Is it right to suddenly feel almost no pain,14 days post thr? Is this just temporary? I don't want to get complacent only for the pain to return!!
Can I walk with only one crutch now? There is very little information on either subject in the information I was sent home with. When should you expect the pain to decrease, or when it is ok to ditch a crutch or 2? The danger is thaat I will overdo do it, I did some gardening (only light jobs!!) this afternoon, just because I could!! Then thought the poor physios would be having heart failure!!
Oh, by the way I am 56, and was physically very fit prior to surgery.
Would be good to hear anyone elses experience of this, so I can reassure my family!!
There is likely to be days when you feel great, and then times when other parts of your body (legs) start to hurt. As far as how long you will need walking aids depends on so many things. The fact that you are young and physically fit prior to the surgery will go in your favor. I was 49 when I had my FRHR. I ditched my walking aids after the first week. My surgeon told me that it was okay so long as I didn't hyper extend my leg (operated side) backwards. I graduated from PT (physio) at about 10 weeks. At that time, I was able to do just about everything. There were times that I had slight discomfort, but that is normal until the healing is complete.
I wouldn't suggest that you do any gardening until you have gone through several weeks of PT though. The instructor will be able to give you advice based on your strength.
Hi I had my left hip replaced 9 months ago and like you at 52 was fit and well otherwise. I was walking with one stick and did not need any aids around the house after 2 weeks .. the physio did not believe I was 2 weeks post surgery as the pain had gone completely and I could do all the exercises with ease . Be careful you don't dislocate by bending, stretching or sitting too low as like you had no pain so you do tend to want to do more .. Don't overdo it though it's not worth the risk .. my surgeons last words were "look after your new hip "being a nurse I certainly did not want to visit him in the problem joints clinic with a dislocated or infected hip wound or any other issue ...Now 9 months down the line my new hip feels great strong and stable and no.pain at all . .. have never looked back ..take care and look after your new hip also
...When should you expect the pain to decrease, or when it is ok to ditch a crutch or 2?...
Hi Christine-
Congratulations on a great outcome! Thanks to your expert surgery team, they were truly on the ball that day.
As for your specifics, a rapid reduction in post-op pain is more the rule than the exception. I have had a couple of THRs, and, within a few days, I did not need the super opioids the surgeon prescribed.
The key is to give your body a chance to slowly recuperate from the trauma of major surgery. There was lots of cutting, stretching, sawing and hammering going on--go easy on yourself for a few weeks. Your physical therapist will in general counsel moderation, as opposed to "no pain, no gain". Support sticks are not just to relieve pain and assist balance; they allow abused and stressed muscles to rest a bit. You may gain some benefit from using two crutches long after you absolutely "need" to. Try going to a PT session late in the day, when you are tired, ask the therapist to evaluate your gait with one crutch, or just a cane.
Another factor: people generally are nicer to older folks with obvious mobility problems. A cane may make it easier for you on crowded escalators, trains, etc.
Very well done. Perhaps I can briefly share my experience with you. After an enforced non weight bearing of five weeks post op I was allowed to start weight bearing ten days ago. My thigh muscles were in pretty poor shape in that I needed to use two crutches until a few days ago then a couple of days ago I was able to navigate the house for some of the day without any crutch support.
This afternoon for the first time I felt my thigh muscles were up to a walk to the shops without any crutches but realised that I was taking a bit of a gamble as it was a good half mile trip. All went well and I got back fine.
We are all very different and mend at different speeds so it is important to know what is the right speed for you and not overstep what is right for you. All the best with your recovery Christine.
What kind of approach did they use ? with posterior there are more restrictions post-op than withthe anterior approach ..
2 weeks post-op is still very early in recovering from this major surgery and a lot of healing and repairing is taking place ..
Golden rule is NO BLT
B = no bending beyond 90 degrees (for posterior)
L = no lifting
T = no twisting -
Use of some form walking aid/support can be for at least a month after surgery, to avoid a sudden twist and fall.
The hip joint implant is rotating (getting up and down, turn, etc) in cup as well as taking pressure, like when you walk your weight will press it down.
The purpose of the crutches or walker or sticks is to avoid a fall or sudden twist -
Allow your body to heal, darling --- it is doing a great job!!!!
keep us posted on how you are getting on, okay ...
It happens. I'm now seven months post hip replacement, and I did everything "wrong"! I was actually pain free immediately - not even the surgical pain! And I fell after two weeks, and just bounced! And I was bending. And walking. I've never had a single problem. Anything that goes wrong by this stage, and it won't be the surgery! I still have problems walking due to other issues, but the hip is like brand new and I certainly don't regret it. I'm just hoping the rest follows suit in due course.
I'm lucky to have a regular physio, and get advice was to do everything but in moderation, and the minute it starts to hurt, stop. Like you I was very fit , and had spent months preparing my muscles for the op .I think that made a big difference.
I found that without the use of crutches my muscles simply could not support my bad side whereas when I had my original surgery on the same side twenty years earlier I had no such problems. I appreciate that I was twenty years younger but now being on a blood thinning programme may be the reason that I felt so bruised. This was before I suffered the accident in the passenger ambulance taking me back home.
Hi Christine, pleased it's going so well. I was lucky, had a pretty pain free recovery, just a bit achy at times, had a great surgeon. Think I was down to one crutch by about day 5, used it in the house, but when I was out and about I stuck with 2 crutches, in case I go knocked really.
Just take it steadily, and be careful, no twisting and bending too far. All the best!
Hi Judith, thanks for the response. Pretty well what I have decided to do. But I do keep having to remind myself not to - cross my legs, bend over beyond the recommended angle, twist etc etc. Without the pain to stop you it is easy to over do it..On the down side I have a strong suspicion I may be getting an infection. I felt weird yesterday an d downright ill last night, and I still feel strange. The scar has a couple of gaps that are open, they are a bit, red and a small amount of wet / pus is oozing from them. I am going to see how tonight goes and if they look worse I will phone the treatment centre tomorrow. Just when I was congratulating myself on my recovery!!
Hi Christine, my RTHR was just over a year ago. I didn't really have pain as such, just an ache sometimes. I was walking with 1 crutch around the house after a few days & ditched them completely in favour of walking poles after approx 2 weeks x
Do get it seen to ASAP. I sgree that it is very easy to overdo the bending thing. I srimmed my grass yesterday and left it to dry and then had the job of bagging it up this afternoon. Very ddifficult to do wiithout bending down too far so I took a low stooll out with me and sat down whilst picking up the grass. I bet my neighbours who overlook my garden had a laugh!
Oh Christine, I'm so sorry that you're not feeling so well now. Hope you are ok today. Your scar doesn't sound too good, but I'm obviously no expert. ( Although now I think about it, my scar had clear plastic over it, and I had it taken off by the practice nurse at about day 14, and then she recovered it for a couple more days because one end was damp.) Maybe get it checked? All the best, Judith