Connect
← Return to Post hip replacement problems
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
I had a sudden onset if pain right before covid so that I couln't see a doctor for a year. It turned out that i needed a hip replacement. I agreed but i had severe pain for a year post op, but the doctor said there was nothing wrong. He sent me to a spine surgeon who saw the the hip was overlengthed by over 2 cms and this elevation caused my pelvis to impact my other hip. I had a surgery on my other hip. The doctor said I wouldn't need pt, but I knew I was in trouble. It's now a year post op. I found a great p.t a few months ago who is also a mixed martial instructor, I'm a Pilates instructorm but didn't ptactice throough this time. I just started additional rehab with he. Both have helped, but I have pain and my activities have been severely curtailed. I've gotten to the point where I'm consistently frightened and anxious about ever healing properly.
It's so not like me. I had several back surgeries and worked my way through them. I was younger then. I have not been able to get a therapist since covid filled everyone's practice.
I hope I can find support.
Thank you
Replies to "I had a sudden onset if pain right before covid so that I couln't see a..."
Good morning and welcome to Mayo Connect. I see that you have already connected with one of our most determined and encouraging members @hipgranny1956.
Most of us who come around looking for help after hip replacement are not the (to me) mythical patient described by my surgeon - one who is "back to normal" in 6 weeks. By the way, I winter in South Texas among over 100,000other seniors and retirees - I have yet to meet anyone who was at full strength & power at 6 or even 8 weeks - all of us had issues with pain, or fatigue, or like my friend Bob "not being ready to swing a golf club yet...but I can practice putting, walk and I hurt less..."
Like you I am a veteran of way too many ortho surgeries, and trying to avoid even more. So PT and daily exercise are my life now, just to keep on going.
I have a suggestion about what you describe as feeling"...consistently frightened and anxious about ever healing properly." Please take a look at this powerful little book, "The Way Out" by Allen Gordon and Alon Ziv.
I had to take myself off to a pain rehab clinic because I was truly in that place of fear, and found it made the pain ever worse. Following the model, I have worked with my doc, PT & a counselor to learn which pain is meaningful - like when my granddog strained my arm last week. And which pain is exacerbated by my brain. Then I know when to adjust my activity and when to adjust my attitude. I will never be pain-free - too many ailments and too many miles on my body. But I now know which pains mean danger, and which I can work my way through or ignore. For the first time in 20+ years, I am not suffering daily, severe neck and upper back pain - and when it comes at me, I have coping strategies.
Hang in there, with your background and determination, you can get your life back!
Sue
Connect
I wish you all the best outcome! We can't give up. I agree with others who say We must be our own advocate. I'm trying to do that now that I've gone through what feels like dismissing me me to figure it out for myself.