Working whilst waiting for an Op

masaka

Hello,

I have just joined. I am curious to know if I am being a wimp.

I am waiting for a revision to a 19 year old hip replacement. I seem to be in constant pain with it. A constant dull ache, plus other pain varients. I can feel it most of the time. The socket has loosened, and rotated. I have also got OA in my right hip. It is mild on X-Ray but hurts like hell.

Just to liven things up even more I have got RA - fairly mild and controlled by sulphalazine. However it is still there and I am in fairly constant low to middle level pain with it.

The GP has prescribed Amytriptiline to help with pain. What are people's experiences with it? I was a bit freaked out when I read it was an antidepressant.

I am now at the point where I am struggling with work. I am using crutches now, with an electric wheel chair to help at work. I work full time as a teacher. I have told my boss I can't manage full time any more until I have the op. Trying to teach practical science on crutches is a bit of a no no.

My question is it just me being a total wimp or have other people had real problems prior to a revision? (I have sort of assumed that if it wasn't painful it probably wouldn't need doing)

I haven't really got a frame of reference. I am 45 by the way.

Any advice comments would be welcome.
Thanks,

Teresa

frogmorton

Blimey Teresa!
You've done really well - Im with Scottishlass on that one!!
Part-time is much more realistic isn't it?
Sounds as though you have a lot on your plate at the moment. More than most would cope with.
Amitrip - I have it too 25mg at night and it does help me get a good nights sleep when I'm in agony so worth considering.
Suggest though that you try it out when you're not at work the next day as I didn't wake up til;l 2pm the next day when i first tried it!!! :oops:
Hope the op date comes up very very soon.
Take care
toni x

masaka

Thanks,

That makes me feel better.

Teresa

frogmorton wrote:

Blimey Teresa!
You've done really well - Im with Scottishlass on that one!!
Part-time is much more realistic isn't it?
Sounds as though you have a lot on your plate at the moment. More than most would cope with.
Amitrip - I have it too 25mg at night and it does help me get a good nights sleep when I'm in agony so worth considering.
Suggest though that you try it out when you're not at work the next day as I didn't wake up til;l 2pm the next day when i first tried it!!! :oops:
Hope the op date comes up very very soon.
Take care
toni x

nearlybionic

Hi I think you are doing amazing considering the pain and discomfort you are in. I am waiting for my 1st hip replacement, had pre op , just need a date and bed!!
I haven`t worked for several months as my job involves a lot of driving and getting in and out of a car is v painful and i get pain and spasms into my leg if i drive. I am on 50mg of amitryptiline in evenings which really helps. I must admit i thought my gp was kidding me when he prescribed it!! I do have down days but i`m not depressed!!!! :shock:
Any tips for a first time hip opper?

masaka

Hi,

Try to make sure that you are in the best state of health before hand. You will need resources to get over the op. Also talk to people so they know if you are scared. I wasn't scared of the op just of the hospital. I had some bad experiences as a child. Also don't expect to be with it for a while after the op. It does take it out of you. I took loads of books in with me, but it was weeks before I could concentrate to read.

I was an idiot last time. I worked right up to the op. I knew my problem was serious when a physio started to ask does it hurt? it was like one of the fixed points of the universe had shifted - mind you it didn't stop them continuing to beat me up on a regular basis. 4 times a week right up to the op. How the NHS has changed. I haven't seen one this time round except to get some crutches. How are you amusing yourself whilst you are waiting? I would recommend a Nintendo DS they are great fun.

What I will say it was worth all the pain and discomfort. It took about 3.5 months before I decided to keep it!!! Mine has been all over the place. I took it to Uganda on VSO, Iceland in search of whales, and finished off this summer by a 3 hour round trip on an open boat to St Kilda. No wonder its packing up now. It will revolutionise your life. Where are you being done?

Hope it goes well,

Teresa

quote="nearlybionic"]Hi I think you are doing amazing considering the pain and discomfort you are in. I am waiting for my 1st hip replacement, had pre op , just need a date and bed!!
I haven`t worked for several months as my job involves a lot of driving and getting in and out of a car is v painful and i get pain and spasms into my leg if i drive. I am on 50mg of amitryptiline in evenings which really helps. I must admit i thought my gp was kidding me when he prescribed it!! I do have down days but i`m not depressed!!!! :shock:
Any tips for a first time hip opper?[/quote]

nearlybionic

Hi
I am having op at Wrightington Hospital. I am spending a lot of time on my laptop!! But i will take my daughters ds in with me, and books. I feel ok about it now but will be shaking on the day!! My anaethetist offered me an epidural due to me being on morphine now, and he didn`t want to give me loads of morphine after. I said "oh ok" then "but i won`t be awake will I?" he said yes, and i freaked!! I am a nurse and have been in ortho theatre so i couldn`t be awake in there. So i`m having GA and epidural!! Shouldn`t feel anything then eh?