February 17, 2011

I have had bi lateral THR. I had the first operation in September, and i waited for six weeks before i slept on my side with a pillow between my legs. It was awful, as i only managed to sleep for a few hours each night.

I had my second operation on January 10th, i was dreading the six weeks without sleep again. This time i put a folded pillow between my legs, and turned over onto my good hip(the first operated one) after about two weeks. I rested in that position for about ten minutes. I tried this again after about an hour, and i tried it several times during the day. After a few days at this i slept the night on my good hip, sometimes waking at night to alternate between lying on my back and side.

I had no probems after, it is about six weeks now since my last operation so i am getting there.I checked through this site and ive noticed more people who tried the pillow between their lags after a few weeks, so check it out! But be careful, as you dont want to do harm to your new hip, take it gently. It worked for me, but it might be harder for you. I am just sorry now that i didnt try it after my first operation.

I am recovering really well now, but i have worked hard at it. I have a problem with a curve in my back, which causes me quite a lot of pain, but i think i am slowly starting to turn the corner. The hips are really strong now, which is great. I go to the pool everyday, and do about forty minutes exercises, i then go to the gym and do about an hour there, including cycling, treadmill, rowing machine and weights.

I found an excellent physio, who is australian. She said that i have to do Pilates to really build up the core strength in my back, and also the musscles in my legs and pelvis area. Anyway I started last week, my god it is so hard. She explained that i will be really sore afterwards because she is “waking up muscles” that have’nt been used for years. She was right!! My muscles were so sore for two days, i could barely walk. I’ve had two more sessions since, and i think i am beginning to reap the benefet of it. I still do my pool work, and gym everyday, but i think the Pilates have helped me so much. She says i will need about ten to twelve weeks to get me right. They are hard but i look forward to them now, as i think they will help me achieve my goals, of playing golf, walking, cycling etc.

My posture was a bent forward gait, with my backside sticking out, i am a little straighter now. My quads are really short, and my physio has be doing lots of exercises to stretch those. If i bend down both knees crack, and my hip sometimes due to the shortness of the quads. There is no pain in this cracking, and i have no pain in the knees , just my lower back. I am hoping that the pain is due to my improved posture, as my body learns to adjust after the operations.