My hip replacement diary

 On 4th April 2019  I will be having my right hip replaced.  This is the diary of how I recover and get back to normal so that I can look back on it and see how long it takes to get my life back.

If you are facing hip replacement then please go and join the Bonesmart forum.  I have found it to be the most invaluable source of advice and support.

https://bonesmart.org/hip-replacement-surgery/

Please do understand this is my own experience. I have met several people that have had a much easier recovery than mine is proving to be. If you are considering having a hip replacement please do plenty of research and don't be put off by my experience. The pain I am suffering at the moment is temporary and will gradually get better.  Arthritis pain does not get better. I wish I had read a few more negative experiences then I might have realised earlier on that it is all a normal part of the recovery process and might not be quite the walk in the park that I had expected.



Day one,,,
I went to down to the operating theatre at about 08.45.  Once I was returned to my room at about 11:45 am  I spent all day and night in bed. The pain isn't too bad but I am taking a lot of pain killing medication so that is  probably why. Moving about hurts but I can't move much in bed anyway so it isn't too big a problem

Day two
I have had had an exercise session and been up for a little walk with physio. My knee keeps collapsing so I am having to wear a leg brace when I get up.  I feel very tired but the pain is under control.  I feel as though my poorly leg is trying to turn inwards. I have to remember to practice turning it out over

Day three
Today I did 'the stairs'  with physio lady.  Coming down was really scary and they suggested that I  stay in until tomorrow as physio is a bit concerned about my 'dead leg'.  I am surprised that the surgeon hasn't been to check up on me as it isn't something that they see a lot of.

Day four
I had to stay in an extra day as there is a bit of a problem with my leg.  A nerve has been damaged and I can't feel much in it. Physio aren't able to tell me whether it will be a permanent thing or if it will improve with exercise.. Time will tell.   I have to go back and see physio in a fortnight and then the surgeon in a month.  Other than the 'dead leg'  I feel amazingly comfortable. The pain is nothing like I expected it to be.
When we got home I had a bit of a rest and then a little wander about.  It is surprising how tired I feel and I think I will go and have an hour in bed soon.  I don't want to turn myself into an invalid but the dead leg is a real nuisance. I do hope I see some improvement soon.  My rear end is lovely and bruised. I may show you the bruising tomorrow. In fact I might do a weekly update on the rear end so that you can compare it with your own recovery. The things I do for you lot   :-)

Day five
I hadn't planned on an update today but had dreadful crushing pains in my chest early this morning.  I rang 111 for a bit of advice and they sent an ambulance to take me to our local NHS hospital. I have had a battery of tests this morning and although my heart is fine they have found a raised indicator for a blood clot in my lung... that doesn't necessarily mean that there is one though.  They couldn't get me in for a scan today so as a precaution they are treating me for a clot and I have to go back tomorrow or Wednesday for a scan.... Is there anything else that can go wrong as I think I have had my fair share now... :-)

Day six
I have done a bit of pottering around the house today.  Not much, but it would really help if I could sleep at night.  The pain is quite severe through the night and I really need to keep on top of the medication.  Far better to take it before the pain is bad. The dead leg continues to give me problems... I think I would be able to do a bit more if my leg was able to take my weight.  I am going to have arms like a body builder at this rate.   I think perhaps I should share a photo of the bruising today. It isn't pretty and I want to look back on this page and see how it improves over time.

My right buttock

Day seven

Well one week ago at this very minute I was in the operating theatre.  Today I feel as though I have turned a corner and am feeling a little stronger and less light headed.  I soaked a cloth with some Witch Hazel last night and held it on the bruised area.  I did it again this morning and will repeat that for a few days to see if it makes a difference.  The bruising is starting to turn yellow and has spread down to my knee and all around my inner thigh. My dead leg is still a bother and in truth if it wasn't worrying me I would have a little walk along the road and back.  I am amazed how quickly I am recovering and how the arthritis pain has completely gone.  

Quick day seven update... I have pottered about a bit more today and the pain in my buttock is dreadful.  I have just taken not one but two codeine... they will hopefully kick in quite soon. 

