I just had hip replacement surgery yesterday.

[Althena]

Any Avalonian with this pain in the butt experience? I'm on some serious opiates right now
Wondering about your own personal exp. with recovery, rehab etc. Sorry Im on my cell. Thnx

[ZooLife]

Hi Althena!

Hope your recovery goes smoothly for you.

http://www.greetingsisland.com/images/cards/get-well/preview/pfast-recovery-flowers.jpg

I have not had hip replacement but my Mom has. It was even worse then what they thought once they got in there. She was in five days and recovered quite quickly, amazing really. She had it done a few years ago now without any troubles since.

Best wishes,

Sara

[Ewan]

Get well quickly Althena, I'm sure it will be a speedy recovery.

[Althena]

Thanks Sara and Ewan, you've made my night!! I think Im going home tomorrow. Very happy I decided to finally
go for it, I've lived with pain for 11 years. This what happens
when you over do it with sports and alcohol in my youth.

[DeDukshyn]

My mother had the surgery recently, It took her a while to get back up to speed, but this is because she had also badly sprained her knee in the initial fall (broke her ball off the femur - likely not going to heal well, - hence the replacement) which went undiagnosed, but greatly impeded her recovery through therapy after the fact, as the therapist noticed the knee issue and had to focus on that first. Some people do recover fairly quickly though I have heard. About a year later, she's still got some weird muscle tightness in a couple muscles that give her a little grief but she's pretty much back to where she was before the fall. She's in her late 60's and has osteoporosis.

Have a speedy recovery! Ensure to keep up the strengthening, and don't skimp or brush off on post surgery therapy - very important.

[seah]

All the best in your recovery. I know of a couple of people who are very happy with the results of surgery, but mending takes times. About those opiates, my personal experience is they were highly addictive in a short time, it took a lot of resolve and a few tough days to wean myself off after knee surgery.

[Hym]

Get well at your own pace Althena. Be sure you keep hydrated, drinking enough good water often during the day, as opiates interfere with digestion and elimination. Constipation is common and getting enough vegetable fiber really helps keep things moving, along with the water.

Get as much rest as the pain meds can afford you and get to any therapy you can, as DeDukshyn reminds you and as soon as the therapist recommends. I'm sure you're aware also that removing the meds as soon as you can is an important step to take in regaining your health.

Homepathic Symphytum helped someone I know heal her broken hip quicker than the docs thought possible. I use comfrey tea also, but I would not recommend it to anyone on pain meds without talking to their doctor or pharmacist first to make sure there are no contraindications of the two mixing.

All the best Althena !

[Althena]

Thanks for the awesome input DeDukshyn, Shea and Hym. About the pain killers I never had an addictive issue with those drugs. I've had lots of them through out my life w/o probs. They"re not my thing. Thank you all.

[Mike]

Hi Althena,..for what it's worth, I know 3 people that have had this surgery ..and they are all thrilled with the results.

:)

[Mandala]

Athena, feel better. It, takes a while. I know right now the wait time seems infinite. Since you're confined to the bed, think of all the wonderful memories you've made and the things you're grateful for. Then think in the near future how you're going to feel so much better and it will be a celebration for you.

Every challenge is an opportunity or obstacle. Make this an opportunity for you.

Much love and many blessings, Mandala

[Althena]

Thanks for the support Mike and Mandala.

[Ellisa]

Good luck Althena-- I had my right hip replaced in 2003! I have never regretted it. Sometimes I still have some pain as I have rather nasty arthritis, but I am able to live completely independently and am mostly back to 'normal'. Hips are supposed to have a more successful outcome than knees!

As for medications. I cannot take any of the opiates as they make me ill and did not therefore have much relief after the operation, however I took mild painkillers such as ibroprofen or asprin if I needed to, and I still do. I find that is not addictive. Actually I have been amazed at how much less pain I have after the replacement compared with before!

[samildamach]

You can expect some mild withdrawal symptoms from the opiates ,stay away from any cannabis pain relief be in cre or other as it can magnify the opiate effect.Get well soon

[Nick Matkin]

My mother had both hips done at various times. She didn't really keep up the physiotherapy/exercise and never got fully mobile.

Although it will hurt, or at least require a lot of effort, please keep up the exercise. Being free of pain after the op may be reward enough, but mum never bothered to get her mobility back. For her it was just too much effort...

[sheme]

Be prepared for serious constipation as opiates can cause natural peristalsis to almost cease - start preparing now and you will be fine.

[Althena]

Thanks for the info Ellisa, Samildamach, Nick and Sheme. Third day today and feeling better and also last painkillers batch this morning. Also I had no need for any blood transfusions or antibiotics from today. Going home!! You guys are great thank you all!

[PurpleLama]

Using a castor oil pack (http://heritagestore.com/categories/castor-oil-therapy/castor-oil-pack-kit.html) will significantly reduce the pain and recovery time. My mom and her husband both had a hip replaced about a month apart, and in each case the therapist was surprised at the speed of their recovery, and neither used any pain medication after the surgery.

[Pam]

Using a castor oil pack (http://heritagestore.com/categories/castor-oil-therapy/castor-oil-pack-kit.html) will significantly reduce the pain and recovery time. My mom and her husband both had a hip replaced about a month apart, and in each case the therapist was surprised at the speed of their recovery, and neither used any pain medication after the surgery.


Wishing you the best, Althena. PurpleLlama is giving you some excellent advice here, this will significantly enhance the quality of the healing process and the speed of recovery!!!!!!

