hello everyone, 5 weeks n 4days post LTHR operation. I can walk in the house without the crutches,my concern though is the limping when I walk without crutches my operated leg it’s so stiff on the side where the incision was. pain I don’t get them always the last time I took pain medication was at 4 weeks.. will I ever walk properly again? I m still scared to sleep on my non operated leg, so i still sleep on my back. can anyone safely tell me that it’s okay to sleep on my side cause my back is complaining now. when must I stop using raise toilet seat, couches and car seat??
thank you
Hello
Your Doctors should have given you a lot of this information. The general consensus is that at 6 weeks you can sit on a normal seat etc although it could be a bit longer, listen to your body trust that to tell you when.
I was still walking with a limp at around 3 months, Im 9 months no limp after years of walking with one and wearing high heels again! Im 46 and have had issues since my 30s. You will walk properly again it can take time. I felt down at times with the recovery thinking it should be quicker and a quick fix but when your body has been moving as it shouldnt for a long time its time that sees it right. At about 5 weeks i started physio saw them about 5 times then felt my confidence growing to stop. At the first appointment i burst into tears, i felt tired and that it was all very slow. It took me about 5 months to feel comfortable lying on my non operated side and i would spend time practicing going from my back to my side. At 9 months im sleeping on my tummy again and starting to get comfortable being on my operated side. You are early into your recovery be kind to yourself and give yourself permission to take your time. I have no regrets now and for the first time since my 30s feel normal. Nobody would have a clue!
All the best!
Hello,
you are still at very early days and as long as you are following all the exercise recommendations you are doing fine. i was told six weeks for sleeping on my back, main reason being if you sleep on the non operated side there is a real risk the operated leg will cross the midline of your body and dislocate without lots of propping up with pillows/cushions etc. after six weeks i use combination of a v shape pillow an others to sleep on my no operated side.
MY senior physio’s advice was to use a crutch until my gait was completely back to normal. this seemed sound advice to me to avoid any undue strain on the non operated hip. It is worth it, do not rush to lose crutch to ‘stop looking old’ . It is tempting to lose crutch much earlier as you get to walk further faster etc but it is the quality of your walking that is the most important for your future body health.
everyone is different, so don’t worry when you read tales of those running, horseriding etc in early days.
wishing you all the best as you grow stronger.
you are so close to getting rid of the lot lol
i was the same on my first hip , every day you will get stronger and your limp will go in time
i slept on my side at 6 weeks with pillow , the pillow helps keep your hips level and is actually comfortable . I am at 5.5 months and can sleep on operated side for a little bit now , give yourself time you will get there …thats what i get all the time TiME is annoying but for me thats already been over a year ( thats a whole other story)
listen to your body , let yourself heal , youll get there
ang
Lacoste
I am just over 7 weeks now THR and have been off crutches on day 2 and off walking stick by day 10 with no limp . This didn’t come easy and I religiously did the advanced excercises including the squats from day 3. It is tender but if you dont keep stretching and exercising you will keep the limp and crutches. I ran a park run at week 5 and my ass cheek was tight but it disappeared. I never used a raised toilet seat and yes it was awkward for first couple of days but I had a real drive to not let myself be a burden . I had couple of physio after op and they advised if you had pronounced limp before op you really need to concentrate on the walking and exercise the operated side more to get that stability. You can sleep on the non operated side if you put pillow between legs and I am now sleeping on my operated side . Keep the chin up and push yourself. some tenderness is nor a sign to stop trying hard.
thank you so much for the feedback.im a tummy sleeper and I can’t wait to going back and sleep with my tummy. and to think I still need to go for my second hip replacement on my other side it gives me the chills .not sure I can’t handle the pain again.
Feeling for you, it is hard and emotionally and mentally its a big thing!! Lean into your supports, cry when you need to, be extra kind and caring to yourself. I recall going away for work at 15 weeks and the hotel i was staying in had the shower over the bath i convinced myself i wouldnt be able to shower i rung my husband who coached me through it and managed, now im having baths again easily yes!!! I can understand your anxiety i nearly talked myself out of the operation…it was my husbands threat of not looking after me if i didnt have it and became a cripple that made me do it. When are you having the 2nd one? I am sorry, it can feel hard and lonely but i truly think give it a bit longer and you will be seeing and feeling all of the benefits. Im the biggest wimp out i still cant believe i did it and its all ok.
Agreed re the pain, i felt restless and couldnt sit for long or my feet would turn blue!! Thank goodness thats over!! I felt fatigue and my butt hurt lol…i must confess its a distant memory now and i dont have the weird sensations i use to have…feeling in my thigh is returning to almost normal too.
Hi,
i know exactly how you feel it can be a slow recovery.
I am 56 and 9 weeks following LTHR , I still need crutches because of a limp and use a stick around the house. My unoperated hip is painful but my new one isnt, keep up the exercises, and if you can get to a pool do them in the water.
I started sleeping on my unoperated hip from 5 weeks for a few minutes and then increased the time depending on comfort.
I return to work in 3 weeks time and starting to feel anxious about it.
keep your chin up .
PS are you massaging your incision with oil or cream 3 times a day ?
Annie
while I was still in hospital after the op the nurses insisted I lay on my good leg side and my operated side to stop bed sores from forming I was surprised and it was painful to do so now at 10 wks. i lay on all sides and stomach just take your time turning i always put a pillow between my knees
Hi, It’s early days, and your walking will continue to improve. I had my only physio appointment at 6 weeks, and they kept my crutches, think they needed them back! I certainly was limping for a while. Concentrate on walking heel to toe.
All the best, Judith