Pain at 3 weeks post op

[Pat Walter]

Hi Pat!!

How are you? I have a couple of questions maybe you can shed light on

1 I am 3 weeks post op from a right hip resurface. I was limping before the surgery and I am still limping, is this normal as the hip is not very stable yet?

2 I am still experiencing much pain , but not in the hip sight, its coming from deep in from the insicion, maybe from the gluts where I was stitched internally, its uncomfortable to sit for any length of time, is this pain normal 3 weeks post op?

Thanks Pat, by the way, this is Lance an American living in Melbourne Australia. Take care

                                                      Lance

[Pat Walter]

Hi Lance

It is normal to limp after surgery.  I was on one crutch at 4 days and no crutches at 4 weeks.  The criteria for not using a crutch was that I walked WITHOUT a limp.  I was taking PT and they could judge how I walked.  I was told by Dr. De Smet's staff that I could stop using a crutch when I no longer limped.  So it is different for everyone.  Some people are still on a crutch or crutches for many weeks, while others are off quickly.  It really depends on your own body and how quickly your muscles recover.

I did not have any significant pain after surgery.  I left the hospital at 2 1/2 days and stayed in Belgium for 9 days after that.  I only took Advil, ibupropren, for muscle stiffness.  Again, some people have more pain than others.  If you have a problem before surgery where your leg might have been shorter or hip at a different angle, then after surgery you muscles will take more time to stretch or get use to the change.  I did not have any unusual problems except I was bone on bone with OA. 

I did get sore if I sat for a long time too.  I normally did not sit for long periods.  You incision will remain tender for a long time. I am 16 months post op and mine still itches and will ache a little if I sit on something hard for a long time.

It really takes your body and muscles a long time to heal from hip resurfacing since it is a major surgery.  I found I was also very tired for quite awhile, but I was 61 and has less energy to start with.  I started taking water therapy in the pool at about 4 weeks.  I did not hurt, but after I sat for a long time, my hip hurt for the first few steps until the muscles loosened up.  That is very normal.  I did water walked in the pool where the water was neck deep and also did exercises and stretches that the PT showed me how to do.  Here they are: http://www.surfacehippy.info/poolexercises.php

I found I felt much better at about 3 months and then again, very noticably better at 6 months.  It really takes a year for your body to heal.  Some doctors say it takes even long.  I believe that.  You are able to function quite well after a few months, but your body is still doing a lot of healing.

If you are having too much pain, I would call your doctors office and ask about it.  Also ask what medicine you should be taking to stop the pain. Are you taking any kind of PT?  Sometimes you have to watch that they are not too agressive.  PT that is done for atheletes is not right for a hip resurfacing - it is too agressive according to my doctor. Dr. De Smet has done over 2400 hip resurfacings and I think he gives good advice.  Walking, riding a bike and pool therapy are the best according to him.

Good Luck.  Let me know if I can with any other questions.

Pat