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Original poster

Can I have a handhold? In hospital and in agony

55 replies

Gastropod · 10/06/2023 06:30

Just that really... have had a double hip replacement and it is hurting like hell, have had my painkillers and they aren't touching it at the moment.
It's boiling hot and I just feel miserable... it's been a long long night.

OP posts:
Nasalhell · 10/06/2023 06:38

That sounds utterly miserable. Sorry you are going through this. And the hospital being boiling doesn't help, does it?
I hope you can get some better pain relief today.
Can you distract yourself a bit with anything? Do you have earphones to listen to music or podcasts? Watch some.videos on YouTube?
Hope you start feeling a bit better soon. At least you will have had your hips.fixed so that will be a big bonus for the future.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 10/06/2023 06:39

So sorry to hear this, it can be miserable to be in pain, uncomfortable and hot - especially if you’re not at home in your own bed.

Have you asked the nursing staff if you’re written up for any additional pain relief to that already given? If they say no then ask if the surgeons can prescribe extras; things like oromorph is usually given as the lowest possible dose even if the surgeons have written you up for a range of doses (so prescription may say 10-20mg and they’ll give you 10mg then tell you you can’t have any more for another 4 hours - if 10mg hasn’t worked, you can ask for the other 10mg as a top up dose) plus they’ll try to stretch you to the longest time between doses too.

Also ask if there is a fan available, can they open a window (we have a bit of a breeze here even though it’s still over 25c in the bedroom), can they get you some iced/chilled water to drink and a bowl with cold water and a face cloth so you can freshen up a bit. Hopefully with the pain addressed and feeling a bit cooler you’ll feel more comfortable

Original poster
Gastropod · 10/06/2023 06:49

Thank you, lovely people. I have a fan but it's mostly moving hot air around ... I will see about the painkillers. No morphine (poss because I was vomiting and had vv low blood pressure and they want to get me walking) so it seems to be ibuprofen alternating with paracetamol. I have ice packs too which they are so nice about changing whenever I ask. But urgh in spite of that it's just horrid today, woke up sobbing, feel like such a wuss!

OP posts:
olympicsrock · 10/06/2023 06:53

Big hug - on the ward round ask if there in a pain team who can review you . There are lots of things such as a PCA ( button that you press to deliver tiny amounts into your vein)

RabbitsRock · 10/06/2023 06:53

So sorry OP - did the morphine make you vomit? I really hope you will be feeling more comfortable soon. DH had one hip down & was in for less than a week so hopefully you can go home fairly soon. Nothing beats your own bed.💐💐💐

RabbitsRock · 10/06/2023 06:54

Done not down!!

booksahoy · 10/06/2023 06:54

Ah, you poor thing! Definitely try distraction too. Maybe play a game on your phone? Or find some Mumsnet Classics? Hope you're feeling better soon 💐

baroqueandblue · 10/06/2023 06:56

OP don't be hard on yourself, you're not a wuss, hip replacement surgery and recovery is bloody hard! Sending you well wishes and I hope things improve to some extent today 💐

Jeffjefftyjeff · 10/06/2023 07:01

Hang in there! My partner had a hip replacement and the post surgery pain was astonishing, he genuinely thought something had gone wrong. It got better quite quickly over the first couple of weeks (although feels like an eternity I’m sure). Paracetamol and ibuprofen seems very low level relief though? My OH couldn’t have morphine but I’m sure had OxyCodone instead initially. Could you ask for something higher strength? Could say you want something to help you be able to sleep as sleep is so important for recovery.

also, No one who has gone through the pain of needing a hip replacement in the first place is a wuss! You’ve already coped with a lot to get here x

Gtsr443 · 10/06/2023 07:06

Getting through these early days without opiates is a bit hardcore OP. Don't be afraid to tell them how much pain you are in. Effective pain management is part of their job. Good luck.

Gettingbysomehow · 10/06/2023 07:08

You poor thing. That's a marathon surgery two at once!!! You'll feel great in a few days. I'm sure it will be worth it.

Wolfiefan · 10/06/2023 07:09

Wow! A double hip replacement? You are doing absolutely brilliant without opiates. My sister had a single hip replacement recently and couldn’t have morphine due to her blood pressure. It was awful for her. They managed to get her blood pressure up and she had really good pain relief. Hoping the same happens for you.

Highflow · 10/06/2023 07:10

Paracetamol and ibuprofen alone isn’t adequate pain relief for your type of surgery.
They need to get your pain better controlled for you to be able to get up and do your physio.
Ask for long acting Oxycodone. That’s what we prescribe for our joint replacements for 3 days.
Hope you have a better day today

LulooLemon · 10/06/2023 07:10

Get well soon OP. 🙂

GayPareeee · 10/06/2023 07:16

owwww I can't imagine how much pain you must be in. Nurses swap over at 7/8 am so hopefully the day team may have more support re pain relief, please don't feel bad about pressing home how much pain you are in.

