|
I
had a hip replacement in 1997, it was my first ever joint replacement and my
hip had gone very quickly. I initially saw the surgeon August 1996 and by
January 1997 I virtually had no ball and socket left.
I
went into hospital end of March 1997, very nervous, not knowing what to
expect. All I had known for the past year was sheer pain and by this time
I couldn't walk. My surgeon was very good, showed me what my new hip
would look like and if I'm at all honest, I freaked a little. There I was
holding this metal hip joint in my hand, thinking this is going inside of
me!? I kept worrying that it would feel different, that it wouldn't feel
part of me, that people would know I'd had a hip replacement, I thought it
would be that noticeable that I may as well walk round with 2 heads attached to
my shoulders!
I
got into hospital the day before (the op was scheduled for 1st April, ha ha
April Fools day! Just my luck) I’d had my x-rays done and my new hip was
checked (because of the way my rheumatoid has damaged certain parts of me I had
to have my hip custom made) I always find the first day so boring, the day
before the op, waiting around for doctors, anaesthetists (even then the
anaesthetists don't always come until the morning of the op), physio,
occupational therapist, vampires to take blood etc etc. I've now learnt
to take lots of magazines, a good book and a Walkman to listen to. I also
take food with me, sweets and fruit (I mean after midnight I'm not allowed to
eat and that’s the worst part I think lol)
The
next morning arrived and I was scheduled for late morning (normally they will
tell you where you are on the list, you just have to sweet talk them) They
also gave me some very sexy stockings to wear (to prevent clotting, because of
the major surgery and the fact you are laying still for a day after, the
stockings are a precaution) not the most comfortable of things, especially if
you haven't shaved your legs, they can itch like mad!! They can also feel
a bit tight but let the nurses know if they feel too tight.
The
anaesthetist came round and checked my neck etc (because they tip your head
back in theatre they need to check movement is ok) he explained about the
pre med (I get very nervous before ops so I tend to have a relaxant) I had
a general anaesthetic. I could have opted for the spinal one but I went
for general, as I prefer to be out of it, nothing through experience just
general preference. He also explained that when you come back you have a
morphine pump (this is a very good thing) it is like a drip but it is attached
to morphine, you have a button in your hand so that if you feel discomfort
after the op, you press this button and it gives you morphine. There is
no way you can have too much as it is set to a level and on a time measure as
well. So even if you are like me and keep pressing the button (I was
completely out of it when I came round and my trigger finger was a bit happy) I
certainly couldn't give myself too much
I
must admit, when I came back, I was in a bit of discomfort, I tend to have
reactions to anaesthetic so I was a bit ill (if you smoke then it is worse, so
try not to have a cigarette the night before the op)
The
weird thing is, and I was really amazed by this, you have discomfort after the
op, yes it is a bit painful but it's a nice pain (if there is such a thing as
nice pain) but its hard to describe, after being in pain with the hip, this
pain is refreshing as you know the bad hip has gone and the feeling I got was
quite emotional, a happy emotion.
You
stay in bed for the rest of the day; you are quite out of it anyway so I just
caught up on sleep. I had visitors but they couldn't get any sense out of
me, mumble jumble was the description they gave.
The
next day I felt so refreshed, eager to get going. That’s the thing, after
the op, you just want to walk, but also scared to walk. You have this new
hip and you are frightened of damaging it, this is natural. The physio
came round and after lunch, got me standing with the support of a Zimmer
frame. It felt so strange, no pain, but very weak, it did feel new, kind
of surreal.
You
are still wearing the stockings so make sure you have a decent pair of slippers
(no slip on ones, you're in danger of loosing balance) The physio
is always there so just take your time moving, dolly steps to begin
with, just to get a feel of the new hip.
Remember
my fears earlier, about how the hip would feel? Well it did feel
different, the pain had gone but it felt part of me, I didn't look any
different, you couldn't tell (unless you dropped your trousers to show people
your scar)
My
scar is about 5-6 inches long, I had stitches in mine, some surgeons use
staples. If possible, ask your surgeon if you can have drawstring stitches
(this isn't the medical term so he may have a confused look, but if you explain
it's the type of stitching where you stitch on the inside and then pull through
afterwards, he should know what you mean) it doesn't leave such a mark.
Afterwards,
when you have had your stitches removed (normally 10 days) and the wound has
healed, rub E45 cream or a cream that contains Lanolin in, massage it in quite
firmly, this helps to restore sensation back in, stimulating the nerve endings
and also breaks up scar tissue so the scar is not so prominent (my hip scar has
virtually disappeared)
It
varies on how long you are in hospital for, it is normally 1-2 weeks. You
will have an occupational therapist who will show you how to use crutches and
how to get up and down stairs if you have them (you only use the Zimmer frame
for a few days to get balance back)
Stuff
to take into hospital; this is something they don't always tell you
about. Trousers that are loose fitting, the scar is very sensitive so
don't have anything pressing too tight against it, even shorts or a
skirt. You are not allowed to bend the hip above a certain degree
(basically your knee should not be higher than the hip as there is risk of
dislocation) so make sure you have shoes that are easy to get on, socks can be
a bit of a nightmare but you might be able to get hold of a sock aid, these
come in very handy. Your occupational therapy dept issues them or you can
buy them from Independent Living Centres.
Work
hard on the exercises, the muscle wastage is the hardest thing after an op,
they need to cut through muscle to get to the hip so your muscles tend to go on
strike.
It
didn't take long for me to get back to full working order. I did have
some damage to my back because my ball and socket had gone so I virtually
walked through my back. But I had the op done April 1997 and in October
1997 I was in Greece walking up very steep hills, it was an amazing
feeling. However when I had my knee done, it took well over a year before
I got full muscle power back, it just depends on the amount of muscle wastage
before and how easy it is to get them back.
It
is nerve-racking having an op like this but more often or not it is the not
knowing what to expect. I have since had a knee replacement and due to
have other knee done next month and other hip early next year. I still
get nervous, but that’s because I don't like hospitals, the ops I don't mind
because I know what I get out of them will enable me to do stuff I wouldn't be
able to do normally.
(C)
Helen Johnson 2003
|