My THR recovery diary

frogmorton

Congratulations on your progress @JPT

I also loved that final line and really am so pleased that you are discharged and now free to get on with your life 😊

WELL DONE YOU!

Toni x

HarryB

@JPT Great to read this update and hear how well you are doing. I'm about two months behind you, and it's encouraging to know that most of your 8-month aches have gone.

I'm full of admiration of your cold water sea swimming. I regret never learning to swim properly - I think swimming (in a pool, not the sea!) would have helped my recovery, but my style is so inefficient I am tired out after a few lengths.

And yes @Janlyn, I think we can all appreciate the sentiment in that final line. Keep up the good work, both of you.

Janlyn

@HarryB good to hear from you and I hope you're going on well after your set-back. I get what you say about swimming - I'm about the same and full of admiration for those who can sea-swim efficiently!

JPT

10 month post THR update

I cannot believe it is now 10 months! A new year to finally be able to visualise without worrying about when the surgery would be, how long recovery would take etc

I have to admit that in the winter weather (no excuse really) I haven't kept up my exercises, I've got lazy again. I do try and get out for a brisk walk most days and swim when I am brave enough. I haven't got round to starting couch25k yet but am building up to it.

My leg feels strong and most days I don't think about it which is wonderful as I was becoming obsessed!

My scar is fading away nicely and I'm not so sensitive there as I was.

When I saw the surgeon last month he did say total recovery can take up to 18 months so I will continue to be sensible and I am just happy to be back to normal.

When I look back at my symptoms, I realise that my immobility goes back several years and I just put up with it until I virtually couldn't walk. How stupid thinking I haven't got time for this, work is more important... Oh well I saved the company money and dealt with it finally when I got made redundant! All that time off and sympathy I could have got!

Lesson learned, listen to your body and deal with issues before they get worse.

Cosmic_Babe

This is a great thread thanks. I’m currently in so much pain and at the stage where I sometimes can’t even sit or stand without my hip feeling its locked but I’m so scared to have the surgery. I’m 45 years old..

HarryB

@JPT It's so encouraging to read your posts. Sometimes I thought I wasn't making progress quickly enough, then your update arrived and I realised that my recovery is very similar to yours.

I also have been slacking on my exercises. I don't think we should call ourselv@es lazy - what with cold weather and seasonal festivities, it's natural to give ourselves a bit of a break.

@Cosmic_Babe Go for the operation and try not to be scared. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes. Looking back, this time last year I was really struggling. Now I feel so much better than I've done for years.

[Deleted User]

@JPT It's amazing to read you. I'm so happy you are feeling great and you can finally choose if you want to be lazy or doing the couch25k. Are you riding your bike?

I'm 12 months from the first surgery and although it feels great, until I had the other done, I hadn't feel the benefits. It's been 6 weeks from the second and I can tell you that it feels much better than the first. All the exercises I did before the surgery have made the recovery much faster. I recommend everyone waiting for the surgery to get as much strength as they can, even it's painful and tiring. Now, I'm recovering now from both legs and I have pains everywhere but they are good pains that will pass when my body learns what's going on. I gained, again, 10lbs but increasing my activities, they are slowly disappearing.

I'm starting with a private physio on Friday and see what I'll be able to do. I had developmental hip dysplasia since I was 5 years old and I wasn't allowed to run, but Hey-Ho! I don't have that problem anymore!. Maybe I'm joining you in the couch25k. My husband is a runner and I've always felt very jealous of these couples that run together through the park. I was always waiting for him at the finish line holding his backpack when he participated in races.

@Cosmic_Babe I totally understand you but this surgery is amazing. You will not believe how great is to be able to walk painless again and even going to Tesco is great.

@HarryB I'm so happy to read your story after everything that happened. It's good to take a break of ourselves, isn't it? 2024 has been a extreme roller-coaster for many of us but here we are, in a new year with new dreams. Maybe it's time to join a swimming group and learn how to swim why not?

Janlyn

@JPT It's so good to read this update - well done!

I can say I understand totally what you say about your immobility going back several years, I can say the same about me. I remember thinking I was having 'arthritic flares' or running injuries but now looking back I can see it was just a gradual decline. I told myself I could beat it, but clearly not. The positive is that I now know that I am stronger than I was almost ten years ago and still feel I've a little progress to make. I think 18 months is realistic to reach our potential.


JPT

11 month post THR update

For some reason on the 11th anniversary of my new hip I seem to be recalling all the time in hospital and recovery really clearly. No idea why as it seems so long ago now!

Positives this month are I wore high heels for the first time in years to a Burns Night dinner dance. I was comfortable in them and danced (badly!) in them all evening without even thinking about my hip - result! It all felt good.
I have jumped up and down at a rock concert and again you wouldn't know I had ever had a hip replacement.