Day eight

I had an absolutely dreadful night.  The pain at the wound site was indescribable but even worse was the pain in my lower leg. I felt as though thousands of scalding pins were stabbing all over my leg. Ice was the only thing that brought me a glimmer of relief. I hardly slept and feel really weepy today. 

Day eleven

I had another dreadful appallingly painful night and have hardly slept.  I couldn't even stand the weight of a sheet on my lower leg... more of the stabbing pins and needles pain.  It feels as though all the nerve endings are being dipped in acid  My scar is tugging like mad and the painkillers did absolutely nothing for me. I took them regularly and throughout the day I was fine though a bit lightheaded. As the evening wore on it started... and didn't stop. The very strong 'breakthrough pain' tablets didn't even take the edge off. Needless to say I am exhausted today. I am told this will all soon pass and I will forget all about it.  My friend was telling me that she wishes she had kept a recovery diary.  I hope this one is useful to someone else going through a hip replacement... we will get there in the end.

Day twelve

We had a little walk out today.  I only managed about 100 yards before we had to turn back... more because my dead leg struggled to stay up without collapsing at the knee than any real pain.  I should have put the leg brace on and will for any future walks.

Another really bad night.  We rigged up a 'cage' for  my leg using a little table to keep the weight of the bedding off me.  It worked really well. Unfortunately though, I have a sore heel where it has rubbed on the sheets and my knee cap feels as though it in on fire. This pain magnified through the night until I couldn't bear it.   Ice really is my best friend and I can't recommend it highly enough.

17th April

I discovered that the cause of most of the pain in my lower leg is fluid retention.. My leg fills with fluid and it feels as thought the skin is being torn off. Last night I elevated and iced it for a couple of hours before bed.  I massaged it firmly and tried to move the fluid away from my ankle and shin.  It gave me quite considerable relief but unfortunately it filled back up really quickly and I haven't had a great night.  I intend to ice and elevate a couple of times each day now.  I plan to look on the Internet to find ways of reducing the fluid retention

18th April

I had a terrifying moment this morning. One minute I was upright and the next I was sprawled on the floor.  My leg had given out spectacularly.... and I was home alone.   Thank goodness we are split level here or I just would not have been able to get back upright.  As it was I slid across the floor and dropped my legs over the step down.  Once I had recovered myself I managed to get upright and across to the sofa.  I am still shaking.. I don't think any damage has been done but it has frightened the life out of me.   I get my stitches out later today.  I will update later and let you know how it goes.

update.... the stitches had all dissolved leaving a very long clean scar.  There is still a bit of bruising but nothing like as bad as it was.  I had a physio session and while I was there the staff rang the surgeon...The surgeon knew nothing about my nerve damage and has made an appointment for me to see him next week

21st April

It's 01:07am and I am about ready to settle down for the night.  I managed almost three hours sleep earlier this evening and would probably have slept longer if I hadn't needed to use the toilet..  I took two codeine an hour ago and have been sitting up in bed with my lap top while the tablets kick in.  Hopefully I will manage to sleep at least a couple of hours. I had really severe trapped wind pains earlier this evening.  A warm cup of tea and a hot water bottle soon had me burping like I don't know what... not very ladylike but needs must 

24th April

I have been a bit silly with pain medication.  I haven't taken it regularly enough and over the past few days the pain has really got me down.  I am now back on the codeine and the paracetamol for the foreseeable future.  Please learn by my mistake DONT  give up the pain killers too soon as you will really regret it. My leg is still numb and thankfully I will be seeing the surgeon tomorrow. Hopefully he will be able to reassure me that it will all come good in time... fingers crossed..

25th April

I saw the surgeon at lunch time and he was able to reassure me that the nerve damage will repair.. it could take six to nine months though so I need to be patient. He had no idea that it had happened and said that because I am nice and thin.... yup, he said thin...  the operation appeared to go without a hitch. He had been surprised to hear about the nerve damage. He will keep a close eye on the recovery progress. 

