Can I have a handhold? In hospital and in agony

[Gastropod]

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.

I'd try the tramadol. It's very effective. You've been through a lot and it's going to be even more stressful for your body if you're in pain all the time.

You have my sympathy. I was recently in hospital with a very painful illness. I found it pretty difficult to get painkillers out of the nurses too. I found that very upsetting.

Mine was in a similar area and I found putting the knee area part of the bed at full bend helped take the pressure off.

Hope you get better soon 🌺

Awww lovely - hope the painkillers kick in soon!! My Dad had his knees done 20 yrs so I totally hear ya!! Hope u get some sleep this afternoon xx

Tramodol really helped him and having the bed bent where your knees are xx

sympathy from me, ive broken my knee and am in a hot heavy full leg cast. Am not in as much pain now thou as its 10 days post accident, but i cant do anything easily and dont really want to sit out in the heat.

Tramadol is effective, hope it helps. Can't believe you're only on ibuprofen and paracetamol post op,that's bordering on neglect!

Paracetamol and ibuprofen after major surgery? Good old NHS. It'd be laughable if it wasn't so cruel.

yup, good old NHS.... not providing pain relief to post-op patients in hospitals in other countries! Good old Mumsnet!

She in another country? Just as bad as here then.

Ha yes not uk though I can't fault the care at any other level, it's just been the pain relief over the last day. To their credit they have now offered me tramadol or morphine but, weirdly, the pain has subsided without needing to take either for now. I think I'll need something overnight though.

In other developments, I can now walk unaided which feels perfectly miraculous, can do stairs with crutches and am hopefully going home tomorrow!

Just one more night to get through here. Thanks so much for the advice and support - Mumsnet is pretty fab sometimes!

That is amazing, a surgeon did say that hips have the best recovery but that is staggering. Please do keep the pain relief consistent so you can sleep through three night, it's so much harder to manage with peaks and troughs

In other developments, I can now walk unaided which feels perfectly miraculous, can do stairs with crutches and am hopefully going home tomorrow!

That is miraculous (took me a month to walk unaided). Glad the pain has subsidised a bit, hopefully you'll have a better night's sleep.

Don't you dare feel like a wuss, you have had a double hip replacement , crikey one is painful enough. Please ask for a stronger painkiller, to be honest i think they are being pretty bloody horrid expecting you to manage with paracetamol and ibuprofen, that won't sort out a headache never mind major pain. I hope you are feeling much better soon

Gosh, a whole month! I was assured that recovery would be quick which is why I decided to go through with it. A very steep curve so far, never thought even yesterday I'd be doing this today.

I could write a whole other thread about the surgeon and how truly fabulous she is...!

Gosh, a whole month! I was assured that recovery would be quick which is why I decided to go through with it. A very steep curve so far, never thought even yesterday I'd be doing this today.

You're doing brilliantly!

Most of my fellow hip replacement patients weren't even out of bed on day three (in fairness, some of them weren't perhaps in the first flush of youth). I still needed one crutch outside at 7 weeks so your recovery is unbelievably good.

Must be great to feel like you're over the worst and can start getting on with life without pain.

Well I'm hobbling around like a baby elephant learning to walk but it's a start...

You are not a 'wuss' OP It's a big operation I hope you feel better soon and that your new hip/hips are a success Sendin thoughts

Sending thoughts

Just thought I'd come back with an update.

Been home for a few days now, feels good to be in familiar surroundings!

Can walk unaided though it gets sore quickly, am trying to get by with one crutch mostly. Lots of stairs at home!

Pain wise, I'm still mostly on paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory. Tramadol weirdly not helping much with the pain though it does make me drowsy/groggy.

Mostly ok/bearable (ish) during the day but nights are so tough, sleeping in one position only, waking every 60-90 mins. Averaging 4-5 hours sleep per night, not sure there's much I can do about that other than be patient.

Oh, and I have a pair of the most impressive bruises down my legs, I almost feel proud of them.

Great to hear you're doing so well!

The sleep is really tough though as it's not something you can easily manage with painkillers. My surgeon has prescribed me Zopiclone which gets me through the night but I'm still waking every 30-60 minutes otherwise (at 10 weeks). I think only as I looked so desperate as he didn't let me have it when I wasn't sleeping after my first replacement.

I guess a pharmacist may be able to recommend something that makes you a bit drowsy. But it's so hard to find a comfortable position to lie in ..

That's such a great update. Have you got a v shaped cushion? I had ankle surgery and had to sleep with my leg in a pot for a while stuck on my back and a found the v shaped really helpful in not making me too sore whilst stuck in one position also the simba mattress topper that's hybrid memory foam/standard has been a godsend for my aches and pains

Thanks - no v-shaped cushion though I do have a sort of wedge shaped one to raise feet at night. Might look into the V thing if that's better!

Another awful night of sleep though. Used to love my bed, now I'm starting to dread it!

@grass321 I've been trying melatonin as it's always worked for me in the past. And magnesium spray.
It helps with the getting to sleep part, but it's the staying asleep that's the problem of course...

I've just managed 8 hours for the first time with the sleeping pill plus a dihydrocodeine. As you say, you can fall asleep quite well, but you can't control the pain waking you up half an hour later. I also sleep on my front and can't sleep on my back which makes it all quite awkward getting into a comfortable position.

Recuperating from the surgery is one thing but doing it without enough sleep is really tough. Might be worth seeing if they'll prescribe you something to sleep?

Thanks and yes I'm considering that very seriously. I'm a front sleeper too, even when pregnant I somehow slept on my front!!! I always get nightmares when sleeping on my back so that's also been an added source of nocturnal excitement...

Well done on the 8 hours though!!!