Well I am nearly 5 weeks into my TLHR (mini posterior) on 20/2/17. I am finding this stage very slow. Is that normal? After a fairly quick recovery, bar a fall at two weeks that set me back a bit, I am finding that I just want to be able to do more and it's frustrating.
I am fine around the house on no crutches. Take one when I go for a walk. However after 20-25 minutes walking the op leg really tires and aches in the femur area. Also the scar area starts to hurt a bit after walking for a while. Energy still low for me too. I do something then have to rest for a bit. I'm doing laundry, cooking etc which keeps me busy. I am driving short distances and can do a small supermarket shop but find it all pretty tiring by the time I've finished. Still need to rest a lot.
I had hoped I would be more energetic at this stage and able to walk a bit further. Not sure if I should just keep increasing the distances gradually or go slower. I find I am so bored at home! I am longing to walk my dog again but as he's a 1 year old lab who needs a fair bit of exercise it feels like a way off yet.
Anyway just wondered if this is all normal at this stage? I know I had soft tissue damage when I slipped on the stairs at 2 weeks which may account for the aches after walking but was hoping that would have healed by now!
Sorry a bit of a moan, just want to run before I walk I guess.
I am still 10 days away from having my surgery so I cannot offer much. BUT BUT BUT I must say you sound quite lucky for having taken a fall and being okay afterward - most seem to need additional surgery.
So here are my words of wisdom - you've been very lucky, please be good to your body, you only have one !!
But yes this is the right place to come when we need to moan, celebrate, complain, cheer . . . here, we get to be ourselves and say exactly how we really feel. Who better than a hippie can really "feel" what you feel.
Best, keep us posted on your progress. That lab is waiting for those long walks too
Sounds like you are doing great! This is coming from a person (me) that did incredibly well with no issues. You will go through being tired, pain in femur and slight discomfort around the incision site for a few more weeks. It will improve each week though. It takes about 12 weeks for the tissue around the surgical site and interior hip heal completely. I found that pain in my femur lasted until about 6-7 months (on and off)... again, perfectly normal while the femur is adjusting to the stem implant and while the bone grows into it.
At this point in time you should be doing strengthening exercises (20-30 mins twice a day), ice packs after your workout or to help control discomfort, and leg elevation as much as possible.
Thank you!! I just needed to hear that!! I think I knew it but was just having a frustrated moment and don't really know what to expect at this point!
Will carry on with my physio strengthening exercises(soooo boring lol!) and walks and soon I will be walking with my dog!
I shouldn't moan as it really has not been anything like as bad as I thought and that is with no strong painkillers as I can't take them so things are good really. Perspective is good - I was in horrible pain before this.
Sam, sounds all very normal to me for 5 weeks! You are doing much better than I did, so you can take some comfort in that. One way of looking at it that might help is that by not overdoing things, you are being very kind to the healing soft tissues, which can get very angry and shouty if pushed too hard at this point.
Please don't apologise for a moan we are all here to listen, help and encourage. I'm only 12 days post op so can't really offer any advice. You sound like you are doing really well and everyone is different, you sound positive and I think you need to focus on that positive energy and take each day at a time. Remember, you are better building slowly than rushing and having some sort of set back. The good weather will be here soon and you will be able to walk your lovely lab for miles.
Take care Sam and keep us informed of your progress.
Hi Samantha, I think you are doing really well at 5 weeks. I am now 10 weeks after THR. As you I can get around the house without a crutch, as can now do lots of jobs around the house as long as I doesn't involve bending too low....and my energy has improved, especially to what it was at 5 weeks, but still need lots of rests...
keep getting frustrated, as you do, as recovery is slow....but every day I have a bit more energy.
yesterday drove the car for a short distance, had a wander around and drove back.
needed to lie down to recover. Then I went for a walk in the afternoon carrying my crutch in case I needed it. Didn't walk for too long 15 mins... but my thigh muscles are still aching...at your stage my femur would have troubled me too. I am doing all the exercises the physio has given me and muscle strength is improving... but we are all too keen to rush this. I was told the first six weeks are about healing and the next 6 plus weeks are about building muscle strength.
all I can say is take heart, you are doing amazingly well. Don't beat yourself up about it not being quicker, it is what it is...my consultant says it will take up to a year before you feel totally recovered.
We all want to get to that stage more quickly...good luck ... hope this helps
It's so helpful to hear other peoples progress, it's difficult at times to know what stage you should be, we all heal at different levels but that's great progress. I'm nearly 7 weeks now.i use one crutch around the house still if I don't I have a ridiculous limp and the leg hurts. I walk outside most days for 15 minutes then the leg becomes achy and tender,have to sit for rests.good on you for driving, I haven't attempted that. My foot thigh and knee still swell and the scar up until a week ago hurt if I did too much it,now just occasionally. I was told upon my discharge that I didn't need physio but I am thinking of paying privately as I believe it will be beneficial in so many ways. I do tire easily I cook and do some light cleaning, washing etc.your right it is so frustrating, I'm trying to increase my outside walking distance slowly, to strengthen the leg.
I really hope you get to walk your dog soon, brilliant progress,keep at it.
It is difficult to not compare ourselves with others, isn't it?
so where ever you are, it is perfect ...
Are you walking without walking aid outside the house? Might be a bit too soon - you are learning to walk again, trying to balance your body, keep your posture straight and take steps, heel to toe etc.
I found this very challenging - still is something I need to be aware of since I am a sloppy walker (flat-footed..)-
It is okay, darling - rest when you feel tired - You are doing great -
it is not a sprint, you know, it is a marathon ... one day, one step at a time will get us far ...
Thank you all SO much!!! Great advice. Totally agree with Renee that we all heal differently and it's so easy to get frustrated after the initial healing takes place. I have found looking at my weekly rather than daily progress is much more realistic. Malthough waljing well with no crutches it is only for short distances. When I go further I take one crutch so I don't limp.
I am paying for private physio just once a week for a bit as the NHS wait times were too long to be relevant. It has been worth it for me as they are very experienced with hip replacements and don't push me to do any difficult things. Small slow movements that are really making a difference now. I reckoned I wasn't spending much being stuck in the house and the physio is my treat to myself. It is useful now the swelling has gone as I limped for so long pre op that my body was all out of synch!
The sun is out and I am throwing tennis balls for my lab which he loves - all is good!