GOOD LUCK ANNA!!!!

[Dan L]

Congrats Anna, looking pretty good for this early on (relatively speaking).  Nicely closed and not much bruising at all.  I was black and blue much worse at that stage, on both sides.

The pillow between the legs or slightly in front of the bottom leg with the top leg resting on it was wonderful once I could do it.

Ok, I have to ask the meaning of "chuffed".  We have some coworkers coming in from UK next week, so I'd like to throw that one around and act like I know what it means.

All the best for a continued positive recovery.  Now almost 23 months and 19 months I am doing incredibly well, and still seeing improvements in the muscle discomfort after vigorous activity.

All the best

[Anna]

Dee Dee - Everyone keeps telling me how good these lounge / reclining chairs are. I don't have one  :-[ My sleep is going ok though. I managing about 7 hours a night but my back is hurting slightly, even with pillows everywhere. I can manage about an hour now on my side which has made the world of difference! .... I will try not to overdo things!!!  ;D

Dan - "chuffed" or also said as "chuffed to bits" is English slang for to be happy; to be really pleased; to be thrilled by something. For example "I'm chuffed to bits with my new computer. Its really good" or "I just finished the London marathon. I'm chuffed to bits"

Anyway, it sounds like you are chuffed with your new hip Dan!  Good luck with those English co-workers!  ;D

Anna

[lycraman]

Great to hear that it's going well Anna. It's 11 months since my op and I know that sleep patterns and comfort sleeping were one of my biggest problems (and to be honest they were only minor problems). I ended up sleeping with my heals on pillows or hanging off the end of the bed to find comfort. In fact I still do it now, 11 months on!

[Lauren Lee]

Anna, That is my docs protocol....12 weeks. But I was up on my feet immediately with a walker and off the walker in a few days to cane.
I wouldn't worry about weight gain too much- unless you are eating a gazillion caliries of bad food. I think our bodies burn a lot of energy to heal and you will walk, walk, walk.Initially I could not get my slacks on because of swelling...so I wore workout pants for about a month. Now....I am down a size and the buns are looking tight.:) Buns of steel....literally.

[Anna]

Damn! I want buns of steel. My thigh looks like it belongs to an extremely fat person at the minute. Its like I have a giant balloon attached to my side. Ha, I'm hoping the swelling will go down at some point. Ice ice ice ....

Lycra - my sleeping hasn't been as bad as I thought. I'm managing about 7 hours a night but its just really hard to get settled and comfortable. I'm finding myself going to bed later and later every night and I have to be completely exhausted. I'm happier now I can sleep on my side for a bit though!  :)

[Reno]

Hi Anna-

I am Chuffed to hear about your continued progress!  And, thanks for the new word.  I live in Cincinnati Ohio in the US, and I am always happy to add new words to my ways of expressing myself.  So, now from you I have picked up "icky" and "chuffed." 

Only 8 days now for me, until I join this elite club officially!  Again, I will continue following your progress and learning from you...

Hern - I read your suggestion regarding icing and I will certainly put it to great use!

Take care.

[Anna]

Icky and chuffed... Oh dear! My mum will be shaking her head at me!!  ::)

Day 11 post op - Today I have been out and about all day. I went with a friend and her son to a children's play area. I sat on a hard chair for 2 hours. I did all my physio exercises which are now way too easy for me and I walked half a mile with my crutches. I am in no pain and am on no meds except a little paracetamol and ibuprofen. I feel good!!! I keep getting told not to over do it but I don't think I am as my body and my new hip seem perfectly happy. The only thing that hurts are my hands from the crutches!!!! I can just about walk around the house now with no crutches however I choose not to as I am really trying hard to get a good gait and walk properly with no limp. The limp is not great without the crutches.

I'm slightly concerned with my incision as the glue seems to be removing itself a little and I am hoping its not too early for that. I don't want it opening up so I'm keeping a close eye on it.

I really hope the rest of my recovery continues like this. Feeling pretty .... wait for it ... chuffed!  ;D

Anna

[hernanu]

Sounds great Anna! I'm happy you're getting a good recovery, you certainly fought your way there.

Anything you're concerned about, check with the surgeon. Most likely it's just fine.

Reno - I'll be glad if it helps, icing is important, especially early.

