I am due to have Ceramic THR non cemented on 26/6/15 and i'm very nervous, i'm a 44 year old male with arthritis in my left hip and theres not much left. How did others feel in the lead up to their op, i think i'm going to struggle sleeping on my back and i also get cramps in my legs while sleeping with usually makes me jump out of bed, does anyone else suffer from these and if so any advice on stopping them.
Hi good luck for your op! You will be fine. Which hospital are you going into? Hope you have plenty of help when your back home? As for leg cramps try Indian tonic water a glass of that helps with cramp! Try and keep positive! No racing around when you come out of hospital! Remember your having a major op! Regards Amanda
Try not to worry, am 45 and 5wks post op, just try to think positive, you won't be in the same pain after operation. The first 2wks is tough but gets easier if you follow instructions given by physio and medical team. I have a condition called Avascular Necrosis, am so pleased I had hip replacement. I also had ceramic, uncemented hip replacement.
Good luck mate.
I felt very nervous but then that is natural and yes there will be some pain not like hip pain but more from the operation, but don't worry because the nurses are wonderful and make sure that you are not in pain so don't hesitate in asking for pain relief. I get cramps because I am diabetic make sure you drink plenty of water.
Hi Nezi
I think we're all nervous but good luck anyway.
I have dreadful jumpy legs which seem to have been worse since the op. In desperation I went to my gp on Thursday and she prescribed a very low dose of a drug called pramipexole. Its used in higher doses for Parkinsons but it has worked like a charm for me. The back sleeping is not easy - I started out with a foam wedge on the bed but have now resorted to sleeping in my recliner. I think the secret is to make sure your back is fully supported.
Hi Rosie, am having terrible leg spasms since my op, but just in leg which had hip replacement.
Hi Nezi
i am 10 days post op after ceramic,non cemented RTHR
My joint had collapsed and I was in dreadful pre op pain
Please don't be nervous - you are being given a new life - embrace it . Yes tthere is some pain but you will be looked after so well and your pain will be controlled
I find sleeping on my back difficult, but it's not forever and you can prop yourself up with plenty of pillows
I used to get leg cramps from the arthritis - haven't had any since my op
This is a big op so be prepared to rest and recuperate
i could not wait to get my op done as there was no alternative - please don't worry- you will be fine
Kind wishes Linda x
Hi Nezi, I take the painkillers before I sleep, and that gives me at least 4hrs, then get up for a bit and look here on this site to message someone, watch some catchup TV and, take another Painkiller dose, then back to bed after 2hrs for another kip, up in the afternoon about 3pm for the afternoon movie on channel 5, try that...
Looking forward to hearing more from you as it goes.
KInd regards, and best of luck.
Ian.
Hi Nezi, 43 here and had my first hip replaced on May 15th. Wished the other was done immediately too, but it will come soon enough.
I've hd restless legs fir a long time, but found that when I feel that they are restless before going to bed, taking 1000mg of paracetamol and 400/800 mg ibuprofen calms them down. Of course, I don't know if it will work for you, but they do give me at the least 5-6 hours respite.
I was nervous before the op as well, which I think is just simple sense. But it pays off big time afterward. Hang inthere and you'll be fine!
Hi Nezi
I have always been nervous of anything medical since I had a bad experience or two with hospitals and dentists as a child. It is normal to be nervous. I made things clear to my surgeon and the nurses on my ward what I was scared of and what I would not put up with. They were great and went out of there way to make me feel at ease. I have had my left hip done uncemented ceramic. I used to suffer really bad with cramp also which yes it made me jump out of bed. The day after my op I actually had cramp in my operated leg and just did what I would normally do and streached it out. The physio told me that it was just fine to carry on doing just that as long as I did not break the 9o degree rule. I have not had cramp in my operated leg since that day. So if you do get cramp after your new hip is fitted you will be able to cope with it if you are careful and you just streach it out like you would normally. You like me should be able to weight bare on your new leg. I hope the cramps stops or at least lessens for you after your op.
I wish you luck and hope all goes well for you.
