I know alot of us went into hip replacement expecting to come out with alot less pain, and have been rocked back on our heels at our experiences. I know that the grinding pain of bone against bone went straight away, but I was unprepared for the level of pain once I got home, especially on getting in and out of bed.
Nobody even hinted at how "sleeping" on your back could be a nightmare. My backpain in the morning was as bad as the hip pain.
Icing the scar wasn't't mentioned in the booklet I got, yet the knee replacements were sent home with Icing sleeves. I bought a gel pack from a well known
. It has been a godsend.
At 4 weeks tomorrow, I find I am turning a corner. I am beginning to sleep for more than 4 hours a night, still in 2 hour stretches, and grab a nap if I am tired after lunch.
What have I learnt? Not to compare myself to anyone else, pace myself, but push a bit. Keep a diary so I can spot improvement.
Feel guilty because when I got stuck behind people on crutches on the pavement I used to resent them holding me up! Now I feel frustrated that my walking is so slow!
Feel relieved that I can look forward to summer.
Dear Judi, Please don't worry, I am 4 years post op now and the first 6 weeks were the worst for me as I never sleep on my back and it nearly drove me mad! I went on a walk every day, rubbed bio-oil into the scar and did my exercises as told. I also went swimming and found that a great help and got an automatic car with a high seat. This year I am walking the Three Peaks in Yorkshire and going on a sailing holiday. Before my op I had to walk with 2 sticks, was bent over and in dreadful pain all the time inspite of strong painkillers. Keep on going and it will get better.
Hi judi, I agree with you on all points this journey has been such a learning curve for me. I never even got a leaflet telling me anything, but on a more positive note, nearly 10 weeks later, I'm sleeping a bit better, got up this morning with hardly any stiffness, no pain looking forward to going back to 12 hour shifts (haha), but before my op I thought I would have to retire a year earlier than planned. Its so good to know that there's light at the end of the tunnel and in a few years like you heather, we'll be able to look back and wonder if it all happened. And judy, like you having to walk amongst other people using crutches taught me great humility. This forum has been a godsend.
hey Judy. I think the best thing to do, is like you say, dont compare yourself to anyone. It creates a narrow view on the variables that make every hip replacement different. Its like saying astrology is real and theres only 12 different types of people in this world. Everyone is different. I have heard so many people say " I know someone with a hip replacement and they jog 5 miles a day" and other annoying proclamations. I can barely walk a mile before Im in pain and Im only 32. I had my hip replaced almost two years ago. What makes me feel happy and forget that Im basically crippled for life is that I have so many other things going for me. I can walk first of all and most importantly. I have my health and my brain is fine. Many other people have it way way worse than we do and I feel a great sense of humility after realizing I cant be superman. Keep your head up, at four weeks I couldnt walk without a cane, so I would say youre doing just fine. wait another three months before you make any diagnosis
Oh and for your sleeping issue. Since my hip replacement I never sleep on my back without a pillow under my knees, or if Im on my side I put it between my knees. it makes all the difference in the world
Hi Jude..sounds like you are on track from my own experiences. Am now 10weeks. I can sleep in any position. Use of small pillow still helpful. My problem is lower spine . As muscles starting to get used more I find it quite painful as I had bad limp and different leg lengths before op. Takes time but glad not going back to care work for a while yet....will be 3 mths post op and gradual return to full capacity.
Today I went for my 7 week check. The X-Ray is perfect. I can sleep on both sides. Not for more than 2 hours at a time, but I usually get 6 hours. My flexion and abduction are nearly normal. I have been promoted to a stick. Yesterday I did shallow steps like a normal person, on the way up but not coming down, but because my knee hurts. My scar is short and beautiful. Give it another few weeks and I will be back to normal.
Judi, I am so happy to read a good story on here. Most people turn to forums
because they feel somethings wrong. Then you read all these mishaps & start to
panic. Or maybe that's just me. I'm going into my 4th week and I'm still in pain. Still
using pain killer's & still not sleeping good. I now know that it's ok. It just going to
take more time for me. Another fear I have is my operated leg has somewhat
caved in. Where my knee brushes on my other knee. My Doc said it's muscle
weakness. So I'm starting PT. I use ice packs & heat packs however, I can't say I
feel any better. I may sound like those bad story tellers. But I'm actually, learning
to be patient, just like you. Thanks for sharing.
