I had my replacement on the 15th, the pain in my groin is worse now than before, my knee is swollen, and crunchy! Lay on my right side, that's a no no, I walk like I've been shot. Yes I'm still using crutches, but in lots of pain, I'm now being to wish that I'd never had it done?
Is this normal ?
I dont think thats normal - at all - but, as one sees reading the forum, there is a wide range of different post-op experiences.
May I suggest you seek medical advice soonest as you really shouldnt have to suffer like that. So sorry for you.
I had mine done on the 22 nd July its eary days yet, i still walk with two crutches, I am here in Rehab since 3 days after my op, i see my Dr every week, have PT every day and Hydro therapy every afternoon in the pool which is great, by the afternoon I have a bit of pain in my groin and hip, but its just things knitting together, we have to be paitent, it was a major op, plent of ice, 20 mins on and 20 mins off ice is just the best, am sure things will ease up for you, all the best x
I've read lots of experiences on here, as they all say, everybody is different. I understand all of this, but I really thought that it was going to be much easier! How wrong was I?
my physio consists of a piece of a4 paper with diagrams! I see my surgeon on Thursday (28th) fingers crossed that I may get some answers!
Wow! Got to say you are doing it in style!!!
Hi,
my physio consists of a sheet of a4 paper with diagrams! But I'm seeing my surgeon on the 28th, fingers crossed that I get some answers?
Oh well best crutch forward!
Sorry UR still experiencing pain. After surgery u should still be on pain meds. U just went thru major surgery the 15th of August. Geez give your poor body a few months to heal....it takes time. When UR ready for PT THEN U really start to work to heal muscles and tendons. Right now take it easy and it's important to take pain meds. Pain causes stress and release on cortosones that make u feel worse. Not to mention post op depression! 
Rest and relax and do home exercises the bone needs time to heel and grow on to the implant component in UR femur. This adds stability.. It took me oner a year to get back to my normal. There's lots of support here.
Good luck! 
I mean UR surgery was 15 of July only 9 weeks out.. 
I thought that at least I'd be able to walk normal. I now walk worse than before! I'm taking my meds, but they don't seem to be relieving my pain anymore. ....?????
I found that after my first thr I felt like road kill for a long time. I can remember crying like a baby because my husband was having to wash me. I felt very traumatised and the recovery was slow. The second one was much easier and recovery quicker. However I certainly couldn't have lain on either side at the stage you are at. Are you taking painkillers?
hi , how far are you now? and how long was it before you could walk without sticks please ?
It's nearly two years since the last one. I can't remember when I could walk without sticks. Anyway it doesn't matter when I walked. Everyone is different. I made the mistake of asking someone when they could tie their boot laces. He was very proud to tell me that he could do it by six weeks but I couldn't get near my feet. I felt there must be something wrong with me so I rang the consultant nearly in tears. His secretary kindly told me that I must not compare my recovery to other people's. When I saw him at the six week check up he said that I must not force my body to do anything but rather let it get there in its own time. Very very wise advice. I can now bend down with both hands touching the floor but then I found it easy before the two thrs. Try to be kind to yourself and give the kind of gentle encouragement to yourself that you would give to a best friend. PS does anyone know why my kindle is splitting words on to the next line?
Hi, It is still early days for you. It is probably still too early for you to be trying to lie on your side. As for the excessive groin pain and swollen knee I would seek medical advice. Are you still taking your pain medication? I hope everything improves for you soon.
Hi Puds
It doesnt seem very long since you had your THR.....you shouldnt be on your side at the minute......6 weeks post op at least and then on your operated side with a pillow behind you to stop you rolling back. Its not easy on your operated side. For a long time
You dont sound as if you are doing too bad
Love
Eileen {UK}
Sorry for your troubles! Everybody is different. My first THR was done June 10, 2013. It was a total breeze and by the 4th week I was walking normally unasisted. Four months later, October 10, 2013, I had my second one done. This one has been a nightmare and I still have extreme pain and use a cane. Am going for a second opinion soon. So who knows how it should go?
Patience, caution without fear, follow doctors orders and asking your doc all the questions you can think of is the best we can do.
Wishing you well!
