Hip Replacement - 1 Week - With Full Exercise Regime Demonstrations

[@rachaelmurray4254]

Thank you for posting and allowing us to share Shelley’s progress. I’m 18 weeks post THR. My surgical team was amazing but it’s not until you live each moment that you truly understand what this surgery and recovery is like. I’m only 40 but OA in my left hip was so bad I was in constant agony. Triathlon, mountain walking, work all halted. Now I can’t wait to get going again (not running though). During the darker days of recovery I was desperate for some straight talking up front stories from other people of my age and active lifestyle. It was quite a lonely time. Best of luck Shelley and I promise you that each day does get better!

[@GaryZaruba]

😅

[@yellowfrangipanni]

Thank you so much for publishing this. I'm in Australia and it seems we do similar things here. I was very interested to hear of your sister in USA. I'm Just 7 days post op. Thank you for talking "straight". The first week was, as Shelley said "tough". I did a lot of pre-hab work which has helped my progress. Home today for the first day. So tired. Sleep has made a big difference and so has sorting out the pain killers - they can really mess you up. Resuming exercises tomorrow. Thanks again.

[@shelleyowide97]

Don't be surprised if you get really tired when you start your exercises I found myself napping in the afternoon. Don't be brave about the pain killers its not worth it especially at night if you need them take them. It wont be for long. I stopped the Oxy when I came home but took the paracetamol and ibuprofen for two weeks and after that just if needed. There will be good and bad days over the next three weeks but it is worth it. I took the slow and steady approach only doing what my physio recommended (even though sometimes I wanted to do more) and it has worked for me. Eight weeks in I am pain free and doing everything except running. My sister overdid it and has ended up with a hip flexor strain so be careful. Good Luck.

[@yellowfrangipanni]

@@shelleyowide97 Hi Shelley thanks for the reply, re the pain killers, agreed, they are needed but the key for me was to find ones that suited me. I was very sensitive to endone and palaxium, came home simply with panadol and cerebrex at night. I went for my first 10 minute walk today - so far today with that walk I have notched up more steps in a day than I have in months. My activities were so drastically modified pre THR. I have found that I need a nap in the afternoon . My sleep patterns are all messed up and I find it hard to sleep on my back. Getting up to walk around and stretch it. Hubby even gives it a massage with our massage machine to help settle upper body muscles that are used to exercise. My Physio said ok to do upper body weights but to TAKE IT EASY more light reps than weight. So I'll be looking at how I can sort that a little more later today. I agree its very important to listen to the body and to modify activities in response to that. Thank you again for sharing your journey please keep in touch. I feel excited that I can achieve what you are doing as well.

[@robohippy]

The worst thing for me in that first week was not being able to sleep for more than about 90 or so minutes at a time. You can't roll over... After a week or so, I was more used to that. I had bilateral hip replacement. Apparently there is a difference in exercises and movements depending on which method they use, coming in from the top, the side, or the back side. They came in from the top for me.

[@shelleyowide97]

Hi. They came in from the side for me and although they told me I could lie on my side straight away I actually found I couldn't so i had the same trouble sleeping. My sister has just had the same operation (in the USA) but going in from the front.. The difference seems to be the exercises they allow you to do. Day two I was already doing exercise standing up and by week 2 they increased the intensity whereas my sister has only been given exercises lying down and is not expected to see a physio until week three. The good news is that they say however they go in we should all end up at the same place at 12 weeks. Cant wait longest five weeks ever.

[@robohippy]

@@shelleyowide97 I was surprised to see you in the water so soon. For me, I was waiting to get back into the pool. They told me that I had to make sure the would was totally healed. One difference between the hips and the knee replacements was with the hips, they were using the gauze and tape for bandages. With the knee, they had a new 'honey comb' 'visible post op bandage'. It was a patch of closed cell foam, so nothing would stick to it, that looked like a honey comb, and they had a clear plastic tape over that. This made the bandage 'water resistant' so I could take showers, but not soak in the tub. Much better than having to take sponge baths for a week or more. It healed up much faster as well. They really worry about infections in the public pools, which is understandable. It took me at least a year to 'adjust' to walking upright again, had to do a lot of hip flexor work. I did tell my surgeon that he needed to get the clip from the old Ringo Starr movie 'Cave Man' for part of his information packet. If you aren't familiar with that old cult classic movie, the cavemen and women are all walking around very bent over. Ringo and one of his friends give a big hug, there is a loud crack sound as their backs snap into the upright position, and then they have big ear to ear grins.... It was pretty much instant pain relief from the hips, and my sciatica disappeared over night. Good luck on your recovery!!!

[@DaleMaher-oq9xv]

4 months after surgery still feel shocking. Painful and losing weight drastically over 12kilos lost. No appetite at all. I applaud all those with quick recovery but am just realising that it can also be very slow for some which we don't hear about