HEATHER , you say you swim? How far along after surgery did you start? For I was told I can't swim yet. I also can't put anything on my scar.
NICK,
you sound very happy but if you don't mind me asking. What did your Doctor say
in regards to why your still feeling pain after so long? What type of surgery did youhave? & what type of prosthetic did you get. Ceramic etc.
My name is Sue.
I have been reading this forum with interest since having a THR in late November. I have ceramic on ceramic. I am still struggling with stiffness and tightness and must admit to feeling despair at the thought that I might
remain like this. Has anyone else had this problem. I am an energetic lady normally but I am struggling to get myself going. I still have to resort to pain killers when it gets too bad. I have heard that non cemented
ceramic replacements take longer to heal and are more painful afterwards. Anyone had this experience?
I had a hip replacement 4 weeks ago and can honestly say that the prescribed meds controlled the pain. The first few times I got out of bed were a bit sore while I was doing it but the pain died down quite quickly. I'm now back home, coping with stairs on the replacement side (the other knee is scheduled for surgery later this year) and going for walks twice a day. Using a pillow under my knees I've slept pretty well although I normally sleep on my side. The pillow also inhibits me from turning over onto my side so has a double purpose.
I seemed to do well compared with other patients of similar age but the important thing is to do what your body is ready to do. I went to a physio moderated exercise class before surgery because the muscles around my hip weren't working well and the hip was very distorted. If you are still in the run up to surgery I would advise working on your hip muscles beforehand, see if you can find a friendly physio to take you through some exercises or recommend a suitable class (more fun and a bit of encouragement from the others always helps). Be prepared for some pain at first, especially when pushing your leg outwards but it should subside fairly quickly when you relax. If the pain does break through and persist then ask for some extra pain killers. They kept offering me extra which gave me confidence that if I did get more discomfort than I wanted to deal with I could get something to help. I've had a good experience, my main problem is frustration until I get the go ahead to drive and use the buses. Incidentally has anyone discovered a foolproof way of getting your crutches to stay uprright when you take them off and park them - they always fall down when my 'grabber' is in the other room!!!!
Hi, just found and joined forum ,I am on start of week five tomorrow, I can walk without a stick unless tired but not completly straight up right as hip top is still swollen and brused
the info I got from hospital was very little and nothig really helpfull to understand what recovery would be like. skin aroud scar site is very hard and uncomfortable.
I stopped stockings when I came home and even in hospital did not use their pain killers but the one from home as It never upset my stomach and always worked, I'm down to 4 a day - half normal use as very little pian just discomfort
sleeping on unopp side with small pillow about 2hrs at a time , the only thing is I wake up and need to pee straight away must be areason but ? why
see Dr at hospital in 2 weeks for checkup hope all goes well
You aren't the only one. I wasn't in the slightest bit worried about my op until I discovered this site!!!! But as it happens, my hip has been perfect - no pain at all, not even from the surgery. A slight ache as the bone gets used to things, but only very occasionally.
I was told I could swim at 4 weeks. And could put something on the scar/ massage it when the incision was healed, which was two weeks.
Got my new hip on 26th October 2016, was back at work in 3 weeks, albeit with 1 stick as I have a lot of stairs, I agree that the worst thing is sleeping on your back but even worse is the trying to get in and out of bed, used one of my chopping mats lay on that and lifted my legs and swung in and out and left it side of bed, got hubby to put a handrail in bedroom next to bed so I had a grab rail that was brilliant really handy. I have a neat scar about 6 or 7" long and you hardly notice it with shorts on! I was really lucky, I got home after 36 hours and was walking with 2 sticks when i got home and walking in the street within the week. The exercises I thought were a doddle but they certainly worked helped immensly. Never had a bit of pain from the hip at all and all the pain I had before op was gone! Never felt so good. I would definately get gthe other one done no hesitation. Not one problem I have a nickel allergy so have the heavy one cobalt and steel and disolving stitches so was lucky heavy on the hills and upstairs tho but was very tired for a couple of days tthe exercises knackered me but i struggled through and did them and every day got easier and was walking a couple of miles in 8 days! I am off to cyprus shortly and looking forward to be able to walk around the ruins this time without pain!