Hi,
Tomorrow it will be 4 weeks since having my BHR installed in my right hip. I am a active 52 yr. old man. I think I am about average for where my recovery is at this point. I started one week ago going to the gym and riding the recumbent bike. First for 15 minutes/3 miles/100cal workout, and today I did 23 minutes/5 miles/220 cal workout. I also have been using the other cybex machines such as the abductor and adductor hip machines. I can walk fairly well without my cane. As it gets closer to night though the cane does help with walking.
My biggest thing now is that I don't sleep well. I seem to get a 2-4 hours sleep then wake up with a dull toothache type of pain in my right hip. I have tried to take Ambien to get more rest but once awake with this ache I can't get back to sleep. I have tried also to take one of my Vicodin's without any real help either. Just not sure if this is normal. I did read somewhere that if you have and infection you can get night time aching. But I don't have any swelling and there is no heat around the area. Just wondering if anyone else had experienced this and it is just another thing that will eventually go away. Such as the hip/leg swelling (day 3-6), the evening low grade fevers (day 3-6), the dull front lobe spinal headaches (day 2 - 7). Note on the headache... my wife with her google power found this to be somewhat common and that caffeine (not tea) will give relief. It worked!
Well if anyone has any experiences with this night time hip pain, please share! Thanks
Hi rcaxtell
I am also 52, 4 wks + 2 days post-op. I am also doing regular PT (walking, PT ex, + pool time), but I am planning to wait a few more weeks before I start anything like cybex hip work, which I regard as slightly aggressive for PT at this stage (just my opinion). IMHO I think you are just experiencing a normal reaction to your daily activity - the incision is deep and still healing, and the operation involves an element of hip dislocation, and the PT is bound to pull at the repairing tissue. Everything stiffens up a little overnight, and you probably roll onto the incision from time to time.
I got my first two nights of really good sleep just this week, before that I was up at 3am watching TV, and sometimes getting a bit more sleep after that. I'm still using tylenol at night, though I am very comfortable without during the day, but stopped a night time tramadol about a week ago. I find when sleeping the hip stiffens up and feels a bit more tender and though I'm not getting "toothache" type pain, I know I've had surgery.
My suggestion is to lay off the more "aggressive" PT for a couple of days (cybex) and see if things settle down a bit. I'm not an expert, but I would think that if you had an infection there would be the other signs that you have looked for (heat, elevated temp) but are absent. It actually sounds to me as though overall you are doing very well!
Good luck
Yes, I had the achiness at night also. It goes away eventually.
I will preface this by saying that I am 2 1/2 years post surgery, and very happy with my resurfaced hip. I ski, windsurf, and play tennis on it an average of 4-8 hours per day, basically every day year long. However, I cannot say that my nighttime discomfort has ever completely gone away. It is not serious, but starting about 3 AM every night, it starts waking me up, and I must roll onto my back for a couple of minutes until it goes away, then I go back to sleep for short periods before it wakes me up again. A month or so ago, I thought that it might finally have gone away, but that was just a few lucky nights, so I think that this is just one of those little things that I will live with.
Having said all that, I have heard back from other times that I posted about this, that this does not appear to be common with others. Hopefully you will be like the others. :)
John,
What did Dr. Gross say about this?
Mac
John,
Has Dr. Gross ruled out bursitis?
Chuck
Well I certainly hope I don't have this still going on 2 1/2 years post surgery!! I am really looking for EVERYONE or at least a lot of you, to tell me this is a phase that disappears like maybe after week 5-6!!
I am hoping for you John that perhaps you do have bursitis or something causing this and that this is not a normal leftover side effect.
Having these night time aches was one of my reasons for getting this surgery to begin with. But pre op I was able to take a ambien and sleep through it. And I didn't have them every night.
As for the cybex hip machines I have been doing only 3 reps of 10 each with light weight. The abduction one is the most difficult but I do not put enough weight on to strain. But if I still have problem next week perhaps I will quit it altogether for a bit.
Just wondering ReneeP, do you remember how long 'eventually' was?
Chuck: Dr. Gross did diagnose that I have occasional bouts with bursitis. He suggested some exercises, which do help. The bursitis issue is only occasional, and not that serious. It can almost always be traced to overdoing it that day. It can sometimes affect sleeping if I lay on that side, but it is not the main sleep issue.
Mac: When I brought up the sleep issue with Lee, she suggested that I use a pillow between the legs. This is something that I have done off and on since many years before I had the surgery. It definitely helps about 90%.
Before people get too worried about my sleep issues, there is no question that part of it is obviously related to a pretty extreme activity level. Eight hours of hard skiing every day, with no lunch breaks or days off, is my routine. Even most twenty and thirty year olds with healthy joints cannot maintain this schedule without some physical issues coming up. If my new hip lets me stay ahead of strong skiers that are 40 years younger, I will not complain about a little discomfort at night.
John, it sure sounds like other than the pain at night you are doing really well. Skiing puts a lot of stress on the hip and you seem to be quite the skier.