I had my left hip replaced on June 25th and the Surgeon made sure I knew my legs were now both the same length. That meant a huge difference as the left feels like it's 1" longer. The Physio told me I'd have alot of rehab ahead to retrain all my muscles as i've clearly been tilted and compensating for a long while. She wasn't kidding I guess. My leg was so swollen after surgery I could barely move it and then, when I finally started walking my blasted thigh was so tight I tore one of the muscles and then discovered how it had been holding my crappy knee together.It wiggled loosely when I walked and made nice crunchy noises (to match the lovely crunchy noises in my scar tissued hip). My IT Band isn't helping as it's yanking things as well. The Physio thought I might have had abit of nerve damage as well as the thigh was jello. My leg and butt ache at night (although voltaren cream/saran wrap do help). The feelings and sounds as I ripped the scar tissue were pretty disconcerting. Massage has helped alot with that.
I haven't been able to walk without a cane yet (8 wks) as I still have a limp. I think the limp is pain caused though so once my thigh muscle and glutes get better I'm sure the limp will go. Nonetheless it's frustrating as I'm young (52) and very fit so everyone told me I'd breeze through. I went back to work part-time at 6 weeks so that probably slowed the recovery down abit but is what it is.
Pool exercise sessions were spiritually saving as I could walk without aids and so saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I've now worked up to starting to swim laps (practiced alot before surgery) and I think that'll be the next deal breaker.
Point of this long story is, although I sometimes feel like something must not have gone right in/after surgery the fact is probably everything did go perfect (as the Surgeon says). To need a new hip at 52 yrs of age, physically active (Mtn Biking, skkiing, Dirt biking, hiking) and lean, I must have been doing some pretty nasty things to myself for many years so thinking I could just get new joint and just walk away easily was probably a little unrealistic for me. I've got alot of tight muscles to still deal with. I'm actually going to start focusing on stretching much more, now that I'm allowed to do more range with my hip. Doc said he's not in the least worried about dislocation for me.
Thanks for letting me vent and I hope it does help to see that not everyone else cruises through this but I do see improvements everyday, just can't wait until it feels better than it did before surgery!!
I'm almost 4 yrs post op and did the surgery primarily for groin pain issues...groin is gone for me, but I'm left so much other complications...
The more I read here, the more I believe too many replacements taking place....like giving out candy to everyone....sorry I feel this way, I often wish I had not done this at 72....
There are sites about Common Unnecessary surgeries, and Hip and Knee replacements are on that list....
Hope all will quiet down for you with lots more time....I'm not a happy camper with the replacement I elected, most are all elected by patients.....and then we are left to deal with damage control.
I hear so many horror stories and I'm sure there are good results, but I don't hear many....I had the anterior and left with Femoral Nerve Damage and leg length issue and IT band damage.....sooooooooo
Sorry to hear about your longterm problems. My Surgeon was clear to tell me he only did Posterior-Lateral and I considered swtiching to another Doc that did the Anterior method as the faster back to activity promo and less invasive aspect seemed appealing. However, when I looked in to Medical comparison studies I found that there was more risk of nerve damage and other complications due to smaller work area and that at the 6 month mark both recoveries were pretty much the same. The recommendations I was given was to pick the best Doc with the most experience in that procedure vs just the approach. 4 years ago they would have just been starting out with the Anterior, I'd guess, as more are done, and better equipment then the risks will get better
As to doing the surgery too soon/easily, I have to admit that I know wish I'd more thoroughly investigated whether I could have rebalanced my muscles/realigned my pelvis better by alot of rehab work but the XRays showed advance bone on bone so maybe that wouldn't have done anything anyway. I will be more proactive with my other hip though.
I do think many people don't try to avoid surgery enough though. Weight loss seems to be the number 1 way/thing to try and is a no brainer for joint load and yet there's still lts of heavy (or heavier then they could be) people getting the surgery.
It's true what "they say" the Anterior is a faster recovery, I never used a crutch, a walker for a couple days around my apt and a cane outside for my first walks....came home from hospital and no help at home, none....I was strong enough to handle it on my own and I was 72. but always physical all my life...so a strong person in many ways.
On the other hand my neighbor had a posterior at 82 and spent 3 weeks in rehab....
The cutting of muscle is the hardest thing I see now with posterior.....I never knew about the possibility of femoral nerve damage with Anterior....it's not real common but it happens....it happened to yours truly.
I can't imagine doing this surgery again....I'm doing all I can to keep walking with all my alternative treatments. j
Dont for get it's still early day yet mines takes months and am still having to use my hands to lift my opp leg as it's still a bit heavy, i keep forgetting to do the excise.
Good Luck.