5 stars for being a good girl (7 week check) and a surprise

Bones, joints and muscles
1

7 weeks ago I couldn't imagine ever sitting in the car comfortably again let alone driving 30 miles to see my consultant but I did it yesterday.

On 30th June I had a posterior RTHR with a ceramic cup and stem. The cup is called 'Trinity' which I though was rather sweet and asked if the stem was called 'Neo' but my consultant doesn't have a sense of humour.

Anyway, I have been a good girl and as I have been sleeping anywhere and anyhow for weeks he didn't need to give me the go ahead to remove confining buffers and cushions. I also musn't twist the hip EVER, meaning not twisting knee inwards and lifting leg to side to do shoes or toenails. This was the main reason he didn't want me crawling around on the floor with children for my work anymore.

Apart from not jumping out of aeroplanes (it's the impact, it will crack the femur - ouch) I am free to do more or less anything except, but here is the surprise......

DON'T GET TOO FIT

What? 

He said

... "A lot of people, especially young, like you (I smirked at this point, I am 52) think that they must go out and test their new hip by getting super fit, stretching it as far as it will go etc. Have you seen Pamela Anderson doing the splits on a TV show? Well, she will be having a revision a lot sooner than you. What she is doing is loosening the muscles and ligaments that hold the joint in place and that is not what we want to happen."

At this point I was just trying to imagine me trying to do the splits, it hadn't even crossed my mind up until that point.

He went on...

"What we need is a little stiffness, a joint that is held in place normally, not with elastic tendons around it. Keep fit, do plenty of walking, static bike riding but don't try bending it in all different directions. You are looking to preserve this hip, not wear it out"

So tonight I am off for a swim (still gently) and my usual daily walk. I am aware that Trinity and Neo will take another 8 months to fully recover but in the meantime, just after Christmas they will be joined by Morpheous and Agent Smith  - my hip saga is not over yet!

 

2

Brilliant. Great news for you and all of us who think the splits is those others, a common sense approach. He is obviously skilful despite being humourless. The bit about toenails is my excuse for pedicures

3

Hi Kate, and hi to Trinity too!

Great to hear from you -

All is so confusing: I think he is right in the short term, but also i have consultant who also  says it takes a full year to recover, and thus pace myself slow but sure over a full twelve months,

So, while doing splits or bungie jumping is bonkers yes, even at a year, i do feel some of us (not you!) can be over-cautious, and I DO  heed his warning re not do enuf to aid healing process which is not good too.....

I'm loving my Alexandra Technique and tai chi as well as gentle swim n gym to this end.

Take care -drive over to Exeter for brunch sometime!

mic

xx

4

Maggie, I would use that excuse for as long as possible but the truth is not to twist the hip and leg/knee inwards  and lift the foot because you will encourage a posterior dislocation (yeowch). You can, however bend forward to do shoes etc and bend the knee out with the foot angled in towards the midline (this was easier to understand with a demo). And that's it, common sense, the new hip can't do what the old one could but I don't want that arthritic old, gnarly horror back, thank you.

5

Hey, Mic, yay, was a bit confusing but slow and sure is the best. No jumping from heights and no twisting inwards with foot pointing out was the biggest thing. My usual exercise is swimming and walking both of which are legal so I am happy.

I also got told off for using the crutch on the wrong side until I said I was using it to support my old, still rubbish left and not the new righty.

I may take you up on a meet-up sometime.

Carry on healing

Kate

6

Hi Kate53222

Many thansk for your very informative and positive post.

I amd due RTHR next month.

7

 good girl !!!!   AND FUNNY .... 

Took me some time to figure out those leg positions - I guess I either never did them or I did and was never aware of how ...

Kate, does that mean that Morpeous ans Agent Smith will be new hip-members? 

If so, then my hip saga isn;t over either ... I don't think I can wait until Christmas..

On a side note: what kind of books do you write ? 

warm hug and keep the funnies coming

renee

8

Brilliant news. And driving 30 miles. At my post op last week I was told not to drive for another two weeks then practice emergency stop in a car park. Didn't know Pamela Anderson had a hip op and I nearly bought a red swimsuit yesterday .

9

I think that is what happened to my mum. She would persist in sitting in the garden, bending legs to side and cutting the grass with large scissors. Eventually she dislocated when sitting on the loo and adopting the same stance to put shoes and socks on. My hubbie had to go round,and get the paramedics to take her off to have it manipulated back in! 

Another reason for my caution and need  for pedicures!

my husband keeps demonstrating the correct way, his hip is now 5 years old, so come winter I will be putting my socks on. I enjoy the pedicures though