[Jaks111]

How are you getting on Anna?
Got my op date or 11th September
All the best on a fast recovery.
Jackie

[Anna]

Hey Jackie,

I'm doing really well thanks. I'm 2 1/2 weeks now post op. I'm not in any pain and feel I have the energy to run a marathon (Obviously I couldn't!) I'm out of the house everyday on little 2/3 hour trips such as grocery shopping, restaurants, cinema and I can walk a mile with my crutches quite easily. I haven't pushed it past that yet but I think I could. I only walk with one crutch in the house. I can walk short distances without the crutch but I have quite a big limp so I'm sticking with the crutch to try get my gait good. My incision is healing well too. I have my first PT session on Wednesday which I'm really looking forward to. I'm hoping for some more exercises and the go ahead to get back on the stationary bike and maybe a bit of pool action! I cant wait to be able to do a bit more exercise as I'm piling on the pounds!! I think I will have to be careful though as I've had a couple of light headed moments when out walking in the heat. I had a very low blood pressure in hospital and they almost gave me a blood transfusion so I think perhaps my body is still recovering from all of that .... does anyone have any idea how long that will take?

Generally speaking, I'm over the moon and feeling very confident that I made the right decision in having this done. I'm feeling like a very lucky girl  ;D

Good luck for the 11th

Anna

[Jaks111]

Sounds good Anna  ;) has the other pain gone I call it the constant nagging pain which is worse at night I usually wake in pain.
Im going to borrow a treadmill from a friend when I have the all clear, to walk slowly as I don't want to pile the pounds on I'm very active which I need as I enjoy my food :'( to much.

Keep well.

[Mike D]

Hi Anna- you're well on top of things by the sound of it.
I think the light-headed thing is worth checking with your Doc, I had the same problem and was offered a blood transfusion at Birmingham but I just didn't fancy it.
The alternative was to take Iron tablets for 3 months which brought my blood count back to normal so maybe it would work for you?
Good to hear you're out and about, pain free!
Well done for using the stick till you're walking nice and straight as well- definitely the right thing to do!

[Anna]

Jacks -That awful arthritis pain that used to wake me up every night has definitely gone! (And it will be for you too soon!) I'm not completely out of pain, I still get the odd niggle if I sit or twist funny but its more achy weak muscles than anything else. It's certainly nothing to complain about. It sounds like you are very much like me. I love my food and keep my weight down by lots of exercise so I'm struggling a little at the minute but I just keep thinking in a month or two I will be more active than I have been in years and will lose the weight again pretty fast. A treadmill will definitely help. I have a turbo trainer to put my bike on so I'm dying to get that out  :)

Mike - I've had a good wander round monks cross today and then went to a friends bbq. I have been away from home for 9 hours!! It's my longest day so far. I'm feeling pretty good. I have only felt light headed twice since I left hospital and both times I was out walking in the heat and probably over did it. I've started taking iron tablets so I will see how it goes. I guess I'm only 2 weeks out of hospital and keep forgetting that its not very long! Fingers crossed things continue to go well  ;D

Anna

[curtieman1]

Anna glad to see that you were able to finally have replacement surgery. Have been following your saga, glad you have found relief from the pain. Good luck going forward. Curt

[Anna]

3 weeks - I'm on a bit of a downer  :-[

The first two weeks I could see massive improvements everyday, but this last week, I feel like I have hit a wall. I know I should be very grateful as I seem to be having a really easy recovery compared to some and everyone keeps telling me I'm doing really well. I think the problem is, I don't really know what to do or have anything to work on. My physio exercises have become really easy. I had my first PT session after leaving hospital yesterday but I didn't really get any new exercises and I was told no biking ... I was really hoping I could get on the static bike just for a little gentle pedal. So, I'm just sat around getting fat ...... I'm still on one crutch and still have a heavy limp. I guess I just keep walking and resting and walking and resting and icing and walking ... and resting???

I'm being referred to a physio who specialised in hip replacements so I have an appointment next Wednesday. Lets hope she gives me some new stuff to do and lets me go on the bike. My wound is looking pretty good now (In fact, it is tiny and I think it will be pretty much invisible in a few months!) and I was thinking about going to the pool if I can get someone to take me but .... what do I do when I get there?! Ha, just walk around? Can I swim? Breast stroke? front crawl? Any pool advice would be great.