27th April

The physio lady suggested that we buy a TENS machine so that is what Tony did yesterday. I tried it a few times through the night and it really reduced the pain in my hip enough to allow me a couple of hours sleep. She told me not to put it below my knee but I wish I had thought to ask why not as it would be nice to reduce the pain in that area. I am taking codeine regularly and certainly feeling a lot better than I have just lately. Fingers crossed that I am on the mend at last.

28th April

Another flippin awful night.  I eventually got up and was so tired and stressed that I blew my stack at Tony... I told him that if he had been paid to nurse me I would have sacked him weeks ago.  He has obviously had time to think about what I said and is currently being Mr Attentive... It won't last, he is clearly not cut out to be a carer (I did tell him that.. and a few other things too)  :-(… 

I did manage a short walk down the street today. I put my leg brace on and had Tony escort me to the bottom of the road and back.  It is the most bizarre sensation to not be able to feel my leg when I put it down. I hope this nerve damage repairs itself sooner rather than later.

29th April

I had a blimmin awful night but that seems to be par for the course. This morning I got up and strapped on my leg brace.  It meant I was able to potter about  in the kitchen cleaning the counter tops and generally reclaiming my zone... Can it be that men really don't notice the stink of rotting vegetable... I discovered a courgette that looked.. and smelled... like something a puppy might leave on the floor... The kitchen absolutely hummed.... Then there was the pack of furry white tomatos.. I am sure the packet hissed when I opened it.  They have all gone in the bin and my kitchen is looking (and smelling) a whole lot better. 

30th April

Another dreadful night but I think there is a bit of progress today. I was sitting in the bathroom getting washed when I suddenly realised that I could lift my leg off the floor.  It isn't much more than four or five inches and it doesn't happen every time I try but at least it is a start. My leg has pins and needles quite badly too so I am hoping that the nerves are trying to fire up.

1st May

I spoke too soon. Yesterday was a dreadfully painful day and then last night I think I was being tortured. I came downstairs through the night at 03:00 and made myself a pot of tea and browsed you tube videos for a while. I really have no idea how on earth I am functioning on so little sleep. 

2nd May

I have really had enough now. The nights are dreadful and the past two days haven't been much better. A letter arrived from my surgeon yesterday.. it's a copy of the one he has sent to my doctor explaining the damage to the femoral nerve. It advises my doctor that I have been told it will take 6 months for the damage to repair... he also says that I will find this a nuisance.... not sure if he meant the pain or the leg brace. Anyway. To cut a long story short I been prescribed a nerve blocker by my GP... The potential side effects make grim reading and I am seriously considering Cannabis oil... Has anyone any experience of it as a pain reliever?

3rd May

I took my first nerve blocker at 7pm last night and decided that if I slept on the sofa  I would be able to watch the tv or listen to some music.  The pain was probably no less than it has been but I was certainly able to take my mind off of it to a much greater extent. Alexander installed one of his subscriptions on my lap top. It is from Calm.com and has meditation, music, bedtime stories etc on it. I don't know whether the anti depressant effect of the nerve blocker has worked quickly or whether the meditation ap has calmed me down but I certainly feel that my mood has lifted. I feel sleepy tired rather than the brain numbing exhaustion that has dragged down my mood. My plan for today is to sleep as much as I possibly can in the hope that my body can get on with the job of repairing itself. I will let you know tomorrow how I am feeling.  Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment.  I really am lifted in spirit to read them

4th May

I came downstairs in serious pain at 05.30 this morning but just could not get back to sleep.  Then I had a eureka moment... Pre arthritis and hip replacement I used to wake up between 5 and 6 am.  My friend Anona and I used to have many an early morning chat. I think perhaps my natural rhythm of sleep is starting to return.  I stopped trying to force sleep and cast on my second sock to take my mind off the pain.  At 07.30 I was able to take the nerve blocker and then went back to bed... I slept until nearly 10am and only woke up as I was bursting to use the toilet. I am now planning on getting up and doing a bit of knitting if I wake early. I can always go back to bed and rest later when the nerve blocker has chance to work

8th May

The nightmare continues.  I have been up all night fighting pain and insomnia.  One of these days I will post something positive but don't hold your breath.

