?‍♀️Hip Replacement #2 ?‍♀️ (Knees Welcome!) ?‍♀️

Misdeke one week is too early to be doing physical activity. Please don’t overdo things. I had my new hip mid April and the first two weeks were difficult. Then slowly started to walk a bit, though always being careful of not putting it under strain.
Still can’t put my sock on it sit on the floor, do be careful.
Slowly does it.
Check out the first thread on here which was full of helpful information.
Glad you have helpful neighbours.

Lovely to read how all of you have come through this, and different levels of progress. I need to be more patient, having been very independent and living alone for 14 years its frustrating when I cant dam well do things. Even getting on the bed is an effort. It hasn't helped because a lot of people who said they would be there for me have suddenly disappeared on the wind. Feeling a bit low and grumpy today!!!

silverlining unless you fall I would say that sitting on the floor is a permanent no-no. It is difficult to get up without twisting and I personally would not put a new hip at risk of dislocation.

I would be wary of the height of chairs I sat on for at least 3 months.

I love this site, so full of helpful advice.

Misdeke and mystic girlracer I really do understand where you are at....it is really difficult without all the information you need to make sense of what you should and should not do. I had to drive on day 12...I was given an urgent referral to the physio team ( hospital requested) but it was 30 miles away. I was told (,by the physio) a long as I could do an emergency stop (ie stamp my foot) I could drive. I was torn between wanting to attend but and driving so soon and I did drive very cautiously. I did make the mistake of doing a big shop after the appointment as there was an Aldi on the way back. When I did arrive home I had to leave all the shopping in the car as I could hardly move. Lesson learnt!!. I did continue to drive but only very locally and as needed. My problem was definitely wanting to get back to 'normal' as quickly as possible and that would stem from past experiences where being incapacitated for any length of time wasn't accepted. My DOH now could not be more different and has been so supportive and encouraging but old habits die hard. You will find that there is a lot of different advice on here according to where you had your surgery. I was told I could lie on my unoperated side when it was comfortable to do so but with a pillow between my legs to stop your operated leg falling forward. I did that for 3 weeks and then I was able to sleep on either side as per physios again (albeit short periods). I also understand the need to garden. I use one of those stools that convert to kneeler and avoid overreaching still. Until my accident I was fairly fit and I think that may make a difference because even in the short time I can see how much my muscle tone and gait had changed and that must be made worse if the hip has deteriorated over a long period prior to surgery meaning that getting back to'normal' is going to be different for everyone. If you are unsure keep asking the professionals advice and listen to your body too between the two you'll know what you can and should do. Good luck going forward.

Silverlinings48....our bath is one of those Victorian style kidney shaped ones so lower towards the taps. In the beginning I stood sideways on to the bath (lower end) with my operated leg closest to the bath . I then stepped sideways in....moved backwards then bent my unoperated leg and lowered myself in keeping my operated leg straight. You do need to use your arms a lot. Getting out I bent the unoperated leg and pushed up with my arms until I was standing then stepped sideways onto the floor. I hope this helps and you can relax in a warm bath soon.

Charleygirl5...I know you raise your eyes in horror at some of my antics but I did check with the doctor at my 6 week check up before using the vibrating plate again and was given the green light. Because of my previous spinal surgery I know how important it is to keep my core muscles strong to take the strain off my back and the 'jiggler' certainly helps. I am keeping it at a low level for now though.

Naughtyneine I have been told by different sources that I can lay on my operated side after 6 weeks and that I shouldn't lay on my operated side. I see you laid on your operated side first, that's why I'm so confused by dr Google. One site said don't lie on the unoperated side because of the danger of the leg flopping down and dislocating.

I definitely don't feel that I'm ready to drive yet, and also would the insurance be invalid if driving when unfit? So many questions...

I wish I'd been a bit more with it when I was at the hospital and asked these questions at the time. I think maybe I should just see how it all goes.

It sounds like you are bit of the independent, impatient to get back to normal just like me, but glad to hear your recovery is progressing well.

I am at a stage where I can barely read the antics of some of you ladies.

May I suggest that those who will be going to an appointment in the near future should write down specific questions.

I am horrified that so many were discharged without specific information such as when and how to lie on one's side in bed. As well as a pillow between the knees you may find it comfortable to place one behind your back thus stopping you from rolling onto your back during the night.

oh dear charleygirl, i was reading your instructions about "putting one behind your back". thought you mean one knee !

Hi everyone, nothing much to report but good to hear all your stories.
I was just wondering how all your hip problems began.
Thought I would share my story as it has been far from straightforward.

Beginning of April 2021 not aware of any hip problems or discomfort.