I hope your evening problems improve. I know bursitis is often the cause of night ache that you describe.
Take care. Glad to see you are still posting and hanging out here and on other forums ;-)
Chuck
Quote from: rcaxtell on February 24, 2011, 07:32:18 AM
Just wondering ReneeP, do you remember how long 'eventually' was?
Well, my resurfacing only lasted 5 weeks until I had to be revised to a THR. After the THR, I would say it took 6 or 7 weeks before the nighttime achiness went completely away...it was gradual. However, I still get very tight near the incision (it's anterior) and that pain will wake me up if I'm in a position that stretches it out.
My night time aches are better now. I quite taking my night time aspirin and instead have been taking 800mg of ibuprofen. I think this has helped along with the extra healing time. Did walk 3 miles today and rode the recumbent exercise bike for 25minutes/6 miles. Pay the price at night time though as now I am limping. Not sure sometimes how much to push. Feel alright while doing the exercise but then am a bit lame in the evening. Will feel better again in the morning. I feel stronger generally each day so I guess whatever I'm doing is working!
Pain in the first 6 weeks is nothing to worry about. I am at 6 months and had a setback while using a seated abduction machine (see my thread if you're interested) so I really can't recommend that exercise. You're quite early to be loading the joint with resistance training, I would concentrate on range of motion and endurance for another couple of months. Good luck, G.
Using resistance bands (i.e., the ones they give you at PT) are great and you can work in all planes of motion doing abduction, adduction, flexion, and extension. This will help strengthen the muscles around the hip joint. Do both legs!
I have to agree with Gary about not pushing the workouts. I am as much of a workout fiend as anyone, and did six weeks of aggressive PT. I am 12 weeks out and have just started doing resistance (level 3?) on the cybex cycles. Before that, with PT, I did 10 minutes per session on spinning cycles with no resistance. It was strictly to move the hip and work on ROM.
I eventually did some wieghts, limited to ankle weights for leg lifts and leg presses at about 1/2 my 'normal' weight. I'd advise taking it easy, you're still recouping. I'm at the 3 month time, and am being really careful, as this is the prime time for neck breaks, something I avoided with my other hip (6 months along). As you've seen from other active hippies, the time when you can do heavy workouts will come in 6+ months.
I am 3 weeks post op and sleeping is the one thing I have not yet got sorted out. I get a bout 90 min stetrches of sleep and then it can take a while to fall back asleep. I am not able to sleep on my operated side yet - sometime I lay there for a while to be in a different position but it hurts to much to sleep on that side. - Any suggestions would be great
phillwad,
Unfortunately it takes a while for most of us to sleep on our sides again. I can sleep on either side now, but I still wake up after an hour or so with soreness. (12 weeks post op) Not pain, just a light, dull aching. You could try stacking pillows or a blanket behind you and lean your back against them. In other words try to lay at a 45 degree position, between your side and back. I tried this and it did help if even for a short time. Good luck.
Steve
Good idea with the pillow, I will try that - Phill
3 months post-op. I get the "tooth ache" aching thing at night especially when i've been very active that day. It can be pretty intense and long-lasting. Almost feels like there is something wrong but - it seems to be mainly a nightime issue. I sure hope this gets better! Is this inflamation?
>> UPDATE : this pain has completely gone away ! It very gradually subsided and now, at 4 months is non-existant!
I am 11 weeks post op and pleased with my new found daytime freedoms. However I too have nighttime pain, different in some respects to what has been described by others in this post. Like some others it starts after a few hours of sleep. Like others it is a dull toothache kind of pain. However it is not in the hip. It is on the front side of the lower leg (shin) and ankle. It is altogether different from a sore muscle pain. I am having trouble imagining how hip surgery causes lower leg pain. Anyone out there experience this? Does it go away? Any thoughts to its cause?
May be your body adjusting to the muscles moving a different way. Before the surgeries, my feet were significantly pointing outwards, now they point forwards when I walk, so the muscles, the supporting feet had to readjust, and some muscles that I think were very weakened from my limping, etc. needed to come back to life.
I'm 1 year / 9 months along (two hips) and have some pain under my left foot (slowly receding) and some ankle pain because of some gait issues. I think it goes away, maybe stretching the muscles in that area will help.
I am only at 5 weeks post op but I have various pains from my lower back to my feet. I believe most of these pains are due to muscles being stretched and strengthened that have not been used in awhile. Specifically I have had pain like you describe in my gluteus maximus, around the knee, and lower outside calf and ankle.
I changed my posture and gait with the arthritis pain. Those muscles that were no longer used atrophied and weakened. Now that I don't have hip pain my body is starting to realign.
I can only suggest stretching and strengthening your leg muscles. And don't forget the small muscles. A physical therapist can give you stretches and exercises to do. Also deep massages will release muscles.
4 months into my recovery. 62 years young.
