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What is normal recovery time/ progress for total hip replacement?
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: May 28 12:18pm | Replies (46)Comment receiving replies
Hello. Female, 78. Day 11 post surgery
THR on May 8. Started pt on May 13.
5mg oxycodone every 4-6 hours for pain. I thought my pain level was improving until I tried weaning off the oxy. I know I’m early in my recovery but I’m interested in how others dealt with constipation from oxycodone. I can’t seem to find a balance.
I’ve also read and heard from friends that the 3 week mark was significant in terms of pain and leg movement improvement.
Another question I have is…how long did it take before you could sleep without waking up in pain, and what sleep aid might I try to replace the oxycodone. Ibuprofen would likely work for the pain (acetaminophen is totally ineffective), but I can’t take it.
Any advice and encouragement welcome. I’m becoming discouraged.
Replies to "Hello. Female, 78. Day 11 post surgery THR on May 8. Started pt on May 13...."
Hi msvjv,
For constipation, you can take stool softeners (pills). They should have put this in your take-home instructions. Miralax also works and adds water to the intestines. A very aggressive medicine is Dulcolax (bisacodyl). Take this stuff with care as you can get too much of a good thing........
As for sleeping, if you sleep on your side, put a firm pillow between your knees. This keeps your hip from bending. Actually, it's a good practice every night as it also keeps the spine relatively straight. Make sure it is a firm, memory foam pillow.
Hi @msvjv
You’re about 15 days post op by now and are exactly where you should be. Having pain still is totally normal and so is the constipation. I had Anterior THR January 2025.
I drank a lot of water and I took stool softeners. I also did a Fleet enema a few days to get things moving. (Heat it up in warm water)
Surgery and oxycodone make it tough to go to the bathroom. I guess that’s the motivation to get off of pain meds. I was definitely still on Oxy at 2 weeks post op, more for nerve pain but also hip pain.
Everyone is different and your recovery is your own.
3 weeks post op does feel like things become easier and the light at the end of the tunnel becomes brighter.
I took 5mg of a marijuana gummie to help me sleep. Seems more natural than OTC sleep aid. I sleep great at almost 5 months post op bc my old hip pain isn’t waking me up. You will get there!
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msvjv, I had total hip replacement surgery last Oct. 7. Must have had a great surgeon because my recovery was great. I was walking upstairs first day. I am only 64 years old though. I had the pain med Tramadol and it was great. I had to sleep on my other side with a pillow between my legs for the first 2-3 weeks. I do take a sleeping pill prescribed to me called Lorazepam. But if you want to try an over the counter sleep aid, I recommend either Unisom with active ingredient Doxylamine or a Walmart generic brand sleep aid with the active ingredient diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Ask your doctor to switch you from Oxycodone to Tramadol. For constipation the hospital sent me home with a stool softener med. And you can buy them at any store. I was taking 2 pills a day, 1 in morning and 1 at night. My surgeon told me beforehand that I would do great post-surgery because I'm pretty in shape. I'm a daily walker and my husband and I do some hiking and biking. Good luck to you! The PT should help alot. Take care!