August 9, 2013

I thought I got an easy ride yesterday but no such luck today. I went into surgery at 11am yesterday. There were a few tears during the spinal block but then I was knocked out under GA. I woke up at about 4 pm with full feeling in my operated leg and a numb good leg. Panicked a bit that they had done the wrong one!! Anyway, I was very comfortable yesterday. Had morphine on tap and just drifted in and out of consciousness most of the day. I thought everything was fine ….. then I was sick ( they tried to get me up today but I fainted. I woke with half the hospital staring down at me and tubes and stickers all over me!! That was my low point. Were gonna leave the standing until tomorrow now. Blood pressure is 80/40 which is apparently very low.

Anyway, my surgeon said my hip was ‘icky’ and he wasn’t surprised I was in a lot of pain. he said he was really pleased with how the op went and that he thinks I will get on with my new hip just fine. He did posterior approach in the end as apparently I was complicated.

August 16, 2013

At the minute I’m struggling to know how much is too much. I keep getting told to rest. I think people know me far too well and know I will probably over do it. I’ve been very good though. 8 days post op now and I’ve rested (and slept) loads and done the exact amount of physio I was told to do … not too much, not too little. I left the house for the first time yesterday. My partner took me for fish and chips and we sat and ate them next to a lake near my house in the car. It was nice to get out! I then went grocery shopping with my mum this morning. I didn’t do anything but follow her round, but again, it was nice to be out. I’m now just dying to get back on my bike but I guess that’s a no!!!

August 18, 2013

Day 11 post op – Today I have been out and about all day. I went with a friend and her son to a children’s play area. I sat on a hard chair for 2 hours. I did all my physio exercises which are now way too easy for me and I walked half a mile with my crutches. I am in no pain and am on no meds except a little paracetamol and ibuprofen. I feel good!!! I keep getting told not to over do it but I don’t think I am as my body and my new hip seem perfectly happy. The only thing that hurts are my hands from the crutches!!!! I can just about walk around the house now with no crutches however I choose not to as I am really trying hard to get a good gait and walk properly with no limp. The limp is not great without the crutches.

I’m slightly concerned with my incision as the glue seems to be removing itself a little and I am hoping its not too early for that. I don’t want it opening up so I’m keeping a close eye on it.

August 25, 2013

I’m 2 1/2 weeks now post op. I’m not in any pain and feel I have the energy to run a marathon (Obviously I couldn’t!) I’m out of the house everyday on little 2/3 hour trips such as grocery shopping, restaurants, cinema and I can walk a mile with my crutches quite easily. I haven’t pushed it past that yet but I think I could. I only walk with one crutch in the house. I can walk short distances without the crutch but I have quite a big limp so I’m sticking with the crutch to try get my gait good. My incision is healing well too. I have my first PT session on Wednesday which I’m really looking forward to. I’m hoping for some more exercises and the go ahead to get back on the stationary bike and maybe a bit of pool action! I cant wait to be able to do a bit more exercise as I’m piling on the pounds!! I think I will have to be careful though as I’ve had a couple of light headed moments when out walking in the heat. I had a very low blood pressure in hospital and they almost gave me a blood transfusion so I think perhaps my body is still recovering from all of that

August 29, 2013

3 weeks – I’m on a bit of a downer

The first two weeks I could see massive improvements everyday, but this last week, I feel like I have hit a wall. I know I should be very grateful as I seem to be having a really easy recovery compared to some and everyone keeps telling me I’m doing really well. I think the problem is, I don’t really know what to do or have anything to work on. My physio exercises have become really easy. I had my first PT session after leaving hospital yesterday but I didn’t really get any new exercises and I was told no biking … I was really hoping I could get on the static bike just for a little gentle pedal. So, I’m just sat around getting fat …… I’m still on one crutch and still have a heavy limp. I guess I just keep walking and resting and walking and resting and icing and walking … and resting?

September 13, 2013

I cant believe it’s been 6 weeks!! I went for my check up yesterday and it seems all is well. I’m off the crutches. I got the 2 hour train down to London, walked around town, got the underground … all with no crutches!!) Walking is going well although my leg is still very weak and I do have muscle pains. I’ve been in the pool a few times this week and have been on the static bike. I was told by the physio’s that I was not allowed to do breast stroke so I have been splashing round the pool like a moron trying not to sink. My surgeon couldn’t think of any reason why I couldn’t do breast stroke and said go ahead. He didn’t know why the physio’s told me that. Has anyone else been told no breast stroke?

Anyway, the surgeon seemed happy with his work and my progress. All restrictions have been lifted and I am now allowed to drive…. FREEDOM. I just hope my driving improves as it was painful when I tried the other day. The surgeon tried to lift my knee to my chest and seemed concerned when it wouldn’t go past 90 degrees. It hurt when he tried and it feels like all the muscles down the back of my leg are stopping it. He didn’t seem very pleased with this but I thought this was normal for a while?? I guess I’m going to have to work on this a lot. Anyway, photos of my shiny new hip to follow ……

I stupidly booked a flight for my return journey home not even thinking about security and all my new metal when I did so. I got to the airport alone and it dawned on me. I was frisked several times by the security woman despite telling her I had a metal hip. She didn’t seem very happy. The hand held metal detector was used and my leg was making extreme beeping noises as she ran it over. Ha, it did make me giggle 8) Then I had to take my boots off … I cant take my boots on or off without assistance so that was slightly awkward. Anyway, ultimately they let me through but it does worry me slightly. I do quite a lot of travelling to weird and wonderful places and it concerns me, especially with a language barrier, how I will get through. I guess I will have to start learning the words “I have a metal hip” in several different languages!!