I use my pedal machine most mornings when the weather is not fit for outdoor cycling so this is helping keep the muscle strength up. I did notice after having Norovirus for six days recently that I really ached everywhere but my new hip! I did have to work harder when I felt better to keep those muscles working though, it does seem easy for them to weaken if you are not careful.

I hope this monthly update still helps others waiting for hip replacements or going through it. Without the diaries of the other "hippies" on here I wouldn't have managed this well. X

Wobblylegs

@JPT this diary is absolutely amazing, I’m going in for my first THR on 11th February so just a few days time and although I’m not looking g forward to those first days after it, I really appreciated your honesty in those early weeks. But the constant updates will be something I will bookmark and return to again and again in the next few months. thank you for taking the time and trouble to do this.

JPT

@Wobblylegs wishing you all the best for your surgery and recovery. Take each day at a time and think of the improvements no matter how small they are. x

Janlyn

@JPT What a wonderful update - well done - it's amazing how time flies and when we forget we have a new hip it's a totally majic feeling!

JPT

12 months post THR

Hippy first anniversary to me!

I can't believe it is one year since I went through the surgery. I looked back on my early posts and how every thing I did or felt seemed so major at the time. I look at my scar occasionally now and it is fading but my thigh looks dented but I some how feel proud of my scar that I was brave enough to go through such scary surgery.

I'm still aware of my new hip, sometimes the muscles ache deeply but mostly I don't even notice it. I do believe I need to get fitter, I'm blaming the winter on not doing much exercise!

I look forward to the time when I no longer think about or feel my hip at all.

I've bought new running gear and I'm ready to start couch2-5k as soon as it's a bit warmer. I'll let you know how it goes!

Zimmer

So very very happy for you hon and hope your recovery continues to improve, until one day, you'll realise that you're doing things automatically again without having to do a 500 point turn or grunt and groan when trying to stand 😀.

I notice a few new names on this thread so welcome everyone. Good luck and speedy recovery to those getting surgery. And for those of you still on the fence about surgery, put a list of pros and cons together, I'm sure the pros will totally outweigh the cons; no more pain, able to walk/run again, getting your independence back, going on holidays and having the strength to walk on sand.. you get it so put your name down as waiting for surgery is longer than recovery, remember that and anyway we're always here 😘

Wobblylegs

I’ve read your journey so often, it’s inspiring and realistic at the same time and has helped my through these last few weeks. I’m now 24 days out and looking forward to my first anniversary when I can feel like you 😃 .

So happy anniversary, good luck in the future to you and thank you for sharing it’s been so helpful.
Pat x

JPT

@Wobblylegs thank you for your lovely comments, if it wasn't for some of the other "hippies" on here I wouldn't have been able to cope as well as I did. Hearing others' stories is so much better than just relying on the professionals,as we are all different.
Keep going, you are doing brilliantly.

Julie x

JPT

Yippee! Today I donned my running gear and went out for my first of Couch to 5k runs!
If you haven't run using this program, it is a must for beginners or those restarting after a long gap.
I covered 2.95km in 28 mins with a mixture of 60 seconds running, 90 seconds fast paced walking.
Yes, I feel some aches but only muscular ones - my muscles wondering what on earth was going on after being so dormant for so long!
I didn't know which day I might try running but this morning just felt right.

I have to say, I feel great and have a real sense of achievement. If you'd told me a year ago that this would be possible I would not have believed it.

I will go careful and will probably not do the full 5k (4k was much nicer!) but this is a good start.

A new hip has definitely given me my old life back 😊

Zimmer

Wow hon, I was reading your post with my mouth agape, so fantastic, I'm so happy for you. I wish I could give you a hug, that's such a milestone, you must be on cloud nine. Super super amazing news xx

Wobblylegs

@JPT what an amazing achievement, I'm very envious and I think you've done brilliantly. I was hoping to emulate your 1 year progress but you've well exceeded expectations and I'm so pleased for you. Well done 🤗 x

Janlyn

@JPT - wow, well done, this is so good to read. I hope you come back and tell us when you get to 4k.

I understand how you suddenly felt the day was right to start to run again. I decided I would stick with walking and not run, but I admit I sometimes feel I want to break into a run, and maybe I will?

It really is miracle surgery - I have been seeing a chiropractor to get myself the very best I can be. I was amazed this week when he told me I'd surpassed his expectations and if he hadn't known I'd had a THR he wouldn't have realised, or been able to say which hip had been replaced.

HarryB

@JPT Great to read your anniversary update. You have done amazingly well.

Very brave of you to start running again. I don't think I will risk running (not that I ever enjoyed it anyway, unless it was as part of a sport like football or tennis). Having said that, I have to admit to an inner glow of pride last week, when I was penalised for running in a walking football session!