Mid April 2021 discomfort in right groin area when walking.

GP prescribed anti inflammatory tablets for 14 days, by phone.

Increasing pain, could not lie down in bed, in any position.

April 29th 2021 called 111 as could not stand pain any longer, right leg rigid and I could not move it. They sent paramedics.

Paramedics a little dismissive and I felt they thought I was making a fuss. ‘May be a bit of sciatica but we’ll take you to hospital.’

Taken by ambulance to a & e in severe pain and rigid right leg.

Sky high inflammation and infection levels from blood tests, done fairly promptly on arrival.

Straight into X-ray and then CT scan.

Diagnosis: Septic Arthritis Right Hip (Osteoarthritis in both hips).

All systems go, lots of doctors at bedside in a & e.

IV antibiotics, Oramorph, Codeine and Paracetamol for eight days in hospital.

Synovial biopsy of hip joint with Ultrasound.

PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) put in arm on day seven, so five more weeks of daily IV antibiotics could be given at home, and weekly blood tests taken at home.

Left hospital with masses of equipment and supplies for our local Rapid Response nurses to administer in our front room.
They were just incredible and became friends over the next five weeks. Only ever saw their eyes though, as we all had to wear masks.

Weekly trips back to Orthopaedics. Microbiology Consultant
and for Clinical Nurse Specialist to change PICC dressing. Still on 2 crutches so not easy.

In September my Consultant sent me for a MRI of hip so he could see exactly what was going on.

Result: Avascular Necrosis “with features of Osteomyelitis and Septic Arthritis” to quote the surgeon’s letter.

He then referred my hip to the Bone Infection Unit in Oxford (we live in London) which is part of the NHS Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital. It is “the country’s only specialist unit dedicated to the investigation and treatment of patients with all aspects of bone or joint infection.”

This was last October and came as a huge shock. The Multidisciplinary Team in Oxford discussed my hip and decided my surgeon in London would be able to replace it. I was put on his list and am still waiting.

Sorry to ramble on but it has been therapeutic to actually write down a brief summary of the last 14 months, the first time I have done this.

I wondered how everybody’s hip problems had started and hope there wasn’t so much drama involved. I would have preferred my story to have just been straightforward.

I hope those with their new hips have had a reasonably comfortable day. I really enjoy reading all the stories.
BTW, I was quite indignant, and a little upset, to read that Avascular Necrosis can be caused by alcohol and drug addiction ………. Not in my case!

Hello ipadGrandma it sounds like you have been through a lot and are still waiting for a date.
My story in a nutshell.
I was similar in some ways, June 2021 while walking noticed sudden pain in left groin, spoke with gp. Referred to local Nhs hospital. Pain got worse so sought advice from benenden when I was xrayed and had am mri. Moderate arthritis diagnosis with a vascular necrosis and extensive oedema, with offer of guided injection. This made matters of pain far worse. Contacted Nhs hospital about wait and advised they had not received a referral and I should request new referral and be placed at the end of the list.
Contacted surgery requested alternative hospital and was seen a few weeks later as nhs patient in small private hospital.
Operation done 4 months later.
Now 11 weeks post op doing well no hip pain though aches a bit due to other problems .
I hope you get a date soon as I know how worried I was especially about the necrosis!

Please may I remind the gardeners no kneeling for 3 months.

For the first 8-12 weeks you should not be walking for miles- a couple of hundred yards to begin with and then slowly build up from there.

Hello all, my problem started April 21. I had extreme pain in my groin . I wasn’t offered a GP appointment but a telephone appointment with the community physiotherapist. After a few questions he stated that I had pulled a muscle and gave me a link to YouTube exercises! By August 21 the pain was worse radiating into my leg and back . I still couldn’t see a GP face to face so I booked an appointment with an osteopath. He was great and immediately said I needed an MRI of my back as he felt that was the problem. Private MRI done ( 13 week wait on NHS) which showed severe arthritis of the spine. My back improved with the osteopath but groin didn’t so he then thought it was probably my hip . Still no GP face to face but she sent me for a hip X-ray . Surprise! I had osteoarthritis of both hips . I was lucky that I got an appointment fairly quickly as our area is using the private hospitals to see NHS routine patients . I had a guided injection which didn’t help and 4 months after that had my hip replacement surgery. So although I was pretty aggrieved that the physio and GP didn’t see me face to face and it may have been diagnosed earlier, in the long run I had my op within 6 months of the eventual diagnosis!
Back ache still a problem but I can’t replace that ! ipadgrandma you really had an awful time , I do hope you get your surgery soon

But where is this advice from Charleygirl??