October 8, 2013

I am now at 8 1/2 weeks post op! Woo hoo. I have been for 2 bike rides outdoors. The first I managed about 1.5 miles and the second 6.5 miles. They were only very slow flat miles but it was sooo nice to be back on the bike outside. I couldn’t stop grinning. I felt like I could go further too but I didn’t want to push it. I can also walk approximately 3-4 miles now comfortably and unaided before my leg starts to feel tired. I still have a limp (nothing like I was pre op) and my muscles do feel very weak but my main problem is my ROM. Its horrendous. I can barely get to 90 degrees, never mind past it. I’m happy with my progress though and feel like I am doing well.

I am currently spending 2 weeks at my work convalescent home / treatment centre which basically involves one on one physio and hydrotherapy sessions everyday. I also have access to a pool, spa, gym, classes etc. The place is amazing and I’m so fortunate to be here. The physio’s are fantastic although I spent yesterday, my first day having my bum massaged …. it HURT!!! He said my muscles are very tight. He also said that I am not using my muscles on my THR side as I should be and am relying on my hamstring instead. We are working on this. Everyone is here for different reasons and a lot of people have minor injuries or stress related problems so when I did a stretch class yesterday everyone could do it but me. I felt a bit of a fool being the youngest person in the class and did get a bit depressed after (the usual why me, it’s not fair, I’m only 30 routine) but today is a new day and I’m going to start again.

I have been through some sad and depressing times over the past few years as I’m sure most hippy’s have. It’s a difficult thing to go through, especially for people who are very active. I would like to think that I am a very upbeat person and I would also say that I can be quite tough when the need arises and try to soldier on but I have struggled at times. I had a massive struggle with the NHS last year to try get the operation and unfortunately that was the same time that my pain was at its worst which was not so great for my moral. The thing is, life is not perfect and you have to experience the lows to appreciate the highs. Our hips are rubbish but there are worse things that could happen. It’s just sometimes hard to remember, see or even believe that. It’s a hard road but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I know I will have to live with hip issues for the rest of my life and at some point soon will need my other hip doing but when I look back at how much pain I was in last year, I cannot complain. These operations really are miracles. I feel so much better now and I’m still early on in my recovery. I still have low times and always will but we have to pick ourselves up.

November 8, 2013

I am 3 months post THR today. I have been busy.

I can honestly say that I have not felt so good in years!! I just cant get used to living a life without pain.

– I sleep. I mean SLEEEEEEP. No waking up at 3am having to top up on pain killers, no tossing and turning. I just sleep. Like a ‘normal’ person.
– I walk. I walk everywhere. I actually enjoy walking! No more taxi’s home, no more having to explain to people why I cant walk. No strangers asking me if I need help or an ambulance. No sticks or crutches. No trying to park the car as close to the shops as possible, I can park where I like….. I went on a 7 mile hike in the moors the other day on pretty rough ground with one fairly steep incline. I loved it!
– I am back cycling. I can do about 20 miles at present and building it up slowly. I did 15 miles mountain biking on easy single tracks yesterday and a road ride today. I can also swim and I can go to the gym and work up a sweat. I am now working hard to try lose all the weight I have gained post surgery.
– I have no limp. It’s gone. My friends cannot believe how well I am walking. Apparently you can only tell slightly if you really watch and look out for anything.
– I can put my socks on!!!!!!!! I am still straining and its not so easy but I can do it now. I can get past 90 degrees.

Ok, so I still have a fair way to go. My ROM is improving by the day but its still poor. My psoas is sometimes sore and a bit weak and I still get some pain down my thigh when climbing up stairs or squatting. I also sometimes get slight swelling if I do too much and my lower back is in bits trying to get used to my new gait….. but WOW, I’m happy. I now just have to look after myself and make sure I don’t over do it or damage my new hip. I’m counting down the months now till I can go skiing (my surgeon says at the 6 month mark). I know I will be a lot more careful than I was pre surgery and will probably stick to easy runs for a while but I will be so happy just to be back in the mountains. I feel so good that I feel I could ski now but I’m going to be good and not do anything till I get the ok in February.

Does anyone know any good exercises to help strengthen my psoas or is it better to rest it??

Anyway, I just wanted to share my progress. A THR is not the end of your life, it’s just the beginning  I hope I continue to progress and I hope my implant lasts forever.

January 27, 2014

I had my (a few weeks early) 6 month check up. Apparently everything is looking pretty good and I am now free to do what I want. My physio, however strongly disagrees with this!! Although I don’t really get any pain anymore unless I over do things, my muscles are in a bit of a mess and my right glutes just don’t seem to be firing up again properly. Everything is tight and I’m still having ROM issues so still have a long way to go.

March 2, 2014

I have just got back from my ski trip and all I can say is … it was AWESOME!!! I went thinking I would have no confidence, probably only have the strength to do 1/2 days and perhaps really easy runs but I was wrong. I did 7 full days straight with not a wince from my hip. By the end of the week I was flying and loving every minute. I kept to my surgeons rules of no off piste, no black runs and no jumping but I can live with that. I feel like my leg is now even stronger and guess what?!!! …… the skiing seems to have helped my ROM. I have gone from 90 degrees to about 110 in the space of a week!! Wow wee

Absolutely loving life! I hope my hip lasts me many more years and many more ski seasons!

August 12, 2014

This year I have been skiing, I’ve climbed mountains, I walked my first marathon (8 months post op!), I’ve been horse riding and am an avid biker both road and mountain biking. I too have just bought a new bike, but pedal power is required for mine!! The best bit?? …. I sleep. I walk. Without pain. Without drugs. Looking back to just over a year ago, I didn’t think that would ever be possible. It’s a long road and I think personally, it’s only been the last 2 months that I have really started to feel the benefits and really started to feel strong, so be patient.