Hi Nezi,
Being nervous is normal--I did a lot of crying and pacing leading up to my surgery (LTHR May 15). On the other side now and it was a good decision to go ahead with it. You will be in awe of how your body will handle everything (with the help of your surgeon and pain meds). Honestly, the hardest thing for me was getting into bed, but with some help from daughter gently guiding my leg into bed for the first 4-5 days even that was minor. Best advise--stay ahead of your pain by taking what they prescribe you. Sometimes there is a little trial and error until
you find what words for you, but once you do take it. Also, ice will become your new best friend and really does help with the aches and pains. Rest and let people help you and you'll do fine. Let us know how you are doing when you become a hippie.
Hi Paul
Reallly suggest you speak to your gp. No sense in putting up with it if you don't have to and usual remedies like taking a bath or chsnging position are off limits
As well as u should !!!! I had a right hip impingement. My right hip was shaped like a football instead of a baseball and I blew it out lifting a truck part over 200 pds. Needless to say I went under the knife. They performed a hip resurfacing witch I was told was going to be a walk in the park for them Lolol. Boy did they ever eat those words! When I came too the doctor started to tell me how that was the most difficult operation he ever performed for hip surgery. My tendons and muscle were so tight and strong from the work that I do that it took 2 men to open up the entry clamp and the same to pull and dislocate the hip!! Needless to say they tore the crap out of my femoral nerve. Ok. My operation was May 29 2012! It took an entire 1 year to start to recover and 2 years to fight the muscle back to some what of a exceptable mass and strength. And now the pain has returned and my doctor wants to put a new hip in me! I told him I'd never trust going under the knife and I'm now doing stem cell
Therapy to regenerate the lost cartilage. Even though ur surgeon wants to put the hip in he won't pay ur bills when u can't walk. I just had my first injection 6/15/2015
I'd try this first before they cut u up. Ill give info for my doctor. I'm trying this and if I had this then I would never have went to surgery. I don't think I can send a link to u
If u want send me ur email for info I'll send it to u.
Hate to think that u might end up like me.
I forgot to add I was 42 and in great shape when I went under the knife.
Now 3 years later still fighting their major failure. There are too many of us that received femoral nerve damage to ignore!
Good morning nezi ... welcome to this wonderful forum ... as you can see, many fellow hippies have responded and shared their own experience ...
there is also some contradictionary instructions with regards to, for instance, sleeping position after THR ....
Eventhough sleeping on your back is the preferred way after surgery, I was allowed to sleep on my unoperated side while still in the hospital ... I was shown how to us a pillow to put it between my legs and turn to the side, making sure that legs do not cross ... sleep is abit off anyway but one can catch up during the day by taking naps ...not the same, I know ...
not sure about your leg cramps -- I like Amanda's suggestion ...
please come back here with all other worries or concerns, okay ....
big hug and take care
Hi Brian
So sorry to hear you've had such a terrible experience and hope the stem cell therapy works out for you.
It is important, Nezi, to accept that any operation carries risk, as indeed does any life activity, but at the same time, hip replacement is one of the most successful major operations performed these days and the vast majority of patients have a successful outcome beyond their wildest dreams.
Good luck xxx
Thank u for ur kind words
But I feel the opposite. Nezi doesn't have to except anything until he's researched out all alternatives. He has the right to know that with stem cell therapy that he can avoid a life changing risk. Stem cells are a reality now and should be looked into before being operated on. I would love to send u a link but I don't think I'm able to do that here.
Hi Brian, I spoke to my surgeon about Stem Cells and he said that this was pure science fiction...
My surgeon told me the same thing until I took things into my own hands again. I figured it couldn't hurt after their fix. There are a few links I could send u but the forum won't allow that. But I can tell you that just googling stem cells for hips and knees you will learn a lot. And if you want to see something that will really blow your mind Google stem cell spray gun for burn patients. That alone will show you how advanced we really are. A lot of this technology is coming from Germany. Let me know what you think.
Been following everyone's comments, sometimes we can research too much, which can be both good and bad, I have my op Tuesday and like you nezi, worried about a few things, this forum is good for advice,
good luck
linzi