The first 2 weeks are the worse and I’m almost half way through, so I thought I’d be open about the pain and expectations.

I’m starting to notice knee and ankle pain on the operated leg, I figure this is due to traction of this leg, it’s a pretty brutal surgery so it’s no wonder these areas hurt.

• Moderate pain due to the trauma of surgery.
• Prescribed oral and IV pain medications to keep pain controlled.
• Bruising, swelling and inflammation beginning to set in.

Tips

• Keep your affected leg elevated (ideally above your heart). This will help with bruising and swelling.
• Understand the pain medications you are on, when to take them, and how these meds may interfere with others prescribed or over-the-counter meds you will take at home.
• With the help of your care team, perform the recommended movements as best you can. You will be required to stand, go up and down a stair, get on and off the toilet etc. If you can master these movements, you may be able to recover at home and avoid a secondary care location.

Depending on your surgeon and pain medication plan, two weeks is often the time you’re dose of narcotic pain medications will be lowered, if not stopped completely. Prescription-strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are continued longer to help with swelling and inflammation.

For hips, the two week mark and beyond is when patients report feeling a significant drop in pain, experiencing only mild discomfort. Right out of the gate, hip replacement patients are forced to movements that help increase range of motion. This helps fast-track recovery and shorten the window of pain. For all replacements, the incision site will likely still be tender and painful.

Following some personal news I’m halting my blog, while I process the news and grieve.

I’m beginning to feel like myself, movement in my core is becoming a bit easier, so I can twist at the waist. But from more movement comes more leakage, not concerned really, but if it gets too bad I will have to cover the dressing with another one that they supplied me with.

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Some sleep is getting hard to achieve,mainly because I’m on my back and I don’t naturally love that. But also due to the aches and pains settling into the leg. Knee and ankle pains are wild at times.

But I’ve been managing to dress myself since I came home, so that’s faster than last time. It makes me feel less poorly when I can do some things myself. Though I’m careful not to push it. Socks I still opt for Mr Moon to help with those. I’ve even managed a lovely head to toe strip wash out of the sink, using the perch. Having a level of independence is hugely healing for my mind and body.

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Day 4 post #HipReplacement

I’ve started some real standing physio exercises today. I felt a little more confident to give them a go.

Starting with Long Arc Quads

Moving onto Tip Toes

Shallow Squats with Chair

Hip Abductions, find these incredibly hard at the moment

Hip Extension, like the abduction I found these quite difficult and quickly tired myself

Felt good to be productive, but I quickly tired myself out, and my “good” leg was getting sore and worn out, purely from excessive weight going through it. So plan is a little each day.