Anna

[Juno]

Anna, I understand your frustration! At only 7 weeks, I was where you are only 1 month ago. I felt the same way --- big changes and then a sudden standstill as you realize the exercises you've been told to do are now easy and you don't know what to do next. I am there again now!! Walking is easy, leg lifts are easy and I want more --- but I do now understand more is not always better.

I was told keep doing the exercises until you can do them effortlessly and then do them again!! The big muscles will return quickly but those smaller muscles will take several months to engage and feel stable. Walk more, but don't over do it. I have felt the day after pain of overdoing and it's not good and it takes several days to recup from it.

Regarding feeling fat -- I am a woman who has always worked out. I've always been in great shape and I understand the feeling fat. I feel like my quads and gluteus have lost all muscle tone. But I keep telling myself tha it took me a long time to wear out the cartilage in my hip and its going to take some time to get back in shape. I have to have my other hip done in December, so I'm giving myself a year. Be gentle with yourself.

We can do this!!

[hernanu]

Type A personality rears its ugly head!   ;D ;D ;D

Ok Anna, I've been waiting for a while for the opportunity to tell you this. The worst torture for us on recovery is (drumroll).... Patience! ... (there, I feel much better)

It is a hideous thing to face, being used to confronting things head on and barging our way through, but patience is the key.

You are doing well. At three weeks you are very, VERY early in the game. When we start feeling good is when the real work begins. Now you have to do a measured recovery, since your hip is still and will continue to be healing for a bit.

I've also found that my progress came in waves, my body proceeding fast, then resting and getting comfortable, then speeding up, then regrouping... so on. That is still the way it is.

I trust that more than some linear progress where the body does not have the opportunity to get used to its new capabilities.

Hey Jackie,

I'm doing really well thanks. I'm 2 1/2 weeks now post op. I'm not in any pain and feel I have the energy to run a marathon (Obviously I couldn't!) I'm out of the house everyday on little 2/3 hour trips such as grocery shopping, restaurants, cinema and I can walk a mile with my crutches quite easily. I haven't pushed it past that yet but I think I could. I only walk with one crutch in the house. I can walk short distances without the crutch but I have quite a big limp so I'm sticking with the crutch to try get my gait good. My incision is healing well too. I have my first PT session on Wednesday which I'm really looking forward to. I'm hoping for some more exercises and the go ahead to get back on the stationary bike and maybe a bit of pool action! I cant wait to be able to do a bit more exercise as I'm piling on the pounds!! I think I will have to be careful though as I've had a couple of light headed moments when out walking in the heat. I had a very low blood pressure in hospital and they almost gave me a blood transfusion so I think perhaps my body is still recovering from all of that .... does anyone have any idea how long that will take?

Generally speaking, I'm over the moon and feeling very confident that I made the right decision in having this done. I'm feeling like a very lucky girl  ;D

Good luck for the 11th

Anna

Post op exercises from the McMinn Centre for non-small head THRs (I assume you have the large head? - can't believe I forgot to ask):

http://www.surfacehippy.info/exercisesmcminn.php

Water therapy and pool exercises:

http://www.surfacehippy.info/poolexercises.php

remember to clear with the nurse / doctor whether you're ready for the pool.

[oldsoccerplayer]

Thanks for this thread, the advice given by the others with more experience is really helping me too at 5 weeks post-op.
I think of the recovery process as an emotional and physical roller-coaster ride, and what you're describing and the other responses fit that metaphor.
I also had some 30 day prescriptions of various meds and I think that some of them, particularly meloxicam, messed with my head and maybe caused mood swings.

[Anna]

Aaaargh. I don't want to have a type A personality right now. I want to be a lazy person who enjoys doing nothing!  :-[

I think this process is harder mentally than physically for me. All I want to do is work up a sweat, enjoy some fresh air, go for a pedal..... I will try find some patience and rest more.

I hope you two keep improving fast and thanks for the exercises Hern

Anna

[Mike D]

Anna, I noticed a big difference when I started in the pool at six weeks.
All I did the first time at Yearsley Pool was walk from the shallow end up to half way several times. The resistance from the water really worked the dormant muscles and it also felt very stable as the water gave support so I could walk nice and straight for the first time.
Next time, I moved on to swimming, just nice and easy, and it felt great.
I went on holiday at about nine weeks and swam every day, pool and sea-that also made a huge difference
It will all come, Anna, but it is tough when you feel you could do more-once you've had the six week check you should be able to progress fast-keep at it, you're going great.