I am almost 7 weeks post op for bilateral hip replacements. Last week I thought I was doing well. I was walking around my flat without crutches and also drove my car a couple of times. However the last few days I have a very painful lower back which makes walking upright difficult. I am back on crutches. Sleep is also evading me and after only 3 hours sleep last night I am now getting hives which are making me very irritable. I also seem to be losing more hair than usual. This I noticed immediately after the op. Are these problems to be expected and will I be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel very soon?
I thought the worst was over but things went downhill after my 6 week discharge.
DeeAnne
Dee Anne, try sleeping with something in the small of your back, I also found that this became stiff and sore, I used a neck support cushion and it eased the pain within a few nights.
Unfortunately each day brings something new, and it is a case of 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards... just the body saying give me a break, I need to adjust from what you put me through.
The hives could be the medication as I have not suffered with these, or loss of hair.
I had my bi-lateral op on 11th August ..
Anesthesia could be the culprit to your hair loss; it is not uncommon to experience this after surgery. You might want to try extra vitamins specifically formulated for a couple of months until your system returns to normal. Also as anyone would tell you good nutrition and a good supplements are critical after surgery -- lots of extra E,C & D plus good multi Vitamin.
Thank you Elaine. I will try that. Hopefully it will work.
DeeAnne
Hi, I am also neatly seven weeks post hip op, yes you will get one good day then next day back to square one. As for sleep I too only manage three to four hours even with sleeping pills. My hair has gone very thin too, I do think ganeral anaesthetic causes this, no doubt will take its time to recover. As for tiredness I am going to my doctor next week to get my blood tested for anaemia. Meanwhile am taking a good multivitamin tablet but notvnoticed much difference yet. Yesterday I drove my car thirty miles not bad my check up yet that's in a week.
keep me posted how you are doing , big hugs Ann
Hi can rally intifada with al you dealing with now.
it just seems to be on thing after another. We hippies struggle so much to just get in & out of bed that it takes a toll on the rest of our muscles spcilly the back.
be sure to go to therapy when you can. This I major surgery and takes time fo th body to heel.
do all the exercise you can and buil up to more when you can. The best one is the glute squeezes. They stregthen the girdle muscles aroun the hip to the knee as well as ad core strength.
Good od luck to you.
This too will pass and you will get stronger day by day. Take your time don't rush it everyone recovers from this in their own time. THere are so many individual variables for each recovery be patient , you will be back to doing your favorite things feeling no pain in a few more weeks.
hang in there !
hi deeanne,
You are improving every day !!! just feels as if you are not or even maybe feel it is getting worse -
there is so much more involved than just the hip - your whole body has been out of whack for some time, then went through this major surgery (bilateral !!!!) -
now she has to repair and heal - not only the onslaught but also relearning how to walk, sit, keep your body in balance etc -
Amazing that you are already able to drive !!!
Do you see a physical therapist? maybe walking (wobbling?) without crutches is too early and you might still need support to keep your balance - It is all so fragle, darling - so, still be kind and gentle to your self - you get there when you get there ...
big warm hug
renee
Thank you Renee.
I am so very grateful for all the encouragement given by the hippies on this site. It certainly helps to know that we all recover at different rates and that there is always somebody here going through similar experiences. Yesterday I was feeling very depressed. Today not so much as I have only just got out of bed and back pain is minimal. I am walking gingerly in order not to set it off again. Here's to a future of unbroken sleep, no more hot sweats and pain free walking.
Take care
DeeAnne
Thank you so much for the encouraging words. It helps massively to know that my experiences are not unique and that all the pain will eventually subside
Take care
DeeAnne
Good morning hippies
Still recovering from the trouncing Europe recd in the Ryder Cup! Best team won though so well done USA🏆🏆🏆
Thought I'd respond to the vits bit as there is a lesson I wish I had learnt...
After I had my lthr last Feb 15 I was extremely tired and the doctor/consultant said it was perfectly normal. This continued until May and after seeing three docs, the 4th suggested a blood test. It came back that I had a chronic Vit D deficiency. I was put on Vit D supp in theirs 1000s units but the damage was done. The immense stress the fatigue put on my body and immune system led to all sorts of minor illnesses incl shingles, pharyngitis and suspected glandular fever. I was also running a business and chair of a women's funding charity...
The fatigue continued to increase (imagine having a huge hangover, 2 hours sleep and then having to do a board/client presentation) in the end I was diagnosed with CFS this January.
