Total Hip Replacement-8 weeks later

It has now been 8 weeks since my hip replacement and I feel like a new woman. If you had told me 12 months ago, when I first visited my GP's surgery, that I would no longer have constant pain and I'd be able to get through a day without popping pills then I would have laughed in your face.

Yesterday I had my review with my surgeon and we're both so pleased with the result that I could have hugged him. He really has done an amazing job and I can't ever thank him enough.

That's not to say that the last 2 months haven't been hard for us all. The first 2 weeks were horrible. I had to be totally dependent on hubby & the children. I needed accompanying to the toilet. They had to help me in and out of bed. I couldn't get myself a drink or something to eat and there was a lot of pain and discomfort...and worst of all for me a lack of sleep. I also had to let hubby be in control of everything around the house. He did much better than I expected but it was so hard just doing nothing for so long!

I could see/feel improvements day by day but I honestly believed I'd need both crutches for the duration of my recovery but I gradually got down to just needing a stick outdoors for a little support and nearly 2 weeks ago I got rid of it completely and was steady enough to walk alone.

Week 3 was the hardest for me as hubby went back to work and the children returned to school. I was left at home sitting in my chair just willing time away. I still couldn't do much so I watched netflix and dvds, read, coloured in my Coronation Street book, completed wordsearches and was just so incredibly bored. Mentally it was torture but I set myself a target each week. Each target was relatively easy to reach; getting into the shower without help, manage stairs without crutches (first up, then down as well), walking around the house without support, cooking a meal, doing the washing up and so on, but it gave me something to focus on. Something to aim for. If I hadn't done that I think I would've gone crazy. I'm happy, and rather proud, to say that the black dog of depression that plagued me from my teens to my late 30s hasn't put in an appearance for a long time and I managed to keep it away during my recovery.

My biggest aim this week was to get back in the driving seat. In theory I should have been able to drive after 6 weeks but I was advised to wait until my consultant had seen me at 8 weeks, which was really frustrating but better to be safe. I was so pleased to be given the all-clear and although I'm not completely there I hope to be back to 'normal' within the next 4 weeks so I can return to work. I have to go back again in 11 months and if all is well I will be discharged from Orthapaedics....until I wear this one out. hopefully that won't happen for at least 15 years.

We went for a brief walk along Cromer seafront after the hospital appointment and I managed to walk up the steep gangway without any pain at all and I was only a little out of breath. I was so ridiculously pleased when I reached the top!!

I then drove home. It was so strange being behind the wheel for the first time in 8 weeks. Getting in was a little difficult and it was a teeny bit uncomfortable but it was great driving again. I've only been driving for 3.5 years but boy, I have missed it so much.

I am so glad that I had the operation done. I was petrified but it really has changed my quality of life. They say life begins at 40 and for me my life has well and truly begun now. I only wish I'd pushed for it to be done sooner. I didn't think that it would solve the problem I had with my knee but I hadn't realised just how much strain my knee was under because of my hip. All that time taken up by excruciating pain....

Below is a before (L) and after (R) photo of my hip. My consultant was spot on when he said my hip was 'a mess' and it's no wonder I was in so much pain because bone was constantly rubbing against bone. My new hip looks so neat!