The hip pain thing at night has continued but less annoying as time has gone on. Shortly after surgery till about 8 weeks, I could only get relief by getting up and walking a few steps around the bed. The pain would go away with in a few steps and I could lay back down pain free. I could only get relief by applying full weight on the hip. Now at 4 months, I just have to roll over or flex my hip a bit and the pain goes away. Hope in another few months, I will no longer have the pain as it is not every night as it was early on.
On a further note, other than the night pain, I have no pain in the hip no matter how much walking or other exercise (no running) I do. The non BHR (good hip) well, not the same with it. After about 3 miles at a quick pace, it has just about had all it can take. The BHR hip leg is still saying Go, Go, Go! I can hardly wait to have the doc say it is arthritic enough to get a BHR on it. I love my BHR. I cant believe I put it off for 2 years, taking meds and doing physical therapy trying to maintain only marginal flexibility and mobility. Still can't flex my leg high enough to touch my knee with my nose. My doc said I may never get that flexibility back but I plan on proving him wrong.
Now at 4 months post op and still having difficulty sleeping. Just like for others I go to sleep pain free but often (9 of 10 nights) I awaken around 3am with the dull toothache in hip. Sleeping position, pillows strategically placed, etc help, but I haven't found the magic solution. Once up and moving the pain goes away and I feel GREAT all day. If I take a brief nap in the afternoon there is no pain, so this is definitely something that comes on after a few hours of sleep. I see the surgeon for a followup visit next week and I will definitely discuss the problem with him.
I don't know if you will call this good news or bad, but my 3 AM toothache in my hip has finally gone away, I hope. The good news is that I hope it is finally gone; the bad news is that it took about three years. In my case, it definitely got better over time, and had improved at the one and two year marks, but it was about three years before I can say that it has mostly gone away. Still have the pillow for between the knees, just in case.
John C,
I too get the toothache pain if I sleep on one side for more than about two hours. Not a bad pain at all, just a mild achy sensation. But then I am just over 9 months post op and had both done. I figured it is normal at this stage of recovery for some people. I too still use a pillow between my knees most of the time. I used one before surgery for about two years and I think it's mostly a habit now. It just feels really comfortable.
I almost never need to use the pillow anymore. I just keep it next to the bed, just in case. I think that the good takeaway from this, is that even at 3 years, things can still keep improving in small ways.
That's great news about the pain having left, John. I know I've still got a few things to deal with that I think will evaporate with time:
- A (I think gait related) pain in the left metatarsal that has been slow to leave, but is much better than it was.
- Still some weakness in the right (last) hip when walking or running. No pain, just can feel it's less 'reliable' if you can make sense of that. I'm also pushing it a lot more, just did an hour's worth of Salsa dancing at a club filled with 20 year olds (my niece was DJing and insisted I come, she wanted my take on her efforts). I went non stop for an hour+ and my knee felt it mostly after, my right hip was not so much sore as tired, my left was right as rain. Everything is good now, but the day after my knee was a bit sore. I think the hip was causing me to rely on the knee for support and that caused it to get sore.
I think you're right - most of the things clear up, but we can still improve over time.
Iswall, I'm wondering if the pain in the lower leg may be related to your using your body in a different way from before?
I have less problems sleeping this time compared to my first surgery, but I think one of the reasons is that I got used to sleeping with a pillow between my legs. The first time, I was not used to it, and had problems with the pillow falling on the floor. The problems were more related to not being able to get in a comfortable position than actual pain. This time, I have noticed that I tended to get some night time aching in the leg (not the hip), and even some cramps in my lower leg and foot on days when I increase my walking. After my first surgery, I don't remember having cramps, nor did I have any pains bad enough to keep me awake at night after the first couple of weeks.
Hi all. I wanted to update my experiences with night time pain. I am two days shy of 6mo. post-op and I have no night time pain 9 nights out of 10. There has been rapid progress during the last six weeks, and especially in the last 4 weeks. So, those of you out there who are still struggling with this, keep the faith.
Hello Iswall-
Good to hear of your progress. Hope you get to 10 out of 10 real soon! Have a great New Year!
Bruce
Almost 11 weeks after and I also get the dull ache, in the am hours, maybe 6 nights out of 10, that does make staying comfortable enough to stay asleep difficult. Low level pain, that 8 hour tylenol completely eliminates for me, taken before bedtime.
It has lessend over the weeks in terms of pain level and number of nights where this happens.
Dan
Okay, I am eleven days shy of 10 months post op. I am pain free day and nighttime. I can sleep on my back, sides or stomach without setting off any pain. I just finished the 2011-2012 ski season with 100+ days on the slopes and I could not be happier. My skiing has never been better. To those of you still rehabbing I say keep the faith!
Thanks Iswall, that is awesome and just what I needed to hear.
Hi rcaxtell,
As you've probably already figured out, sleeplessness is practically a given for most recent HR patients. I remember taking a long HOT shower, reading all night, using 1,000 (or close to it) pillows to get comfy... etc. It did finally pass. I am 2 years out almost, and I forget (thankfully) but I'm thinking at about 2-3 months I was back to normal. Now I can sleep without pillows and even on my HR'd side. Keep the faith. It'll come. Good Luck, Lu