Do you have anyone coming in to see you today? I found it's hopeless trying to read books when you're in pain but those crappy magazines like That's Life are perfect as nothing is too taxing it takes too long to read. And you can keep having a go at the puzzles.

Try and eat too to protect your stomach.

Really hope they can get it under control soon (there's some really good mindfulness for pain meditations on you tube to try too whilst you're waiting)

grass321 · 10/06/2023 07:24

Hang in there! My partner had a hip replacement and the post surgery pain was astonishing, he genuinely thought something had gone wrong.

I've just had my second (the surgeon refused to do both at once so you have my respect). The pain was intolerable second time around and I'm really anti painkillers.

I went privately so there wasn't a lack of attention but I felt the nursing staff kept fobbing me off when I said the painkillers weren't touching it. (I also couldn't keep my food down).

My consultant sorted it out a day or two later but you've got to keep saying you need more painkillers until they give you some more. My physios also helped with speaking to the nursing staff on my behalf. I understand why they want to keep you on the minimum dose necessary but there's no point sitting in excruciating pain.

I also found it easier if I tilted the electric bed up below my knees. I wasn't sure if this was allowed as you're sending blood back towards your hip but they said it was fine.

grass321 · 10/06/2023 07:29

I'm rubbish at remembering names but I think I had oramorph and oxycontin. I still have dihydrocodeine 8 weeks later so that's presumably another option.

I can share your pain at just having ibuprofen and paracetamol which wouldn't have been sufficient even after one side.

Daniki · 10/06/2023 07:30

Well done on your surgery hope it starts to get easier for you soon, it's a tough one 2 at the one time! I know it might sound silly but box breathing can help. I had a really bad accident few years ago and completely shattered my arm it broke at the elbow and was sticking out and my hand was shattered(was very lucky to not have it amputated) and when having physio she would make me box breathe to do the exercises to be able to start getting my range of motion back again and it really helped!
Also ask for the pain management team to see you, there's definitely other options you can have bar morphine you're definitely not on enough at the min.
As another poster said if they can get you a bowl of ice sit that in front of the fan to get a bit of cool air going.
Any time iv been in hospital it's been in the good weather and the heat is outrageous! 🤢

Mummyoflittledragon · 10/06/2023 07:34

Please talk a lot about your pain. Complain. Threaten PALS if necessary. You need more than just paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Original poster
Gastropod · 10/06/2023 07:37

Thank you for the support and wise advice. I will definitely speak to them about the pain relief. Not actually in the uk (EU country) so might have to find out what things are called here!
It's quite hardcore definitely having both done at once.., but I think there is no way I'd have come back for another go if they'd only done one!
To be fair the surgeon was fab and everyone is so lovely here, but I just have to stop being so polite and British!

OP posts:
Veenah · 10/06/2023 07:39

You poor thing, definitely push for more pain relief. When I was in hospital after a very similar operation I was given Oxycontin and even when I went home I was given Tramadol. This was just standard, I didn't have to request it.

Destiny123 · 10/06/2023 07:42

olympicsrock · 10/06/2023 06:53

Big hug - on the ward round ask if there in a pain team who can review you . There are lots of things such as a PCA ( button that you press to deliver tiny amounts into your vein)

We won't give a pca without going up the normal pain ladder first. There isn't a pain team on a weekend but us as anaesthetists are there to answer on their behalf.

You should be on a regular opiate too either codeine or dihydrocodeine

You should have a break through strong opiate. Morphine doesn't drop bp and we advise to give a dose prior to physios coming so can participate better in exercises. If it's making you feel sick they can either give it with an antisickness or swap to oxycodone as some get on with that better

Fingers crossed you get better soon

grass321 · 10/06/2023 09:05

The other advice I had was anti sickness medication. The pills kept coming straight up so weren't helpful but you can have an injection instead.

Feeling and being sick is so miserable, not helped by the nurses telling you constantly that you need to eat something. Well intended but by the time you've shuffled in agony to the loo and brought up your meal, it's not terribly appealing. (I've gone off avocado on toast for life).

I'm genuinely in awe of your double at one time. I'm in my 40s and have found having one at a time really tough.

Original poster
Gastropod · 10/06/2023 10:00

Thanks all. I've had more ibuprofen and paracetamol and ice packs, which have taken the edge off.
They've also just said I can have tramadol which I admit I'm apprehensive about as have only just stopped vomiting and feeling nauseous from the anaesthetic and earlier meds... I tolerate this sort of stuff quite badly.
Probably silly of me, I think it's going to be a choice between pain or feeling puky.

OP posts:
GayPareeee · 10/06/2023 12:18

If you feel pukey ask them if you can have ondansetron. I am always fully green after a GA, and taking it had me eating a sandwich within half an hour of coming round.

It is ok to make your health/wellbeing their problem to manage, I know it's very in British to do so and make a fuss