THR my new life as a bionic person

@Nurina Well done, in persevering. I do get what your physio says but you're young and what's one to two years of work now to improve the rest of your life? And it't so uplifting to hear the joy in your voice regarding feeling great. So inspirational - well done!

@Janlyn @Nurina I have been following the experience of you both which has been so encouraging and helpful and thank you for sharing as others have said it’s really helpful to read real experiences. I am just coming up to 11 weeks post right THR and have an appointment with surgeon next week. I’m walking without crutches using poles if I walk outside for any distance doing my physio daily but still getting pain in groin my but and scar physio says it’s muscle and tendons the other big issue for me is my unoperated leg the knee is so painful I am considering asking GP to refer me to orthopaedic. Physio said maybe a good idea but went on to say often the good leg takes a bashing and post surgery can play up is this anything you have experienced and did it get better it’s so disheartening when my range of motion in what was my bad leg has come back.

thanks Twig

@Nurina thanks I will ask surgeon when I see him. It’s like you think things are settling and then you get another ache I am not a patient patient and I have read here the 3 Ps so I need to try and remember them and you are right it is early days it’s just such a roller coaster

thanks for your help

thank you @Janlyn you are right about being at 11 weeks and feel not making progress it’s easy to forget how far I’ve come it was 11 weeks ago today! I think I have been so up and down one min elevated at the change the next feeling going backward with pain but it’s nothing like the pain before and I need to remember that. It’s my first day today of a phased return to work it will be interesting to see how I feel tonight!

Thanks once again

This is very similar to what my surgeon said. It's an operation to relieve pain, not to give you the mobility you had a few years ago. I found that very difficult to accept.

Mentally before my surgery I viewed that as the fix I needed to make everything good again, but as I've found out post bilateral hip replacements it comes with it's own pains and limitations. Right done July '21, left done December '23 and both still cause me issues such as being unable to sit too long without pain, and restless leg at night. That's been hard for me because I know there's no fix except maybe time and the area to desensitise.

Equally I was basically bed bound before my surgery and now I play football at least once a week, go to the gym 4+ times a week, and now training for a 10k race. I still get a lot of discomfort where they cut through and I'll always want more though, but that's probably a symptom of the stubbornness and determination you build from being in chronic pain.

So I can't really complain. I'm human though so I'm still going to.

@Nocturne It's good that you are thinking of this ahead of surgery and that you're well prepared regarding food and things. I do think after surgery you won't be tempted to bend initially. I was frightened I would forget but really I was moving too slow to forget. I had put most things I would need at the right height. I had sorted out clothes I could put on easily and didn't go anywhere without my grabber, long handled shoe horn and sock helper. I think to expect everything will take longer than usual to do is worth remembering. Getting up and down stairs, getting washed and dressed, getting food ready (even when organised) takes longer than usual. Tiredness just happens. Sleeping at night might be difficult so short naps during the day are useful. Exercises take time too.

If it's any help I was terrified of looking after myself but actually it was much better than I had thought. Somehow I didn't forget and do the wrong thing and slowly, sometimes very slowly, progress was made. Keeping s long-handled bag close is useful for putting things in to move around the house. Putting a chair by the kettle means you can easily have a hot drink. I can't think of anything specific but please do ask if there's anything you are particularly worried about.

Take care.

@Nocturne you are well prepared and it will help your recovery. Don't worry too much about how to do things, much of it comes naturally, and they do show you what to do, and not to do, before you leave hospital.

Take care.

Thank you for your tips Trish, and also Janlyn. I have some baggy sweatpants and wear slip on shoes so with the shoe horn should be ok. When I ordered my sock puller I found an extra item in the pack - they look like braces and apparently are for pulling up trousers so I'll have a dress rehearsal, sounds like the same technique you describe. I guess lots of wiggling and giggling . . . . . . Wearing things with pockets is a good idea too.

Hi Zimmer - let's hope everyone has some Ideas how to speed things up for you?

Toni x

@Janlyn @frogmorton thanks both. I have no idea what to do, someone did suggest paying for a private consult and then be put on his nhs waiting list, basically jumping the queue, but that just seems wrong to me. I am, starting to lean towards this option if I get more of a run around you know. Just so sick of these four walls, the pain, constantly relying on others and absolutely no independence.

I think I'll push myself to get back in the pool, as that always seemed to lift my spirits.

Yeah, that's probably why then, as I'm in Wales and there's not many hospitals that fall within my county's catchment area pff

I can't believe it's been a year already Janlyn, hope you've fully recovered now