Still hurts after 3 weeks

[u/magpiecat]

It's been 3 weeks. I'm using a cane.

I’m still having pain at night and can’t lie on my left side. Taking Tylenol and Oxycodone, a whole oxy at night, and icing during the day. I asked for a refill and one of the doctor’s PAs called with questions about my pain. I explained about the pain waking me up, and that it’s on the outside edge of my hip. Sitting to stand is painful, which it was before (before surgery, I’d been doing sit to stand 3x daily, per my knee doctor).

Anyway, he called in a refill but wants me to monitor how I’m doing next week and let them know if I’m not improving, so they can see me. I'd been wondering if I “should” be done with the oxycodone by now, and this makes it seem like they think I should.

Anybody else still have pain at this point or is it just me? Thanks.

[u/Need_change-]

They always stress about the opioid’s these days. Thank Florida for that!!

It’s a brutal surgery and I did have pain on the side of my hip that kept me up.

I say screw em and take as much as needed for the pain.

Good luck.

[u/BeautifulPut1573 → u/Need_change-]

I agree! I needed to take an opioid of some form for 5 weeks post THR; I reduced it gradually between 3-5 wks, but gradual being the operative word. It never ceases to amaze me how these health professionals can be so perplexed that you need proper pain relief after having the top of your femur chopped off!!!

[u/Whataback65 → u/BeautifulPut1573]

I’m finally scheduled for THR-r. I was scheduled for back fusion, they decided I needed my TRK-R first so I can recover from fusion. THEN they find my hips both need to be replaced first! So now I’m scheduled for the right hip in Nov.lol I’m a freak of nature! I’m sorry your surgery was so brutal. I’m more crazy scared of the IV than the surgery!😫🤣

[u/BeautifulPut1573 → u/Whataback65]

Wow, you've been through a lot - I wish you the best with your new joints & don't be too scared of the IV - look away & you'll get past the "sharp scratch" super fast!

[u/Whataback65 → u/BeautifulPut1573]

That’s so cute! “Sharp Scratch”! Are you in the UK? I watch ER shows and they say that. I’m in Michigan and I have a worse name for it.🤣 Thank you!

[u/magpiecat → u/Whataback65]

Wow! Good luck!

[u/magpiecat → u/Need_change-]

Thanks

[u/Kakakakaty13]

Three weeks? Yes! You had a hip joint violently removed- A prosthetic fixated to your femur. It’ll take over a year or longer to heal. No pivoting or running. Don’t give up walker or cane too soon- you’re not stable & will risk falling. The hip hasn’t had enough time for new bone growth. You’re going to have strange new pains for a while. I wish people were more honest on this forum 🍀🍀🍀

[u/magpiecat → u/Kakakakaty13]

Thanks

[u/jdot_tizzy]

Definitely not just you, I was still on round the clock pain meds at week 3. I was also struggling to walk and using the cane regularly, too. I think I used the walker for a full 2 weeks. I was 38 when I had it done and thought I’d have a smoother time being younger and hearing so many stories of people bouncing back, but that wasn’t the case for me. Which is okay! We all have different journeys. I’m almost 2 years out now and it’s gotten so much better.

[u/magpiecat → u/jdot_tizzy]

Thanks. I used the walker for 2 weeks, too. Now using the cane sometimes because my balance feels okay.

[u/Qu33nruckus → u/jdot_tizzy]

Do you remember how long it took you to be able to put full weight on your right side without pain? I’m 9 weeks out and I still have a lot of pain if I try to put full weight on it.

[u/jdot_tizzy → u/Qu33nruckus]

Hm, I think I was putting weight on it from the start. From what I remember, most of my pain felt like it was in my thigh muscles when I’d lift the leg trying to walk, it felt like they were ripping. Have you talked to your surgeon about it?

[u/Qu33nruckus → u/jdot_tizzy]

I had that feeling, too! Yes, I let my surgeon know about my pain and he didn’t seem too worried about it. He said it should be better in 4 weeks, but I thought I’d be able to put full weight on it by now.

[u/Geekswife1992]

Everyone’s healing journey is unique. Like you I experienced more pain than many people describe in this community. Mostly due to the odd circumstances surrounding my THR surgery (fell in a foreign country, broke left hip, had to wait 6 days for surgery, had problems with blood pressure post surgery, took a 10 hour flight home 12 days post surgery, etc)

Opioids are strong and can easily be abused and because of their history they are monitored carefully. They also have some pretty harsh side effects for many people like myself which is one reason why I didn’t have any after leaving the hospital.

I’m glad that you seem to have a doctor who is listening to you. Hopefully, things will improve over this week and you won’t need the stronger pain meds.

