Hi all! So I was 5 weeks post op yesterday and up until week 3 or 4 I thought I was making really good progress. Things seem to have stalled a little bit for me. I'm walking pretty well on one crutch now, but I get quite a lot of pain / discomfort around the area of surgery. It also still feels like I have a ball of swelling in the area. Is this normal for 5 weeks or should I be worried I might have an infection or something? I see the consultant for my 6 week check up on Monday so I guess I'll ask him then.
Incidently he had told me by 6 weeks I wouldnt need my crutches anymore. I dont think I'm going to achieve that which is frustrating as I hoped to spend 2 weeks building up strength to go back to work at 8 weeks.
I was 5 weeks yesterday too and I can get about the house with no sticks, but definitely not outside. My goal was to go back to work at 6 weeks, that's not going to happen so I've pushed that back to 8 weeks.
I feel exactly like you, great improvement in week 3 but not loads more since, I'm lucky not to have pain though, it's the lack of sleep that gets me. My foot on the operated leg turns out and the surgeon said it was due to the way I walked for years pre op and it shall need retrained, it's getting a bit better.
I don't see my surgeon again until the end of July but from what I've read here, lots of people still use at least one crutch or stick at 6 weeks and beyond.
Good to hear your doing 'pretty well', I have a similar story but don't worry it gets better, I am 10 weeks now and still have some pain deep within the hip, my doctor still thinks the bone is still growing around my new bionics. The pain is when I get up then 'I walk it off' but I came on loads after most of the restrictions were removed at 7 weeks. I have had quite bad back pain - posture related- but that is even easing the last week or so. I'm sure you will have seen that it is a bit of a roller coaster of ups and downs but remember it's a bit of a long game. I am doing a phased return to work the week after next. Good luck with your consultation.
Hello David, I was on week 3 yesterday, and I made what I thought was good progress in the first 2 weeks, but like you I seem to have stalled a bit. I still have quite a bit of swelling also, and pain and stiffness. There seems to be no 2 recoveries the same. I don't think you need to worry too much though. As for not needing the crutches after week 6, this seems not to be the case for a lot of people in this forum. It may take up to 12 weeks to be crutch free. I don't think surgeons should give people such strict deadlines, surely they are aware of the differences in recovery times, considering the amount of hip ops they do each year. David, take the time you need for your own personal recovery, trying to meet other people's expectations could cause more harm. Warmest wishes. Julia x
My experience was quite similar to Suzie's. Eight weeks seem to be a tipping point for pain (much reduced, but increased if I missed a session of exercise) and increased mobility. I began walking much more easily. I attribute this to time passed and the addition of calm she'll exercise and leg lifts from the clamshell position. Both really worked the gluten and increased strength and rotation around the hip. The PT also started emphasizing heeal-toe walk and clenching butt muscles when walking . This truly helped reduce limping and strengthening my pace ....
Hi David I am at 3.5 weeks post op so am not much on advice for you. I think we have all felt at times that we were not progressing and then all the sudden we are able to do something we were not able to do before. It can be very frustrating to say the least. We all want to be able to walk normal and to move on. My physical therapist tells me to be patient and not to expect so much. I push myself because I want so bad to be able to walk normal again. I hope your consultant has some answers for you and good news. I am sure the swelling is probably just normal and what I have been told that even 5 weeks is very early in the healing process. I hope that you are able to walk without the crutch, but remember to not push yourself too hard and that we all heal at different time frames. You will know when you feel comfortable to walk without the crutch. Wishing you well....Barb
Thanks for your reply. I'm going to ask the consultant about whether or not to try and phase out the crutch. Like you, I can manage around the house without a crutch but I'm a bit wobbly and find it difficult not to waddle.
I guess I'm also feeling a bit down because my unoperated hip has been niggling me and I've noticed that it now produces grating noises worse than my operated hip ever did. The sound makes me feel sick. I'm going to ask my consultant about that as well....
Thanks for your reply. I'm going to ask the consultant about whether or not to try and phase out the crutch. Like you, I can manage around the house without a crutch but I'm a bit wobbly and find it difficult not to waddle.