There will be many of us on the Restriction Free protocol which I will post for clarity & hopefully it will be useful to those who are unclear. It has been approved by Clinical Audit and Effectiveness Group at the Nuffield Hospitals where I had my surgery.
By 12 weeks I had pretty much forgotten about my hip most of the time, it just feels like my own hip and now, 4+ months down the line I'm fully recovered from my surgery. I'm still recovering muscle strength that was lost during many years of osteoarthritis and I'm doing that by enjoying normal daily activities and walking. My gait is normal and graceful once more, instead of that awful rolling limp.

I have been gardening since quite early on in my recovery, doing what is comfortable and keeping my movements in the safe and sensible range. And that includes kneeling without discomfort.

Are you a doctor, Charleygirl5?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sorry, that screenshot was pretty unreadable & I've asked GN to remove. This should be better:

Restriction Free Protocol

Hello everyone! ?
I’m sort of skim reading the thread; I’ll go back and read it properly after posting this.
Blimey ipadG, you have been through a lot. I can understand how therapeutic you found writing it all down.
I also feel like I’ve been treated shabbily by the NHS. I’ve been fobbed off for years regarding my leg.
I’m also starting to realise that I’ve also been going through the menopause for years, which has caused problems that I didn’t link to the menopause.
Anyway, that’s another story, and I’m rambling.
Stephanie, as far as I’m aware Charley is an extremely experienced HCP.
Back in a bit…x

Hi Laine, what’s that document please?

FannyCornforth

Hi Laine, what’s that document please?

Its the physio information I was given on my discharge from hospital based on the Restriction Free Protocol following THR. Sorry, the quality isn't the best as its a screen shot. If its not clear, I've now figured how to convert a HEIC file to JPG. And all before 7.30 ?

Sorry Laine, I’ve just realised that you posted earlier what it was
I had mine at the Nuffield, but I wasn’t given that.
To say that we’re all given differing info is an understatement.
From a couple of comments that I heard from nurses while I was in hospital, a lot of it seems reliant upon what your surgeon believes to be for the best.

I don’t wish to sound bossy, just an idea, could we post at the start of our posts when we had our ops, please? (Eg, in my case ‘10 days ago - THR’)
I find it difficult to remember who is where on the ^Hobble Highway^
Like wise, I can’t remember who came out with that fabulous term, but thank you!

Laine, if I give you my email by pm, could you send me that JPEG please? (Btw - well done! ?)

I think the difficulty is that surgeons seem to have differing views of post op rehabilitation. Some keep to strict precautions and others are much more relaxed ? and some presumably take a middle ground. This does make for confusion for patients and the physio working with them.
I generally err on the cautious in life but my physio was not troubled about my walking and congratulated me on the distance I was managing after the first few weeks do I carry on. If it hurts I stop.
I am not back to normal as socks and shoes are still awkward and sometimes get tangled up in trousers as they can twist as I put them on. Tried the bath fully clothed, can’t manage the sitting down/getting up bit but can get in and out.
I have a final physio and separate surgeon appointment with X-ray shortly snd will clarify then hopefully.
All the best to those who wait and those on the recovery road and thanks to everyone who offers advice and suggestions, always helpful.

Oh dear. Yesterday for the first time ever my non operated hip began to be sore in the same way that my new hip started. I'm not surprised. Two new knees and one new hip left the other one taking the strain for years. It's an awful thought though. Maybe it'll improve. Maybe it'll be (somehow) OK ...

So some things that I’ve experienced over the past 10 days.
In non chronological order:

Huge, hard, red thigh.
I’ve got massive thighs at the best of times; but it really swelled up, making sitting incredibly uncomfortable.
I read that swelling can last up to a year, but luckily it’s getting back to normal now.

Excruciating pain behind my knee.
This woke me up about a week ago and it was agony. A few hours later there was a huge black bruise.
This got better; went; but has since made an unexpected and unwelcome return

Weeing all over myself, my pyjamas and the bathroom floor.
For the first few days my bladder and I really weren’t in harmony.
I don’t think that I was getting enough ‘warning’, and with a raised seat, you need to be sure that you are sitting right back on it.

Sitting. I’ve found sitting the most difficult part.
The most comfortable chair prior to my op was a cheap and cheerful plastic garden chair from B&Q; but post op, due to my gargantuan thigh, I couldn’t fit in it.
The most comfortable option now is sitting on the sofa, with a really fat, firm pillow underneath my bum and thighs.
I’m going to get one (or two) of those special riser cushions.

(That’s enough for now!)

Fingers crossed ? Aveline but st least we know the surgery helps, it’s just getting it that is the pain.
My other leg is also taking The strain so understand, ?