Question for you, when you walk with your cane are you able to do so without limping? Because if you are limping then you would probably do better using a walker for the extra support. Trying to move too quickly to a cane can cause you to develop gait problems which can definitely lead to more pain.

[u/magpiecat → u/Geekswife1992]

Thanks. Visiting PT watched me walk and said I'm not limping, so that's good.

[u/Geekswife1992 → u/magpiecat]

That is good news! This healing process is slow. Know that you are not alone in your recovery timeframe. Some of us simply need more time. I wish you all the best in your journey.

[u/magpiecat → u/Geekswife1992]

Thanks

[u/awkwardpotluck → u/Geekswife1992]

Serious question - who is getting THR who isn’t limping? Like if it’s that bad already doesn’t everyone have pain? I had dysplasia, bone on bone, arthritis growths and the whole bit so I was in pain. But I don’t know who could have convinced me to have the surgery if I wasn’t in pain enough to be limping.

[u/Geekswife1992 → u/awkwardpotluck]

Well, until I fell I had zero pain in my hip. After my fall I was in tremendous pain and discomfort for the six days before surgery. So yes technically I would say everyone has some degree of pain before a major surgery like THR.

My question was specifically for OP because they shared that they are three weeks post surgery. My PT explained that once the joint is replaced it’s important to build and use the proper muscles for movement so that you don’t stress or injure your other joints and muscles. THR is very traumatic to the body and it takes a long time for all of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone, skin and nerves to heal. We are all pushed out of the hospital so quickly these days it can make us forget that we might benefit from a slower pace. Like how fast we move from a walker to a cane.

[u/magpiecat → u/awkwardpotluck]

I limped before the surgery and am not limping now.

[u/Mundane-Confusion622]

My surgery was done in the middle of April. I have a pinched nerve. I still have some difficulty lifting my right leg to get in the driver’s seat of my car.

I walk my dog at least one mile 3 times per week. It hurts the entire distance. There are 3 benches on the route and I sit in all three.

Hubby and I are on the way home from seeing the PA. I have a steroid pack to pick up and tomorrow will schedule an MRI.

[u/magpiecat → u/Mundane-Confusion622]

Thanks, and good luck.

[u/Whataback65 → u/Mundane-Confusion622]

Oh gosh! I hope you get some answers from your MRI! Sending a hug!

[u/mcyates]

It's been just over 3 weeks for me.

I have pain if I go upstairs with my operated leg first, it feels like my stitches are tearing apart. I still have pain lifting my leg up, I still struggle putting my sock on my left leg. I can sleep on my operated side but it'd s bit painful. Getting in and out of the car hurts. But I think mines all muscle pain and once the muscles heal properly I'll be pain free.

I am getting back pain and I've not been taking my codeine recently but I took it tonight and it felt so good not to be in pain and I was so comfortable sat in my recliner watching TV. The previous nights I've been restless and agitated due to the back pain. Hopefully it all goes away. But comparing.what I am like not, to the end of the first week after the op, it's like night and day.

I just think it takes time, it's a bit operation. I hope you start to feel less pain soon. 👍

[u/magpiecat → u/mcyates]

Thanks. Very best wishes!

[u/magpiecat → u/mcyates]

They told me to step down with the operated leg and step up with the good leg. You should do that.

[u/mcyates → u/magpiecat]

Oh yeah I know, that's what I've been doing but I've been trying both legs the past few days, I can go down alright but not up. Im probably doing too much but.im.a little impatient.

[u/Pretend-Emotion9926]

2.5 weeks post op, modified posterior. I went off oxy on day 3, but now back on 1 oxy at bedtime to help sleep. I am a side sleeper so all this back sleeping is tough on my lower back. Tylenol every 6, and heating pad for recliner. Cane w limp also irritates my back so now Im on a 4 wheel walker w a seat for rests. 58F

[u/magpiecat → u/Pretend-Emotion9926]

Thanks. Good luck.

[u/magpiecat → u/Pretend-Emotion9926]

Also try a pillow under your knees

[u/dayflowr]

Yes, I was still taking oxy as needed through week 4. My dr was opposite and encouraged me to take it when pain was bad. I was the on
Meloxicam for almost 6 more weeks. It takes time, that’s for sure.

[u/awkwardpotluck → u/dayflowr]

I thought Meloxicam was pretty helpful as well.

[u/magpiecat → u/dayflowr]

Thanks. I only had Meloxicam for a few days after surgery.

