Post op now.
First 10 days were very painful. Developed a painful groin since day 3. Painful enough to wake me up at night.
Feeling down because I am not one of those painless recovery stories. Reality hit hard. Yet still very hopeful it’ll get better.
It is a new pain I didn’t feel pre-op , glutes and quads and wound are very acceptable pain level. But the groin/hip is not at all. (First suspect is irritated hip flexors - but pain killers are not managing it, seems too dramatic)
If I learn many passed this path before me and ended up being proud success stories , it will cheer me up and fill me with confidence.
I felt that my recovery was both good and fairly quick. Does NOT mean it was painless.
You've had major surgery and your body needs to deal with it. Pat had great advice - at first, don't let the pain get a jump on you. Take what you need, no one gets any medals for pain. I had my meds in the hospital and then took high dose Advil pain pills (prescribed) for about a month afterwards.
I made sure on both hips that I hydrated as much as possible, did my exercises like ankle pumps, etc. I also iced like a fiend, making sure that I gave my poor body as much support as possible.
When I was lying prone, either on the couch or in bed, I put a pillow under the knee, to take some pressure off the hip.
My advice though is to let your body tell you whether something is ok or not. I didn't do leg raises for a while, and then only with a physical therapist.
If something didn't feel right, I just said no. These people work for you, not the other way around.
I'd let the pain subside from that groin and just walk.
Most of all though - be patient. This is a long distance run, not a sprint. Your bones need to heal, your muscles need to heal. You're not trying to get anything stronger right now, you are trying to reattach bones that were rearranged.
Your body will also need to realign itself after the basic healing of bones and muscles is done, since it has twisted itself to compensate for the arthritis. Muscles will be atrophied and need to get back to normal shape.
A lot to do - but be patient. All of us had pain, I believe (will gladly be proven wrong if not) but it does recede if you're careful and kind to yourself.