Hip replacement - some help and advice needed please

Top of the page… not image…

Look out for the 👯‍♀️ dancing girls 👯‍♀️

That is barely two weeks ago Wenbo. If you are concerned get some medical advice but if you have been walking maybe it’s your hip’s way of letting you know it needs a rest.
Do look at our hips and knees thread, in its 5 th iteration, with plenty of help, advice and support from those who have experienced these procedures.
I have just started our 5 th hips and knees thread and it’s on the health forum, top of the image if it doesn’t appear on Active.

Hi. I had a thr on 31st October. Today I found walking more painful. When I step on my operated leg it hurts more at the top of my thigh than previous couple of days. Is this normal.

It's major surgery. Your body has to recover from the onslaught on it. Take it easy. I hope you can sleep but I know that's a problem for many after this surgery.

I second the advice not to discard the second support too soon be it crutches or sticks Keeps your posture better and evens out your gait
Hopefully you will soon put this discomfort behind you
Take care

Thank you Grannytomany.
I do have a supply of codeine sent home with me so I am actually taking them along with Paracetamol. My instructions in my booklet as far as crutches are concerned were to progress to one when it felt comfortable enough to do so. I told the Hospital I was pottering in the kitchen with 1 crutch as otherwise I could not prepare food etc and they say thats fine. I obviously use two crutches for walking.. I think different hospitals use different restrictions as I have no 90 degree restriction although I am am being very careful. Hopefully once I get home with different furniture (more supportive) and my own bed I will feel better not only mentally but physically as well.
I really appreciate your reply - it’s always helpful from someone who has been there and done that. Yes Im only a week down the road and like you I do feel I have been hit by a bus so I admit that probably Ive expected too much of myself,

Yalland, I fear you’re expecting too much too soon and probably trying to do more than you should. I had my hip op 18 months ago and for the first 10 days or so I felt totally broken and as I’d been run over by a double decker and then trampled by an elephant. I had much more of a shock to the system than I’d expected.

You should have access to painkillers which which help greatly and if you don’t have anything, get in touch with the doctor. I was sent home from hospital on the third day with just one week supply of paracetamol. My doctor could hardly believe that and prescribed codeine in addition. It made all the difference.

I hope this doesn’t sound like lecturing but you should still be using both crutches while your hip is in the very early healing stage. I know it makes it difficult to carry anything but I made drinks in flasks and carried them in a cross body bag. My bra became pockets for small items as did my waistbands.

Don’t you have any leaflets or instructions from the hospital telling you when you should progress to one crutch only and then onto a walking stick.

Bearing in mind that comparisons are odious I should stop reading so much about other people and what they are doing. Not everyone tells the truth or likes to admit that they’re finding it hard.

I found it harder than I expected but I followed the rules because I didn’t want to do anything which might put my recovery back. At my six week follow up appt I was walking quite easily with a stick and my consultant said my progress was very good. He said to me that if anyone told me that they were back playing golf or similar at 6 weeks they’d be lying.

I couldn’t have got through those first few without good pain relief so please don’t try.

Please feel free to pm if you’d like to.

Thank you all so much with your replies and input. It’s very much appreciated.
I have been in touch with the hospital and they have reassured me on a few things and also have given me a number to ring for more advice if I am worried. I think once you accept that everyone recovers at a different rate and that there is no ‘norm’ with these things it helps alleviate the worries which in turn helps with the pain somewhat.
I am keeping as active as my age and mobility will allow and the hospital is happy with that. Sleeping is an issue which I am sure a move back to my own bed will help fix. I did know that hearing from folk who have gone through similar experiences would be my best form of education hence my original post and so I thank you all for the enormous help you have been. I will keep you up to date on the hips and knees forum. Jenni

The policy of the hospital where I had my hips relaxed is to say just walk
My situation was complicated by muscle wastage due to steroid myopathy
At my 12 month review my surgeon commented on how good my gait was
I told him I had found a good physio
He was in agreement snd when I said I thought the advice was just walk. He shrugged his shoulders and muttered something about that’s hospital policy

I think that every consultant and physiotherapist has their own opinion on their merits or otherwise of post operation exercises. I was given booklets showing exercises but on my 6 week check was told to stop doing some of them as they were straining the muscles around the new hip. I walked as much as was comfortable in the few weeks after my operation in December, but the weather was too bad so I walked indoors. As I have problems with my spine, I still use walking sticks when outside, but not indoors or in my garden.
It’s early days for you Yalland, take it easy and just do what you can, you’ll get there in the end!

I went via the Nice guidance and Cochrane data. I think we all feel that we must do something ourselves but it seems that legs and hips are meant for walking rather than passive repetitions of exercises. So just walk. Practise going up and downstairs when you feel up to it. Just have a go.

But in the op case, she says she has been given a booklet of exercises.