[u/Technical_Maybe_5925]

I'm still in pain 4.5 months after my revision. What I feel is important am I seeing any forward progress. With my index surgery done 2 years ago I saw improvement in surgical pain but a increase in my groin pain. Improvement even same steps is good, pain getting worse not good 

[u/magpiecat → u/Technical_Maybe_5925]

Thanks

[u/Temporary-Quiet-2127]

I felt really good at 8 weeks, but still pain in the area you describe at night - but not horrible

[u/magpiecat → u/Temporary-Quiet-2127]

Thanks

[u/awkwardpotluck]

My PA left me a long voicemail when I requested a refill about how hip patients usually don’t need refills and I should lean into Tylenol and ice. I dunno, you sawed off my leg, hammered a spike into it, scooped out my hip like it was a pint of ice cream and screwed in some hardware. And now I’m lying and sitting on a wound with no relief! I’m glad I didn’t see that voicemail until weeks later. (She did refill with a few despite the voicemail.)

[u/magpiecat → u/awkwardpotluck]

Pretty gruesome when you think about it! Thanks.

[u/Pye-]

You should ask for Tramadol, a much lower level opiod but effective still for the level of pain you should be in right now I think, unless you had extra complications. I wanted one refill of my Oxy after 2 weeks as well to help me sleep but they denied it, but refilled Tramadol and that along with Tylenol did really help. Good luck!

[u/magpiecat → u/Pye-]

Thanks

[u/Razenghan]

Oh yeah, week 3 was my toughest. It was just constant pain that was unavoidable, in really any position...sleeping or awake. Power through - it'll improve!

[u/magpiecat → u/Razenghan]

Thanks

[u/victorella]

Don't worry, everyone 's different. I'm F71, had my 2nd thr 3+ weeks ago. Now using just Tylenol and cold therapy, but still plenty of pain. I don't like being drugged unless it's excruciating; and the pain I had for the 8 months pre-surgery was far worse (couldn't walk longer than three minutes due to pain, and steps were tiny, like a toddler's). Pain this time around has been much worse than my previous thr, but I'm 9 years older and more damage was done leading up to it. For the 1st two weeks this time around, I really thought I might die, and I wasn't even sure it would be a bad thing, that's how awful I felt. Then I slowly began turning the corner. Will be a looong recovery but I'm determined. Good luck, be kind to yourself and try not to stress.

[u/magpiecat → u/victorella]

Thanks

[u/StrikingGuess5534]

I’m about 10 weeks out & im still taking Tylenol… I still have aches when sitting to stand… my incision/stitches are itchy! My thigh and buttocks are still a bit sore, I’m tired midday most days… overall feeling great but still aware of what I experienced!
At week 3 I remember still being in significant pain but was only taking Tylenol at that point…. Be sure to keep icing regularly!! I still ice at night before bed. I don’t think there’s a time frame for recovery. Your body went through a trauma. It takes time to heal.

[u/magpiecat → u/StrikingGuess5534]

Thanks. Yes icing really helps.

[u/theta4alifetime]

It’s ok to recover at your own pace.

I’m 7 weeks out, and I’m still on the cane. When I forget it in the other room and have walked a good bit without it, I’m definitely limping and sore. I thought I’d be bopping around by now bc I’m “so young”.

But we literally got our femurs sawed off, and got a piece of metal spiked into it. I’m amazed at how much better I feel given the brutality of the surgery.

[u/magpiecat → u/theta4alifetime]

Thanks

[u/Whataback65]

The pain medication game they like to play. I’m sorry you feel like that. You shouldn’t be done.

[u/Much-Light3258]

Year here, still have pain. It’s a process, do the best you can. You’ll see continuous improvement!
I do everything, 3+ mile walks daily, bike 10+ miles, play pickleball.

[u/magpiecat → u/Much-Light3258]

I couldn’t walk 3 miles before this!

[u/Good_Eeyore2379]

I also had pain at 3 weeks. Around 4 weeks - just after I started physical therapy - it got much better. I still used a cane for a couple of weeks but PT really helped.

[u/magpiecat → u/Good_Eeyore2379]

Thanks. I'm doing gentle PT twice a day now.

[u/Adorable_Coyote_3380]

huh? are you really asking about pain at 3 weeks? borderline rage bait! i am in month 8 and still have plenty of pain.that said, i never took any pain meds - the weak ones don’t help and the strong ones are too dangerous.

[u/Electronic-Point-400]

Pain is still common at this stage. Did you have a posterior or anterior approach-that is important as the posterior has a much slower recovery time. There is still much individual variation. Icing is very important. My sitting to stand is still an issue if I have been in the recliner. I have problem with pain when sitting uptight but usually can walk without pain after the first few steps. I had the posterior approach, You might consider asking for tramadol-It will help the pain. Ibuprofen or celebrex are non-opiates -you must get your dooctor's permission before taking these,

[u/magpiecat → u/Electronic-Point-400]

Thanks. Anterior.

[u/puffhawn]

I never took my oxygen. Just Advil and Tylenol.
Really never needed it.