10th May

I had a session with physio yesterday and I think it may have aggravated my hip as the pain through the night was dreadful. The TENS machine didn't even touch it and I lay awake in agony.  This has really been the hip replacement from hell but I truly believe that this isn't normal and if you are considering hip replacement please don't let my experience colour your decision. You might want to mention the femoral nerve injury just so your surgeon realises that you are  aware of the possibility. 

17th May

I have reached the point in the nightmare where I wish I had never had the operation.  I am now taking mega amounts of pain killers and the nerve blocker but nothing is touching the pain... If one more person tells me that the pain is a good sign that the nerves are trying to repair I shall scream. I am absolutely exhausted but can't sleep for more than an hour at a time.  I wake up in agony and fall asleep in agony.

26th May

Tony and I had a run out to a local garden centre yesterday.  Thankfully they had a wheelchair that I could use and we managed a good browse and a bit of a splurge on some plants. It made me realise that I am now disabled.. not a very nice thought. This morning I came to the decision that as the painkillers and nerve blocker do little more than take the edge off the pain it is hardly worth taking them. I really don't want to continue taking them for the next six to nine months. I haven't taken any medication at all today and in truth although I have been extremely uncomfortable at times it is no worse than if I had taken painkillers.  I will take them this evening though as I don't want to chance being in serious pain through the night. It is much easier to distract myself during the day.  I may regret this decision and will let you know how I get on. 

28th May

I couldn't stand the pain any longer so went to see the doctor.  I saw a lovely lady doctor who had clearly read my case notes. She immediately doubled the dosage of the nerve blocker and gave me 14 sleeping pills. The sleeping pills are to be used only when I am really desperate.

29th May

I took one of the sleeping pills last night and had six blissful hours of pain free sleep. When I woke up I read for a couple of hours then had a further three hours sleep. Hopefully it gave my body some much needed rest in order to heal.

30th May

Not such a good night last night but I woke feeling better than I have in ages.  Hopefully this is the start of the healing process

31st May

Flipping awful night last night.  I was in such terrible pain and hardly slept. I have been told that the pain is a sign that things are healing so I am trying hard to just accept it.  I have had to drag myself around in a fog all day today. I am determined not to snooze though as I hope to go to sleep at bedtime and sleep for several hours tonight.

4th June

I am now the proud owner of a wheelchair?????  I guess I have had to accept the fact that I am properly disabled albeit temporarily. It is amazing how invisible you suddenly become when you are in a wheelchair. People talk to whoever is pushing the chair and you might get a little glance now and then  

6th June

I took two sleeping tablets last night and have had seven solid hours of sleep. Tony woke me at 06.15 to see if I wanted a cup of tea  ( I did) otherwise I might have slept longer but I think I was probably ready to wake up. I didn't want to go back to sleep otherwise I would probably have felt groggy for hours. I much prefer to get up when I wake up. I can have a snooze this afternoon if I need to. The pain is more like a severe discomfort rather than the agony that it has been.

7Th June

I had a session with physio yesterday which unfortunately aggravated my leg so I have had a really bad night and a dreadful day. A long soak in a bubbly bath is on the cards followed by an early night and a sleeping pill. Hopefully it will knock me out. 

9th June

I had a surprisingly good sleep last night and today I feel better than I have for a long time I won't chance my arm and say I am on the mend... but I will certainly hope that I am

11th June

I had a rotten night and am having a rotten painful day today.  I think the weather may well be affecting my leg. I have read several articles that say this can happen. I do hope it isn't going to be like this every winter or I am going to be thoroughly miserable. 

19th June

The nerve blockers have managed to reduce the pain to more of an extreme discomfort. I am waiting to collect the next strength dosage on my prescription and with a bit of luck it might enable me to sleep at night. We bought a self propelling wheelchair yesterday and I can already see that it is going to be a godsend. I feel that it has given me back a little independence

28th June

Thankfully I no longer have the screaming agonising pain. The nerve blockers are really doing their job well. My leg is very weak though and when I get tired it just won't hold me up at all.  I have learned to watch for the signs and now rest as soon as my knee starts to give up on me. The sunshine these past few days has been nice. I have been able to sit in the garden and bare my leg in the hope that the sun will heal it. I have also started to sleep much better and no longer feel exhausted all the time.