[betoobig]

Sending you healling energy for a fast recovery.
This type of surgery has great results plus you wont have any more pain, as you had before.
Much love Athena
Juan

[ramus]

Had my done in 2010 .... Wish i had done it earlier .... My back problems stopped and the pain too. Pain meds are tricky ,get off them as soon as you can ...physical therapy is a must .. 6 years and no problems , prior to the operation i thought about a shorten life,
the pain over took my life.

[Deega]

Athena, best surgical recovery to you, I'm waiting for a Laminestomy decompression surgery, hope to go through it without to much problem.

http://allfunnycards.com/Get_Well_Soon/Wishing%20you%20a%20Speedy%20Recovery....jpg

[kirolak]

Best of luck to you, although you have discomfort now, I know the pain will pass & you will soon be skipping around on your new knee - my boss is going in for his second knee replacement, & says the only thing he regrets is that he didn't have it done sooner. Hope you feel better soon, & the advice re the caster oil pack is great! ( Just to mention, friend's dog also had a knee replacement, & she was walking around in days, very at ease!)

I wonder why the need for new joints is so prevalent nowadays? My boss was a champion surfer in his day, very athletic, so you wouldn't expect him to have any ailments with the joints, although perhaps surfing is hard on the knees?

Anyway, may I join everyone else here in wishing you WELL & strong!:bearhug::happy dog::flower:

[betoobig]

Athena, best surgical recovery to you, I'm waiting for a Laminestomy decompression surgery, hope to go through it without to much problem.

http://allfunnycards.com/Get_Well_Soon/Wishing%20you%20a%20Speedy%20Recovery....jpg
Dear Deega, let us know when to send you some loving energy too.
Much love to all

[Deega]

Athena, best surgical recovery to you, I'm waiting for a Laminestomy decompression surgery, hope to go through it without to much problem.

http://allfunnycards.com/Get_Well_Soon/Wishing%20you%20a%20Speedy%20Recovery....jpg
Dear Deega, let us know when to send you some loving energy too.
Much love to all

Hey thanks Betoobig, so sweet of you, yes, I will share that information, I'm somewhat not exactly excited by it, but, from the nano-surgeon information, I would recuperate 90% of my loss strenght, anxious to see if it turns true.

[Napping]

Hi Athena,

Hip replacement is the second most successful procedure you can have for pain relief (the top one has escaped me)...you'll be feeling a lot better from about 3-4 weeks post op. Nick is right though, ultimately how successful that replacement is comes down to how well you look after yourself and keep up with the exercise. I'm on my way to work right now to encourage my patients to do just that!! Enjoy your new lease for life!!

Matt

[Althena]

Athena, best surgical recovery to you, I'm waiting for a Laminestomy decompression surgery, hope to go through it without to much problem.

http://allfunnycards.com/Get_Well_Soon/Wishing%20you%20a%20Speedy%20Recovery....jpg

Let us know how it went. We're here for you. Greetings.

[Althena]

Thanks to kirolak, deega, betoobig and napping for your good vibes. I already feel better. Thank you all.

[Ellisa]

I forgot to mention exercise, and i notice others have said how important it is. I started walking the day after surgery and then did another 3 weeks in a Rehab hospital with daily therapy. On going home I joined another class for post-op exercise for 6 weeks and I now go to a weekly class of exercises to maintain strength, balance and mobility. I really feel that doing these exercises under supervision has made my recovery so successful (even though sometimes it's the last thing I want to be doing). These classes are not expensive and are run in community halls etc by trained staff, and many of the participants have become good friends of mine.

I hope you find you are soon free from pain and able to get back to enjoying life again Althena.

[bettye198]

I hold you in my vision of perfect health Althena. My family knows all about THR as we went thru a lot with our mother in 2014. I would never bore you with details as I believe it is a matter of age, osteoporosis and determination to do physical therapy post surgery. My Mom had everything stacked against her at age 88. Yet, a dear friend in Hawaii at age 80 did exceptionally well. She also engaged in water aerobics after. Its what you put into your mind that determines your fate. Blessings to you always,
Bettye

[Debra]

Thanks for letting us know Althena. Goodness me. For what's it's worth I am going to suggest magnesium oil ... Not on top of it myself yet but heard some great things. Get yourself dancing soon. The tango, maybe. ;)

[Althena]

I forgot to mention exercise, and i notice others have said how important it is. I started walking the day after surgery and then did another 3 weeks in a Rehab hospital with daily therapy. On going home I joined another class for post-op exercise for 6 weeks and I now go to a weekly class of exercises to maintain strength, balance and mobility. I really feel that doing these exercises under supervision has made my recovery so successful (even though sometimes it's the last thing I want to be doing). These classes are not expensive and are run in community halls etc by trained staff, and many of the participants have become good friends of mine.

I hope you find you are soon free from pain and able to get back to enjoying life again Althena.

I'm very lucky to have a private health insurance that takes care of all the expenses including rehab. I dread to think how much this surgery would've cost in Cali. there's no way I could've afford all this back home. I'm surprised at how well the health system works over here with the latest tech and all.

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Thanks bettye and zebra for the suggestions, I'll look into it.

[betoobig]

I found very important to remaind my mother not to criscross her legs, before surgery she used to do it a lot, and those are habits which we repit unconciously.
So glad you feel better, your recovery is allready being amazing!
Much Love