A Great THR Experience

[Guest guest]

Hi all –

I haven't posted much here, but I have definitely benefited from

hearing your experiences.

I had a left total hip replacement on June 17. I am 6 weeks (and 3

days) out now, and I have to say that the surgery has changed my life

(for the better), I know that everyone has a different experience,

but I thought I would share mine in the hope that newbies will get

some comfort knowing how successful this surgery can be.

My Left THR was on 6/17. My surgeon uses a minimally invasive

posterior approach (about a 4 inch incision, retraction of muscles

only, but with detachment of the piriformis tendon).

The first week

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I had surgery on a Tuesday and went home on Friday.

The first 7 days weren't fun – mostly because my husband is not

helpful by nature – but the pain was not bad and well controlled by

the Vicodin.

I got a 3-in-one – raised toilet seat / shower seat – essential in my

opinion for the first 3-4 weeks. Some insurance companies won't pay –

but it only costs about $45 and my hospital arranged to have it

delivered. The hospital gave me some " hip tools " – the

lifter/reacher/dresser was essential and the sock tool enabled me to

put the TEDs (elastic stockings) on without help.

I was worried about stairs since we have a two story house, but I had

no problem using a crutch and going up and down stairs once or twice a

day.

On day 8 my home PT graduated me from a walker to a cane and I felt

much more normal.

Weeks 2 – 4

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One of my big concerns was my " duck walk " – it felt like my operated

leg was 3 inches longer than my other. I was told not to worry about

this, but it was difficult. Still, I progressed a little each day

until week 2. Then I sort of reached a plateau for a couple of

weeks. That got depressing and I actually cried some (but there has

been a lot of traffic here that helped me realize that was normal.).

I had deep thigh pain until a couple of days before 4 weeks and also

intermittent groin / greater trochanter pain.

I started driving at 2.5 weeks (left hip). I also started leaving the

raised toilet seat upstairs and going (one-footed) up stairs whenever

nature called.

Weeks 5 – 6

------------

A couple of days before 4 weeks, my thigh pain ended and I ditched my

pain meds for good. By 5 weeks and 1 day I had ditched the cane and

at 6 weeks plus 2 days I have almost no duck walk left – am walking

almost normally and feeling really great!

I gave up the raised toilet seat in this timeframe, but still used it

in the shower – wasn't sure I could shave my legs otherwise.

My goal was to restart aerobics (low impact) by 6 weeks. At 4 weeks I

had concluded that was ridiculous. But at 5.5 weeks I actually

restarted – low impact, 20 minutes – not a big deal, but feels great

to me and makes me think my cardio system will actually get back in shape.

I had my 6 week check with my surgeon and he said I was doing great

and that I could move my hip anyway I wanted! Yeah! He wrote a

script for OP PT, but told me to give it a try for 2 weeks and if it

is too easy, just quit and keep doing what I am doing!

So here I am 6 weeks and 3 days post LTHR and I feel great. Surgery

is scary, but I cannot believe how good I feel compared to before surgery.

6 weeks

-------

I got rid of the shower seat.

I don't know where the cane is.

I have added 2 pound weights to my exercises and start outpatient

physical therapy next week.

I hope all of you who are considering / have scheduled this surgery

can relax and look forward to it.

If any of you are in land, I know a great surgeon – I only had to

drive an hour for him, but he would have been worth driving much more for!

Betsy (LTHR on 6/17)