3th July

For the past few days I have been practicing walking around the house with one crutch. I am also trying to walk without a crutch. I manage a few tottering steps up and down the sitting room.

5th July

I saw the surgeon yesterday and he was delighted with my progress. He wouldn't have expected to see this much improvement for at least six months.  He gave me the go ahead to use my exercise bike so now I can really make a start on getting myself fit again. I probably won't update this post very often now as I really do think I am starting to heal.

19th July

I have had a few quite uncomfortable days and nights lately but I think it feels as though my leg is getting stronger. Last night was really uncomfortable and I didn't sleep too well.... thank goodness the nerve blockers have worked as I think I would be in serious pain if they weren't working just lately.

2nd August

I have a really good sleep pattern now and am making good progress walking around the house without a crutch. I can't walk up and down inclines or on uneven ground without the leg brace though so I still have a long way to go. The lower leg still feels completely numb but I am working hard on strengthening all the muscles in my leg.

13th August

It's ages since I had a really bad night with 'the leg'.  Yesterday I was tortured by it all day and have had a horrible night.  Thankfully I know that when it does this it feels as though it has improved slightly the following day.  Today is no exception and I have managed to walk down a couple of stairs without the crutches. I do have to hold onto the room divider but it is another small improvement.

23rd August

My leg is gradually getting stronger but as yet I still climb stairs like a toddler.  I am working on improving the muscle strength and with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work I will be dancing at the ceilidh before I know it. 

24th September

It's ages since I updated this post. My leg is hugely improved though nowhere near normal yet. Yesterday I managed to walk up the stairs 'properly' rather than toddler fashion.  I was thrilled to bits and couldn't wait to show Tony when he got home. I plan to work on this and get the leg muscles stronger in the hope that it will be strong enough for the New Year ceilidh. 

 

16th January 2020

I have tried a number of times to post an update but my internet drops off at the crucial point. My leg is still not fully fit and well but is a huge improvement on how it was last year. It's particularly bothersome tonight which usually indicates an improvement in the next day or two. The knee and ankle are a problem although it took a long time for me to realise that the ankle is a bother. I had been so focussed on the troublesome knee which refuses to hold me up without buckling unless I lock my knee. That is only ok for so long as it gets very sore after a while. The ankle is very numb and prone to nasty bouts of painful pins and needles.

 

27th February

I really wish that I could say my leg is fully healed. Unfortunately it isn't, although it's getting so much stronger. I reduced the level of pain medication a couple of weeks ago and was hoping to be able to reduce it further but I think it would be foolish as my leg becomes very uncomfortable during the evening. I am clearly not ready to try a lower dose just yet.  One good thing I have noticed since lowering the dose is that my brain feels clearer. I have felt very foggy since I started on the medication and at long last my brain feels normal.  I am also noticing that my insatiable appetite has settled down and I no longer suffer constant hunger pains. My sleeping pattern is returning to normal too but that might not be such a good thing as I have always been a bit of an insomniac.  Three or four hours sleep is usually plenty for me. That leaves an awful lot of time on my hands  and I don't think my neighbours would appreciate me rattling around the house at 3am when I wake.

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24th March 2022

Well it's been almost three years since my operation and I have come such a long way since those awful weeks of terrible pain.  My leg will never be properly normal and can get extremely uncomfortable but at least I am able to walk normally. I still have to lock my knee or I'd fall over but that's a small price to pay. I bought a lightweight support recently and wear it when my leg is particularly troublesome but I don't want to start relying on it and weakening the muscles further.

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30th July 2022

It's been more than three years now since my operation and the other hip is causing me problems.  Needless to say I am not in any hurry to even think about having it replaced. There are days when the pain is appalling but just as many days when it's simply uncomfortable. I'm hoping that the hip isn't going to be affected by the winter weather.  If that happens then I may just have to think seriously about speaking with the doctor.