What is normal?

[HowieF-16]

I am six days post options and feel great! I even forgot to take my pain meds today. I am walking with walker, but it is more a security blanket than aid. I am doing all my exercises 2-3 times daily, walking the block, icing afterward. I am excited, but cautiously optimistic. I know a recovery is full of peaks and valleys, however I seem to be going peak to peak. Here's my question...am I unusual? We tend to only read about problems in these discussion groups. I need to hear from successes. I Am looking for any feedback. Thanks.
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[Granton]

You sound worried that your recovery is so good. Rejoice!

My second, last October, seemed ridiculously easy to recover from. No significant pain and no limp to overcome. I think that was partly down to the fact that I got this one dealt with quickly. I had still been playing tennis (of a kind) up to a few weeks before surgery. When I got the first one done, I had not played any sport for a couple of years and I had to learn to walk properly again.

My first surgery seemed to go very well, but I recovered even quicker from the second. I asked my surgeon about this, expecting him to say that techniques had improved over the intervening years, but he put it down to luck. However careful he is, sometimes there is some bruising. That makes your leg more difficult to move.

I also had zero swelling this time. I don't know whether this is the reason, but Mr McMinn makes you wear a full-length stocking with light compression for six weeks post-op. That's in addition to the normal anti-DVT knee high compression stockings.

So we have been lucky for those first few weeks. Many others have more discomfort and swelling etc to deal with, but will end up with a great outcome, which is the important thing.

[oldsoccerplayer]

Howie,
you learn from this site that there really isn't a "normal" or typical recovery, it's different for every individual. It's great that you're feeling so well after the first week, probably celebrating that the hip that was so painful just doesn't hurt any more.
I found that the pace of recovery slows over time. At first every day felt better than the previous day but after a few weeks it would be a matter of days before I felt any improvements, and eventually (you guessed), I was measuring improvements by comparing weeks.
I also found that as time goes on you start trying to move in ways that you haven't been able to since the surgery, and that's where you need to be careful. When I first went back to the exercise bike I felt a pinching sensation in my lower back the next day. At first I didn't make the connection -  after all, the protocols said that I was allowed to do that - but after I slowed down the pace of pedaling the symptoms went away.
There was some anxiety with both of those observations. When the pace of improvement slowed down I was worried that I wasn't healing any more. When I first felt the pinching I was worried about the device not being in place until I realized what the true cause was.
No need to feel guilty about your current situation, and don't stress if you hit any bumps along the way.

[Kevin Warr]

Howie

This is my second HR and this one sees to be taking much longer to recover. AT 4 weeks the 1st op I was off 2 crutches. This time I am at 5 weeks and still using one with no sign of throwing it away. I still have lots of stiffness and bumps around the surgery site. I am back driving and doing general stuff but my body is saying take it easy.
Good to hear your recovery is going so well

Kev

[HowieF-16]

I want to thank you all for the feedback. I am thinking my success may be do to the rigid workout program my PT designed for me when we planned surgery. Although it was painful to follow the workout plan, I think increasing my hip strength has been very helpful in my recovery. I also tried to improve my hip flexibility, but didn't accomplish much due to the hip damage. Tomorrow I will be 9 days out and will be working with PT to start transitioning to a cane. I follow up with Doc next Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see what he thinks. Thanks again for your feedback and perspectives on the recovery.