I had my hip replacement on 5/5/15 (brilliant surgeon & aftercare!) Discharged after 5 days, my (elderly) husband is valiantly caring for me. I hadn't realised that this early post-op stage would be so demanding. I'm very relieved to read on a forum that others experience the same feelings of helplessness, dead leg almost, and a week on I was even beginning to wonder if I shld have put up with the pain before! MY MAIN ANXIETY right now is that I fear by mistake I may have once or twice broken the 90 degree rule by reaching forward instead of using my grabber. Help please - cld I have damaged things, or can I be reassured somehow?
Hello Grace
I really don't think you will have done any harm. In the early days post op I would forget and reach. Of course ideally use the grabber but unless you 'feel' you have done some damage, I wouldn't have thought you had. If your discomfort is just the perfectly normal pain, don't worry.
Best
Barbara x
Thanks so much Barbara. That does reassure me. I really do try to remember to use the grabber and I don't think I have any "new" pain - in fact I'm tempted to reduce the pain relief! But it's only a week on and that would be stupid wouldn't it? When did you have your op? Thanks. Grace
I had mine nearly 9 weeks ago and looking back I can remember the first few weeks only too well.
Felt useless and so tired so quickly. It really was a very gradual healing process. Listening to my body was my real guide on what to do and not do.
I did gradually reduce pain relieve, but you need to be careful that you keep pain free to complete your exercises. I still take paracetamol and occasionally codeine.
Am driving now, going out pretty
Much as normal and only take a stick of I feel I need it. Up until a week ago that was all the time. Such a gradual process but you sound to be really sensible and I'm sure you will recover beautifully. I have absolutely no regrets
Best
Barbara x
Hi Grace think you would know if you had damaged it !
i don't think we are told before op how difficult and hard recovery will be .
everyone seems to say that it's an easy op these days ! It is easier than it used to be I expect but def a prob if you are elderly or live alone !
good luck to you and your Husband
Mary x
Hi Grace
As I understand it the 90 degree rule is so that you don't dislocate the new hip. They have to dislocate it to do the operation and the muscles and ligaments need time to recover so I'm sure you haven't done any damage but do try not to break the rule just in case.
That is all so encouraging.- I'm so glad I found and joined this forum. You've done really well and it's good to hear that you've absolutely no regrets. I relaxed after your first reply and then suddenly out of the blue (and I was lying pretty flat) I got this shooting pain! Isn't it easy to panic? It didn't last long but I hadn't had it before. I'm going to hang on to your reassurances and keep pain free for the exercises. Grace 🌺
I was told that it doesn't usually dislocate easily and the 90 degree rule is there as a safety precaution, so I should not worry too much, but try not to do it again as the more often you break the rule, the healing process will take that much longer and it will weaken th new joint so to speak. You will be fine, just be careful.
Hello Mary - I've just called out to my husband and said I've got a new bunch of friends! It's great isn't it. Such reassurance. I think you're quite right about the lack of warning beforehand. People said "of course it's a major operation, but it's so common these days, and as long as you do your exercises you'll be fine in no time". But it's the exercises which need the most discipline, just when you feel you want to curl up and sleep again properly and for ever!! Is it ok to keep going back to lie down for rests at this stage? What was your experience? How long ago? Grace 🌺
Thanks Rosie. Yes I understand how important it is and was mortified when I realised I'd leant forward to pull my cover up. I'm really trying hard now not to do such a silly thing again.m Your explanation is most helpful. Grace 🌺
That all makes so much sense and I'm far less anxious after all your helpful comments. 8 days on isn't very long is it! 🌺
Go to bed whenever you feel like Grace and don't feel guilty about it . You need to exercise but rest is just as important . Tiredness came over me in waves and I had to go to bed . My 94 year old Dad lives with me so that had been a major prob for me as he thinks he can help !!!
Bet the people who said you will be fine in no time haven't been thro it!
At 6 week check up the Registrar I saw told me to ignore people who say they are running marathons at 4 weeks as they are not .
we all heal at diff rates . If you are brave enough watch an op on you tube , it will help you realise what you have been thro . Show it to your friends .
mary x
hello grace,
The 90 degree rule is to prevent dislocation - my doctor said that dislocation is very painful and unpleasant, and that you would definitely know if you'd done it, because you wouldn't be able to walk
Hi Grace, If you were stupid, I was far more so when I tripped over my crutch. I knew full well, I would have to watch my feet, but I still managed it. I really did pitch forward and wrenched it quite badly. Xrays last night look fine, and hopefully the most I will suffer is a few more days of aching muscles, and a swollen knee.
I had my op on the 6th of this month and am well pleased at the difference I feel. I deliberately didnt look at any info before the op, mainly because I wanted to be able to not be tensed up and worried before. I didnt even ask exactly what they were doing. My husband was able to look at the xrays last night and he showed me some information. Its a pretty big thing we had done Grace, so we need to look after it. I am sure you will be fine, and we have the lovely summer weather to look forward to.xx
Oh poor you Sonia. I can feel the pain and you must've been so worried. Crutches can feel so clumsy can't they? You're just a day after me so we're very early into this recovery game! Let's encourage eachother. All the best. Grace🌺
Thank you BK1. I'm certainly not feeling any more pain than usual, and even that's controllable. Very helpful. 🌺
Thank you Mary - that's all very helpful again - I think even if people have been through it they forget this stage (bit like childbirth!). I'll look for a YouTube op. Happy evening's viewing! 🌺
Glad to hear you are doing so well. I'm 18 days post op, taking paracetamol and separate codeine tablets for the pain 4 times a day still. I can manage in the house using one crutch. I was wondering when you were able to put your whole weight on your operated leg as I can't do it yet. I was expecting to take less painkillers by now too but perhaps I'm being over optimistic.
Hi Anne. I couldn't put my full weight on my operated side for some time. The first time I did it I had set off walking without my stick - accidentally! A good sign I was improving.
I'm still limping when I'm tired. But when feeling 100 per cent I don't limp.
We are all different, muscles need to strengthen and our brains need to get used to using muscles again that Have been out of action. Good luck with it all.
Best wishes
Barbara
Hello again Barbara - I'm just wondering if you or anyone else has felt that they can't stand evenly - almost as if the new hip has made a bit of a longer leg? I felt almost ashamed to mention it to my surgeon who of course said the X-rays looked perfect. I guess I'm just being a wee bit neurotic! 🌺