretty well non existent,although I didn't really push for any.
I had same follow-up as you but with a specialist nurse. I get a 1 year appointment with the same nurse and I think follow-up X-rays. Because I don't have any problems I didn't get to the consultant. Apparently she does all the routine follow-ups and getting an appointment to see one of the medics is a bad sign that something is concerning her. A friend who was still getting pain at 1 year after a TKR did see the consultant but was basically told to get on with it and get pain killers from the GP.
I agree, not enough guidance to make sure that rehab is going well. There is a post TJR exercise class at one of the local hospitals but it seems to be for people still struggling after 3 months + and I think if things aren't going well you get an intermediate follow-up with the specialist nurse at 3 months.
You can get physio at my local health centre and I the friend with the painful TKR had 2 or 3 sessions with them but they said that the function was fine and they couldn't help. Might be worth talking to your GP to see if there is any community physio which might help your muscles.
Hope things get better for you,
I suppose it could be argued that unless you have serious post op issues then why bother our over stretched health service.
But for those with problems it can be a lottery,especially if you have other health issues as well and live alone with no family network to help..they are the folks who really need and deserve good follow up services..
Part of this problem IMO is down to overworked GPs?? My local practice limit you to a 15 minute slot,and no more than 1 issue per consultation,
Hi, it seems like your getting all your answers and that it the norm for your area.
I'm in the states and we have a 1 week apt then month then they start spreading it out big time. Seems like if you have a problem you should be able to talk to some one about it and be seen if nec.
I read that you are doing your strengthening exercises with help but I'm telling you the best way to get relief from the cramping, tightening and weird pains is to get deep massage. It really helps.
Good luck with your recovery.
Left THR at gloucester Royal , 6 week appointment turned out to be physio but I asked to see consultant because of the serious bout (lasting 5 days) of delirium the result of drug cocktail in particular the madazolan not sure of spelling but I needed my consultant to ask for a meeting to disscuss this . as far as the thr was concerned they x-ray 12 months after op , finally going to get physio end of october more than 6 months after op. cutting costs by not providing proper rehab and physio is very shortsighted as people would get there health and mobility back quicker. I believe that we must protect the national health rather than cut physio services they could make a charge for bed and breakfast of course they would have to improve quality of food but £15 a day for food and maybe £15 for bed. after all we would have to buy the food at home etc.
Charging for food has been talked about for years.
It's said that it would be too difficult to implement..would it be a standard charge,would you still pay if you were too ill to eat etc etc.
It sounds a good idea but can't see it ever happening.
The few times I've been hospitalised I've always found the food to be very good..but then I was hungry 
Hi
How many people go home from their first THR and the least little pain or click worries them? I think thats normal toworry a bit....I dont think seeing the consultant after 6 weeks then in 6 months time is overtretching our NHS.
I do agree that our GP's are overworked......mine gives you 10 minutes and only one issue per appointment
Love
Eileen
I was thinking about it and have to agree, these surgeries take soOo long to heal thst the early Apts would be a waste. Unless there are true issues which a person can usually tell after 6 weeks.
Thanks for all the responses... Yes I can understand/appreciate about NOT unnecesarily overloading the NHS, however, I just contrast between the follow up treatment I had post last year's arthroscopy on the same joint and the lack of similar post op follow up now, for a much more serious op. I also compare with someone else I know of -who also does competitive riding - and she had 6 week and 3 and 6 month follow ups - altho might need to ask if she was private! It is just the diff in care over the country... AND... lack of guidelines on how much one can push yourself/your body in getting back to fitness, if you do not see any health professionals how can you know and like me .. perhaps did too much too soon. Yes they have simple exercises in the info leaflet, but I could do those Ok even before I left hospital.They say walking is good.. so I did, only to be told that 3 miles a day too far... And given no advice as to how to address the tight muscles which were cramping bearing in mind you cannot bend over your self to massage thigh and calf! If I had not paid myslef for private physio this situation would have continued and only been alleviated by pain killers!! Not an ideal situation either. Oh well will phone consultant sec tomorrow and see what happens then..