👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees Part 5 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

Evening everyone! My knee is very sore today - not the new joint but the tissues around it and on the surface , IYSWIM. It’s 5 weeks since surgery. Is that typical? I have let the painkillers slip a bit, so it’s probably my own fault.

Do take some paracetomol or ibuprofen which should c help relieve the discomfort. Five weeks is very early days, you are getting there, but it takes a bit of time.

Thank you Silverlining. I just need reassurance.

I agree with silverlining. I was in agony at 6 weeks. Each of us is different.

Nannytopsy I had such a sore spot under the top of my scar on my hip at around that time I had to stop my exercises. I thought it was an internal stitch which hadn’t healed and it eventually cleared up but it was soooo uncomfortable. The scar itself was perfect.

On a different tack, can any experienced hipster tell me how long one needs to sleep with a pillow/cushion tucked between one’s legs after graduating to side sleeping? What I’m using is one of those orthopaedic heart shaped cushions which are quite firm and, I have to say, quite comfortable, but I would like to do without it and sleep normally. Am I fully aligned yet? It’ll be 12 weeks next Monday since my THR. What are you doing, Redcar? I think you’re 12 weeks today, aren’t you?

Hi grammargran, good to hear from you. Yes, I’m 12 weeks today, and still sleeping mostly on my back. I sometimes sleep a bit on my left side, which was the replaced hip, without a pillow between my knees. The consultant said that would be ok, but to put a pillow between my knees if I wanted to sleep on my right side. I don’t sleep on that side anyway so not a problem. But the right hip is aching today (it was replaced 13 months ago), but is moving normally so I’m not sure what’s going on, probably been doing too much!
nannytopsy I’m still taking paracetamol, but have reduced them to once a day.

Redcar Each surgeon is different. It used to be 12 weeks, but could you ring the ward? They will not remember you, but it is a simple question for them. There is little point in ringing your GP because they will not know.

It used to be more comfortable to have a pillow between your knees and another at your back to prevent you from rolling onto your back.

I sleep on my side and still use a knee pillow nearly 3 years post op. I find it more comfy even if it’s a bit of a faff being surrounded with pillows.

I found that I couldn't bear pillows under the duvet. I didn't like a pillow between my knees either. I even bought one of those 6ft long body pillows but no luck. I just managed to sleep on my back until I could sleep on my front. It takes all sorts!

Aveline when were you allowed to sleep on your front? Was it 12 weeks?

I really don't remember. There wasn't any sort of 'sleep police'! I suppose I only did it when it felt OK. That was after both knee replacements and hip replacement.

I’m happily sleeping on both sides, albeit the changeover isn’t as smooth as pre-op to say the least, but once there it’s perfectly comfortable, just want to rid myself of the cushion. See, I’m never satisfied, a few weeks ago I would’ve been deliriously happy just to have tilted to one side!

I think that by 12 weeks I had largely abandoned the cushion between the knees. But I’d been side sleeping on the non operated side with a cushion ever since the op because the hospital had said it was ok to do it. I think after 12 weeks I would have reverted to using the cushion from time to time if I felt the operated leg needed a bit of support.

I think you’ll probably be fine without the cushion, grammargran. The likelihood oof dislocation, which is the reason for these restrictions, must be diminishing as your muscles heal and start regaining the strength to hold the joint firmly in place.

I tried the pillow between the knees but it didn't feel right somehow.

Sorry that your knee is still so painful Nannytopsy 😒

Keep taking the drugs!!

I had a lovely surprise phonecall from a physio today giving me an
appointment for the week after next!

I took the bus into Edinburgh today and met a pal for coffee, did some messages and generally felt "normal"

My hand still aches which is a nuisance but at least my hip is not painful.

I hope you all sleep well. I get to sleep but wake far too early and can't get back.

Trust us, adding our pennyworth to the socks thread!

It's a pity we don't live nearer each other, and we could meet for a coffee. Grammaretto You will have to move, you're too far away!

Aveline you are not exactly next door either. I think silverlining and I are the closest.

I've met Grammaretto a couple of times but we're not that close.

Am I near anyone in deepest, darkest Gloucestershire? Honestly, I fell on you all on the socks threads like long lost buddies!

I live on the Heathrow side of NW London, but thankfully, I am not on the flight path. By the time the new runway is in use, I will not be on this planet.

And I am in Suffolk, miles from you all! I took an age to get comfortable last night, not because of left, new knee but right hip. I was promised an appointment with consultant 6 months after my knee, so that’s at least another 8 weeks.
Once asleep I did sleep well. Awake early for church and I shall have to scrape the frost and gf the car!

Off not ‘and gf’!

I’m in Essex, and if I was going out, would certainly be scraping the ice off the car. I won’t be going out until the frost has cleared (if I go at all).
nannytopsy I hope your hip isn’t too painful.

The best part of retirement for me is hearing other people scrape the ice off their cars while I have another coffee and read the papers!
Seriously though, if it's slippy outside be very careful. God won't mind if you miss church this once.

* Aveline*, I agree. I am so religious that I stopped to wonder why anybody was going to church, but then it dawned on me that it was Sunday, and not everybody is a heathen like me. I went to a Catholic boarding school, and the nuns finished me off, so I only go to church for weddings and funerals.

I return to my coffee.

I hold the keys to the church and to the safe, so I have to go! My goodness it was cold in there today. Fortunately we only have one service a month! (Unless there are funerals etc).
I didn’t bother with the car, I walked!!

I do not recollect in adulthood being in a warm church,

It was different at school as we rarely appeared to be out of it, so it was cosy. It was the only place that was warm because the nuns skinted on heating the ex large country house.