Surely you are not saying that in her case, she should ignore them, Aveline?

Mell967 I stand by my comments re physio. Check the research. My consultant agreed with me.

Yes SL 48 I found that thread brilliant with a raft of info thank you.

I too had the Exeter Hip replacement Aug 22 it's Brilliant. I had a Knee replacement 6 months prior to the Hip and my other Hip was done 9 years ago.
You pain should have gone by now, is it Hip or muscle pain?
I stopped with Painkillers after a couple of days.
I did pay for a few sessions with a Physio as I was getting back ache, but I was aware I had a bad habit in the way I was walking and sitting , we all compensate for the pain, but with x2 recent replacements I needed advice.
I had to retrain that Memory Walking Muscle, not they way I was holding myself so taught.
I have now been back in the Gym for about 18 months, my Hip is perfect I can even sit cross legged.
So be kind to yourself, take your time, your fixed.
Do the exercises you were discharge with if you can afford to see a Physio for a few sessions will be worth it?
Best of luck..

Hello Yalland. Congratulations on your new hip, its very new, only been a week. I think you need to rest a bit and not worry too much about progress.
I am not surprised that you have some discomfort on sitting and standing. I felt like I was sitting on a golf ball for ages.
I began a thread on hips and knees 2 years ago, it’s still going strong, and there are a couple of people who have had the op recently or about to as well as lots of others who had the operation weeks/months/ years ago. In a couple of weeks it will be two years for me.
I had always thought I had no problem snd was walking miles after a week or two, but I made notes at the time which I came across the other day and clearly I have been kidding myself. It didn’t take long but wasn’t as fast as I thought. It’s major surgery so be patient .
If you want to have a read you can access it on the health forum look out for the 👯‍♀️ and do post there because there is a wealth of experience at your fingertips.

My OH has had 2/THRs and was not advised specific exercises apart from walking. I think it’s dependent upon the procedure and consultant. He now walks with normal gait and can manage around 8-9 miles hill walks, but everyone is different.

If you continue to have marked pain on weight bearing you should get medical advice, and don’t compare to others at the same stage, it varies so much.

Exercises are a big part of post operative recovery.
I’m concerned that there are comments to say otherwise.
Please only ever work within your own pain levels/limitations.
Never be in pain or have uncontrolled pain.
Please always follow the guidelines given by your Consultant 😊

Totally agree
I was knock kneed and for a short time had arch supports till I developed the correct muscles
Have noticed a number of people who become knock need after new hips

After a hip or knee replacement it's useful to change your shoes. They can be worn down by your pre op gait.

Following my hip replacement x2 I was told just walk that’s the modern advice.
However I went to a physio who also worked for the NHS she was very good at realigning my posture
Her complaint was that with North Wales policy of no physio. Nine months or so patients were referred to her for continuing pain due to poor posture. Which of course is much harder to sort out after a delay. So yes I think good physio is essential not just a hand out with exercises

I am with Aveline I also am concerned re your pain level and feel that should be checked. It should be improving each day. Is it worse than your pre op pain?

Good luck

I confess to being wary of repeated abnormal movements as a way of getting well. Our legs are made for walking and that seems to me to be the best exercise, and research bears that out. So please do not do anything that is causing pain.

I would certainly ask about your pain levels with the medics. You need to be reassured that all is well.

Good luck with your recovery.

I've not had a hip replacement but recovery from any sort of trauma to the body varies according to age and general level of fitness. Don't compare yourself with others but focus on your improvement. Do you have less or more pain now than a week ago or is it the same? Can you walk a bit further now than a few days ago? How do you feel in yourself? Keep a little chart and monitor your progress. Hopefully, you'll realise you are improving, even if slowly, if you aren't then it's definitely time to contact the hospital/GP. Good luck with your recovery.

I went via the Nice guidance and Cochrane data. I think we all feel that we must do something ourselves but it seems that legs and hips are meant for walking rather than passive repetitions of exercises. So just walk. Practise going up and downstairs when you feel up to it. Just have a go.
Maybe age comes into it. My DD had a hip replacement at age 40 and never used a stick at all. (Our local hospital does not advise crutches).
I am concerned at OPs pain level and think she should take it up with the surgeon.

Thank you all so much for your input. My sister keeps reminding me that at 80 years old I cant expect to be hopping around like a spring chicken and that recovery will no doubt take longer……. If I know that things are on par for where they should be I will be a happy bunny and accept that it will take a while to be moving without too much pain. Will ring the hospital this morning to see if they can reassure me.
I am not now on the strong opiates but am taking codeine and paracetamol. I am not in pain when at rest. As for the exercises I have a booklet telling me what I should be doing . Most of them are fine and I use them combined with frequent small walks to keep things moving…. Would just like a little less pain when I do move.