Had the other hip gone on 31-8/16 so praying the enforced rest will finally resolve my CFS.
So moral of the story? Get ur bloods checked for vits and minerals!
Love to you all my hippy chums!
Janxx🌹😘🙋
Each day is another challenge, whether it be pain, aches, or just exhaustion as we plough through the healing process. The body has been through a rough experience and all the nerves, muscles and tendons are fighting each other to get back to normal.
Then us hippies feel we should be able to do more...ha ha... patience, and doing a little extra each day you feel you can is the only way.
Had physio today and they are pleased with how it is coming on, but really it is more of a chat than any exercise regime, but perhaps I am being to eager to do more. Would love to be given some Hydrotheraphy but that is not going to happen here in Eastbourne..... have already waited over 2yrs for this to ease the pain in all my joints so not hopeful it will ever happen now Ihave had my hips replaced.
Still positive about being able to go on hols and snorkle again.... relax in the warm see watching the fish would be my idea of heaven at the moment..... I can dream..
I totally agree.
I learned that I was: too high in iron unable to excrete it which caused CFS-like symptoms - the same as you get from low iron)!; was low in magnesium which makes as more vulnerable to pain and swelling.
I have known for a long time that I needed higher doses of calcium and Vit D (osteoporosis), but a new specialist increased my intake of these 3-fold and this increased my energy levels amazingly! And vit c prior to surgeries rdeuces infecton rates and pain levels.
This is a low cost preventive measure - get your blood tested for key elements (any good doctor should address this, but until 10 years ago, nutrition got one hour of training in their curriculum ... approximatelythe allocation given to doctor-patient communication skills - i wonder how this affeted students and the medical professionals with which we interact?
Linda
Oh Elaine - I really wish you could get the hydrotherapy. It helped me tremendously pre my first thr and I hope to return shortly (2 weeks post 2nd thr). I think it would help anyone honestly. But as I am allergic to anti-inflammatories, have severe osteoporosis and degeneration of several discs in my upper back, this was like a bit of heaven on earth. I truly hope you will be back snorkeling in warm waters before long - for your body and mind.
Take care.
Linda
Hi Elaine
Well after a few bad days with aching limbs and back I felt much better today. I made the most of this good day and went to get my nails done. They had turned into talons as I have not been able to get to the shop for over 8 weeks. Then I made an appointment to get my hair done on Friday......I am going to see PJ Proby on Saturday with other 60s groups. Looking forward to it so here's hoping my good days last at least until then 😉
Good to hear you are doing better.
Next time you go for your manicure , be sure to get a deluxe pedicure with a foot and leg massage. It is worth the extra cost to scrub off all the dead skin and relax all the muscles in feet and legs.
Extra activities like this kept me (just barely) sane during thr #1!
Take care DeeAnne.
L
😮 oh my lord ...PJ Proby? now that brings back memories ...
you go girl. ..
well done
angel blessings
renee 💙
Well done,, I had a wonderful weekend nearly pain free.... but since physio this morning... oh dear stiffness and pain....
I need to get my hair done it is like a mop sitting on my head. I do my own nails which I cut off last week because they were so long and breaking. My hair has this strange silver tint appearing serious appearance now.... no sure whether to leave it and be silver!!
Hope you hade a good time at PJ Proby I bet it was wonderful
Every day does get better, BUT you must not try to do TOO MUCH all at once, this is not a sprint but a marathon each and every day you just need to do a little more, don't forget your stretches, not until it hurts but until you feel the pull my physio told me.
My walking regiem, also used for my husband with his heart failure, we are in australia so have individual houses on own sections, start by walking around inside house, to build up your ability to walk at all, then I decided had to get outside at about day 10, so walked to letter box in front of house, two or three times a day, and returned to chair or bed.
Then aimed for neigbours letter box, another 30 meters or so, for two or three days, then added to that progessively along the street every two or three days, by 12 weeks was walking to corner store about half a mile, or 1km, after no walking for a year previous due to pain levels and bone on bone hip pain, I not only had the hip replacement, I had alot of muscles to rebuild generally, very proud of myself.
My husbands example - he was walking 5 kms with a serious heart failure by eighteen months, Dr's couldn't believe he was doing so well.
I am just back from seeing PJ Proby along with Wayne Fontana The Searchers Brian Poole and the Tremeloes and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. It was a brilliant show. Seats were not comfy but I am 8 weeks post op on Tuesday so hopefully no harm done xx