A broken hip from a car accident at the age of 17 caused ongoing hip pain for keen tennis player Rebecca Putland.
“As the years passed, the pain got progressively worse,” Rebecca, 54, said. “A physiotherapist urged me to see a surgeon about five or six years ago, but I brushed it off.
“As the years passed, the pain got progressively worse,” Rebecca, 54, said. “A physiotherapist urged me to see a surgeon about five or six years ago, but I brushed it off.
“I was still playing tennis for two hours a day, but I was in a lot of pain, particularly at night. Once I was up and moving, the pain would reduce, but I was still very stiff, and people commented that I walked with a limp.
“I learned to compensate, but then I tore my right medial meniscus because of overcompensating. That was the turning point. I knew I had to do something.”
Rebecca visited her GP, who referred her to a physiotherapist local to her. After six weeks of physiotherapy, Rebecca knew it was not having the desired effect. A return trip to the GP resulted in her being referred to The Horder Centre’s Seaford clinic, where she was assessed by a physiotherapist and referred to Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Senthil Kumar Velayudham.
Rebecca added: “By that time, I’d had X-rays and during my consultation, Mr Velayudham said my hip arthritis was bad enough to consider a minimally invasive total hip replacement. I felt relief but also regret for not seeing a surgeon earlier.”
Rebecca opted for a same-day discharge and was allocated the first morning slot for the procedure. She chose to have an epidural and sedation and was soon back in the recovery room with her husband before being transferred to the ward.
“The epidural wore off in a few hours,” Rebecca explained. “And I got feeling back in my legs. I was doing laps of the ward on two sticks in the afternoon, and I had a joyful belly of pork for my meal. I received my pain medication and was told I was safe and ready to be discharged at 6pm.
“I was happy with my decision to go home. The next day I felt stiff and sore, but that only lasted for 24 hours. Three days later, I was able to get ready and leave the house to watch a tennis match.
“I made sure I did all my exercises. I’m determined and so started doing household work, but carefully, and using sticks to walk with. I also have a good pain threshold and by day 10, I was off the painkillers. If I was sore every now and then, I would take them.
“At the end of week two, I was off the sticks at home and just used them while out and about. By week four I was completely off them.
“After six weeks, I started to go to the gym to do the static bike and walk in the pool – 20 laps forward, back, side to side. By week eight, I was doing 40 lengths three to four days a week. In the gym, I was focusing on upper body, stretching and controlled work on both legs. By week eight, I was playing padel and also attended body pump, which I adapted according to my hip. This was teamed with walking on the treadmill, lifting weights, and long walks with the dog.
“Around week six, I did have pain to touch, like a bruise. Mr Velayudham reviewed me the next day, where he took an X-ray of my hip. Everything looked fine. He was really reassuring and made me feel so much better. He explained that the hip was functioning well. I felt it was functioning in a way that it hadn’t for a long time.
“Mr Velayudham was very happy with my progress during my follow up appointment. However, he advised me not to play tennis until week 12.”
Rebecca was well informed by the whole team that the recovery was variable from patient to patient. She prepared herself and followed the advice from the healthcare team to maximise the benefit and have a safe recovery.
She added: “The care I received was fantastic. Every single person, particularly on the day of surgery, was kind and understanding and ensured I was comfortable.
"I no longer feel any pain when I walk, and I can walk without limping."
“On reflection, 12 weeks have gone by so quickly. I am now back to all my activities and have no trouble sleeping due to hip pain anymore. I am so thankful to have had a minimally invasive total hip replacement.”
Rebecca Putland
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