Hi everyone, I had THR (posterior) on my right hip 53 days ago. My recovery has been going great. I could walk fine without aids after less than 3 weeks, up to 2 miles a day, and driving was fine after 4 weeks. I followed all the restrictions diligently for the 6 weeks that the hospital had advised, and wasn’t getting much pain at all. In short, I was feeling pretty good. But in the last couple of days, driving has become really painful. I get pain down the outside of my thigh, and then through the inner thigh. Going round bends, especially roundabouts, is really bad. Today I had to abandon a trip and come home after a few miles. When I get out of the car and walk around, the pain goes away. I’m really worried about this. Could I have damaged something? My follow up with the surgeon is still 6 weeks away.
Hi Martin I am nearly 3 weeks post op and have been very active also . This is probably not one for us non medical people and you should really see the GP but be prepared for the you shouldn’t have been driving so soon lecture . Have you been doing free weight squats and leg exercises as it may just also be muscles not used to the movement and sideways motion .
hi. I think its cos uoure using different leg muscles when you’re driving and ones that probably not been used for a bit. I’m almost 12 weeks and have been driving since 6 weeks post OP. at first i could only manage a quick nip out and could feel aching high up in my leg at the front with some at the back but now i manage a good hr driving and it’s ok. keep on with the exercises but my theory is also if a leg muscle aches it’s being used so gradually keep at it lol.
good luck with the hospital appt 
if it’s like mine was i wasnt in for 5 mins - quick check of scar watched you walk into the room and of you go …
Hi Keith, I’ve been doing loads of exercises - bridges, leg lifts (sideways and on my back), clamshells… I was told 4 weeks for driving by the physio at the hospital, so I’m not worried about that. It’s more that I’ve had no pain at all driving previously.
thanks Julie. Yes, I imagine my appt will be a few mins at most. I had to wait 2 hours to see the surgeon at my pre-op. He said “does your hip still hurt” and “do you still want it done”, signed the consent form, and that was that!
lol. sounds abt right. I’m a retired nurse and a lot of surgeons didn’t like chatting with their patients. we always assumed it was because most pts were asleep a lot of the time they dealt with them lol
I think at some point I was told not to do clam shells for a while. I also told my insurance company I had had a hip op, just in case. I was told wait six weeks by the hospital although I probably could have driven earlier.
yeah, I might give the clamshells a rest. They’re the most difficult to do anyway.
Hi do any of you know people who are runners who have had THR and when they went back to it ?
I have heard that people are discouraged from running after THR. A friend of mine who is a keen runner has continued but seems he needs another replacement hip again.
Hi, when I first met my surgeon and he booked me in for my hip op, he said that he didn’t want me running any more. (My knees are a bit rubbish anyway, so I wasn’t too fussed) I do a lot of swimming, and he’s fine about me skiing. I know that there are runners on this forum though. Something to ask about at your next appointment maybe?
Good luck, Judith
hi my surgeon did advise that I could run ok but I thought I was going to be more sore and not feeling strong enough however I am doing well . I am not long back in back from a 7k ride on bike without pain and doing some weights in garage earlier today . I have a real bit between my teeth not to let this beat me lol
blimey, 7k bike ride 3 weeks post-op, watch you don’t push things too hard. You don’t want to risk a dislocation from doing too much before it’s all healed properly.
i am interested in this . what age is he if you dong mind, is it the same hip to be replaced and what type of prosthesis did he have . I need to have as much info as possible before I return to it
He must be in his late sixties, had the hip done about fifteen years ago. I think it was a Birmingham hip.
could this be moved to a new question? If people are interested in running, they might not find it on a question about driving. cheers.
i have the same issues after sitting which got worse after 6 weeks, physio helps but still an issue at 21 weeks. DRs useless on this.
never having taken part in any discussions before I was not aware of the etiquette. point taken
no problem, I think it’s just easier to keep topics separate. thanks.
what kind of physio do you have? Is it massage, stretching, exercises…? I’m interested as I don’t know any physios but my osteopath could possible help if massage is useful.