I guess I'm also feeling a bit down because my unoperated hip has been niggling me and I've noticed that it now produces grating noises worse than my operated hip ever did. The sound makes me feel sick. I'm going to ask my consultant about that as well....
Thanks for your reply. I'm going to ask the consultant about whether or not to try and phase out the crutch. Like you, I can manage around the house without a crutch but I'm a bit wobbly and find it difficult not to waddle.
I guess I'm also feeling a bit down because my unoperated hip has been niggling me and I've noticed that it now produces grating noises worse than my operated hip ever did. The sound makes me feel sick. I'm going to ask my consultant about that as well....
Thanks for your reply. I'm going to ask the consultant about whether or not to try and phase out the crutch. Like you, I can manage around the house without a crutch but I'm a bit wobbly and find it difficult not to waddle.
I guess I'm also feeling a bit down because my unoperated hip has been niggling me and I've noticed that it now produces grating noises worse than my operated hip ever did. The sound makes me feel sick. I'm going to ask my consultant about that as well....
Thanks for your reply. I'm going to ask the consultant about whether or not to try and phase out the crutch. Like you, I can manage around the house without a crutch but I'm a bit wobbly and find it difficult not to waddle.
I guess I'm also feeling a bit down because my unoperated hip has been niggling me and I've noticed that it now produces grating noises worse than my operated hip ever did. The sound makes me feel sick. I'm going to ask my consultant about that as well....
Im 5 weeks today .I stopped using my walker in the house around week 3 but i do use it outside for longer walks .and I can still feel the ball in my hip .Its uncomfortable to sit to long ...I just waiting till I can sleep on my side .....
Hi David I am 9 weeks and still feel as if I am sitting on a tennis ball, I went for my 6 week check at 7 weeks (cutbacks) and was told by a orthepedic nurse practitioner to use two sticks as my gait is poor I had been using one.....I have been to the gym with the physio who told me to use one stick again and gave me exercises to strengthen things up...so the swelling is normal I think but the walking everyone is different...hope this helps.
Hi David I am 9 weeks and still feel as if I am sitting on a tennis ball, I went for my 6 week check at 7 weeks (cutbacks) and was told by a orthepedic nurse practitioner to use two sticks as my gait is poor I had been using one.....I have been to the gym with the physio who told me to use one stick again and gave me exercises to strengthen things up...so the swelling is normal I think but the walking everyone is different...hope this helps.
Thanks Suzie. It certainly is a rollercoaster. I noticed today that although I am 5 weeks post op, I've had 6 weeks off work. That means that tecnnically I have 2 weeks sick leave left if I stick to my 8 weeks.... I think it may be a bit ambitious. I guess I'll soon see. A phased return sounds like a good idea to me.
Thanks for the advice. I was trying the clenching of the butt muscles when I was walking and It was making the pain worse so I stopped doing that. I think maybe I overdid earlier on in the week so I have been trying to have a few rest days and it seems to be helping.
How long are you post op now if you dont mind me asking?
Definately wise words there. I think perhaps I am trying to push myself too much and just expect my body to do what it always has. I'm going to make a list of questions for my consultant and see what he says. When I walk without the crutch I still waddle unless I conciously tense the butt muscles.... I wonder if my old joint was so worn that those muscles weren't getting used properly.
I'm going to ask the consultant about my physio as my appointment with them last week was a real let down. They gave me two basic exercises and said that they didnt need to see me again. It was only afterwards I thought that I realy should have asked for more exercises to do and asked more questions...
I'm looking forward to getting back in the gym once I'm given the all clear to drive. Obviously starting off very light and safe
Thanks for all the replies everyone! I've taken all the advice on board and I'm trying not to be too hard on myself and demand too much of my body. Its only 5 weeks and as others point out, THR's are major surgery and we need to heal.
I guess the other thing thats been making my mood low is that my left hip (the unoperated one) has really deteriorated over the last few weeks. No real pain, just grating / grinding. I'm going to see what my consultant says on Monday...
